Florence, Italy

Mondays on the Move with Kate is a travel series following the adventures of Caldwell Travel’s Kate Godfrey as she explores the world and shares her experiences. She is currently on a 5 month European Adventure.

When you think of Florence, you may think of Renaissance art, the Uffizi, Michelangelo’s David, the Arno, the Ponte Vecchio — but Florence is a city of so much more.

Did you know that the history of modern Italian language has roots in medieval Florence and came into common usage thanks to Dante’s Divine Comedy? Or that modern poetry and modern prose were born in Tuscany as well… Well, Florence was also the first city to mint its own gold coins (in 1252) and to pave its streets (1235). It was a Florentine that invented the eye glasses, Gucci handbags, and art history. A Florentine cartographer gave his name to a new world that was discovered in 1492; the public lottery, the opera, soccer and minestrone soup are also said to have originated in Florence.

Thanks to the rise of the Renaissance in the 15th century, Florence became the world’s leading center of mathematics and astronomy. Science was divided into separate disciplines (chemistry, physics, biology) in Florence. Galileo, da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello and Machiavelli all called Florence home at some point. Art criticism was initiated in Florence. Modern Political Science traces its origins back to Florence and Machiavelli’s The Prince.

Florentines claim to have invented French cuisine thanks to the marriage of Catherine de’ Medici to Henri II of France in 1535. Catherine who was only 14, took a full complement of chefs and an encyclopedia of Tuscan recipes with her to France. She also apparently introduced the French to the wonders of eating with a fork.

Even with all of these amazing feats, Florence to me is an adorable compact Tuscan city with red-tile roofs, more than its fair share of leather goods and tons of Renaissance art. I will remember climbing a nearly never-ending staircase wedged between the lower dome and the upper dome of the Duomo. I will not forget the larger than life 7th level of Hell painted on the dome in Santa Maria dei Fiori. I will savor the bitter sweet hot chocolate with whipped cream soaking up the sun’s warm rays in the Piazza della Signoria after walking the long U-shaped corridors of the Uffizi Gallery. I will remember the irregularities in human form of both Venus in The Birth of Venus with her long forearms and nonexistent shoulders as well as David by Michelangelo with his large head and hands. I will treasure the view over Florence from the Piazzale Michelangelo and the relaxing picnic afternoon spent there. It may have only been two weeks – but they were wonderful weeks. !Ciao Firenze!

Want to travel to Florence? Contact Caldwell Travel to book your Florence vacation today!

Venetian Charm

Mondays on the Move with Kate is a travel series following the adventures of Caldwell Travel’s Kate Godfrey as she explores the world and shares her experiences. She is currently on a 5 month European Adventure.

For years I have dreamed of visiting Venice and seeing the canals. My desire began by seeing images of the gondolas, canals, and bridges when I was younger. The concept of roads being waterways and transport being via boat were too foreign for me to understand; therefore, I simply had to see it myself. Venice is unlike anywhere I have ever been. The canals are picturesque, the gondoliers are plentiful and the city is in a romantic decay.

Venice can be a challenge. The roads are small and maze-like. At times, it can feel like you are a mouse in a labyrinth. Utilizing landmarks is difficult as you can’t see anything thanks to the five story buildings built only five feet apart from each other that run less than fifty feet before T-ing into another short and hopelessly narrow road. But what fun it is to get lost in the quaint Venetian neighborhoods! This island city makes it enjoyable to get lost, knowing that you can’t wander too far off, after all. Don’t feel bad getting turned around and ending up some where other than you intended – that’s part of the Venetian charm.

I love traveling to new places, exploring new cultures and getting a glimpse of life different than my own. Venice provided us with challenges in navigation but rewarded us with memorable views on nearly every bridge we crossed. The fact that Venice is comprised of 118 small islands all connected via small canals, raised bridges and larger waterways makes island life fascinating.

Venice may be a bit ‘overrun’ with tourists but there is still Venetian life in the calm and quiet neighborhoods to be enjoyed. We sat in Campo San Giovanni e Paolo and watched as the kids got out of school and came in the square with their parents to play until dinner. We frequented (and by that I mean almost daily) the bakery down the street for genovese, tortini or ravioli fresca. We enjoyed Italian gelato and sampled over 30 different flavors – all very delicious. The Venice that we found was exceptional and we came to fall in love with it.
An evening spent walking St. Marks Square (Piazza San Marco) and listening to the dueling orchestras was a highlight of Venice for me.
The canals, gondolas, bridges, gelato and so much more will not be forgotten any time soon.
Our time in Venice was simply unforgettable.

The Trevi Fountain in Rome

Every Day over 3,000 euro are tossed into the Trevi Fountain. Legend has it that to ensure a return to Rome, one should throw a coin over his shoulder into la fontana di Trevi.

The Trevi Fountain is quite a site to behold. It is not located along a main street, but rather at the connecting point of several small streets and alleys. As you approach, you can hear the noise and excitement growing – and then, bam, you are there. From pictures, the fountain looks big. But it is a REALLY big fountain.

Trevi Fountain is the largest fountain in all of Rome. It is 85 feet high and 65 feet wide. Its water used to flow from the great Roman aqueducts fed by Virginal waters 8 miles from Rome. The water from the fountain then continued along its course and rose up again at the Fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona.

The fountain is a tribute to water with Oceanus in the middle riding a sea chariot and Abundance & Salubrity on either side. It is a very gorgeous fountain, but also very crowded. Hoards of tourists flock to the site every day. All of those people in and out, smiling for photos and tossing coins into the fountain makes for some incredible people-watching opportunities. Grab and seat and enjoy the show.

There is a tiny fountain to the side of the enormous Trevi Fountain that is called “Fontanina degli innamorati” or the lovers fountain. Supposedly if two lovers drink together from this fountain, they will be faithful for life.

The Colosseum – Rome

The Colosseum is, well for lack of a better word, colossal. The Flavian Amphitheater is 615 feet long, 510 feet wide, and 157 feet tall. It was completed in 80 AD. The outside is made entirely of travertine stone (3.5 million cubic feet of it) and the blocks are held together by iron clamps. It took 200 ox-drawn wagons working every day for four years to cart in the stone from the quarry in Tivoli.

The inauguration ceremonies lasted 100 days and saw the slaughter of 2,000 men and 9,000 animals.

There was an old adage that said: “As long as the Colosseum stands, so too will the Roman Empire.” Nearly 2,000 years later its still standing.

The Colosseum was originally used for public spectacles including the famous gladiator battles. The Colosseum held approximately 50,000 spectators on stone benches. In the photo below you can see the hypogeum, which is the area below the floor of the stadium where the animals and gladiators would have been prepped before coming out onto the arena floor.

Located beside the Roman Forum, the Colosseum is open daily from 8:30am until one hour before sunset. Tickets cost 12€ per person. To avoid the long line it is best to buy entrance tickets at the Roman Forum or Palatine Hill (all three attractions share the same ticket). For easy access you can take the 81 bus or get off at the Colosseo (line B) metro stop.

To book a Roman holiday, Italian adventure or European vacation, contact Caldwell Travel!

Spring in Rome

Mondays on the Move with Kate is a travel series following the adventures of Caldwell Travel’s Kate Godfrey as she explores the world and shares her experiences. She is currently on a 5 month European Adventure.

The trees are budding, the birds are chirping and the flower markets are in full swing. Spring has finally arrived in Rome. It is currently in the high sixties, there are no clouds in the sky, a gentle breeze is blowing and the Roman sun is warm on my back.

Spring flower bouquet at Campo de'Fiori

The crowds have begun to roll into the Eternal City for Holy Week. The crowds this past Sunday (Palm Sunday) around St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City were absolutely unbelievable. It was wall-to-wall people up and down every street in the area. Most people were carrying palms from the service which made maneuvering between them even harder. Next Sunday is slated to be even busier – if that’s even possible.

Looking toward St. Peter's Square and Basilica

On nearly every street in all of Rome, you will find a Gelateria selling gelato (similar to ice cream) and a Pizzeria selling, you guessed it, pizza. Sampling numerous varieties of both products, I would recommend the Bianca pizza, which may appear plain in contrast to most pizza as it is only topped with olive oil and salt, and the fruit flavored gelato. Gelato is made with milk contrasted with ice cream that is made with butter cream – so it is healthier to indulge upon. The fruit flavored gelato – whether pear, peach, strawberry, coconut, lemon – is an absolute taste explosion. The flavors are so much more vivid as compared with ice cream, even the chocolate and vanilla are leaps and bounds more flavorful.

Gelato at a Gelateria by St. Peter's Square

As you meander along Rome’s uneven, but picturesque, cobblestone streets there are certain things to take into consideration. First, always watch the road. The streets are made of cobblestones and some are missing or different heights than those around them making for a very dangerous walking surface if you’re not paying attention. Second, be cavalier but cautious when crossing streets. The automobiles here don’t necessary subscribe to overly pedestrian-friendly driving practices; however, they do typically pay very close attention to whether or not you intend to cross. If you hesitate, you have conceded the right of way – wait for the next gap in traffic. And third, be on the look out for scooters. They are everywhere! They even tend to go the wrong direction up one way streets. Don’t take it for granted – look both ways.

Watch out for Scooters in Rome - they are everywhere!

Black Hills, South Dakota Vacation

Just over 1,000 miles from Indianapolis lies a history-rich and vacation-ready corner of South Dakota. In this section of South Dakota you are able to view a landscape shaped by the wind and rain that has transformed it into an unanticipated site, visit a resident herd of buffalo on tranquil prairie lands, and set your sites on gigantic stone carvings of past presidents.

Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park is quite an experience. It can be compared with the Petrified Forest National Park where there are similar badlands, but these are much different. The plains of South Dakota are a far cry from the desert of Arizona. As Badlands are dry and arid, it is surprising to see so much green grass throughout Badlands National Park.

It is truly incredible to see these badlands up close and to learn about them in depth in the visitor’s center. For example, the soft sandstone that makes up these badlands can erode at a rate of one inch per year, as opposed to the granite that makes up the faces on the close-by Mount Rushmore that erodes about an inch for every 1,000 years. Badlands National Park is wonderful place to explore.

Custer State Park
Custer State Park in South Dakota has a lot to offer. The wildlife alone is worth a visit. On the Southern Wildlife Loop it is common to see numerous buffalo, prairie dogs, pronghorn, deer, burros and pheasant.

After driving the Needles Highway with its twists and turns, single lane tunnels and abundant wildlife, you can make your way to Mount Rushmore.

Mount Rushmore
Three million visitors each year make their way to the Black Hills of South Dakota to marvel at the majestic beauty, Mount Rushmore. The site is more than simply staring at large stone heads. There is a wonderful visitor center with interactive exhibits and films showing how the monument was made. Take a walk along the Presidential Trail to enjoy different views and angles; make your way to the sculptor’s studio with the working builder’s model, mold and several tools.

Did You Know?

Over 90% of Mount Rushmore was carved by using dynamite.

Dynamite blasts removed approx. 450,000 tons of rock from the mountain.

There is so much to see and so much to do in South Dakota. If you are interested in more information, or would like to book your South Dakota vacation – contact Caldwell Travel, the #1 source for all your travel needs.

Photos from Kate Godfrey’s South Dakota Vacation – Summer 2009

Eiffel Tower

Did you know that when the Eiffel Tower was built it was the entrance arch for the World’s Fair of 1889? Although it stood as the tallest structure in the world (until the Chrysler Building was erected in New York City in 1930), many Parisians did not like it and referred to it as an eye-sore.

And yet, today the Eiffel Tower is one of the most recognized symbols of Paris, and probably even France, as well as being one of the most visited sites in the entire world.

It is a massive structure comprised of 18,000 pieces of iron being held together with 2.5 millions rivets.  Last year marked its 120th birthday celebration.

Caldwell Travel’s own, Kate Godfrey was there to enjoy the nightly autumn light display celebrating the milestone anniversary.

She climbed the one thousand four hundred and sixty-eight steps to the second level viewing platform to enjoy the views over the city from her 38-story vantage point.

“Paris is a timeless place to visit. One of the most magical sites I visited during my stay was the Eiffel Tower. I was able to enjoy it on a sunny, sixty degree day in October, a windy, overcast afternoon in November, and a rainy evening in December. I loved every moment we were there. Even when my legs were unsteady and wobbly from climbing to the viewing platform, it was well worth it. We had a fantastic time in Paris, and I cannot wait to return!” said Kate about her recent trip to the City of Lights.

Make the Best of the SNOW!

In Indiana and across the Eastern United States, we have been hammered with snow to a degree unrivaled in recent years. But how can you make the most with all of this snow?

We offer two suggestions: ICE CREAM and VACATION.

Ice cream: You scream, I scream, we all scream for SNOW ice cream!

You will need 4-5 cups of clean fresh unpacked snow (not hard to find around here), and 1 cup of milk, ½ cup of sugar, and ½ teaspoon of flavoring*. Stir all the ingredients together except the snow. Once the sugar is dissolved, slowly add in the snow, and wait until it thickens. It is a fun and delicious snack!

Vacation: An easy way to deal with the snow is to leave it all behind.

Would you love to just get away from it all? Whether an all-inclusive resort with pristine sandy beaches is your ideal get-away or you prefer to take on Europe’s timeless treasures, Caldwell Travel can help make your dream escape a reality. Thinking about an African safari, a couple’s retreat to Fiji, or a Caribbean cruise? Whatever your dream vacation – Caldwell Travel is here to help!

*Suggestions for flavoring ingredients include: vanilla extract, cocoa powder, chocolate syrup, maple syrup, ice cream toppings, margarita, bloody mary or pina colada cocktail mix, instant coffee, jello or instant pudding mix. You can also add fruit, coconut, granola, etc.