Capturing our family journeys! Our trips are venturing outward from "vacations" to exploration of the unfamiliar and it is THRILLING. Caitlin and Molly have their maps and are ready to pack their backpacks for the next adventure.
Perks
of staying in the ❤️ of Rome = sunrise delights! Molly and I may have
frightened a few pigeons with our high-pitched giggles as we gallivanted
through the empty Piazza Della Rotondra. Wowsers - the Pantheon looks
so majestic in the morning sun and the main square is HUGE without all
the people.
It's 6am in Rome!
Love our hotel Albergo Abruzzi!
Heavy Lifting
Molly size car :)
After wandering a bit, we headed back to pick up Rob and Caitlin. It was still so early, that the coffee shop wasn't yet open.
With
some grumbling, we roused the other half awake and got them outside.
Rome is incredible with ruins just about everywhere and the
juxtaposition to the modern buildings makes them even more impressive.
We tripped over these ruins smack dab in the middle of our walking path. Gosh, we are loving Rome!
Free
ice cold drinking water from one of the city's 2500 traditional
free-flowing water fountains. You will come to appreciate these
fountains!
The full
Chic Family crew shaking off sleep stood giddy before a near-empty
Trevi Fountain. Trust me, this is a huge deal as a later stroll showed
us absolute zero view of any water due to the throngs of wall-to-wall
people.
Two clowns. At the Trevi Fountain.
The
Trevi Fountain is one of the oldest water sources in Rome dating back
to ancient Roman times, since the construction of the Aqua Virgo
Aqueduct in 19 B.C. that provided water to the Roman baths and the
fountains of central Rome. It’s said that the Aqua Virgo, or Virgin
Waters, is named in honor of a young Roman girl who led thirsty soldiers
to the source of the spring to drink. (Walks of Italy - 9 Surprising Trevi Fountain Facts)
With our crowd-free access right to the front we set up for our obligatory coin toss,
a tradition to guarantee return travels. Some questions - right hand or
left hand, over right shoulder or left, eyes closed or open?
Oh, yes. We tossed many coins just to be sure. Guess
where we went after breakfast? My 4th time in the Pantheon 😂 but this
time was the best because it was near EMPTY and the whole crew was
together.
We are such tourists!
Cheesy Family Portrait 😂
Now,
we were actually supposed to have our Colosseum Underground VIP Tour
today, but just a few weeks before travel we received a notification
that it had to be rescheduled to the following afternoon (tomorrow).
This would be combined with our already scheduled Vatican tour making
for a full day. Rather than try to fill the unexpected break in this
day with another tour, we kept it chill and simply ate, drank, and
soaked in the vibe. Oh, wait. We did do a surprise tour in the evening
and it was awesomely spooky - can you guess?
Yes, champagne and beer! 😂
Caitlin
is making herself right at home with frequent visits to gelato shops.
We encourage the children to be independent and explore on their own
when we travel, especially in local markets. I love the confidence I
see in the girls as they effortlessly interact with all peoples.
Champagne, beer... limoncello?! These things just happen 😂. Rome service for the win!
There's something about Piazza Navona that kept us coming back!
We
just realized that this heavily guarded building that we keep passing
is actually the seat of the Senate of the Italian Republic - Madama
Palace.
A
last minute booking with Walks of Italy for an after-dark private viewing of Bones, Crypts,
and Catacombs was a definite hit! We thought Molly would be scared, but
she proclaimed it an AWESOME OH WOW AMAZING SUPER COOL experience (we
concluded that she liked it 😂).
Entrance to Catacombs
We
enter here to begin our evening of strolling Bones, Crypts, and
Catacombs 👻! I told my joke of "So, there's this movie where the
tourists...". Rob didn't think it funny 😂
Just so you know, none of the catacomb pics are
mine. They are actually pics I took of postcards that I purchased at the
sight. No photography is allowed.
This
tour was fascinating and because it was unplanned, we had no idea what
to expect to see. Real human bones are displayed as "art"! Our tour first took us to the Catacomb of Santa Priscilla. One of Rome's first underground
Christian cemeteries (dating back to 150 years before Christianity was
legalized), this site has extraordinary ancient frescoes, eerie tunnels
and the world's single oldest depiction of the Virgin Mary.
We
visited another site that was even more shocking – the Capuchin bone
crypt, a cemetery literally built from bones! The chambers are decorated
with the remains of some 4,000 friars. For kids, it’s a fascinating
lesson in anatomy and for adults, a moving reminder of what we’ll all
become. The message at the end of crypt says it all: “What you are now,
we once were. What we are now, you will be.”
Finally,
we visited Basilica San Nicola in Carcere, the very center of 3rd
century BC Rome in the midst of three separate temples. We descended
through a crypt used in the 12th century for exorcisms, passing stacks
of ancient human bone fragments.
All
along the tour, we enjoyed our guide's vast knowledge and great
storytelling. It appears that you can visit these sights on your own,
but I can't imagine not having a guide. We may not retain the
knowledge, but to hear it, absorb it, and let our imagine run wild while
in the moment - priceless! Our girls are still regaling us with their
memories of the catacombs of Rome.
After the tour, we wandered about back near the Pantheon and stumbled into a real gem for dinner - Achille Pantheon. Both kids got their own whole fish. And, proceeded to devour it.
Roma artichoke 😋 so delicious!
Today,
we discovered ourselves falling victim to what seems to be the normal
operandi of complimentary welcome drinks (champagne) pre-meal followed
by complimentary drinks (limoncello) post-meal. Perhaps, we are just
getting even better at our restaurant selections!
Tomorrow is our go-hard day in Rome, so off to 😴 Buona Notte, Dormi Bene da Roma!
Ciao
from Rome! We have arrived 🇮🇹 pic taken by our driver after he
deposited us in front of the Pantheon at our hotel. Yes, we are standing
RIGHT IN FRONT of our hotel here facing the Pantheon! Pinch me 😍
We hadn't planned to go on any trips this summer after our epic 6 Weeks in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia
last year. But, my parents who are avid cruisers were keen that we all
(3 adult children, spouses, and 4 grandkids) take a family cruise. I
really don't care for cruises in general, but when I found out they were
looking at a Mediterranean Cruise (their first time in Europe), it
suddenly became something I could get onboard (hahaha, see what I did
there).
We quickly made the decision to include a couple weeks traveling Italy
pre-cruise. Let me tell you - we ended up with some lifetime memories
of special experiences! I'm so excited to share a few hidden gems we
found and hopefully you will see something you may want to add to your
itinerary plans. If anything, you will surely be convinced that Italy
in the summer is a great idea!
If
you have been following us, then you know that we strive to be carry-on
only. This trip was no exception and was quite easy to manage with
summer travel.
"Before anything else, preparation is the key to success." ~Alexander Graham Bell
Pre-Trip Planning
I spent endless hours pondering our itinerary. Reflecting back, I
wouldn't have changed a thing. Putting the Amalfi Coast at the top of
our wishlist resulted in us stumbling over the treasure that is Matera.
Matera is really what led us to get a rental car. It's not easily
accessible by public transport, but it is well worth the extra effort to
visit this incredible place.
Caitlin at some point realized that she would be spending her 12th birthday
on a plane returning home post-cruise. For some reason, this didn't
appeal to her. Lo and behold, we added a 2nd mini-road trip of Italy
onto the tail end of our trip for a very special birthday celebration.
She has the best parents ever, right?! I know, totes. We added Orvieto
as the perfect wrap-up destination with a planned stay in the
semi-abandoned hilltop village of Civita Di Bagnoregio for her special
birthday treat.
Flights
I
booked our tickets as soon as the flights were released, roughly 10
months in advance. I played around with Google Flights and found that I
could save $4000 by flying out of Newark. I would also be able to get a
direct flight. It's about a 3hr drive and we would have parking fees
for a month, but FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS!!!! It was a no-brainer. Flights
were booked with United Airlines. I don't know where you sit on the
plane, but you'll find us squished in towards the back. Tours
I
pre-booked all of our transfers and tours (found on the Internet) in
advance. Some I paid in full, others I paid a deposit to secure the
reservation. Every single one of them I would do again. A couple of
them were phenomenal.
Every
hotel was booked well ahead of time. I booked two directly -
Marincanto (secured with one night deposit) and Sextantio le Grotte
della Civita. These two are absolutely amazing places that do get fully
booked, so I would recommend securely them well in advance. I used
Booking.com for the rest and paid for those at each stay.
Rental Car
This
one is another PLUS for carry-on only luggage. Streets are tiny and
narrow, so you will want a small vehicle. I reserved and paid in full
(0 deductible) our rental car (compact automatic) booked online through
AutoEurope with Hertz as the selected provider. I actually did two
separate bookings since we would need two rental periods. Printed off my
confirmations vouchers and that was it. Everything went so smoothly
that I'm using AutoEurope again for our upcoming Finland trip.
Final Itinerary
Departure East Coast, USA to Rome, Italy (morning arrival)
Day 1: Rome, Italy (Albergo Abruzzi)
Day 2: Rome, Italy (Albergo Abruzzi)
Day 3: Rome, Italy (Albergo Abruzzi)
Day 4: Positano, Italy (Marincanto)
Day 5: Positano, Italy (Marincanto)
Day 6: Positano, Italy (Marincanto)
Day 7: Positano, Italy (Marincanto)
Day 8: Positano, Italy (Marincanto)
Day 9: Sassi di Matera, Italy (Sextantio le Grotte della Civita)
Day 10: Sassi di Matera, Italy (Sextantio le Grotte della Civita) Day 11: Civitavecchia, Italy (Alibrandi Palace) Day 12: Civitavecchia, Italy (Alibrandi Palace) Day 13: Bon Voyage, Anchors Away! (Celebrity Reflections)
Day 14: Livorno, Italy (Cruise)
Day 15: Ville Franche de Sur Mer, French Riviera, France (Cruise)
Day 16: Barcelona, Spain (Cruise)
Day 17: Barcelona, Spain (Cruise)
Day 18: Sea Day! (Cruise)
Day 19: The Rock, Gibraltar (Cruise)
Day 20: Malaga, Spain (Cruise)
Day 21: Cartagena, Spain (Cruise) Day 22: Sea Day! (Cruise) Day 23: Palma de Mallorca, Spain (Cruise)
Day 24: Orvieto, Italy (Locanda Rosati)
Day 25: Orvieto, Italy (Locanda Rosati)
Day 26: Civita di Bagnoregio, Italy (Libera Mente)
Day 27: Fiumicino, Italy (Golden Tulip Rome Airport)
Day 28: Home, Sweet Home! USA
To
say we were excited is an understatement. After a year of planning,
the day of departure had finally arrived. We were well prepared, but
still felt the usual butterflies that always accompany the hope of
smooth and uneventful flight travel.
Day 1 - Rome, Sweet Rome
It
was an easy 3 hour drive to Newark International Airport. We had an
early evening flight, so avoided rush hour and took our time. I had
prepaid for our long term parking at Newark Long Term Parking. I chose
this outfit based on Google reviews. It was easy to find and easy
in/out. They give you a card with your parking spot # and instructions
for contacting them upon return.
I
will mention that I was able to get a significant discount by booking
with Park Ride Fly USA. They appear to offer parking discounts at
airports around the country.
Newark
Airport was delightful. We checked in and managed our way through
security. Per our travel tradition (since we always arrive HOURS
early), we settled in comfortably for a nice bite to eat.
Before long, it was time to board. No delays, and we were off!
Goodbye, USA!
Hello, Italy!
It
was morning when we exited the plane and swiftly cleared through
Customs. Easily found an ATM machine and withdrew several hundred euro
without issue. We
didn't see our driver when we entered the Arrivals Hall, but there's
wi-fi available, so a quick text was all that was needed to get us to
the same meet point. Into the car and headed into Rome proper, we
nearly lost our minds at our first sighting of the city. Nothing
prepares you for the overwhelming beauty and the richness of Rome. Be
still my heart. I'll never forget.
Then,
our driver drove into the piazza of the Pantheon. Jaws dropped
stunned. We exited the vehicle before it came to a full stop.
Backpacks thrown aside onto the ground and luggage forgotten, we ran in
circles giggling uncontrollably. Much to the amusement of our driver.
We
are staying in this prime location at the cutest boutique hotel Albergo
Abruzzi. We were warmly greeted by the front desk and though it was
early morning, they had 1 of our 2 rooms ready. I had booked 2 Pantheon
view rooms so the kids could have their own room AWAY from us. The
hotel kindly put both our rooms on the same floor.
Kids Hogging the View from Our Room
The
view was to-die-for and we really enjoyed our stay here for simply
hanging out our windows. The hotel has a complimentary breakfast at a
restaurant just across the piazza in front of the Pantheon. It's lovely
alfresco seating and the staff was just as kind there as they are at
the hotel.
View from Kids Room
After we sorted ourselves from the journey, we were ready to head out and explore. And by explore, I mean EAT.
Piazza della Rotonda
Piazza della Rotonda
We
just sort of wandered about dazzled by all the architecture before our
eyes. Not sure how we came to a decision, but we found ourselves drawn
into a lovely little shop. It was a perfect first meal after the long
travel.
After
lunch, we meandered our way (after asking for directions from the
restaurant) to Piazza Navona. Turns out, it was just around the
corner. Now, I was already feeling pretty good about Italy, but this
pretty much sealed the deal. The vibe was just AMAZING.
Piazza Navona
Piazza Navona
It was getting hot, so Caitlin and Molly were over the moon to finally try Italian gelato. #Winner!
Afterwards, we headed back to the hotel for some rest. By rest, I mean ditch the kids. Hahahaha.
So, with
the kids deposited back at the hotel, Rob and I headed out to further
explore. And, by explore...yes again, I mean, EAT! Goodness, we are
so well matched for Italy.
With body clocks out of sync from travel, I had the pleasure of seeing the interior of the Pantheon 3 times with 3 different people 😂 (and we have plans to go inside again tomorrow morning when it opens 😂).
Pantheon
Visit #1: We just couldn't resist. So, we hopped in the quickly
moving line. It was interesting watching the security stop people for
various reasons. One couple tried to bring their rolling luggage in
with them - nope.
We
then went down this alley and found the Mother
Ship that is Caffe Tazza D'Oro and got our first in-country espressos.
Mmm, mmm. Properly fueled, we were (SHOCKER) ready for that snack.
My
bestie back home had highly recommended Antica Salumeria to me. She
said I would thank her later. Hands down, I'm still thanking her. It's
actually located right next to the complimentary breakfast for the
hotel. Right in front of the Pantheon. Can't miss it. Make sure you
go here. You will thank me later.
The highlight of my day was leaving the kids in the hotel and #hotdate#kidfree having a "platter" of Rome delights🍷 in this heaven in a shop! Don't worry, I managed perfectly fine to stuff my face at dinner. Hahahaha.
We
brought leftovers (along with some extra purchases) back to the hotel.
Time to chill. I showed Molly the Pantheon pics and she insisted on
going down right away. Rob opted to stayed behind with Caitlin while I
took her.
Pantheon Visit #2: Just the two of us, it was special.
A bit more crowded, I let her lead the way and watched her around as
she took it all in.
So,
I get back to the room with Molly and Caitlin pops up from her iPad
asking where we went. Seriously? She then pouts that she got left
behind (so untrue), so out we go. Again, Rob opts to stay behind with
Molly as I head back down with Caitlin.
Pantheon Visit #3: Anybody else? Hahahaha.
We
summed up an incredible evening in Rome having dinner all'aperto
taking it slow until almost midnight (2nd benefit 👍 of jet lag is being able hang where dinner at 9pm is the norm).
As
the Pantheon closed its doors, we wandered out for our first evening in
Rome with plans to head back to Piazza Navona for dinner.
It's still busy, but the musicians have come out and are getting the crowd joyful around the Piazza della Rotonda.
So many choices in Piazza Navona. We found ourselves warmly invited into a busy (a good sign!) spot around the main square.
Oh
my gosh, delicious grilled seafood for us and pasta no-leftovers for
the kids. We made the start of this summer adventure official with our
traditional family toast - SALUTI!
Do you think we left room for dessert? Seriously, are we just meeting... of course we did!
We
were tired from the day's travel, but felt so relaxed and in no rush to
turn in for the night. Plus, we could barely lift ourselves after that
incredible meal! Musicians came to play in front of us and we were
amused watching the police chase them and others off. As soon as the
police moved on, the vendors and entertainers would return. It was a
fascinating dance to watch.
The
vibe here is so incredible and uplifting - we are absolutely loving
it! It is such great fun just walking around the main square and
observing all the various on-goings.
Back in our room, we joined in the merriment and sang ourselves into slumber.
