Hello Monday and Hello Italy 2023!

 

Hi Friends!  I am here with Sarah for Hello Monday!

If you blogged today, grab our graphic above and link back up with us below!

 

My little fam is back from Italy- a true trip of a lifetime- the longest vacation I have taken in my entire life and so very much needed.  Truth be told, it was not relaxing.  It was a go, go, go vaca BUT so grateful for all of the walking and the touring and taking it all in.  It was a great break for my brain and work/life stress....it is exactly what the doctor ordered...I am back feeling very grateful and at peace and ready to share the beautiful and funny details too!

 

 I am going to preface this post and recap by sharing a couple of helpful gems of info.  Our friends Tom and Laurel planned this trip for us.  They had been to Italy twice before and are world travelers.  Thank God for them- as I said several times, I would not have gone without them.  They did not steer us wrong.  They kept us on track and made sure we saw the best of the best!  If you have friends like this, I suggest having them plan and lead your trip.  If not, I suggest either a travel agent OR a cruise that stops at these various locations.

Secondly, there was TONS of walking.  We easily hit 10,000 steps a day and most of the time were nearing 20,000.  If you are planning to take the trip with folks whose walking is limited, you would have to consider more car services/cab rides.  Rome is a very walkable city.  Where we stayed in Sorrento was pretty walkable too.  Our cab usage was minimal everywhere BUT you could do it with more rides if need be.  Attractions like the Coloseum and Vatican, however, would be tough on those with walking issues though for sure- tons of steps and land to cover!

Anyway, I hope this helps and happy to answer any of your questions after!

Thursday the 3rd of August

We finished up our last minute packing details and home organization and got picked up at 11am.  We got to Logan by 12noon so we were super early.  We flew through security and then killed some time by having lunch and then meeting up with friends and chatting.

Our flight left at 5pm and we flew overnight.  We only got a very little amount of sleep but we were very pleased with the service on Delta.  The crew as amazing.  My bestie Bethany worked for Delta until she retired and told her crew friends about my special birthday trip.  They gifted me with the cutest travel toiletry bag AND a beautiful bottle of champagne-so touching!

Friday the 4th of August

We landed in Rome around 8am their time.  Italy is 6 hours ahead of us here on the East Coast of the U.S.

Buongiorno!  Needed a pic in the airport with my champagne of course :)

Although the Rome airport was HUGE, we got our bags quickly met our driver and we were off.

This was the day we had to power through on very little sleep but as I learned from my travel expert friends- Tom and Laurel- the key is to take the red eye- power through and stay on schedule and so we did!

Rome was the first leg of our trip and we stayed at the Palazzo Navona hotel right near the Piazza Navona- great location and beautiful!

We dropped off our bags (rooms weren't ready yet since we were so early) and then walked around.  We stopped for "brunch" at a cafe on the piazza.  Everything there was beautiful- the architecture is ancient AND stunning everywhere...also there were fountains everywhere...couldn't get enough!

Ok so I know France probably has the best croissants but THIS ONE right here was the best croissant I ever had!

 

There were Gelaterias everywhere!  The kids had gelato every night and we did indulge a few nights too of course :)

Then it was time to explore further.  We walked to the Pantheon next!

 Then we walked to Trevi Fountain!

 

 

Then it was time to hop in some cabs and head over to the Coloseum and Roman Ruins for our 2pm tour!

 

 

We were running on adrenaline for sure!

 

After that, we were hitting the wall so we cabbed it back towards our hotel and then stopped at a little restaurant we found along the way...it ended up being my favorite meal of the entire trip!

 The staff was amazing- they were hysterical- gave us back massages at the table even- ha!  Their recommendations for appetizers for the table were on point and our meals and wine were all incredible too!

My dish was a thick spaghetti with a white sauce and zucchini blossoms-my favorite!  (Check out the portion sizes- exactly how we should be eating here right?!)

After dinner, there was one more stop- our first gelato!

Rob and I shared a banana flavored one- it was amazing :)

and you can probably guess what we did next?  We checked in and CRASHED HARD!

Saturday the 5th of August

We were up early and headed downstairs for a little breakfast.  Then we were off!  We walked to the Vatican for our 9am tour.  We would be touring The Vatican, The Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica- I was so excited for this!

 

The tour did not disappoint.  The Basilica was my favorite- so so beautiful and ornate- rich with history and amazing corpses that have been preserved.  Even St. Peter is buried here!

I learned that Vatican is its own city AND country! It is actually the smallest country that exists!  This is the entrance to Vatican City

 

After our tour, we walked around and happened upon our first little pizza place so we went in for lunch- it did not disappoint!  I was in my happy place- pizza and wine-my favorite meal and some of the best pizza I have ever had!

 

After lunch, the guys took the kids exploring and four of us ladies hit the shopping district for some special shopping.  I could definitely see how Rome is one of the fashion capitals of the world- everyone looks like they have just walked off the runway!

 

 

 That night, we got all decked out!  The adults headed up to a rooftop bar at a nearby hotel "The Pantheon Hotel" for a cocktail and the staff put out these amazing little apps- we loved this touch!

BIG fan of the Aperol Spritz- one of Italy's Signature Cocktails!

I decided to throw on my tutu skirt that I bought specifically for Italy- I was unsure- thought it may be too over-the-top BUT I talked myself into it and thought if I can't wear this in Rome then where else will I wear it right?

 After that, we walked down to get the kids and walked to our dinner- another amazing little Roman restaurant!

and may I introduce "Gata Sexy?" Yes...Sexy Cat as we have named him...he is the result of street merchants hounding us and can you believe we are halfway across the world, and we find Shania Twain?  HA!  I still can't stop laughing!

 

 

There was a stop for gelato on the way back to our hotel- need to mention that Europeans eat very late so most nights we did not get back to our hotel until close to 11pm.

Sunday the 6th of August

We were up bright and early and walked over to the piazza to grab breakfast in one of the pretty cafes. 

 

 We loved this day as it was "free" with no booked tours.  We walked around at our leisure.

After breakfast, we walked to The Spanish Steps- another amazing landmark.

 

Then as we walked, Laurel found a cute little cafe so we stopped there for lunch and it ended up being my 2nd favorite meal in Italy- great pizza and a wonderful sparkling rose!

 Then we walked around a bit more and headed back to the hotel to get ready for dinner

We walked downtown for another great dinner-this night our dinner was more "nouveau" than others

 

Happy Birthday Gary/Gerry/Giusseppe!  ;)

Another stop for gelatto!

and a nightcap for the adults!

Monday The 7th of August

This was our last morning in Rome- we walked over to a little cafe for coffee and pastries- wanted to try the famous Maripoza but it was just ok- so glad we grabbed a sfogliatelle too because that was amazing!

Then it was time to check out of our hotel in room and hook up with our car service.  We had two cars that would be taking us down to Sorrento for the rest of our stay!

We had a really special and fun pit stop however at Mount Vesuvius and the Winery/Vineyard "Cantina de Vesuvius".  We enjoyed touring the vineyard, seeing how the wine was made and then a wonderful lunch and wine and vinegar tasting- it was unbelievable and the views were spectacular!

 

Then it was time to complete our trip to Sorrento....oh the views!

We stayed at the Hilton Sorrento Palace and it was just beautiful and so conveniently located right near the downtown area!  The pools and views were spectacular!

Our welcome cookies :)

That night, we walked into town for dinner.  I will say though we got great food throughout Sorrento and the islands, it was not nearly as wonderful as the food in Rome.  That was interesting!

Tuesday the 8th of August

We started with breakfast at our hotel which was included in the price of our room and let me tell you...it was such a beautiful buffet every darn day..I took advantage of all of the fresh fruit AND figs!!  One of my faves!

This is Eva's version of a healthy Italian breakfast- burrata and a doughnut- HA!

 

Then our day was spent on an amazing excursion to Amalfi and Positano.

We first took a bus down to the docks and then boarded our boat.  

The views were breathtaking

Our first stop was Amalfi for about 3 hours.  We decided to divide and conquer.  We let the kids walk around on their own, the guys did their own exploring and lunch and the ladies did ours.  We went into the cutest shops and had a great lunch of different kinds of grilled veggies, a caprese salad and of course the specialty of the area "Limoncello Spritzes"...there were lemons EVERYWHERE and they were the biggest I have ever seen!

 Rob's Lemon Slushie

Next Stop was Positano!

 

and it was a DREAM!

 

 

 

We did lots of walking around and then climbed so so many stairs as we were looking for the hotel that is in the book "One Italian Summer."

We successfully found it after walking miles only to find out they didn't open for cocktails until 6pm- eek!

That's ok- we prevailed and found a cafe next door with beautiful views and delicious spritzes ;)

and then I am happy to say that I finally got in the ocean this season!  Yes it had to be in Italy but I was SO happy and it was SO refreshing!

and then it was time to head back to Sorrento....

 

 

Wasn't his hat cute?  I snagged it on Amazon -right after this pic, it blew off into the ocean-ha!  It's ok, he snagged another cute one in Sorrento

 

 

"The Pidge"

 

We described the color of the water here as "sapphire"...it wasn't the aqua blue you find in the Caribbean but it was still so gorgeous and different!

Back at the hotel...

We got ready and headed upstairs to the Japanese Restaurant "J" which did not disappoint.  It was great to be able to have an easy dinner right in the hotel after our long day.

 

 

Then the adults enjoyed a night cap in the outdoor restaurant while Pidge enjoyed some more gelato of course!

We were excited too, as Suzy, Rob and the boys arrived!

Wednesday the 9th of August

Check out Diana's shirt-cute right? :)

This day we experienced our favorite excursion and that was taking a van to a nearby family farm.  We toured the farm and learned how this amazing family makes wine, vinegars, mozzarella and more.

 

Fig Trees....Olive Trees and Basil...the Fig Trees were my favorite!

 

 

Biggest Basil you have ever seen!

 

After the tour and demonstration, we got to make our own pizzas- it was so much fun and we had many laughs especially when the wife called Rob and me "disasters"...so funny!

I will tell you, however, it was some of the best pizza I have ever had an their homemade wine was incredible too!

They wrapped up the excursion by serving us charcuteries and limoncello shots...just perfect!

When we got back to Sorrento, the guys took the kids back to the hotel to swim for a bit.  The ladies headed out shopping and snagged our first pairs of sandals :)

Then we headed back to our hotel and got ready for dinner...unbeknownst to me, it would be a surprise birthday dinner for me "under the lemon trees" which was my dream!

It was an amazing night!

Thursday the 10th of August 

This was the day we were venturing to Capri- another dream!  There were more lemons- more beautiful architecture- custom made sandals  and more Limoncello Spritzers.  Also, in case I haven't mentioned, the tomatoes in Italy taste SO MUCH better than home so during most meals there was one or two caprese salads making the rounds too!

I did love Capri but I loved Amalfi and Positano just as much :)

Then the girls decided to do the sky ride- Rob and I were too scared- ha!

That night, we enjoyed the most spectacular views at dinner at a nearby hotel- just beautiful!

 

But first....twinning...ha ha!!!

 Suzy had been dying for cheesecake...she thought she finally got it...

But was quickly let down- ha~!

Pidge lost a tooth!

Friday The 11th of August

 

This was our last day in Italy!  We took a train tour to Pompei.  Though it wasn't my favorite excursion, it was interesting to learn about the history and see the ruins in this area.

 

That afternoon we relaxed by the pool- it was much needed and oh so luxurious!  

 

On our last night, we enjoyed one more fabulous dinner downtown...the wine list was the size of a giant novel- ha!  

 

Suzy FINALLY got her cheesecake! :)

 

and we stopped for one last gelato on our way back...and crashed hard!

Saturday the 12th of August 

We were up bright and early, got packed and enjoyed one last breakfast at our hotel...we even sat outside for a bit before the birds and bees became too much!

Our driver picked us up and brought us to the airport.  We flew back through Naples-will never do that again- the craziest and most unorganized airport I have ever been in.

Our layover in Paris made it worthwhile, however, as Laurel and I enjoyed recapping the trip and having the best champagne!

We then landed in Boston around 8:30pm.  The lines in customs were long but they moved and our driver whisked us home in record time.  We were so happy to sleep in our own beds and get Remi the following morning who had a rough week and stopped eating- my poor baby!

Anyway, this truly was the trip of a lifetime and I will be forever grateful...Italy will now always have a special place in my heart XO

 

 

 

 

 

 

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