I think we have done a pretty good job at making the best out of living in Germany and traveling as much as possible. Being pregnant has not stopped our traveling but has slowed us down a bit. We decided to go on another USO trip because having a clean (and free) bathroom on the road is a must for a pregnant woman. We also love having a tour guide with us the whole time. We met at 4am to board the bus and traveled all day across Switzerland to Italy. We arrived in Italy in the evening and after checking in to our hotel (Hotel Aries in Vicenza) we ventured out to Verona for a few hours.
After a delicious breakfast we boarded back on the bus for a short ride to the port where we boarded a small boat to go to St. Mark's Square in Venice. As we were getting closer to the city my heart was pounding from excitement! I was really in Venice! Everywhere I turned, the sights were amazing! The architecture and the elaborate costumes of the Carnevale! It was all breathtaking. After a short potty break we met our local guide who showed us the impressive and historic sights of Venice: St. Mark's Cathedral, the Ducal Palace, the Bell Tower, St. Mark's Square, the Bridge of Sighs, and much more. After the tour we met up with a couple from our group for lunch and split a gondola ride. The price was 80 euros for 40 minutes ($108!!!) so splitting it up with another couple was a little better of a price to swallow. After our ride we ventured off on our own through the canals and bridges to get lost in the city.
The next morning we went to Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, one of the most prolific periods of arts and culture. We met up with another local city guide who showed us some of the breathtaking buildings and works of art such as the Duomo and the Baptistery, and the Basilica of Santa Croce with the tombs of Michelango, Macchiavelli, and Galileo. On the Piazza di Signoria, we saw a replica of Michelangelo's David where it had originally been located. After our tour we went off on our own to get a bite to eat and visit all the shops. Florence is full of gold shops, leather goods, and large open-air markets that offer straw goods, embroidery, silver, and more souvenirs. I was in heaven :)
Ciao Italy!
