A Mom Travels Italy
Landing in Italy was exciting, yet terrifying. Flying from a small town in Minnesota to another country was an experience I never imagined even possible. The excitement of spending time with my daughter who was spending her last semester of college in Italy kept me grounded and calmed my worry.
Flying through Paris on my way to Rome was my first experience in another country–and my first time officially using my passport. I soon realized the biggest secret about traveling abroad was that everyone else speaks English too. The few words I memorized in advance, disappeared from my mind as fast as I had learned them. They were nowhere to be found.
Connecting Flights in Paris
Transferring planes at Charles de Gaulle airport was definitely its own experience. There wasn’t much to see in 90 minutes in a different country between flights. Hurrying my way through the airport didn’t give many hints that I was in Paris, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I was focused on getting through Immigration, which felt like going through security, and then onto boarding so I wouldn’t miss my connecting flight.
Landing in Rome at Rome Fiumicino Airport is not really Rome I discovered. My first destination was the train station which required a 20-mile transfer. I honestly thought I was already at the train station only to discover my ticket wasn’t working to enter the boarding area. I missed my first train which was my first learning experience. Again, fortunately, everyone spoke English and soon I was boarding the high-speed Italia Rail passing through the countryside of Italy.
Discovering Cinque Terre
My daughter magically found me at the La Spezia Centrale where we made our way to Cinque Terre. It was so exciting to see Emma in Italy. Even more exciting was she had already found where we were staying and how to navigate to our hotel.
We spent two nights in Cinque Terre which is an area on the coastline where the cliffs overlook the Mediterranean Sea. Our hotel was in the little village of Manarola. We walked the stone streets exploring the little shops and then moved on to other cute villages… but Manarola was my favorite. Monterosso had the most beautiful beach and view of the crystal clear water alongside the Italian Riviera.
Moving on from Cinque Terre we headed to Milan on the Italia Rail. The most beautiful train station is Milano Centrale. I was fascinated by the architecture until walking outside and seeing the Duomo di Milano–the largest most elaborate Gothic architecture cathedral in the world. It’s hard not to be amazed by its beauty!
Easter Sunday in Milan
We found our way to a church service at Santa Maria delle Grazie on Easter with hopes to see the mural of The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. That experience was short-lived and we didn’t get to see the mural. But we were so close. The next two days were spent experiencing the culture of Milan and observing the holiday. We toured the Sforza Castle and a tour of the Duomo Cathedral. Our two days in Milan flew by fast. We spent most of the time walking around or looking at art, but then stopped for a little shopping too! Milan was the most fashionable with all the major designer brand stores, along with the architectural beauty. I loved Milan too for different reasons. The fashion in Milan is so trending, with everyone wearing designer white athletic shoes–everyone.
The Stairways and Canals of Venice
We arrived in Venice on a Monday morning. Saying it’s beautiful is an understatement. Each city in Italy has its own culture, but Venice is uniquely picturesque and filled with charm. I’ll never forget the walking up and down the steps over the 15th century stone footbridge as we lugged my suitcase and carry-on as crossing the Grand Canal to our hotel. The walk brought us to our hotel where our room window faced the open water of a canal, something so unimaginable. And of course, what would a trip be like to Venice without a gondola ride. The gondola ride gave us a unique Venetian perspective. We could see St Mark’s Basilica as we moved through the canals, under bridges, and past many hidden gems! It was like taxis moving around on a busy canal.
Our next stop was Florence where Emma attends college at Lorenzo de’ Medici. So many precious moments and experiencing Emma’s college life in Italy was priceless. Eating authentic Italian gelato with her college roommates is an experience I will hold close to my heart. The two nights went by fast. Emma was an excellent host and we spent our last evening on a picnic at Piazzale Michelangelo taking in the amazing view of the city. Florence was a wonderful experience, and it made me appreciate my daughter even more.
Falling in Love with Sicily
We then spent three nights in Sicily. Again, there is so much unique culture in each of the places we visited. Palermo was safe and not crowded where we able to experience authentic Sicilian cuisine and culture. The intense experience of walking through the intersections and crosswalks of their busy streets is a memory I’ll never forget. We also found our way to a sandy beach at Cefalu. The sunshine felt great, not to mention the authentic Sicilian pizza. The quaint little village of Cefalu is full of charm.
We flew to Rome from Palermo to travel to Tuscany Valley. Emma joined me for one night at Fattoria di Colle where I would stay the next six days. When Emma left, my heart was ripped out momentarily. She devoted her time to me and made my experience something I couldn’t even begin to imagine. Spending time with her in Italy was a truly unforgettable experience.
A Mom Tours Rome
My last night in Italy was supposed to be flexible. Unfortunately, a change of plans meant staying the night in the Sky Hotel at the Rome airport. I was mentally spent and needed stability and convenience. Ironically, the airport was becoming comfortable. I made my way back to Rome, which made my last day fantastic. I wanted to see as much as I could so I opted for the Hop On Hop Off Bus {insert eye roll}. But it was perfect for this mom who has done little travel. It was perfect for getting an overview of the city and taking in many of the sights–the ordinary muses that come with travel in Italy – walking, and more walking, more gelato, and simply enjoying history.
Thanks for following along on my journey!
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