Venice highlights... Emma photographs

Florence highlights... Amanda photographs

Tuscany!

Ciao! We took a coach bus to Siena yesterday and explored the city. There was a chocolate festival happening and many of you may be getting some fancy chocolates as gifts now! Amanda and Jared scaled the tiny steps of the tower in a mere 25 minutes and you see some of their great shots below! (These are the two overview shots of Siena)

We stayed the night at the beautiful Hotel Lino in Volterra after touring the city and learning about the history and people with a great tour guide. Our day ended after eating a 10 course meal at tuscan farm. Everything thing was farm to table. This was a true highlight for many on the trip!!!

This morning we enjoyed breakfast and walking the city walls of Volterra. We jumped on a bus and checked out the sights at another tuscan town, San Giamingino. We had the worlds best gelato according to Mike Huff. All would agree. Now we are in Florence and we walked around the city at sunset. We traveled to Ms. Bertarellis former apartment- 2 Via Squazza! It was a very special moment to show the students my old Art school and home.

Now we are off to bed. Exhausted and full of pasta and gelato!

A few extra shots from the Vatican (Rome highlights part 2)

Rome Highlights

We have had a whirlwind two days.  Yesterday was the Vatican - museum,
Sistine Chapel, and St. Peters Cathedral.  Then we went across the Tiber to eat and see the Pantheon with some lovely churches.  In thehe evening we photographed night scenes of Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps.

Today we took lots of photos of the Coliseum  and drew in the Forum and Palatine HIlls.  After lunch we went to the Borghese Gallery.  The Bernini sculptures took our breath away!  Tonight we will dine near the hotel and get ready for Siena, and Tuscany.  We are staying on a farm in Volterra where we shall feast on local food, slowly savoring the experience of eating the amazing food.  Internet access might be spotty...Ciao for now!

And now for some photographs...! All taken while out and about on our evening tour of Rome.

We made it to Italia! We're safe and happy. We just watched the sunset go down over  the Coliseum and enjoyed a super 5 course dinner! Many more pictures to come in the following days. We head to the Vatican tomorrow.

Ciao-
Ms. Bertarelli, Ms. Schick, Mr. Schaefer, and artists