DCPhotoGal
Photographer and Mom to 2 Princesses
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2011
Awwe. Thanks for doing that!!Miki sends hugs to you guys!
@calypso726 Miki was amazing. Tell her Will also says hello from the same trip as @OKW LoverAssuming that Miki is Michela Lombardi, you got a great guide there. She was one of our guides last year on the Alpine Magic ABD. Really sweet. Please tell her Jeff & Val say hello.
Following your trip report. I went to Rome after Italy and Switzerland ABD. Took some advice from @OKW Lover regarding food tour....OMG OMG if you are going back thru Rome checking out eating Italy. So good I plan on a detour prior to Viking cruise.Today was our visit to St. Peter's Basilica. There aren't words to describe the incredible mastery, talent and artistry that surrounds you while inside. We have visited many incredibly beautiful churches in our travels but none compare to the vast beauty of this one.
Later on, we visited the Pantheon which is an architectural marvel in and of itself. Trevi Fountain was awesome to see in person. Waking the streets of Rome during our guided tour, listening to Stephan describe some of the symbolism in the architecture had me wanting to re-read Dan Brown's Robert Langdon books and begin studying cryptography.
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Love the nails! How did you get an ABD jacket?
Awwe. Thanks for doing that!!
@calypso726 Miki was amazing. Tell her Will also says hello from the same trip as @OKW Lover
Following your trip report. I went to Rome after Italy and Switzerland ABD. Took some advice from @OKW Lover regarding food tour....OMG OMG if you are going back thru Rome checking out eating Italy. So good I plan on a detour prior to Viking cruise.
Speaking of, your photos are amazing and the one thing I didn't get to was the inside of St. Peter's. On the other hand was within 5 feet of Pope in St Peter's Sq instead- well worth giving up the inside. (sorry for the double post, catching up on this thread). Wow you got photos of inside of Sistine chapel- how?
Thanks! I swear if my nail tech didn't do Disney nail art, I wouldn't get mani/pedis. ABD used to sell merchandise online and once in a while you can still find something cool on EBay. I check periodically.
No problem
I will do that this morning.
Rome is an amazing city! Yet again, another place we will have to return to again. I will definitely do one of those food tours next time and also visit the catacombs.
We just got lucky with regards to being allowed to take pictures. I understand sometimes you are allowed and sometimes not with the private ABD after hours tour. The expectation was not there but I think we were all mentally crossing our fingers and definitely on our best and most respectful behavior. To be honest, the possibility of this alone, is reason enough to choose ABD for me.
I'll be back with more later!
We loved Orvieto. Have some very nice ceramic pieces from a shop directly across from the cathedral, Ceramiche Giacomini. We plan on stopping there the next time we visit the area.We stopped in Orvieto on the way.
Today we left Rome and headed for Tuscany. We stopped in Orvieto on the way. The town was really neat and had some great shops. It's another of those places that you get a taste of and want to come back to and explore in depth. My favorite shop in the town was Il Mago di Oz (Wizard of Oz). I could have spent all day exploring that shop alone.
Our hotel is just charming! The view of the Tuscan hills and landscape dotted with olive trees is going to be something that is hard to leave behind. Something about just being here is soothing to the soul.
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I was looking forward to getting your take on Rome, glad you are loving it also, it blew me away. I did read the Dan Brown books that were out at the time I went and agree would love to dive deeper on the history. I always knew I would have to go back but I think you just expedited that plan, and have me doing a search on ABD. Thank you for sharing the amazing pictures!Today was our visit to St. Peter's Basilica. There aren't words to describe the incredible mastery, talent and artistry that surrounds you while inside. We have visited many incredibly beautiful churches in our travels but none compare to the vast beauty of this one.
Later on, we visited the Pantheon which is an architectural marvel in and of itself. Trevi Fountain was awesome to see in person. Waking the streets of Rome during our guided tour, listening to Stephan describe some of the symbolism in the architecture had me wanting to re-read Dan Brown's Robert Langdon books and begin studying cryptography.
Yes, dittoPieta, Sistine Chapel and David are all amazing. I got chills when I first saw Pieta and was awestruck with David. I am so glad you're enjoying yourself and sharing your phenomenal photos with us.
Note to self-must return to Italy...
We loved Orvieto. Have some very nice ceramic pieces from a shop directly across from the cathedral, Ceramiche Giacomini. We plan on stopping there the next time we visit the area.
I was surprised by Orvieto-it was so charming! We also had a tour of the caves (not on ABD) and it was so interesting to learn about the Etruscans and how people have lived in them for centuries. Tomorrow you'll be in Florence? It is so lovely...totally jealous!
Wow amazing
I was looking forward to getting your take on Rome, glad you are loving it also, it blew me away. I did read the Dan Brown books that were out at the time I went and agree would love to dive deeper on the history. I always knew I would have to go back but I think you just expedited that plan, and have me doing a search on ABD. Thank you for sharing the amazing pictures!
Following along. I love your photos of the Sistine Chapel. I visited with a mass of people but was still awestruck at the three dimensional quality of the paintings - simply breathtaking! Looking forward to the rest of the report. Thanks.
I have the same picture of the Duomo with the sun in the back