ITALY

ITALY

Where We Stayed: Rome: Palazzo Naiadi, The Dedica Anthology, Autograph Collection Hotel; Venice: Hotel Danieli, A Luxury Collection Hotel; Florence: Il Salviatino
Where We Ate: As many pasta & pizza places as we could
Trip Highlight: SO MUCH PASTA & PIZZA

Rome

We started our first trip to Europe in Rome. Rome was lovely; we stayed at the Palazzo Naiadi Hotel, a beautiful hotel in central Rome. This hotel was a short walk to almost all of the landmarks (that we were interested in), the Colosseum, various fountains and heritage sites. The city is gorgeous, rich with history, and a mix of modern and historical architecture. When we were hungry, we ate at whichever restaurant looked busy and had a menu we would enjoy. We can’t remember any of the names as there are so many right off the street, but every single one was amazing. We ate a lot of pasta (Wilson’s favourite is carbonara), tons of margarita pizza, tiramisu, and Panna cottas. Our meals usually started with complimentary glasses of prosecco (the first time we had ever tried it) and have been obsessed ever since. There aren’t many options for take away coffee anywhere in Italy. Every coffee shop we went to served espresso the way it was meant to be in a small espresso cup and customers stand near the end of the bar and enjoy their pastries and coffee before heading to work. It’s a different way of enjoying coffee than we are used to, but it forces you to slow down, enjoy a coffee, and chat with other patrons. We also enjoyed an insane amount of gelato, available at nearly every street corner. It would be safe to say we ate our way through Italy.

As you walk around the city, especially in the touristy areas, you will be approached by street vendors trying to sell you trinkets and otherwise. Some of the vendors are easy to say no to and avoid, but some of them are both persistent and friendly, which makes it hard to get rid of them. One of the vendors put a bracelet on Marika while we were walking and was telling us it was a gift, he continued to walk with us while chatting and getting to know us; they then ask you to pay for the bracelets. When we insisted on giving back the jewelry, they begin the guilt trip. Before Wilson knew it, he accidentally paid 50 euros for two bracelets and a tiny elephant figurine. Lesson learned, just ignore them, don’t even try to say no, you just have to ignore them. Even saying, “No, thank you,” opens the door for conversation. One essential tip (that Marika gave Wilson that was clearly ignored), is to separate your money. Put your most substantial bills somewhere safe, i.e., Belt bags and hidden backpack compartments; put medium bills in one pocket, and small bills & change in another and do not mix them up. If you feel inclined to buy something from one of these friendly, pushy vendors, this will prevent you from pulling out 50 euros in a wad of cash for all to see. If you pull from your small bills pocket, chances are you’ll have 10 euros and a bit of change, and it’s easier to pay less (if that makes sense).

Rome was beautiful, and the food was incredible. We visited the outside of the Colosseum, but we didn’t bother with any tours of the inside. We didn’t have time for Vatican City, and we were not prepared to go there, regardless. To visit the Vatican, you should know, there is a dress code. If you’re planning a trip; proper dress code covers your shoulders and knees. Long pants and long-sleeved shirts are highly recommended to show respect. More on that here. You also need to plan and buy tickets ahead of time to ensure you will get in as they have limited spots daily.  

Venice

After a quick flight from Rome, we arrived in Venice, and it was exactly as we had imagined it would be but with more people and smells. We took a water taxi from the airport straight to the hotel, and it was such a neat experience. The water taxis are similar to speed-boats with a comfy cabin to sit in. We stayed at the beautiful Hotel Danieli, right on the waterfront. The service was terrific, the rooms were on the cozy side, but the hotel was lovely. The breakfast buffet is located on the roof of the hotel, and it was incredible. Breakfast was included in our stay, and that even included mimosas. We woke up early every morning to see the sights before it got busy other tourists. The best time to see St. Mark’s Square is at sunrise; it will be relatively empty until the buildings and businesses start to open. It is the best time to get photos in the square and the other various canals and streets. We spent a lot of time walking and exploring. There was one day we walked 5 kilometres in the wrong direction; we got lost in Venice. We took a Water Gondola ride, it’s a pricy tourist trap, but it’s just one of those things you have to experience once. You have to visit Libreria Acqua Alta, it is an old bookstore in Venice, and it is beautiful: tons of books and an excellent spot for photos too.

Venice is full of beautiful sights and less than beautiful smells. The one thing that shocked Marika the most was the sewage smell coming from the canals. DO NOT put your feet in them; they are gross. We were also there in the summer, so every scent was elevated (hot sewage and hot fish market are two perfumes we do not miss).

Similarly to Rome, there are restaurants on every corner and plenty of people hollering at you to join them at their restaurant. It's tough to choose, but you will rarely be disappointed.

We took the train out of Venice and into Florence. Trains are a very inexpensive and convenient way to travel in Europe, and it was a somewhat relaxing ride to get to Florence.

Florence

In Florence, we spent two nights at the Il Salvianto to relax before exploring Greece. The hotel was supreme, incredibly beautiful, tranquil boutique-style accommodation. It was tucked away in the hills on the outskirts of Florence, about a fifteen-minute shuttle ride into the centre of Florence, where the Cathedral is. The staff at the hotel are so friendly, and we had a very relaxing stay. The hotel we stayed at had a gorgeous courtyard to enjoy and an excellent restaurant, so it was an enjoyable little stay. We spent most the day at the pool and got massages before heading into town just to explore the Cathedral and the surrounding areas. The Cathedral was stunning. It is a fantastic building; we spent a significant amount of time marvelling at the size and design details of it, it was surreal. In Florence, we ate incredible food, relaxed and got pampered. While it’s not the top of our list to return to, it will, forever, hold a special place in our hearts, and we would have enjoyed having a few more days in Florence and a few less in Venice.