Spent the day in Admirals Club in O’Hare waiting for our flight to Rome. Free food and beverages and got to take a shower! Fantastic!
Checked into our air bnb about 11:30. It’s gorgeous! View out our window is an orange tree that’s loaded with oranges and behind it are two hospitals. At noon, we did an awesome a Tuk Tuk tour with Andre that took us all around the City. We started at Aventino Hill, saw Circo Massismus where they did chariot races. We crossed the Tiber (Tevere in Italian) River into Trastevere. Trastavere means over the river and the best restaurants are here. We stopped at Giancolo hill which has the best view of the city. Stopped at Fontanone statue, Piazza Novona which has Four river’s fountain by Bernini, went into the Pantheon, stopped at Trevi fountain and Piazza Venezia. It was a 2.5 hour tour. It was about 92 degrees when we got done and we were beat.
Came back to our apartment and took a Power nap. We all were exhausted.
At 5:45 we had a street food tour. We met in Campo di Fiore (market of flowers). They were cleaning up the market (produce) when we got there. They set it up and tear it down every day. To get there we walked to the Colosseum and got a taxi from there. We’ve come to the conclusion that there are no traffic rules. You have to be aggressive. Glad I don’t have to drive. Andrea was our tour guide. We did 5 stops for food, got lots of history from Andre and had a fantastic experience. 5 stops: salami and wine, suppli - yum!, pizza - margherita and marinara, Jerusalem artichoke in the Jewish Ghetto and finished with a gelato. I had a non dairy strawberry gelato that was amazing.
The cat sanctuary was across the street and it is also the place where Julius Caesar was assassinated (Ides of March) . We got a cab back. It was nice and cool by that time.We ate lunch before going on our Colosseum tour-paid $10 for bread and two bottles of water that went with our pasta dishes. Toured the Colosseum and Roman Forum. Elizabeta was our tour guide. It was hot-98 degrees. The tour was a gladiator tour. Michael had booked an underground tour, but something got messed up with the ticketing and we didn’t get go underground. The colosseum is one of the 7 wonders of the world. It is quite amazing what they were able to build in that time period. After the colosseum tour, we went to the Roman Forum. Lots of walking, hot, hot, hot and uneven ground. We filled our water bottles from the fountains. I didn’t appreciate it as much as I should have because I was so hot and it was a 3 hour long tour.
We went back to our apartment after the colosseum to cool down and got picked up there at 7:30 for our Rome by night tour. Our tour guide was Amira. We had a pasta dinner at Restaurante Trevini in Piazza Novona that was very good. Four winds fountain by Bernini is in the Piazza Novona. We were with the Wilson family, Rennie, Rhonda, Ashley and Becca. The tour guide called scooters and motorcycles mosquitos. We stopped at Gianocolo hill for a view of the city by night, St. Peter’s Basilica, Spanish steps and Italian shopping district, Trevi fountain, had gelato (raspberry and dark chocolate) and stopped for a picture of the Colosseum. She dropped us off at our apartment.
Following a night of little sleep, we got up early for our tour at the Vatican. We had trouble getting a taxi so we were a little late for the tour, but we made it. We toured St. Peter’s Basilica, climbed the cupola. Then we went to the Vatican museum and toured that. It was hot-no air conditioning because of the art. Sistine chapel was at the very end. We were so tired and hot by the end that we didn’t appreciate the Sistine chapel nearly enough. The tour started at 8 and ended at 1 pm. Lots of walking. St. Peter’s basilica is magnificent. Tons of art work in the Vatican museum. Our tour guide said if we spent 30 seconds looking at each piece of art, we would be there 6 months!
We had about an hour to cool off at our apartment before our food tour in Trastevere which was from 4-8. We made 4 stops, Trapazzino, charcuterie board, pasta and pizza and finished with gelato. We had wine at the first 3 stops and all of us liked the wine. Turns out we all like wine if it’s Italian.
Slept in today. Went to a market near our apartment and bought some souvenirs from some local artists. Michael had arranged a private transfer for us to the airport at 3. Got to the airport with plenty of time. While Laura, Ardeshir, Kallyn and Anna were waiting for their taxi, two of their bags were stolen. They had Ardeshir’s suit, his medications and the girl’s dresses for the wedding. Ardeshir bought a new shirt in the Rome airport. Got to Dubrovnik around 8:00. Mike and Carol were already there. They got in around 4 from Zagreb. We hopped in the pool and enjoyed some snacks, wine and Croatian beer.
Took it easy in the morning. Walked down to Old Town after breakfast. The walk down was easy, the walk back was strenuous-a little too much for Mike and Carol. We found Pile gate so we knew where to meet the next day for our excursion. Isabelle wasn’t feeling well. We took it easy in the afternoon, swimming in the pool. Got a few groceries and made dinner at the Villa.
Took a day trip to Montenegro. Beautiful country, mountains and sea. First stop was our lady of the Rocks- man made island with a church on it.
Spent a couple hours in Old Town in Kotor. Stray cats everywhere. Cats are left to roam because they were introduced after the plague to control the rodent population. People feed them. It was hot. Everyone in the wedding group was on the tour except for Nema and Tiasha. Farry climbed the trail up to the church on the side of the mountain. Isabelle and I checked it out, but it was 10€ and we were not going to have time to climb up the whole way. The Old Town was a smaller version of Dubrovnik. Shops and food all over inside the walls.
Had a late lunch, early dinner at this beautiful little restaurant that seem to be hidden. Had a beautiful bamboo arch at the entrance and lots of beautiful plants. Michael and the girls had beefsteak and gnocchi-wasn’t that amazing. I had prawn and squid gnocchi-don’t like squid. Ardeshir and Mike had octopus. Grace tasted it and said it was good. After our me, we stopped for swimming-across the road from the restaurant.
Did sea kayaking this morning before the wedding. Isabelle’s not feeling well this morning so she didn’t go with us. We did 2 person kayaks grouped like this:Michael and Grace; Nema and Tiasha; David and Anna; Me and Kallyn; Farry-single person kayak. Our guide was Karla. She figured out quickly that we weren’t experienced kayakers. We stopped at a cave and did snorkeling. Saw lots of fish and a few jellyfish. Grace loved it. We paddled to the island and then back to Old Town. Paddling back was hard work. Waves were big and wind was blowing against us.
Wedding day for Laura and Ardeshir! Beautiful setting! Simple and elegant wedding. 15 minute ceremony and after we took pictures and enjoyed a glass of champagne. Then we headed to a lovely 5 course dinner that took us 4 hours to eat.
Laura and Ardeshir organized and paid for a sea cave tour for the wedding guests. Isabelle and Carol were sick so they stayed back at the Villa. Michael stayed back with them. We stopped at 2 different cave areas and stoped at Kolocep island. Had lunch on the island and got back to the Villa
Ordered dinner and had it at our Villa. Michael, Grace and I walked down to old town after dinner and bought some souvenirs.
Last day in Dubrovnik. Took a pic of the ladies in the swimsuit cover ups that Mary Louise made for all of us. Took pics of some flowers. Got picked up at 1. Flight left about 4.
Landed in Rome about 5. Stayed at an Airbnb in Fiumincino. Got dinner from a little cafe next to our Airbnb. Went for a walk down by the Tyrrhenian Sea. Then it was time for bed.
Got picked up at 7:45. Took about an hour to get through all the checks in airport. Flight left Rome at 11:55 pm. Next stop, America! Yay!
Got to Ohare about 3:00 local time. Had to go through customs, got our bags, had to drop them off again and go through security again. Flight to Fargo not leaving until 8:45 pm, which feels like 3:45 am. We hung out in the Admirals Club. Had dinner and took a shower.