Day 7: Last thoughts and heading home!

After a not so great night’s rest I checked out of the Marriott and headed to the airport. I was flying back out of FCO to IST where I had a couple hour layover. I’m not going to chat about the IST airport because I already discussed it. Did I mention to grab a trolley as soon as you see one? Because you should. Especially if you are sick.

The flight home was bad. Not that the flight was bad, I was bad. By this time I was so sick (on and off fevers, chills, coughing) that all I wanted to do was get home. And I constantly tried to “look better” because I didn’t want the Airport Powers That Be to think I had Ebola. Because I knew I didn’t but I didn’t want to have that conversation. This is where Global Entry comes in handy. No standing in line with the unwashed masses getting into Boston Logan airport. You just breeze through with hardly anyone looking at you. Best $100 I ever spend. I estimate the line to get back in was 45 minutes or longer. Yeah, I’m so not doing that.

Italy was amazing! I had a wonderful time (even with being sick) and would totally go back again. Not only did all the historical places not fail to disappoint, having the option of hanging out with folks who live in Rome really provided a fabulous experience. Any time you can hang with the locals makes for a more well-rounded trip.

***Michelle’s tip:  I think for my next Italy trip I would perhaps try and do a “region” instead of hitting places so far apart (Venice and Rome). I knew that for my first visit I wanted to see these two cities but the travel time does cut down on the sightseeing time. It was fine, but going forward I think that I would pick a “region” and then make multiple trips to Italy. It is a huge country and so many things to see that you can’t do it all. So don’t try. Enjoy what you can see and just go back another time! Oh and please try the gelato. All flavors.   J

Day 6: Venice to Rome!

Today was our last morning in Venice as we were taking the 1 pm train back to Rome. We had one major thing on our itinerary and that was to visit a store that I had found in my Venice guidebook. So after breakfast and checking out of the hotel we set off. The decision was made to carry our bags along with us because we were not going to be able to have any place to store them and our morning was going to take us closer to the train station. Logistically it was the best decision. For my back it was the worst decision. Thanks in advance to Chris and Gigi who took turns carrying my duffel bag. Did I mention I was still sick??

The store we wanted to visit is called Arras. It is a shop that sells woolens and silks that are woven by a cooperative that employs disabled folks. Both Chris and I have family members who are disabled and we really like to patronize these shops. Their online website (albeit in Italian) looked interesting. So we set off.

https://arrastessuti.wordpress.com

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Thank the gods for Gigi and his knowledge of Italian. This was not an easy shop to find. And although I have mad Google Maps Street View skills (which helped when we actually found the place and I declared “there it is, it looks like it does on street view”) this shop was a little out of the way.  You had to go through the academic portion of the island and run into quite a few students and such. Not that that’s a bad thing. Just less touristy.

Once inside Arras Gigi was going to stay outside with our bags (this is a small shop). But once Chris and I got inside and started trying to speak with the woman at the counter, we realized we needed Gigi. So he was only too glad to come inside and converse with the lady. He explained that we had family members who are disabled and chatted about how the place operated and such. Apparently the co-op also employs prison inmate to make some of the goods, in addition to disabled folks. It was quite interesting. And we all bought something. I have a lovely mohair scarf that was woven by the co-op people. It was 30 Euro but well worth it. So soft!!!

Lovely and so soft!

Postcard the shop gave us. 

After our stay at the shop we started walking to the train station. We were getting closer to the time we needed to be there and since I was walking a little slower we headed out. After a few wrong turns we ended up at the train station and stopped for a quick sandwich at a place near the station. Not the best sandwiches but Chris and Gigi enjoyed their mini pizzas. We headed inside and found a place in the train station to post up and have a coffee and wait for boarding time. After taking turns staying with the bags while others went to the shops and the rest room we boarded the train anticipating a nap for the ride back to Rome.

Chris and Gigi were staying at a different AirBNB while I was back at the Marriott Grand Flora. So once we got into Rome’s Termini train station we parted ways with Gigi getting me a cab and telling the cab driver in Italian that I was a very important person and take good care of me. Heh.

A check in and rest we then met back up at the Termini station (central to each other’s hotel) and headed for our last stop in the trip. EatItaly. Now they have these places in Chicago and New York but I have never been. At this point I was so done, getting sicker by the minute but I was not going to spend my last night in Rome wasting away in the hotel room. I was going, dammit!!

http://www.eataly.net/it_it/negozi/roma

We had to take the Metro out a bit from the city center but again Gigi knew (basically) where we were going. EatItaly is an old train station that was built for a soccer tournament that sat empty but is now turned into this food paradise with a grocery store/kitchen store attached. It is huge and a little overwhelming. We walked around a bit and decided on pasta for dinner.

I felt bad that I had little to now appetite and was really fading fast. (Turns out that I had the flu and had a good reason to feel bad). The food was great and it is a really cool place but try as I might I couldn’t get it together. I just wanted to sleep. Or collapse. Whichever came first. So after dinner instead of taking the Metro Gigi got me a cab and I said goodbye to my Italian tour guide buddies. They were staying another week and I was flying out the next morning.

After getting back to the Marriott and securing my taxi for early the next morning I finished packing and fell into bed completely exhausted.

***Michelle’s tip:  I should have just found a doctor to see me about my illness. If I had started on Tamiflu earlier my time in Venice and last night in Rome would have been more pleasant. For myself and my traveling companions.

Day 5: The day I ran around Venice sicker than a dog!

Today we set out to see the sights of Venice! After breakfast in the hotel (which was a decent spread and included in the price) we set off. Now once I woke up this morning I knew it: I was sick. Aches, pains, sore throat and headache all started in sometime in the night. I was in trouble. But dammit I was going to push through it. We only had ONE day here! So I Advil’d up and off we went.

***Just as an FYI if you find yourself sick in Venice you need to have a couple of gay friends to take care of you. Seriously. They brought me hot tea, juice and a croissant for breakfast. They waited on me. They treated me wonderful! If you don’t have your own gay friends then please go find some. Trust me on this!

So we are off! Our first stop was to take the Vaparetto to the Island of Murano. Murano is known for their glass blowing factory with lovely showrooms where you can purchase stuff. The actual workshop that we visited was much smaller than what I expected but it was so cool. You sit on bleacher like benches and watch as they well, blow the glass. There is a nice dude who explains everything in either Italian or English and answers questions. The entire “show” is about 20 minutes long and then you can go into the showroom area to look at items for purchase.

And yes, I purchased. I had gone into this knowing that I would probably look at glass bowls to purchase. And I found a lovely one, green and blue and kind of curved edges. Now this particular shop is an “official Murano” glass shop. Apparently they have “fake ones” all over the place. So you get a certificate of authenticity with your purchase. And I was able to negotiate 10 Euro off the price (thanks to Gigi who suggested it)!

From there we took the boat to the island of Burano. Now while Murano is known for glass blowing, Burano is known for lace making. Apparently the wives of the fisherman who lived on this island needed to make some cash while their dudes were off fishing. So they started making lace and it became a “thing”. There is a lace museum but we didn’t visit that while we were here. We simply walked around and did a little looking and a little shopping.

Now Murano may be the more well known of the islands but I can say that for sheer beauty, I fell in love with Burano. We even talked about when we come back one day not staying in Venice proper and getting an AirBNB on Burano. The colors of the houses were so lovely and it had that kind of small town charm that I loved. I am sure that during the evening there are limited areas to eat and it’s probably really quiet once the tourists go but that sounds great to me!!

I think I want to live here!

Burano colorful houses!

After a quick gelato snack we headed back to the boats to get back to Venice proper. It took a little longer than we thought, as the boats didn’t come quiet as often as we expected. I think we all napped a bit on the boat back. We decided that a rest was in order (I was slowly getting sicker) and headed back to the hotel to drop off purchases and rest before dinner. I think that Chris and Gigi went back out again while I took a nap but I don’t judge. When you have my wonky back to deal with you rest when you can get it. Or you will not be able to walk at all!

Can you hear the people sing? Oh wait, wrong country....

Later on we found a fabulous place right on the water for dinner. It was a walk from our hotel and honestly I can’t remember which direction we went (I followed Gigi and his Italian-knowing directions!). This restaurant was near a bridge that was actually near another tourist/shopping area. I am sure that they get quite a few tourists but it was wonderful! Once we explained my death-like shrimp allergy to the waiter, we were good to go! I had wonderful ravioli and the boys had each some kind of pasta. And wine.  J

It was clear even after the hour plus long meal that I was fading fast. Walking along in the chilly night air wasn’t doing anything for my sickness. We headed back to the hotel as we had a few more things to accomplish before the train ride home! Gigi was wonderful enough to translate to a pharmacist (who actually spoke great English but you never know) to get me some Italian ibuprofen and cough drops. I had run out of Advil and needed something that would play nice with my blood pressure meds. So 15 Euro later I had my Italian drugs!

Bedtime!!!!

***Michelle’s tip:  Both the islands of Murano and Burano have limited bathroom facilities. Normally you need to purchase something at a restaurant/café to use the rest room. Plan accordingly. I didn’t and I was doing the pee dance as we got off the vaparetto.

Day 4: Train to Venice!

Today’s blog post will be a short one, as we didn’t do as much due to taking the train to the city of Venice. We were able to sleep in and have breakfast then meet up at the Marriott (Chris and Gigi had transferred to another hotel as my points ran out!). After storing my larger suitcase and just taking a duffel bag with me we set out for the Metro. Taking the Metro to the Termini train station (the main station in Rome) we were able to board our train to Venice. It was going to take about 3.5 hours.

The train was uneventful. We chatted. We slept. We had snacks. Normal train activity. Upon debarking in the main Venice train station Gigi bought us the correct Vaporetto. This is like a water taxi for the masses. We each bought a 24 hour unlimited pass which I think was 20 Euro. We knew that the next day we would be taking the boats to the islands of Murano and Burano so this was the most economic option.

Our hotel was the Antigo Panda. This was a hotel that Chris and Gigi had stayed at before and since there was only one Marriott way at the other end of the island we thought this would be a great option. It is not far from St. Mark’s square and after dropping off our bags we headed out into the city. Now it was starting to get dark and we knew we needed food. Also, I was starting to get sick. I was trying to ignore it but it was coming. And coming hard.

My tiny little hotel room!

A few details about the hotel. It was nice albeit small. Really small. Which is fine. But when you are used to the Marriott you should be warned. Not the Marriott! And they gave us a code for the Wi-Fi, which I never did get working for myself. I wasn’t too concerned about it because Chris was checking me in via FB and at least my family knew I was alive. I am not sure if the Wi-Fi issue was just the hotel issue or a Venice in general issue. Just be warned.

The link is below:

http://www.hotelpanada.it

We found a little place not too far from the hotel where we could get some pasta. I don’t recall the name of the place and it was kind of touristy but we collectively decided that since we were hungry and tired it was going to be the choice. It was chilly outside and with the hunger and all….

After a short walk around for a bit longer we turned in for the night. We had a lot to do the next day (our only full day in Venice) and we needed to be rested.

Just lovely!

Gondolas!

The view from my hotel room

***Michelle’s tip:  Definitely opt to take as little luggage as possible as there are no cars/taxis and you have to schlep it around with you until you get to your hotel.

Gelato on the horizon!!!

It’s almost Gelato time!!  In a few weeks I’ll be departing on my much-anticipated Italy trip. This time around I am not going by myself but traveling with two great friends who have been to Italy before. Our plan is to spend about 4.5 days in Rome and then 2 days in Venice.  

Since we have been planning/talking about this trip for almost a year it seems like it would never get here but it’s almost time! I know that it seems like I was just in Prague (and I was) but we felt that March was the best time to see Rome/Venice. I don’t do well with the intense heat and it’s less crowded during off -season so this worked for everyone!

Stay tuned for Italy blog posts and pictures in the coming weeks!  Apparently the Trevi Fountain is still under construction so that will be a little sad but it’s not like I didn’t have pictures of scaffolding before (looking at you, Berlin).

Happy Travels!!!