Italy—in three different chapters
I’m a big fan of stay-cations…long weekends…or when I’m really feeling irresponsible, maybe seven-days away. That’s why I was uneasy when my wife suggested we stay an extra week in Italy after she hosted a yoga retreat. She even predicted the world would keep spinning even if I wasn’t at my desk for two weeks. I packed my laptop anyway.
We drove 3.5 hours to Miami to fly direct to Rome. Pro Tip: There are dozens of adjacent Miami hotels where you can park and get a free shuttle to the terminal that are a fraction of the cost of the airport’s long-term parking rates.
24-hours in Rome
We were hoping it wouldn’t be as crowded in early October, but tourists still overwhelmed each popular destination we visited: The Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and The Pantheon. It’s a beautiful well-run city with great restaurants.
Central Italy
From urban to rural, after a pleasant 3-hour ride up the Tiber River Valley, we got off the train in Terontola. We stayed at a beautiful resort called Di Colle in Colle—which translates “From Hill to Hill.” Our balcony had a stunning view of the surrounding valley. We ate each night at the resort’s fine-dining restaurant. It’s decadent to walk 50 feet to dinner—and breakfast. We also enjoyed massages in the vineyard!
After morning yoga, our group of six people from Sarasota toured Central Italy which included stops in Pienza, Siena, Passignano, Perugia and Assisi. Such beauty and history!
Amalfi Coast
Back on the train for another 3-hour trip to Southwest Italy. We disembarked in Salerno and took a ferry to Maiori. While Central Italy had picturesque rolling fields, this area has dramatic steep mountainsides leading down to the Tyrrhenian Sea.
We toured Revello (where I bumped into a friend from Miami), Amalfi, Atraini, Mynori and Myori. They were all pretty and almost began to blur together. What really stood out was our visit to Pompeii. (In case you missed that day of history class, a volcanic eruption in 79 AD buried the city–but left it perfectly preserved and rediscovered centuries later.)
Top takeaways? While I miss a full cup of coffee as opposed to a thimble of espresso, I admire Italians for their lack of tipping, bidets –and attention to fashion. I heard one shop-owner addressing people with a big “Buongiorno!” unless they walked in with cargo shorts and baseball hats, then they got “Hello!” I watched: He was always accurate.
Fourteen days away? It felt good to go—and even better to come home.
Ray Collins is a Realtor, media consultant, and recovering TV news anchor. More articles at www.RayCollinsMedia.com
