Italy- Part One

I’m reading a deeply fabulous book right now, written by my dear friend Danielle. It’s called Sleeping with Paris and in my opinion, it’s Chic Lit at its best. So, here’s my little summary: When, Charlotte Summers discovers her fiancé is having an affair, just days before they are supposed to move to Paris together, she leaves her adulterous man behind and makes the decision to move to Paris alone. What ensues is an insightful and often hilarious glimpse into the life of a newly single lady determined to date like a man and make the most of her single days in Paris.  

Of course, the plot is juicy and delightfully playful and I absolutely love it, but what I love the most is how Danielle interlaces the charm of Paris, the City of Love, and the city she loves into her novel. As I read the book, I felt like I was there, walking the lively, café –lined streets, taking in the tasty aroma of buttery croissants and freshly baked bread. Sitting alone in a small café, sipping coffee and watching the crowds go by.

Danielle and me in 2007

As I read Danielle’s book, I couldn’t help but muse over Jared and my trip to Italy. Although Sleeping with Paris obviously takes place in France and not Italy, so much of what she wrote about Paris reminded me of what we experienced in Italy.

Traveling to Italy had been a dream of mine for years and two summers ago, we were finally able to go. After pouring over travel websites and blogs and reading books on Italy from cover to cover, we planned a 12 day trip to the place of my dreams!

                      

       On the plane and ready to fulfill a dream!                                          Jet Lagged but excited, we arrive in Rome and hop on a train to Florence.

FloReNCe

There is so much to see in Florence! The Duomo, Campanile and the beautiful bronze doors of the Babtistry are only a few of the many wonders of the city. 

After checking in to our hotel, we took a quick power nap to cure the jet lag. Afterward, we began walking the city. We rounded this corner near our hotel and for the first time, saw the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiori, or the Duomo as it's more commonly called. This structure is truly incredible. It's difficult to describe seeing it for the first time. Towering over Florence, I could immediately understand how this dome inspired Florentines to do great things.

For the next 4 days, we tirelessly explored the city, absorbing the culture and history and enjoying as much Italian food and wine as we could!

Florence's most famous bridge- The Ponte Vecchio

Overlooking the city from across the Arno River, is the Piazzale Michelangelo. It's the best place to come for views of Florence and the Duomo...and a great place to steal a kiss or two!

My favorite part of Florence, our charming hotel- The Hotel Monna Lisa. It was only a 3 minute walk to the Duomo, but with the enchanting courtyard garden overflowing with olive trees, lemon trees and the sweet smell of rosemary in the air around us, we felt like we were miles from the busy streets of the city. Jared and I spent our mornings here, slow and sweet like honey. We enjoyed long breakfasts of cappuccino, fresh fruit, pastries and cheeses. And at night, when it was truly quiet, we savored several bottles of Italian wine.

Florence is truly is a magical place. So much history. Such beautiful art and architecture, preserved so well throughout the ages.  It's a city as alive as it is subdued. It bursts with energy, yet it isn’t difficult to find a quiet corner of the city where a bottle of wine can be enjoyed between lovers or friends. I fell in love with this city, but not the way I fell in love with other parts of Italy. More on that later friends ;)

If you’d like to read Sleeping with Paris, check out these links.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sleeping-with-Paris-ebook/dp/B005TNM736

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sleeping-with-paris-juliette-sobanet/1106543616

Also, Danielle just put her book on sale for the holiday, so it's only $.99 for a little while!