Leaving Florence is not as easy as we thought … well, the getting to the train station at least. Taxis are unavailable this morning, and even after we get started on the 1 1/4 mile walk (with our luggage, on cobble stone) it is impossible to find an open cab to flag down. So we walk … From Florence SMN station, fast trains to Roma Termini leave approx. every half hour, so we are in no rush. But staying … Read More

We’re back for more sightseeing in Florence, and after yesterday’s power walk we’ll be taking easier today! Rick Steve’s travel guide has a back entrance listed for the church Santa Croce (Holy Cross) and it’s literally right outside our apartment’s door! Through the leather school and workshop we enter the church, which is known for its many tombs of famous Italians. Besides the beautiful frescoes, stained glass windows and art (even after the massive flood from 1966), there are the … Read More

We’re going on a day-trip excursion today, leaving Firenze in the morning (after walking across town from the apartment to the train station) and get to Pisa within an hour’s ride. From there, we stroll through the city, across the Arno river to the “Piazza dei Miracoli”, which houses the Pisa Cathedral (Duomo), the Baptistery and the Torre … the Leaning Tower of Pisa!!  You can’t miss it – as soon as the masses of tourists start crowding together and … Read More

After our arrival from Cinque Terre Monday night, we are greeted by Fillipo, our host’s brother at the apartment “Allegri Flat”. It’s my first experience with Airbnb and I’m excited to see if it’s worth the hype. The place looks like the picture, but as in all cases, the “marketing” photos online give it the extra touch that real life might be missing. Or maybe it’s just the heat and sweat and tiredness getting to me … But the location … Read More

Monday morning wakes us up with delivery guys smashing bottles as part of their job (?) and the first load of tourists is walking down towards the water. But everyone got a good night’s sleep, and after meeting up with Dorano for check out, we are ready to explore Vernazza once more. Well – after an early lunch since we did not get breakfast! Ready to tackle the steep hills, we head up to Castello Doria, where we are rewarded … Read More

It’s time to say Goodbye to Switzerland as we head to the Zurich Hauptbahnhof (main train station) and catch the Trenitalia to Milan. It’s a pretty train ride through the Swiss Alps but we have places to go! Once in Italy, we have a couple more trains to catch – first to Sestri Levante and from there a slow regional one that will drop us off in Vernazza, in the heart of the Cinque Terre National Park. The whole town … Read More

After breakfast, Nils and Priscilla join us at the hotel and we’re all heading out to explore Zurich. It’s looking like it’ll be your typical summer day – warm, sunny, with rain showers (and possibly more) to come later! Walking past the main train station and down Bahnhofsstrasse (an expensive shopping street), we soon stop at a famous chocolate store (Swiss chocolate anyone?), but with miles to go, we hold the purchases for later. We stroll through the west side … Read More

It’s Thursday afternoon and we are ready to travel! “We” includes not only Kirk and I this time, but Pat is joining us for this European Family Vacation! Sounds familiar? Is the Griswold music ringing in your ears already? (it is in mine..) Check in and boarding our A340 plane for the Swiss International Air Lines flight LX 30 from SFO to ZRH this evening should be nothing out of the ordinary. Until it is! As we take off from … Read More