This city has certainly been a whirlwind experience. It might not have been built in a day, but our group decided to see it all in one. Armed only with the three curse words my former Italian roommate taught me, I braved the city full of history and pickpockets.
Total miles walked*: 17.5 mi
Sights
Colosseum - happened upon this guy on our walk to the hostel. Major upside to Rome being over thirty years old (I've heard some people say it's over 100, but I can't confirm such a claim) is that you're bound to run into some history whether you're trying to or not.
Pantheon - as far as old buildings with a sun roof go, this one is pretty impressive. Plus, it's free so might as well
Spanish Steps - odds are someone is going to try to sell you some roses or cheap beer at a crazy markup, but it's where all the cool people (read: exhausted tourists) hang out. Gelato is an excellent complement to this portion of the itinerary.
St Peter's/Sistine Chapel - pro tip: when going into the heart of Catholicism, it's best to check if there's a dress code. Otherwise, you'll probably be accosted by some random Australian vendor because your dress does not reach past your knees. At least my harlot ways didn't prevent me from getting some nice pictures of the exterior.
Trevi Fountain - had the opposite of the 'Mona Lisa effect' because it's far bigger in person. Unless you enjoy tossing your spare change in the fountain, I suggest that you remember to make a wish the first time around.
Piazza del Popolo - great spot to get a view of the city (so long as you don't mind the stair master workout in order to get there)
Food
Lasagna - I don't care if you walked 3.5 miles to your hostel then immediately jumped on the bus to the Vatican City. Do not buy lunch there. It will make you sad and make you lose a tiny bit of faith in humanity. This overpriced and watery dish evidently required a nice showering of holy water before being served.
Bruschetta - getting the mystery platter was one of the best decisions I made all day. Though the Italian beans on toast equivalent wasn't really my cup of tea
Pizza - named after the resturant it's from, the Dar Poeta is just as delicious as it's bruschetta predecessor. (Although, my all day walking tour of Rome might have skewed my taste buds for the evening)
Gelato - first of many on this pinball tour of Italy. Giolitti's is definitely worth the hype and dealing with exasperated employees
VENICE
Ah, yes. The city that doesn't believe in straight roads nor streetlights at night. Though quaint and steeped in history, the years of dust accumulation resulted in some pretty serious allergies for myself and Rachel.
Total miles walked: 9 mi
Sights
Bridge of Sighs - maybe everyone was sighing because they didn't realize how underwhelming it would be. Thank goodness for the mobs of tourists taking photos in front of it, otherwise it's pretty easy to bypass all together
Piazza San Marco - wouldn't feel right if one of the sights on our list of things to see weren't under construction. At least some of its beauty managed to peek through the scaffolding
Rialto Bridge - yet another notable bridge in this city of canals. Great location to eat your takeaway pasta and people watch (so long as you don't lose your prescription glasses to the canal's watery depths...RIP Rachel's glasses).
Pigeons - mind your head as these ones like to fly low
Food
Alfredo's Pasta - went twice in the same day. Takeaway artisan pasta that is super delicious. Plus the noodles are handmade in the tiny restaurant.
Gelato - the lady behind the counter might begrudge you if you deign to ask for a sample, but the gelato served at this little place near the train station is well worth it
Grappa - final item on my list of regional alcohols to try. It was a nice blend between lemonheads and pledge. At least the bottle was nifty
Bellini - another alcoholic beverage that was a last minute suggestion. This almost smoothie-like concoction is far preferable to the aforementioned industrial cleaner
FLORENCE
Arriving in the rain did not seem to bode well for our short stay here. Fortunately, things turned around quite quickly, and this ended up being an excellent place to experience Easter.
Total miles walked: 7.5 mi
Sights
Ponte Vecchio - nice thing about bridges being famous landmarks is that they're both interesting to look at and have a practical application
Statue of David - not a bad idea to go on Easter, as most people will be too distracted celebrating Jesus at the Duomo to clog up the line first thing in the morning. Though not particularly well-endowed, he's still an impressive sight to behold. Sadly, you aren't allowed to take pictures inside so this is the best I could do
'Discount Dave' - on a budget? Really need a picture of this classic statue? Then head on over to Discount Dave (otherwise known as the David replica) currently chilling in front of the Uffizi museum
Duomo - only downside to going to Firenze on Easter is that you can't climb to the top to see the view. Potential Pro tip: can't confirm this, but apparently the Campanile offers virtually the same view without the hassle of the miles long line
Cupola del Brunelleschi - managed to get a peek at this before the procession began and the three hour mass kicked off.
Florentine Bisteck - went to this place called Vecchia Bettola. Bit pricey, but well worth it if you're looking to satisfy some meat cravings. My group's interaction with our order (1 kilo split amongst three girls) went something like this http://youtu.be/41cQ4MG8K7E
Gusta's Pizza - best I've ever had. Highly suggest dipping the crust in the olive oil they provide
Cappuccino - Italians really do make better coffee. Seriously.
Red Wine - necessary shoutout to Tasso Hostel for providing a free glass of wine at check-in. They know how to make a girl feel downright fancy (I don't even think it came from a box)
PISA
Sights
Leaning Tower - we came. We saw. We snapped a photo. We left. (Before coming, try to think up something more exciting than trick perspective to "hold it up" because you really don't want to be one of the dozens of tourists leaning into thin air)
CINQUE TERRE - Monterosso
Not on everyone's 'must-see' list, but definitely worth the detour. It's quaint and relaxing. And some light rain can actually be a blessing in disguise.
Total miles walked: 8 mi
Sights
Not really a location full of attractions to see. It's much more about leisure, and taking in the natural beauty the place has to offer.
Hike - you can choose to take a train to all five cities of Cinque Terre, but it's much more rewarding to hike. It's not for the faint of heart, but if you're willing to take on Stairmaster 3000 - Real Life Edition the views are amazing. Just make sure you don't venture off the path as the half hour detour won't help with the whole exhaustion thing. Since the rain closed down the other trails we only hiked from Monterosso to Vernazza, but our feet really didn't mind the change of plans
Beach - probably more enjoyable if it's not too cold outside. Unless you're into hypothermia, in which case dive right on in
Wildlife - there are a multitude of cats milling about these tiny cities. Plus, plenty of tourist ascribe to the belief that small dogs make for excellent accessories. But if you're really lucky you could potentially spot a frog/toad (telling the two apart has never been part of my skill set) by the side of the road.
Food
Focaccia - Cinque Terre is known for this so it's a must. I highly suggest buying some from the local market and then dipping it into pesto. Also goes really well with fresh salami.
Ravioli - felt I should round out my stay in Italy with one last classic dish. Lesson of the evening is that freshly grated parmasen cheese is my crack cocaine
Ciao Italy! You've been just dandy.
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