Rome and Amalfi

The much awaited spring break (much later than I'm used to!) finally arrived, and boy was I ready for it! I had been planning this 2 week trek all across Italy for months and I couldn't wait to start it off on Saturday with a trip to Rome with Eason. This was the first long vacation we have ever taken together (besides going back to the US). It was really fun to get to experience Rome together. It's one of my most favorite places in the whole world, and I was excited about showing Eas around. Despite the earthquake (kind of scary) and us getting immediately ripped off by an unlicensed cab driver (crazy how they can speak perfect English until they are trying to scam you, then it's ALLLLL Italian), the trip was tons of fun! We ate lots of pizza and gelato and walked all over the city. Some highlights were the Borghese Park in Rome (on our way to Borghese Gallery), spending some time on the Spanish Steps at night (how romantic!) and going to the Vatican before the Easter crowd came the next week. We also got to go to the Colosseum and Roman Forum - my favorite! The weather was great and we both got some much needed (and hard to find in Europe) sun!



Roman Forum



Me and Eas in front of the Roman Forum


In front of the Pantheon


Making a Wish at the Trevi Fountain

In front of the Vatican


Me in front of the Pantheon

My favorite cross in Rome - at Colosseum

Me and Eason on a sunny day in the Colosseum

The Colosseum!


On Tuesday we trained down to Salerno (Amalfi Coast). Our plan was to drive down the windy roads of the coast all the way to the city of Sorrento. Eason was very excited about driving 007 style (too bad the roads are way too windy and crowded for all of that)! But that didn't stop him from singing the James Bond theme the entire way. It was a beautiful, sunny day and an absolutely breathtaking ride. I tried (unsuccessfully) to take pictures, but most of the time I only got the car window...and the windy roads were making me a bit sick! Check out the picture of the big tour buses sharing the road with us measly little cars. They actually had to honk when coming around sharp corners so that the cars around the corner (and out of sight) would stop and let them come through first. I held my breath a lot on this drive!

The drive on the Amalfi Coast

A tight squeeze!

007 Driver

Beautiful Sunset in Sorrento

Sunset in Sorrento

Me and Hil doing some Rock Climbing

Hanging out in Sorrento

I'm so Happy my Sister Came!

Me and Eas looking down on Sorrento

Sorrento


Friday came around and it was time to head to Amalfi. The 4 musketeers loaded up in the small European rent car (it wasn't a sports car, though Eason will tell the story as if it is)...we had bags everywhere! I cranked up the Itunes on my computer (better than Italian pop music) and down the coast we went! We stayed the night in Amalfi, but didn't see much of the town. After we checked in we were taken to our rooms. Sounds easy enough, only the elevator was only big enough for one person and 2 bags, and our rooms were in the apartment "only a few feet away." Yeah. Right. Only a few feet, 8 flights of stairs, through a door, on to a rooftop, through another door, up more stairs and into a completely different building. Mad props to the boys for carrying most of the (heavy) luggage. Us Haglund girls aren't great packers. :)

As soon as that feat was accomplished, it was time to find some relaxation. We walked about 20 feet from our hotel where we found a little outdoor bar. Perfect - we'll have a beer then explore the town. "Have a Large beer?" asked the waiter. Sure, why the heck not...that drive down the coast was stressful! Well one large beer turned into 2 (that and the fact that we me some fellow Texans at the table next to us). At first we were slapping ourselves on the wrist for not going out and exploring the city more, but then we got to experience something really special. Turns out Amalfi was holding their annual Good Friday processional that night and we ended up with front row seats! The businesses turned off all of their lights and lit candles. The streets got very quiet and all of the sudden we heard the sound of singers. There must have been 200 people involved in this awesome processional. I felt like we were witnessing a very private and special town tradition. I love how much religion is still a part of their lives. What an awesome experience!

The Group in Amalfi

Me and Sis Drinking a Texas Sized Beer

Me and Eas in Amalfi

Good Friday Processional in Amalfi


Good Friday Processional in Amalfi

Then back to Rome we went, where Dad and Lisa were meeting us. After an amazing Easter weekend in Rome, Eas headed back to London and the rest of us headed north to Florence. Following Florence, Dad, Lisa and I went to Milan to check out The Last Supper before heading to Lugano. More on these adventures in the next post!

Ciao ciao!