Discovery
Our Featured Country
Italy
A few years ago I took my niece, Liz, to Italy for her 13th birthday - just the two of us. This was her first trip outside of the United States. Liz did her homework - she reviewed travel books on Rome, Florence and Venice so she would be well prepared. As we drove to Rome in the taxi from the airport, I looked over at Liz. Her face was one of pure amazement! Leaning forward and looking out the windows, she exclaimed, "I wish I had 12 eyes!!". There was so much to see!
Walking the streets of Rome, it is impossible not to appreciate what must have been a magnificient civilization, the Roman Empire. Construction began on the Collosseum, where gladiators fought, in 72 A.D. It is largely still standing and you can actually walk around the stands as though you were in the audience 2,000 years ago. The Roman Forum - the center of commerce and government of the Roman Empire, is within walking distance of the Collosseum, as is the Arch of Constantine, commemorating a victory of Emporer Constantine in 312 A.D. And the Pantheon, built in 125 A.D. as a Greek temple, also known as the "Temple of the Roman Gods" is one of my favorite sites. The Pantheon has the largest brick dome in the history of architecture! Pretty amazing!
Liz, of course, loved posing with the Gladiators at the Collosseum but also running up and down the 17th century Spanish Steps, located in a wonderful shopping district. We were searching and searching for shoes!! We were only in Rome a few days before leaving for Florence, but the choices offered for shoes for a 13 year old were overwhelming. We must have returned 10 times- up and down the Spanish Steps- in the three days we were in Rome. We were not successful finding shoes, but we did find several pieces of the famous Italian fashion that were just too wonderful to pass up!
The trips up and down the Spanish Steps did help to alleviate some of the guilt of our twice daily indulgence of the fabulous Italian Gelato Ice Cream. We tried several flavors but Liz's favorite was the Stracciatella, white with chocolate shavings and I chose the Bacio - chocolate with hazelnuts. Actually, Italy is one of the best places in the world for food. The pasta, the pizza, the fish, the vegetables - always fresh and absolutely delizioso, no matter who is cooking!
A few interesting facts about Italy:
Italy is only slightly larger than Arizona.
The ice cream cone, the piano, eyeglasses and the typewriter were invented in Italy.
The area around Venice is the wealthiest region in Europe.
Italy imports over 75% of its energy.
Italy did not become a united country until 1861.
Le Jacquard Francais 
Mustardseed & Moonshine 
Tournesol's Concierge