福岡市中州１丁目那珂川通り屋台 - Yatai (street food) in Fukuoka Japan
Sun 2014/09/21
With a full meal in my belly and check in at the hotel complete, it was time for my first stroll around Florence.
One of Florence's most recognizable symbols, the Ponte Vecchio bridge and the Arno river.
Check out the vertical artwork at the Gallery Hotel Art.
Quaint little shop where I bought a few bottles of olive oil.
Night at the Duomo - Cathedral of Santa Maria dei Fiore.
Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Loggia dei Lanzi, Perseus Statue.
A copy of Michelangelo's David at the entrance of the Palazzo Vecchio.
A few night shots of the Ponte Vecchio bridge.
And for dinner, the hotel staff recommended this charming little restaurant.
Trattoria l'Parione
Via di Parione, 74,
Firenze, Italy
+39 055 214005
http://www.parione.net/?lang=en&page=home
Comfortable interior, charming staff, wonderful wine, and some of the best pasta I have ever had.
The above pasta is not on their menu but a saw a local order it and had to have it.
This dish was a pappardelle pasta with simmered beef which just melted in my mouth.
End of first day in Florence.
With a full meal in my belly and check in at the hotel complete, it was time for my first stroll around Florence.
One of Florence's most recognizable symbols, the Ponte Vecchio bridge and the Arno river.
Check out the vertical artwork at the Gallery Hotel Art.
Quaint little shop where I bought a few bottles of olive oil.
Night at the Duomo - Cathedral of Santa Maria dei Fiore.
Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Loggia dei Lanzi, Perseus Statue.
A copy of Michelangelo's David at the entrance of the Palazzo Vecchio.
A few night shots of the Ponte Vecchio bridge.
And for dinner, the hotel staff recommended this charming little restaurant.
Trattoria l'Parione
Via di Parione, 74,
Firenze, Italy
+39 055 214005
http://www.parione.net/?lang=en&page=home
Comfortable interior, charming staff, wonderful wine, and some of the best pasta I have ever had.
The above pasta is not on their menu but a saw a local order it and had to have it.
This dish was a pappardelle pasta with simmered beef which just melted in my mouth.
End of first day in Florence.
Sun 2014/09/21
Day 4
20,824 steps
walked 16.034 km
burned 939.0 kcal
Four day total of 73 km with a daily average over of 18 km!
After breakfast, off we go to Stazione di Roma Termini (Roma Termini railway station) to catch the train to Florence.
By the way, I understand the term "terminal" to reflect train and bus terminals comes from the name of this station!
And after a brief one and a half hour ride, we arrive at Florence and check into our hotel, the NH Collection Firenze Porta Rossa.
First order of business, food naturally.
And what better for my first meal then the famous Bistecca alla fiorentina or 'beefsteak Florentine style'!
Lungarno Bistrot
Lungarno Guicciardini, 15,
50143 Firenze, Italy
+39 055 265 4541
http://www.lungarnobistrot.it/eng/
This was awesome! Lovely patio, friendly staff, great wine, and one of the tastiest steaks I have ever had!
And of course what better to follow a great Florentine meal than with a nice healthy dollop of gelato!
Day 4 continues ...
Day 4
20,824 steps
walked 16.034 km
burned 939.0 kcal
Four day total of 73 km with a daily average over of 18 km!
After breakfast, off we go to Stazione di Roma Termini (Roma Termini railway station) to catch the train to Florence.
By the way, I understand the term "terminal" to reflect train and bus terminals comes from the name of this station!
And after a brief one and a half hour ride, we arrive at Florence and check into our hotel, the NH Collection Firenze Porta Rossa.
First order of business, food naturally.
And what better for my first meal then the famous Bistecca alla fiorentina or 'beefsteak Florentine style'!
Lungarno Bistrot
Lungarno Guicciardini, 15,
50143 Firenze, Italy
+39 055 265 4541
http://www.lungarnobistrot.it/eng/
This was awesome! Lovely patio, friendly staff, great wine, and one of the tastiest steaks I have ever had!
And of course what better to follow a great Florentine meal than with a nice healthy dollop of gelato!
Day 4 continues ...
Sat 2014/09/20
Again, Rome was unbearably hot and sticky.
So what to do on a hot and muggy day in Italy? Gelato!!!
Here is today's little slice of heaven.
For dinner, I could not stop thinking about the lasagna we had yesterday ... so back we went!
Cantina e Cucina
Address: Via del Governo Vecchio, 87, 00186 Roma, Italy
Phone:+39 06 689 2574
http://www.cantinaecucina.it/
Very close to the Piazza Navone.
Below are a couple of their wonderful staff hamming to for my camera.
After dinner, an opportunity to walk around the Piazza Navone during daylight.
Heading back to the Spanish Steps or Piazza di Spagna, we can see the Mausoleo di Augusto (Mausoleum of Augustus).
Augustus was the founder of the Roman Empire and its first Emperor.
A night view of the Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps) where we found what appeared to be a Italian military brass band performing smack in the middle of the steps and delighting visitors.
Next day, off to Florence!
Again, Rome was unbearably hot and sticky.
So what to do on a hot and muggy day in Italy? Gelato!!!
Here is today's little slice of heaven.
For dinner, I could not stop thinking about the lasagna we had yesterday ... so back we went!
Cantina e Cucina
Address: Via del Governo Vecchio, 87, 00186 Roma, Italy
Phone:+39 06 689 2574
http://www.cantinaecucina.it/
Very close to the Piazza Navone.
Below are a couple of their wonderful staff hamming to for my camera.
After dinner, an opportunity to walk around the Piazza Navone during daylight.
Heading back to the Spanish Steps or Piazza di Spagna, we can see the Mausoleo di Augusto (Mausoleum of Augustus).
Augustus was the founder of the Roman Empire and its first Emperor.
A night view of the Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps) where we found what appeared to be a Italian military brass band performing smack in the middle of the steps and delighting visitors.
Next day, off to Florence!
Sat 2014/09/20
After snapping an obscene amount of pictures with my new camera (Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III) at the Foro Romano (Roman Forum), we climbed past Tempio di Saturno (Temple of Saturn) and Arco di Settimio Severo (Arch of Septimius Severus) to use the north western exit.
Which takes us to our next destination, the Musei Capitolini (Capitoline Museums).
The central piazza and the three main buildings were apparently either designed or re-designed by Renaissance master, Michelangelo Buonarroti.
Below are some of the more famous works at this museum but the piece I was really looking forward to was the Lupa Capitolina - Capitoline Wolf.
I have seen pictures of this sculpture (reported to be from between 5th century BC to the 13th century AD) from books during my childhood but never really knew of the history or its relationship to Star Trek.
This piece represents the myth of Rome's foundation. The babies the she wolf is feeding are the twin brothers Romulus and Remus. This must ring a few bells for Trekkies.
In short, the twin's mother is a pincess and their father is the demi-god Hercules. They are raised by a wolf and grow up to take back the throne and find Rome but not before Romulus kills his twin brother Remus.
If you are interested, please check out this story (here is the Wikipedia link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romulus_and_Remus)
Lo Spinario - Boy with Thorn
Lupa Capitolina - Capitoline Wolf
Marcus Aurelius Exedra - Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius
Medusa Bernini - Bernini's Bust of Medusa
Hercules - Hercules of the Forum Boarium
We leave the Musei Capitolini (Capitoline Museums) behind, walk down the hill towards the Fiume Tevere or Tiber river.
Our next destination, the Basilica di Santa Maria in Cosmedin (The Basilica of Saint Mary in Cosmedin).
And why is this worth visiting?
Here is another location from the 1953 Hollywood classic film, Roman Holiday (starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck) which I must admit I have not yet seen.
La Bocca della Verità (the Mouth of Truth)
Day 3 continues ...
After snapping an obscene amount of pictures with my new camera (Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III) at the Foro Romano (Roman Forum), we climbed past Tempio di Saturno (Temple of Saturn) and Arco di Settimio Severo (Arch of Septimius Severus) to use the north western exit.
Which takes us to our next destination, the Musei Capitolini (Capitoline Museums).
The central piazza and the three main buildings were apparently either designed or re-designed by Renaissance master, Michelangelo Buonarroti.
Below are some of the more famous works at this museum but the piece I was really looking forward to was the Lupa Capitolina - Capitoline Wolf.
I have seen pictures of this sculpture (reported to be from between 5th century BC to the 13th century AD) from books during my childhood but never really knew of the history or its relationship to Star Trek.
This piece represents the myth of Rome's foundation. The babies the she wolf is feeding are the twin brothers Romulus and Remus. This must ring a few bells for Trekkies.
In short, the twin's mother is a pincess and their father is the demi-god Hercules. They are raised by a wolf and grow up to take back the throne and find Rome but not before Romulus kills his twin brother Remus.
If you are interested, please check out this story (here is the Wikipedia link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romulus_and_Remus)
Lo Spinario - Boy with Thorn
Lupa Capitolina - Capitoline Wolf
Marcus Aurelius Exedra - Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius
Medusa Bernini - Bernini's Bust of Medusa
Hercules - Hercules of the Forum Boarium
We leave the Musei Capitolini (Capitoline Museums) behind, walk down the hill towards the Fiume Tevere or Tiber river.
Our next destination, the Basilica di Santa Maria in Cosmedin (The Basilica of Saint Mary in Cosmedin).
And why is this worth visiting?
Here is another location from the 1953 Hollywood classic film, Roman Holiday (starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck) which I must admit I have not yet seen.
La Bocca della Verità (the Mouth of Truth)
Day 3 continues ...
Sat 2014/09/20
Day 3
25,462 steps
walked 19.606 km
burned 1131.4 kcal
Three day total, 56.515 km.
An average of 18.84 km per day!
Day 3 started with a walk through the park grounds of Villa Borghese and to the highly recommended Museo e Galleria Borghese.
But since I did not book tickets early online, was turned away at the ticket counter as tickets were sold out for the next four days!
So flagged down a taxi and off to the Colosseo or Colosseum or Coliseum (or also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre or Anfiteatro Flavio).
Walking up and down those steep stairs takes energy.
And what better way to replenish one's strength but to enjoy "slow food" at a beautiful little Italian trattoria.
Il Bocconcino
Via Ostilia, 23, Rome, Italy
+39 06 77 079175
http://ilbocconcino.com/
Excellent!
> CROSTINO DI CICORIA, MOZZARELLA DI BUFALA E ALICI
> BUCATINI CAV.GIUSEPPE COCCO ALL’AMATRICIANA O ALLA GRICIA
> (pictured below) RAVIOLI DI CICORIA E PECORINO CON POMODORI CANDITI
So with my belly full, head over to the Foro Romano or the Roman Forum, a huge rectangular plaza including several ruins of ancient Rome.
Day 3 continues ...
Day 3
25,462 steps
walked 19.606 km
burned 1131.4 kcal
Three day total, 56.515 km.
An average of 18.84 km per day!
Day 3 started with a walk through the park grounds of Villa Borghese and to the highly recommended Museo e Galleria Borghese.
But since I did not book tickets early online, was turned away at the ticket counter as tickets were sold out for the next four days!
So flagged down a taxi and off to the Colosseo or Colosseum or Coliseum (or also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre or Anfiteatro Flavio).
Walking up and down those steep stairs takes energy.
And what better way to replenish one's strength but to enjoy "slow food" at a beautiful little Italian trattoria.
Il Bocconcino
Via Ostilia, 23, Rome, Italy
+39 06 77 079175
http://ilbocconcino.com/
Excellent!
> CROSTINO DI CICORIA, MOZZARELLA DI BUFALA E ALICI
> BUCATINI CAV.GIUSEPPE COCCO ALL’AMATRICIANA O ALLA GRICIA
> (pictured below) RAVIOLI DI CICORIA E PECORINO CON POMODORI CANDITI
So with my belly full, head over to the Foro Romano or the Roman Forum, a huge rectangular plaza including several ruins of ancient Rome.
Day 3 continues ...
Fri 2014/09/19
Another location used in the film "Angels & Demons", the Castel Sant'Angelo and the angel statues on the Ponte Sant'Angelo of which I believe at least two of them are made by Berlini.
Checked out the Campo de' Fiori but all the market had already closed for the day.
Then a three minute walk from the Campo de' Fiori, we discovered a lovely little restaurant near the Piazza Navona.
Cantina e Cucina
Address: Via del Governo Vecchio, 87, 00186 Roma, Italy
Phone:+39 06 689 2574
http://www.cantinaecucina.it/
Wonderful wine, great starters, but this lasagna ... so thin and delicate ... it just melted in my mouth.
To date, this is the greatest lasagna I have ever tasted.
After dinner, a short stroll to the Piazza Navona.
Especially enjoyed Bernini's masterpiece, Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers).
Day 2 in the bag!
Another location used in the film "Angels & Demons", the Castel Sant'Angelo and the angel statues on the Ponte Sant'Angelo of which I believe at least two of them are made by Berlini.
Checked out the Campo de' Fiori but all the market had already closed for the day.
Then a three minute walk from the Campo de' Fiori, we discovered a lovely little restaurant near the Piazza Navona.
Cantina e Cucina
Address: Via del Governo Vecchio, 87, 00186 Roma, Italy
Phone:+39 06 689 2574
http://www.cantinaecucina.it/
Wonderful wine, great starters, but this lasagna ... so thin and delicate ... it just melted in my mouth.
To date, this is the greatest lasagna I have ever tasted.
After dinner, a short stroll to the Piazza Navona.
Especially enjoyed Bernini's masterpiece, Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers).
Day 2 in the bag!
Fri 2014/09/19
By the way, the weather in Rome is hot and humid.
A very humid 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) and sweating like I just came out of the shower.
I mean I am going through 10 towel handkerchiefs a day, easily.
But I digress.
After leaving the Vatican Museum, nothing better to escape this heat than a Italian Gelato.
Consume that delicious frozen elixir in no time and off to the Piazza di San Pietro or Saint Peter's Square.
Watching the movie "Demons & Angels" was a great pre trip education. This film starring Tom Hank and directed by Ron Howard and based on Dan Brown's novel, used many key locations through out Rome and the Vatican City.
The huge line to enter the Basilica di San Pietro (Saint Peter's Basilica) moved quickly.
Statua di San Pietro
Pieta (by Michelangelo)
Tomb of the late Pope John Paul II
Day 2 to be continued.
By the way, the weather in Rome is hot and humid.
A very humid 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) and sweating like I just came out of the shower.
I mean I am going through 10 towel handkerchiefs a day, easily.
But I digress.
After leaving the Vatican Museum, nothing better to escape this heat than a Italian Gelato.
Consume that delicious frozen elixir in no time and off to the Piazza di San Pietro or Saint Peter's Square.
Watching the movie "Demons & Angels" was a great pre trip education. This film starring Tom Hank and directed by Ron Howard and based on Dan Brown's novel, used many key locations through out Rome and the Vatican City.
The huge line to enter the Basilica di San Pietro (Saint Peter's Basilica) moved quickly.
Statua di San Pietro
Pieta (by Michelangelo)
Tomb of the late Pope John Paul II
Day 2 to be continued.
Fri 2014/09/19
Today's main agenda for this hedonist? The Vatican, of course!
By the way, gluttony is my favorite sin.
Day 2
28,864 steps
walked 22.225 kms
burned 1223.4 kcalories
Nearly 37 kms (almost 23 miles) so far!
Calls for celebration with another double scoop of gelato and maybe a pile of Tiramisu???
Okay, so after a full breakfast, time for my first full day of exploring Rome.
First a walk through Villa Borghese, view the Rome skyline from atop Monte Pincio,
climb down to the Piazza del Popolo, and take some snapshots of these twin churches.
Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Miracoli (on the right)
Basilica di Santa Maria in Montesanto (on the left)
Then cross the Fiume Tevere (river) on the Ponte Reglina Margherita (bridge) headed towards the Vatican on the Via Cola di Rienzo and found this fantastic little pizzeria.
Okay so now the Vatican. Did not bother to make any reservations but only a short 15 minute wait in line and we were in.
Stanze di Raffaello
Day 2 to be continued.
Today's main agenda for this hedonist? The Vatican, of course!
By the way, gluttony is my favorite sin.
Day 2
28,864 steps
walked 22.225 kms
burned 1223.4 kcalories
Nearly 37 kms (almost 23 miles) so far!
Calls for celebration with another double scoop of gelato and maybe a pile of Tiramisu???
Okay, so after a full breakfast, time for my first full day of exploring Rome.
First a walk through Villa Borghese, view the Rome skyline from atop Monte Pincio,
climb down to the Piazza del Popolo, and take some snapshots of these twin churches.
Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Miracoli (on the right)
Basilica di Santa Maria in Montesanto (on the left)
Then cross the Fiume Tevere (river) on the Ponte Reglina Margherita (bridge) headed towards the Vatican on the Via Cola di Rienzo and found this fantastic little pizzeria.
Okay so now the Vatican. Did not bother to make any reservations but only a short 15 minute wait in line and we were in.
Stanze di Raffaello
Day 2 to be continued.
Thu 2014/09/18
My first visit to the land of Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Donatello.
No, not the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I am talking about Italy!
Day 1
19,070 steps
walked 14.884 kms
burned 860.7 kcalories
And all this in just under four hours. Seriously.
First, checked into our accomodations during Rome, the Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese
After consuming our welcome glass of champagne ... and some olives ... and pastries ... bruschetta with Parma ham ... spaghetti ...
off to the Spanish Steps and Piazza di Spagna.
Took in some tasty macarons and had my first real Italian gelato.
Okay next stop, the very impressive Pantheon where I payed homage to the tomb of Raphael.
More walking and exploring wine shops after wine shops.
Stopped by the Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi) currently under restoration to throw in my coin hopeing for another future visit to Rome.
And finally consumed another large pizza and a plate of porcini tagliatelle. Of course with wine!
All in under four hours.
My first visit to the land of Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Donatello.
No, not the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I am talking about Italy!
Day 1
19,070 steps
walked 14.884 kms
burned 860.7 kcalories
And all this in just under four hours. Seriously.
First, checked into our accomodations during Rome, the Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese
After consuming our welcome glass of champagne ... and some olives ... and pastries ... bruschetta with Parma ham ... spaghetti ...
off to the Spanish Steps and Piazza di Spagna.
Took in some tasty macarons and had my first real Italian gelato.
Okay next stop, the very impressive Pantheon where I payed homage to the tomb of Raphael.
More walking and exploring wine shops after wine shops.
Stopped by the Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi) currently under restoration to throw in my coin hopeing for another future visit to Rome.
And finally consumed another large pizza and a plate of porcini tagliatelle. Of course with wine!
All in under four hours.
UPDATED: Caption for all photos have been added!
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| 20100530 The Netherlands, Amsterdam |
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Just uploaded pictures from my Amsterdam trip on Picasa.
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| From 20100530 The Netherlands, Amsterdam |
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