Italy 2021 – Rome Day 2

Today we visited the Colosseum and the areas nearby including the Forum and Palentine Hill. Lots of ruins in all 3 areas, made me think about how they were built and lived around 2000 years ago. I wonder what has changed and what’s stayed the same between the people living then and now. Not to mention the time in between when the world was a much darker place. One issue we had was a lot of exits/entrances were closed likely due to COVID so we had a hard time finding our way out.

After lunch at a nearby open market we went to the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps. Both were crowded and touristy but worth the visit. Had dinner at a nice restaurant across the river then gelato one last time.

Italy 2021 – Rome Day 1

Started the day with walk to the Vatican to meet our group tour guide for the Vatican and St Peter’s Basilica. Guide was very knowledgeable about the history of the Vatican and of the artwork inside. She took us around the Vatican museum and showed us the highlights of the various galleries. After we walked to St Peter’s square and visited the basilica.

After lunch we visited the Pantheon, free to get in but had to wait 20 min or so to get in, not too bad versus how it must be normally.

Italy 2021 – Lake Como

Yesterday, took the train 1 hour north from Milan to Lake Como. It’s a pretty lake with small towns along its shoreline. We stayed at a town called Bellano and took a ferry across the lake to Menaggio for the afternoon.

Today we went to the town of Bellagio and Varrena before taking a train down to Rome in the afternoon (4 hours to Rome with transfer in Milan). Lake Como is picturesque and very touristy. But it was a nice change from the big city.

Italy 2021 – Milan Day 3

Started the day at McDonald’s for a cheap breakfast. Eggs, bacon and coffee for 3.50 euros and a chocolate croissant for 1 euro. Went to the Cimitero Monumentale where they have many intricate family monuments.

Afterwards, went to the nearby Chinatown to eat some non-Italian food. Fun to see Chinese people speaking fluent Italian. Got street food and boba. Not the greatest, food, it was average but it was reasonably priced and not Italian food.

Saw the Sforzesco Castle in the afternoon and the Sempione Park next to it; both were underwhelming next to other parks and castles I’ve seen in Europe. Had a nice dinner in the Navigli area before heading back.

Italy 2021 – Milan

Started the day at a nice pastry shop. Next went to an area north of the main part of the city with unique buildings and green spaces. Had lunch with the family then visited the Duomo; went inside the cathedral then climbed the stairs to check out the roof for views of the spires and other architectural features of the building as well as views of the city.

Italy 2021 – Bologna & Milan

Nice breakfast at the hotel in Bologna. Saw a couple more churches and ate some of the local specialties like tortellini con brodo and spinach lasagna. Not to mention gelato again.

Took train to Milan, about an hour ride. After checking into hotel met up with the family at the Duomo. Next to the Duomo is a very nice and fancy shopping area. Ate pizza for dinner then went to the AirBnb where the other family members were staying; it was a bit out of the way, 15 min away from the main part of the city.

Italy 2021 – Bologna

Flew from LA to Bologna vis Frankfurt today. Long travel day and it’s pretty hot in Italy this time of year. Walked around the city center, there’s a main square with lots of churches, shops and restaurants. Had some gelato and pasta for dinner.