The Grooviest Village in Italy -- Calcata

Calcata is a small village north of Rome and takes the "hilltop town" to a new level.  It sits atop volcanic cliffs and was once condemned by the Italian government for fear that the the historic centre would collapse. The NY Times once called it the "Grooviest Village in Italy" and I call it simply stunning!

Gaeta

Gaeta, a small Italian town, is located to the south of Rome en route to Naples. It is situated on a beautiful gulf and its strategic military position and enchanting environment has made Gaeta a secure harbour since the time of the Roman Empire. The coast around the small town is called the Riviera d'Ulisse because ancient poets like Homer and Virgil wrote of its grandeur and beauty.  Beaches, coves, antiquity, charm, culture and picturesque town make Gaeta a place to explore as well as relax.  

Top 10 Attractions in Florence

Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio -- Florence's most famous square is Piazza della Signoria, the heart of the historic center and a free open-air sculpture exhibit.

Il Duomo - Cattedrale de Santa Maria del Fiore -- Florence's most popular site is its Duomo (cathedral), the Cattedrale de Santa Maria del Fiore. The huge Gothic duomo was begun in 1296, consecrated in 1436, and holds 20,000 people.

The Baptistry -- The Baptistry of John the Baptist, from the 11th century, is one of Florence's oldest buildings. Its exterior is made of green and white marble and has three sets of amazing bronze doors 

Campinile - Bell Tower -- The Campinile, bell tower, is in Piazza del Duomo. The first story was designed by Giotto and it is commonly called Giotto's Campinile. Buy a ticket and climb the 414 stairs (no lift) for great views of the Cathedral and its dome and the city of Florence and surroundings.

Ponte Vecchio -- The Ponte Vecchio (old bridge), built in 1345, was Florence's first bridge across the Arno River and is the only surviving bridge from Florence's medieval days (others were destroyed in World War II). The Ponte Vecchio is still lined with shops selling gold and silver jewelry.

Galleria degli Uffizi -- The Galleria degli Uffizi holds the world's most important collection of Renaissance art but it's also Italy's most crowded museum. You can buy tickets ahead to avoid long lines. The Uffizi holds thousands of paintings from medieval to modern times and many antique sculptures, illuminations, and tapestries.

Galleria dell' Academia -- Florence's Galleria dell' Academia holds important paintings and sculptures from the 13th-16th centuries. Michelangelo's David, probably the most famous sculpture in the world, is in theGalleria dell' Academia as well as other sculptures by Michelangelo.

Boboli Garden and Pitti Palace -- Cross the Ponte Vecchio to the Giardino di Boboli, a huge park on a hillside in the middle of Florence behind the Pitti Palace. Here you'll find beautiful gardens and fountains and a great view of Florence from the Forte Belvedere.

Santa Croce, in Piazza Santa Croce, is the largest Franciscan church in Italy and holds the tombs of several important Florentines including Michelangelo and Dante. The vast interior contains some exceptional stained glass windows and frescoes

Shopping -- Florence has some of the finest shopping in Europe. In Florence you'll find leather goods, paper goods, and jewellry as well as nice souvenirs and art productions. Florence has a number of open air markets selling food, clothing, and antiques.

Positano...Southern Italian Coastal Charm

So, on my next Italian voyage I must make my way to Positano.  Ever since the scene in "Under the Tuscan Sun" where Diane Lane goes to visit her lover wearing a white dress billowing in the sea breeze of the rugged coastal town, I have been thinking of my own Raoul Bova.  (Actually, maybe I have one...but in Florence).  These pictures are great though!

To find out his past is to care for him even more.

So, first of all, it is worth noting that S is quite a bit younger than me.  More to follow on this subject, but this little piece of information is needed for the next post.  

February. I finally closed the door completely on a past relationship and that is when the floodgates opened to S' past.  It is not filled with skeletons -- at least not the kind you are thinking of. Rather it is filled with the kind that brings blood, tears, fear, isolation and even death. S is a survivor of a horrible atrocity. Call it what you may -- genocide or ethnic cleansing, both terms that should never enter one's realm or vocabulary.

There is so much sadness in the world. In North America we have our blinders up, concerning ourselves with what are typically rather trivial issues.  Of course this is not always the case, but looking back on my history, I don't have the same kind of tragedy, and for this I am very fortunate. However, this also brings with it a strange form of guilt.  

S is from Kosovo.  Formerly part of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union, it has been dominated and ravished by Serbia since the end of the Cold War.  In the late 1990s, it was the sight of what is estimated to be between 20,000 and 30,000 murders at the hands of Milosevic's minions.  Oddly enough, in the article link pasted below, there is an excerpt from the NY Times published on my twentieth birthday.  As such, I know exactly what I was doing the same day that these atrocities were taking place.  I was partying.  I was enjoying being a University student, a sorority member, a recent 20-something who had everything in front of her.

At the same time that I was doing shots at the bar, S was witnessing one of the most atrocious massacres of the twentieth century. He was just a child.  From articles I have read, this is likely what guaranteed his survival, because had he been much older, he would have been of "combatant age" and likely killed.  

S shared with me what he saw and what he remembered. I cried as I listened to what were the nightmares of a child revisited and the tragic death toll his family endured.  Every aunt, uncle and grandparent were killed, with the exception of an uncle on his mother's side.  He shared with me YouTube videos of the killings and I tried to put myself in his place -- a frightened child whose only crime was being born Kosovaro.  It is not fair for a human being to have to see this and have to relive the horror for the rest of their life.

At this point, S opened up about everything. A further tragedy was his father passing away only six months earlier.  What history this man had lived in such few years.  When talking about age differences, S has lived a much more cruel life than I and this can explain why there are commonalities between us despite the gap.  He has such wisdom for his years and such insight into life. In the seven months of knowing him, he has had such an impact on who I am and is a key contributer of my becoming a better person. He means so much to me and I just want to take away the pain for him.  Sadly, it will be there forever.

http://www.gendercide.org/case_kosovo.html 

Cinque Terre...five lands, five breathtaking adventures...

Cinque Terre, the five lands, is a rugged portion of coastline on the Italian Riviera. The photos were so beautiful that I couldn't pick just one...

First female gondoliera in Venezia

Somehow my fantasy of gliding through the Venice canals involves a male gondolier who sings a baratone "o sole mio".  Still, I love that my gender has tackled another age old tradition.  

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-venice-gondolier21-2009jul21,0,5375195.story

The view from Piazza Michelangelo

Such a spectacular sight.  Whether it is noon, dusk or twilight, this view never ceases to take my breath away.  It is even better to be watching it in the arms of someone you love.  On my last day there was a wedding taking place in the pavilion behind the piazza that was truly magical.  Imagine this view on your wedding day.  Now that's Amore in Italia.

San Gimignano -- the epitome of Toscana

San Gimignano is exactly what one would imagine a medieval Tuscan town to be.  Its trademark towers can be seen from miles away and from the hilltop, you can see nothing but miles of rolling hills.  Pure heaven!

Weeks pass, feelings grow

I felt so surreal to be back. How could I have had such a life changing experience and still return to the life I have always known? It didn't seem right to me that I was not able to see S and explore these feelings we were having. 

Our communication started slowly -- an email every few days talking about friends or the holidays -- and quickly grew to be an event that happened several times a day.  We talked about how we missed each other and how excited we were to have met one another.  We talked about goals and family and my dream to move to Europe.  We were growing into a couple -- albeit one who didn't get to see each other or be with each other. I really trusted him and really started to care for him.  He is an amazingly sweet, thoughtful and caring man, so wise beyond his years and so wonderfully crazy about me.  Despite the challenges, I am so lucky.

Verona at Sunset

Verona will certainly be a future destination for me in my future Italian travels.  Gorgeous.

Three weeks of romance in Europe...then back to reality

I returned on December 18, 2008.  Not that it had been warm and balmy in Europe, but it was snowing and freezing in Vancouver.  If my flight had left Paris just a few hours later, I wouldn't have been able to land in Toronto due to a snow storm and possibly would not have been able to leave Europe.  Of course, there is no way I could have been that lucky!

Somehow I was different when I returned.  My apartment looked different, my work was different, my relations with my friends were different. I don't think they changed.  I think I changed.  Somehow I was stronger and more sure about who I was.  Actually, I was completely confused about who I was, but at least I was able to break away from the complacency and acceptance that had previously controlled me.

I didn't know what was going to happen with S, although I knew that my previous relationship -- the one of four years that had carried with it depression and heartache -- had to change.  I started to pull away from P and my relationship with S (which was growing into one of facebook, email and intermittent phone calls) became my lifeline.  He would prove to be among the greatest influencers in my life.

A Florence landmark -- Ponte Vecchio

Ponte Vecchio, the "Old Bridge" is the home of many girls' fantasies -- shiny shop windows with gold, jewels and pearls.  For this girl, it is the sight of a romantic evening with gelato and stolen kisses.

Il Duomo a Firenze

This is by far the most majestic picture I have ever seen of the Duomo in Firenze.  It is pretty easy to see why I love the city so much!

Venice

So perhaps it would help if I added the photo...

Venice...so majestic...

Venezia di Notte

Such a beautiful sight of the Grand Canal. First picture in my "Amore in Italia" Photo Gallery.

http://tinyurl.com/am4mhd

La destination prochaine...Paris

I always thought I would go to Paris with the one I loved. Turns out I did.  Or at least I went with someone who I was learning to love.  No, that does not mean that S came with me.  It simply means that I started to love the person who was inside of me.  As corny as it sounds, it took a lot time to get there -- and Paris too!

It was a grey and rainy day when the plane touched down.  After all, it was Paris in December.  Somewhat crazy that I had picked that month of all months.  I found my hotel pretty easily and it was this great place in Montmatre.  It was late afternoon, so I decided to take a stroll down to Cathedrale Sacre Coeur.  Montmatre is a beautiful part of Paris.  In Vancouver terms I would call it the Yaletown of Paris -- despite the fact that it outranks it 10:1.  Still, it has create cobblestone streets, trendy apartments, cool restaurants and, as the artists quarter, somewhat talented caricaturists.  I fell in love immediately!  

I had a great meal that night.  I actually sought out a tourist menu and found one that had french onion soup, moules (mussels) et frites and creme caramel for dessert.  There was a lounge pianist and singer and it was truly how I imagined Paris to be.  

The following days were spent wandering the streets, shopping on Les Champs Elysees, visiting the latin quarter, the gothic quarter, the catacombs.  I decided to take the "New Europe" tour and had a great time, despite the freezing temperatures.  Despite my folly in visiting Europe in December, the privilege I had was visiting all of the Christmas markets and getting to see the Champs Elysees dripping with light blue sparkling lights for miles leading up to the Arc de Triomphe.  Such a sight.

Paris was also my opportunity to reclaim something that I hadn't seen for many years -- approximately 12 to be exact.  That would be the beauty of the French language.  I wrapped myself in it in abundance.  I spoke to everyone in French and even had tourists coming up to me and asking for directions in their broken tourist French.  I felt great.  

My relationship with S continued.  We wrote each other three times a day and I told him minute details of my trip.  He told me how much he missed me and how he dreamt of me and cried for me.  He told me how sad he was the day I told him I was leaving Paris and leaving Europe.  I really felt like I had found someone who understood me and supported me.  

Creative ways to afford travel!

So, in a detour from my romantic tales, I thought I would share the most interesting article I found on the Lonely Planet blog.  It is about the creative things travelers have done to make money to fund their trips.  Top of my list is changing one's religion throughout one's travels in order to reap free room and board at various religious organizations.

I hope that the point about travel blogs funding trips (or in my case ROMANTIC travel blogs funding trips) proves to help me along the way.  Thought there might be interest in the link.

http://tinyurl.com/loxnne

Can you pinpoint the moment your life is about to change?

My time in Barcelona was amazing.  Relaxing, calming...life just took on a new pace and outlook.  Instead of whizzing through the monuments and tourist traps, I spent my time wandering the streets, breathing the ocean air, imagining the Olympiad and dreaming about what my life will look like.  For so long I had been stagnant and holding on to a dream and a promise that was broken.  

In Barcelona I also met my new friend Sophie.  A Parisienne, Sophie shared her love stories with me and I with her.  Whereas I had always played it safe, she played it risky.  She had been dating a married man fifteen years her senior and had hoped that it would turn into love. She had recently found out that her dream was never going to come true. Her and I became great friends though and it was nice to have someone to share all of the emotions that had been rising within.

During this time, S was also sharing his emotions with me.  We were debating whether or not I would come back to Firenze.  Actually, I was debating...he was trying to convince me.  He was so lovely -- telling me how he was dreaming of me, thinking of me, wanting me. I felt like we shared so much together in such a short time.  

I had to make the decision, however, that I was not going to go back.  It was a terribly hard decision to make, but I had unfinished business in Vancouver and I wanted to have a fresh start to my new life.  I wasn't able to let S go though and we continued our romance through the wonders of Facebook chat.  Not the traditional romance, but hey...it was almost 2009!

Cut your losses, go to Barcelona.

So, after reaching my holiday low, I decided to make the trip to Barcelona a day early.  I took the bus and felt a relief to be out of Valencia.  So also began my desire to write...about my past, about my present, about my feelings, about my doubts...and the five hour bus ride flew by.  I wrote about my feelings for S and how he has helped me realize that I was worth more than what I had been receiving in recent years.  He helped me realize that I am desirable, regardless of being 20 or 30, and that I would be okay if I was on my own.  

I arrived in Barcelona with a refreshed spirit and excitement.  I found my hostel, right next to the old cathedral in the Gothic quarter.  It was picturesque and the Christmas markets were enchanting.  The weather was also warm and sunny.  So, became my mood.  It is amazing the difference a day makes.

My emails with S became more frequent and revealing.  He was so sweet and caring.  He made me feel so special.  It started becoming more clear to me that this was a path I had to follow.

And so it all began...

Facebook. Toted as one of the world's best creations.  Who knew that a simple "wall post" could be the start of something so much more.  I was so sad that night in Valencia.  I was thinking of the night I had with S a couple of evenings prior and was longing to be back in Firenze.  So, I wrote on his wall.  It was something simple -- "S, I am so sad here in Valencia, I miss Firenze" -- that started it all.  He wrote back that he missed me too, and so began our relationship.