La Dolce Vita

The Amalfi Coast was my break from the chaos of sightseeing, and came at the perfect point on this trip, when I was worn out after seeing everything I could possibly see in Prague, Vienna, Venice, Florence and Rome.

Originally I had been considering a day trip from Naples to Positano, but decided it would make more sense to spend the night rather than trying to get back. Finding a hotel was tricky. It being the height of July, everything was either booked or extremely expensive, and staying in one of the big towns, like Positano or Amalfi, seemed out of the question. I ended up choosing a place in Minori for $99 for the night, after reading good reviews on hotels.com. It felt like a bit of a gamble, but it was one that paid off in a major way.

Sex and the Vatican

Inbetween trying to convince me to sleep with him and mocking me for just wanting to make out, Gio the Italian playboy did lay out a sightseeing itinerary for me to follow on my second day in Rome.

I had been out with him until 4am and had the whole day to explore the city, so I let myself sleep in till 11am. When I did manage to get out of the hotel, I headed in the direction of the Pantheon.

Under the Tuscan Sun

Lunch on the Best of Tuscany tour was at a family-run farm in the Tuscan countryside called Fattoria Poggio Alloro that is everything you imagine Tuscany to be. We took a tour through the winery and barn, met the cows that are destined to become Florentine steak, then settled down for a meal of bruschetta, pasta, cheese and prosciutto, and almond biscotti. Each course was accompanied by a wine made on the farm. I’m becoming quite a fan of Chianti.

Just Off the Boat

I’m in Croatia. The ferry ride was better than expected. I had the cabin to myself, and managed to sleep for most of the trip. We docked in Dubrovnik right around 7am and I was one of the first people off the boat–I’ve learned that this is the best way to avoid lines at immigration. Was stamped and through quickly, and then took a cab across to my hotel for €10, where I dropped off my bags. I could see people still getting off the ferry.

Walking in Venice

After I finally checked into the hotel, all I wanted was to shower. And then nap. I settled for just the shower, and then headed out to explore, stepping right into a sudden thunderstorm that drove the gondoliers out of the water and the tourists around Piazza San Marco running for the covered walkways that ring the plaza.

Eating, Praying, Loving It

I just had dinner at L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele, the pizzeria from Eat, Pray, Love. They even have an autographed photo of Julia Roberts on the wall.

Wheel in the Sky

My big concern in Vienna was what to do with my bag. Hotel checkout was at 12pm, my train wasn’t until 8:40pm, and while I possibly could have left it at the hotel, it wasn’t going to be convenient to travel back outside the city center to get it.

Jet Lagging

I’m doing okay with the jet lag. I managed to sleep for the better part of the transcontinental flight, thanks in no small part to the to bottles of white wine I had (sizable, too, for an airline). Except from New York to Geneva, the flight is only six and a half hours, all told, and they wake you up about an hour before you land to serve breakfast.

I made it to my hotel around 1pm yesterday, checked in and showered, and had to fight the urge to take a nap. Once I got outside, though, I was sucked in by the pull of being in a new place, and spent hours just wandering around the city, meandering down random streets just to see what might be down them. You can’t really go wrong in Prague; the streets and alleys are endlessly stunning.