Our BFF Rick Steves

After missing our train due to oversleeping, on the 11th we arrived in Venice!! There, I met up with my mom and little sister, Anna. It was wonderful. The first few days were tiring because every night was spent in a different city and I was on a train for four consecutive days. Phew!! We started in Venice, a city that was seriously everything I had dreamed. I could have spent a lot more time there just soaking every aspect up!! We then headed to Florence, where we saw the statue of David, the Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo, these famous doors I studied in Humanities, Santa Croche (which houses the final resting place of Michelangelo and others) and so much more! Actually, Centre College needs a huge shout out right here. Thanks to the required Humanities class I saw sculptures and works of art that I had studied. Seeing these brought out more meaning in a city literally filled to the brim with history and art. It made it a lot easier to appreciate each work as well. Super cool!!
 

Venice

   The biggest surprise this part of the trip was Assisi. We went there because Anna was recently Confirmed and chose St. Francis of Assisi as her saint. I did not expect the town to be so beautiful. It was stone walls, stone streets, and just beautiful Tuscan countryside surrounding it. It was just incredible to walk around and see everything!!

   A lot of the perfection of Italy was due to our travel Bible, the guide to Italy by Rick Steves. Seriously this book told us everything, from hotels to restaurants and ways to beat all of the lines. It was entertaining and an excellent guide. All Rick Steves tour books are now officially endorsed by Mary Burger.  Because that has so much weight.

Florence

Also we ate pasta and gelato every day. Life was pretty perfect.