Darphynia's Diary

Day 7b:  Lake Maggiore **I wrote this when I got to the hotel, hence the tense.** Our patio. The room.  Yes, there are 2 beds. A view of the lake from the patio. After quite a lengthy drive from our last hotel near Venice, we arrived at Hotel Simplon, which overlooks Lake Maggiore.  The ceiling was made of stained glass, and the dining hall reminded me of a fancy hall from a 1940’s movie:  chandeliers, white tablecloths, and a view of the yard and mountains.  Did I mention that it has been raining all day with few breaks?  It is currently pouring outside the room.  Unfortunately, due to the rain, we were not able to utilize the outdoor patio area.  It’s so lovely, and even has AstroTurf!  A small fence separates the patios from the rest of the yard.  It is located in the mountains, but (if you haven’t been here) it’s not quite what you think.  They aren’t mountains like we know them in California....

The BEST pizza flavored snack EVER! On our way to Milan (Milano) we made a pitstop, and I picked up some of these crispy, pizza-flavored bread squares.  They were the best snack item I have had in a long time.  Why did I choose them?  Well, I figured if the Italians couldn't get pizza flavored snacks down, nobody could.  They tasted of tomato, cheese, and basil, yet contained no cheese/milk products!  Yes, they were...are...vegan.  Anyway, if you ever see them, give them a try. An old shopping center across from La Scala. The first Prada Store. We continued on to an old shopping center (Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan), which houses the first Prada store ever established (1913).  Our local guide was so fun!  She had a story about the families who controlled the area, and even got our group involved.  After the shopping center we had some free time.  We went into Duomo di Milano, then had lunch before headin...

Day 5:  Assisi to Venice & Gondolas Street performance. Giulietta. The famous balcony. Venice (Venezia) is home to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (Giulietta).  Yes, the people did exist, but their story is that of fantasy, as far as we know.  The famed balcony where Juliet begins with, “Romeo, Romeo.  Wherefore art thou, Romeo?” is quite an attraction.  You can enter the balcony, but I believe they charge.  At the archway to the balcony, on a wall opposite the arch, and within the small courtyard, people have written and posted love notes or the initials of whom they are with.  In hindsight I wish I had done that.  I may never get another opportunity.  Anyway there is a statue of Juliet near the balcony.  Part of the statue is far more shiny than others.  Why?  Well, for some reason (and nobody really knows why), those who take a photo with the statue often fondle her breasts.   Kissing brid...

Day 4:   War Cemetery & Assisi The War Cemetery and fountain. There are few things more sobering than visiting war cemeteries.   They are a reminder of casualties of war.   Most of the graves were those of people who were no more than 30.   Many never saw it past 18-19.   Our tour director bought roses, in red and white, for each of us to place on the grave of a headstone of our choosing.   

Days 2 & 3:   Rome, The Vatican City & Other Roman Sights Managed to find a Korean restaurant within the first 24 hours of being there... There are so many things to see and do that you could be in Roma itself for two weeks, and it wouldn’t be long enough.   The architecture, history, food, and culture are remarkable.   If only the locals could appreciate as much as the visitors do.   But I guess it’s the same anywhere.   I don’t see the fascination with Los Angeles, and as much as I love Disneyland I often forget why the tourists are so awed.   Since we live around these things, we really take them for granted.   Okay, rant over.   Each building has a story to tell.   Many of the homes owned by the wealthy have been converted into apartments or government buildings.   You can tell which time periods the buildings were constructed by the architectural style.   Ticket to the museum. A fountain. ...

About 15 years ago, I took a trip to the UK using Trafalgar.  We had such a great time, and it was decided that we would use Trafalgar again on our next trip.  If I ever decide to take a tour again, I will be sure to ask specifically for the tour guide we had this time.  I can't say enough about Paolo.  He is a fountain of knowledge, and has a great sense of humor.  He made the trip memorable and so much more.  I actually meant to have these bits posted up the week after we came home, but I was so sick and recovering from mosquito bites (I've never reacted to them before, and don't know why I did then).  And then I relapsed, but I'm 100% better now. You will probably notice that the posts are in different tenses.  That's because I wrote them at different times.  Anyway, here is Day 1: Day 1:   From LAX to Rome LAX-Chicago From the wing.   The day has been quite long.   I hate leaving things