day 7

Breakfast at hotel and then we walked over to Baptistry for our tour time. Definitely the nicest of the three buildings. Heard guy singing, perfect acoustics. Toured Duomo. It's very lovely, but some weird craftsmanship issues. Then we wandered around Pisa. Checked out and got a sandwich before heading to train station, took cab this time. Short train ride to Florence. Private driver met us there. Got to hotel. Very nice accommodations right on the river Arno. We got settled in and then ventured out to explore. Hiked over to pizzale Michelangelo. Hiked up to Abbazia di San Miniato al Monte. Even more amazing views. Then we did a super long walk to up past fort belvedere and into the boboli gardens. Incredible hike through gardens. Then we came out palazzo pitti and into the Basilica di Santo Spirito by Brunelleschi. Tried to get gelato, very long line. Came back to hotel and freshened up for dinner. Pretty good dinner, nice steak. 

Walked around the Duomo. Went to the Irish pub, gelato and finally to hotel. Long exhausting day but so amazing too.

day 6

Got up and packed for our train. I tried to find an ATM. Breakfast at hotel, walked to Genova brignola. Train ride to Pisa was beautiful along the coast. Switched trains on Pisa, stored our bags, and headed to Lucca. Walked into city, got some pizza slices. Climbed the st. Martin cathedral bell tower. Amazing views. Walked the city, hitting up all the points of interest and just enjoying the stroll. Such a beautiful place. Walked along wall back to train station. 

In Pisa we walked to hotel, checking out spina church along the way. checked into hotel, cool mid century vibe. Ate dinner at cantina vasari. Amazing food and feel.

Walked around Duomo and leaning tower after dinner.

day 5

Breakfast at hotel. Then we walk around Genova. San Lorenzo cathedral. Love the stripped facade. Continued down main drag with all the palazzos. Got a book and Jackson a shirt. Began our walk up the salitas. My legs have gotten older haha. Especially San Nicola the last 157 steps. Villa looked amazing. Had a great time seeing everyone at the open house. Made our way down and walked around a while longer. Could not get to the water, which I remember being a problem last time. Got ready and tried to take a bus. No ticket and we were going the wrong way. Took cab instead. Reception was awesome, so many people there. Kelly, Stephen, Cleve, . Terry Buchman. Had dinner at maniman. Fantastic time, the we went down to city for a drink at brittannia. They were doing last call. Tried to find other Clemson peeps, ended up calling it a night. So glad we decided to come do this trip. Put in some plugs for CAF board.

Italy day 3

Got up and enjoyed the most amazing breakfast spread at the Hilton. It was huge and all kinds of food, including honey comb and meats, cheeses. Private transfer to Milan in a range Rover. Checked bags at hotel and walked through Milan. Did the castle sforsecono museum tour. It was quite impressive the collection. School group of kids dressed up in 16th century with wood swords. Walked around Milan. Found a great local place to eat. Fasting working Italians we have seen. We to tour meeting spot. Walking tour of Milan. Went inside la Scala. It was amazingly beautiful. The Duomo. Always impressive. And then we caught a bus to the last supper. It is really quite gorgeous, and considering everything that it has been through that it still exist at all. 

Ate a Mexican/Asian fusion place. Italians eat so late, we were the first ones there.  Cab ride back to hotel.

day 4

Walked through Milan to the modern art museum.  Good exhibits, too impression for me. Saw some cool ad prints of Toulouse-Lautrec. Walked through Milan's fashion district. Mont Blanc, aleesi, pinedier. Towards hotel. Found amazing local restaurant. Private transfer to train station. Train to Genova. First class, was very nice. Arrived in Genova. Hotel is nice. German brew house for drinks, dinner at local place, it was pretty awesome. Bar on winding old streets afterwards. 

Italy day 1

Flight was uneventful, nice entertainment options now. Hard to sleep on plane. Munich airport was nice. Shuttle out to plane. 

Driver took us to como, very nice Mercedes. Checked into hotel and ate lunch on room. Interesting assortment of people.

Walked around Como. Loved seeing the evening stroll, all the town out. Went into duomo. Beautiful Romanesque cathedral. Dinner back at hotel restaurant, was quite lovely. Again great people watching.

Italy day 2

We got up bright and early, headed to water ferry terminal. Took rapid boat over to Bellagio. Coffee and breakfast. Walked these amazing beautiful salitas that wind up the hill side. Took local ferry to other side of lake, walked into the hillside saw small local church. Small lane down the main street. Villa corlatta. Amazing gardens and beautiful palace. Took ferry back over to Bellagio for lunch. Had lunch at a ln amazing outdoor cafe on a side street. Missed ferry because it did not say como. Walked some more and had A beer. Able to slip onto next ferry. Dinner down como at platea. Wonderful experience, amazing steak. No cabs so we hiked back to hotel. Exhausted. Had 31,000 steps!  Weather was perfect, not too hot.