Florence, Italy Pictures

After the Amalfi Coast we decided to work our way back up north and visit Florence. We had received mixed reviews of Florence. Some folks strongly recommended that we visit and indicated it was their favorite city in Italy. While others cautiously warned that we stay away this time of the year due to the high number of tourists.

We spent three nights in Florence and had mixed feelings about the city. It is a beautiful city and gave us the opportunity to see Michelangelo’s David. Waiting in line for almost three hours to see the David was not as enjoyable but we were only mildly frustrated as we had been prepped by our friends that the lines would be long. We went to visit the Uffizi Gallery the next day and decided to pass after we learned the wait to get inside was over two hours. Florence is a small city so we were able to cover a lot of ground to see numerous other works of art and the beautiful architecture.

We would like to visit Florence again but next time plan to rent a car and visit Tuscany and the surrounding countryside. I will also make sure to visit during the slow season after the summer tourists have cleared out.

Positano, Italy Pictures

We were in need of a vacation from our vacation after Rome. Our legs were exhausted and we had visited more than enough museums for now. After taking a series of trains and buses we finally arrived at Positano in the Amalfi Coast which is a stretch of breathtaking coastline in Southern Italy. Neither Kristen nor I had ever visited the Amalfi Coast. The Amalfi Coast is where I had planned on proposing to Kristen but couldn't hold out beyond Paris.

We lucked out again with an amazing B&B with a fabulous view of the ocean. We were high up on the cliffs and strolled through winding hills and series of endless stairs during our walks. Our friends Greg and Bridget stayed in Ravello and Capri during their honeymoon two weeks before us and gave us some great suggestions of places to visit. Kristen’s parents had also visited Positano the week before so we were well equipped with amazing suggestions for food.

Positano reminded me of the Wasatch Front of Salt Lake City, my hometown. Whereas Salt Lake City is surrounded by majestic mountains which provide “The Greatest Snow on Earth”, Positano is perched upon the mountains and overlooks the ocean. For the Utahans reading this blog, imagine Big Cottonwood Canyon at the eadge of the ocean instead of the Wasatch Front. A truly spectacular view. I could have remained in Positano indefinitely and will be visiting again.

Rome, Italy Pictures

Rome was our next stop after Paris. We stayed at a great B&B in central Rome for five nights. We spent each day walking and sightseeing in the scorching heat. Rome is a city to be seen on foot and we were happy to have logged the miles. It was my first time in Rome and I had mixed views about some of the sites. Visiting the Roman Coliseum and Roman Forum were historic to say the least, but I was taken back by how much the sites had eroded. I don’t have any idea how one would preserve historic sites from the 9th century BC of course, but I couldn’t help but wish that there was more than just rubble remaining in certain areas.

Visiting the Vatican was one of my top sightseeing experiences. We first climbed the steps to the top of the dome of St Peter’s Basilica. We worked our way over to the Sistine Chapel and marveled at Michelangelo’s ceiling as it came to life. Wow! Pictures weren’t allowed inside the chapel but I would encourage anyone to read more about it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sistine_Chapel. I was in awe as we walked through the Vatican museum and then later through St Peter's Basilica. I was amazed by St Peter's Basilica and struggled to come to grips with the sheer beauty of this place. The Vatican is a truly special place.