italy – Forths.com

Benvenuto a Palermo!

Kevin Forth — Sat, 07 Oct 2023 08:55:00 +0000

Welcome to Palermo. We landed in Palermo, Sicily, on October 6 after a short, 45 minute flight from Rome. The Mediterranean weather was perfect so Deb and I took a short walk around the water after breakfast. It feels nice to visit a city where my ancestors once lived more than 100 years ago.

We have not yet toured the area, so I don’t have a lot of pictures to post yet. These pictures were taken during our short walk this morning. More to come, so check back soon.

A palm tree loaded with fruits

Milan

Kevin Forth — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 06:16:33 +0000

As we head to the border for a nice afternoon in Switzerland, I thought I’d post a few pictures of Milan. The Milan Cathedral took 6 centuries to complete and is quite massive. It’s the largest church in Italy and fifth largest in the world. We also toured LA Scala, an opera house that opened in 1778.

Thanks for checking in. We leave Italy tomorrow and will certainly miss the beauty.

Venice

Kevin Forth — Wed, 19 Apr 2017 15:25:45 +0000

Yesterday we arrived in Venice and saw the first rain and cool weather of the trip. The chilly weather didn’t last long, though, as we woke to sunshine on Wednesday. Our hotel is just a short walk from the Piazza San Marco, which is a large town square and central point. The tower of St. Mark’s Campanile and St. Mark’s Basilica are at the end of the piazza.

We enjoyed a gondola ride while listening to Italian songs played by a accordion player and sung by a very good singer. The evening will end with a fine meal at a nearby restaurant, undoubtedly with more wine. I’m getting used to this lifestyle.

Pisa and Wine Tasting in Tuscany

Kevin Forth — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 18:48:04 +0000

Today we took a short drive from Florence to visit Pisa. The Leaning Tower is certainly the main attraction, but the architecture of the nearby cathedral is wonderful. Construction of the tower started in 1173 and lasted more than 199 years. Pisa is also filled with countless “street merchants” selling fake sunglasses and handbags.

Following Pisa we relaxed at a quiet vineyard in Tuscany for a meal and wine tasting. The event was fun and the host was funny and knowledgeable. We even tried some different olive oils.

Tomorrow we leave Florence and head to Venice.

Florence

Kevin Forth — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 04:53:38 +0000

On our way from Sorrento to Florence, one cannot help but notice the ancient Roman structures along the way. Some are still in good condition and are used for housing or business, while some are only a crumbled pile of stone, protected by law and left in place. Gypsies occupy some structures that offer shelter, including concrete war bunkers.

When arriving in Florence, one can step to an overlook that provides a panoramic view of a city that hasn’t changed much since the days of Michaelangelo and Da Vinci. It’s not possible to capture the impact of this scene in pictures.

Like everything else in Florence, our hotel is old, too, and offers a beautiful view of a Florentine square, with terra cotta roofed buildings. I expect that Florence will look much the same 500 years from now.

Sorrento and Capri

Kevin Forth — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 05:51:24 +0000

It’s difficult to imagine a more appealing seaside than Sorrento and the nearby isle of Capri. The tall cliffs, blue Mediterranean waters and classic architecture are straight out of a renaissance painting.

Capri is surrounded by massive cliffs and clear blue waters. Quiet streets are dotted with small shops and cafes. Lemon and orange trees fill every corner. Capri exceeded my expectations.

Arrived in Rome

Kevin Forth — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 14:16:26 +0000

We arrived in Rome around 9am local time (3 am Detroit time). The Ambasciatori Palace hotel is nice, and in the old section of Rome. Over the next few days we’ll tour the Vatican and will see the Colosseum, among other sites.

It’s slow to update these pages using my phone or tablet, so the updates may take a bit. Until next time, Addio!