Declaration of the Rights of Man

The walls of the Concorde Station on the Paris Metro are covered with letter tiles. I was sure this was a word search and spent time trying to figure out some words. Come to find out it really includes the words to the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen the French Revolutionary document which defines the individual rights of every citizen.

Milano!

The white marble duomo in Milan is perhaps the most striking! While Saint Peter's is immense the cathedral in Milan it unbelievably gorgeous with 135 spires reaching to the cloudless blue sky!

Where shall we eat tonight?

Jim came to Italy well-prepared with recommendations for bistros, trattorias, and hostarias. Every afternoon he'd work out the directions and have Sarah make the phone calls to secure reservations.

Be careful when you tell lies.

Carlo Lorenzini was born in Florence, the son of a cook and a servant, and spent much of his childhood in the rough streets of the city. He took the pen name of Carlo Collodi (Collodi is a small village in Tuscany) when he created Pinocchio, the puppet who wanted to be a "real boy". There are carvings, paintings and other depictions of Pinocchio all over the city. This one was on a bench outside a little shop.

Gladiators Galore!

These guys are hysterical! Dressed in Halloween costumes, they're all about trying to get your euros!

Shopping in Florence

Florence is filled with winding cobblestone streets and those are lined with colorful shoppes. Flowers, groceries and ceramics...and don't forget leather. For the more expensive jewelry stores head to Ponte Vecchio.

A Hidden Gem!

The famous Orange Garden, called Parco di Savello, atop the Aventine Hill. It is filled with families enjoying the park and lovers stealing some time alone away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Don't forget to take a peek through the keyhole in the gate of The Knights of Malta for an unexpected view of Saint Peter's.