Travels in Italy with the famiglia

After my grandparents' trip to Italy, I think my Grandpa has serious intentions to trade in his Ford Impala for one of these little guys. I love this pic.

So after a painstakingly unstable relationship with my internet connection (don't take this as complaining), I am FINALLY updating my blog with my incredibly wonderful experience with my family in Italy. My mom, step-dad John, and grandparents came to Italy for 13 days in the couple of weeks before Easter. Bottom line: We had a great time. We experienced Rome, Venice, Florence, Sienna, and the Tuscany countryside and smaller towns. I really wanted to put all of the pictures (some 200) on my blog for all of you to see, but just like any great rockstar deciding on the final cut for a new CD, I had to dwindle it down to 24. Many of you have already seen a lot of my site seeing pictures of Rome and Florence from previous blog posts. So, there was no need for me to post them again (although I wanted to). Also, I'm going to do something a bit different on this post. Instead of a chronological walkthrough of our trip with images, I'm going to jump around a lot...let it flow as they say. If you would like a chronological day-to-day synopsis of the trip, please consult the journal of John R. O'Malley. He did a great job of documenting the trip (regardless of all the fun I poked at him). Props.

Here we are in a view of the countryside of the town of Sienna. My mom was adament in us walking 10 miles around the countryside, but we couldn't find a good path to get out and around. But seriously, some of the best and most surprising things we encountered on this trip were when we were just walking around all day, wandering around without a destination. If it wasn't for my mom's persistence in 8-10 miles every afternoon, we might not have seen as much! But it's a pretty beautiful countryside, eh?

The Campo in Sienna. This is the main piazza in Sienna and always full of people just hanging out. What do people do all day? I think I'll stay.

My mom and I just being us.

The castle in the Tuscany countryside which also serves as a winery. We did a wine tour here (complete with tasting at the end). Great experience.

And here we are with our driving guide Paolo and tour guide (in the back), Matsio. They were incredibly hospitable the entire day. It was only us on the tour as well so it was intimate and personable...which we loved.

Matsio, myself, Mom, Grandpa, and Grandma at the Castle during the wine tour.

Tuscany countryside...che bellissima

While we were in Florence we ventured up into the hills and ECCO, we saw some of the best views of the city possible. I'll never forget.

So, I finally saw the "real" statue of David on my third trip to Florence. I had been to Florence two times previously and saw the replica statue of David in a piazza in Florence. They moved the real statue into this museum some time ago in order to better preserve it. It was funny, you walk into the room where David stands and there is this mass crowd of people staring at it. Some giggling, but some just standing in awe at Michelangelo's genius in sculptural design. You can still giggle if you want.

Venice, for me, was the most unique experience of the trip. Here is a picture of the Grand Canal on the one sunny day we had in Venice. The other days of rain...well, you'll see...

Another pic of the nice day. Please go to Venice if you ever get the chance.

We didn't come fully prepared for the elements, so we had to buy some 5 euro umbrellas from street vendors (I talked them down to 3 euros). However, these umbrellas should have come complete with a warning label reading: "WARNING! Crappy umbrellas like these last 24 hours...Max. Please refrain from using these pieces of sh** when wind is blowing or they will immediately break. You are a sucker for buying them, also. But what do you expect fo 5 euros, you sucker?" So, here are my mom and I at the end of the day with our wonderful umbrellas.

Umbrellas pre-destruction.

At dinner with John and Mom.

Strolling around Florence

Mom and I on the Ponte Vecchio (the most famous bridge in Florence).

John and I observing the Arno River. This has become a tradition for me everytime I'm in Florence. A "pondering" pic. Happy Birthday to Junior too, as it says on the pavement below.

John and I on top of the Duomo in Florence. We're pointing here, as seen.

Carlos from Mexico; myself, Mom and John from the U.S.; and Lukas from Germany at the Campo dei Fiori in Rome. We had 4 languages going in one night: English, Italian, un poco in Spanish, and ein wenig in German. It was quite interesting and fun.

Mom and I at la Fontana di Trevi in Roma.

Day at the Colosseum.

Apperitivo...come gli Italiani.

At the Roman Forum. One of my favorite things to show guests in Rome.

We also went to the Vatican, had a couple of meals at Sant' Anselmo, all the big piazzas in Rome, Pantheon, churches, and more. Like I said before, I want to put every pic on here, but then you might get bored and go to youtube. I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed showing my family around. It's great every time I have family or friends here in its own special way. Some of the funniest times were when we would be sitting around at meals. Inside jokes from the trip:

Grandpa: I would like a hot cup of "The."
Grandma: The "Unisex" bathroom.
Mom: The free, constantly running water fountains all over the place.
John (you have 2): Your journal (although I'm glad you did it) and your "walking" pictures of us.

Like I said, they are inside jokes, so I'm sorry if they aren't funny to others. You can use your imagination.

I have a lot of updates to give from my BVC service at Sant' Anselmo. Easter was incredible here. I hope to blog that experience soon (complete with pictures of the Pope again). Also for blogging, this week at Sant' Anselmo I'll be painting a design of a fish in the swimming pool. Lukas and I have recently painted a fresh coat of shiny blue paint in the pool. Yeah, I know I know, a swimming pool?...life is tough here. It is greatly utilized by the residents here, though. Anyway, there will not be so long of a wait between blog posts this time. Tomorrow, I paint. And I cannot believe I have less than two months left here in Rome. In all honesty, I am not ready to leave yet. After all, I still need to fix this injustice of the 24-hour umbrella...

Arrivederci per adesso,

Brady