Europe 2010: Italy and France - Part 5, Paris!

After almost 12 days in Italy, Jeannie and I ended our trip in Paris... our final stop! Since we had both visited before, rather than do as many tourist stops as we could (e.g. the 2-day Museum Pass), we opted to just wind down our trip wandering through the Paris streets and spending as much time as we could in the local cafes. Each day started with us sleeping in and then waking up to immerse ourselves into the amazing city life Paris had to offer. Such a great way to end our journey! Can't wait to come back!

Gotta love the Parisian skyline!

Admittedly, this was our first food stop in Paris. After eating nothing but Italian food, we felt like we deserved a little taste of home :) Pho done French style!

Inside Notre Dame cathedral with its beautiful stained glass.

In front of Notre Dame was what looked like a bread festival. Local kids were invited to learn how to bake bread by the seasoned bakers. Above, you can see some of the bakers taking a quick paddleball break outside the kitchen tent.

Nothing like fresh pastries right out of the oven! Hmm...I wonder if those kids baked this batch.

Random trinkets from some of the many tourist shops we passed.

I really think Europe got it right when it comes to tiny modes of transportation to get you through the city streets.

The Louvre...

One of the many bike share stations we spotted all throughout Paris. Such a great idea and I hear they are going to start testing this in San Francisco too!

One of the many cafes Jeannie and I ate at. At this particular location...

... we enjoyed Pommes Frittes!

Another skyline shot... we were so lucky to get breaks from the rain while in Paris so we could wander around!

Two shots from the Louis Vuitton flagship store on the Champs Elysess. There was so much incredible detail in this store!

Not to be outdone... the Nescafe store, also on the Champs Elysees was more art museum than store!

Shots from the Jardin du Luxembourg. On this particular day, the rain clouds finally left letting everyone to enjoy the fabulous sunshine!

Public transportation at its best!

Shots of Paris at night!

Europe 2010: Italy and France - Part 4, Tuscany!

While Jeannie and I were in Florence, we took some time to head out into Tuscany! Think... Sonoma in the middle ages and I think that might describe it. On our trek we visited the towns of Siena, San Gimignano, and of course, Pisa. Each town had its on charm and character with the locals fiercely proud of where they had come from. According to one woman we spoke to, pregnant moms-to-be from Siena would carry a canister of the town's dirt with them when they were near their delivery date. In the event they went into labor away from home, they would place the soil under their bed so when their baby was born, the could still claim that the baby was still born on top of Siena soil. How's that for local town pride!

Shot of the beautiful Tuscan landscape. Despite the overcast, you could still appreciate all of the beauty the scenery had to offer!

While in Siena, we visited the world's oldest bank. Rather than gargoyles protecting their rooftops, we spotted these crazy heads jutting out of the top of the building. Wish I knew who all these heads were but I'll assume they were all famous...

Inside the Duomo in Siena was this older man on his knees doing what I can only imagine is painstaking work. He was using some sort of filler to repair the microcracks that were in the marble floors. Even though my back hurt just watching him, I was in awe admiring his patience and attention to detail he put into the repairs

A view from a roadside in Siena. The church you see in the background is the Church of San Domenico where the remains of St. Catherine are held

Il Campo, one of Italy's most famous squares and home to the Palio horse race. The whole square was shaped like a seashell that slants downward to a single drain.

Jeannie and I had the opportunity to visit a local organic farm in Tuscany. Raising their own cattle, growing their own grapes and olives, the owners introduced us to their organic wines and wonderful olive oils. Definitely one of the highlights of our trip!

Selection of wines from the farm we visited, Fattoria Poggio Alloro. Super pleasant and mild wines all of which were very tasty. Gotta find me a local store that offers their wines for sure!

Doggy that I spotted enjoying his patch of sunlight during the break in the rain on the farm.

Let me introduce to you... The Man. I wish I knew his actual name, but let's just say that for three years straight, he and his gelateria in San Gimignano have won the Ice Cream World Championships for Italy (yes, apparently this actually does exist).

Shots of some of the many towers in the medieval town of San Gimignano

I really don't know what it is, but when you're in the town of Pisa, people do crazy things like this for that "check out this totally unique picture I was able to get!" shot. Haha! Sometimes you just have to be a tourist and take the obligatory cheesy photo! Gotta love it!

Europe 2010: Italy and France - Part 3, Florence!

Ah Florence... Gelato, Bistecca Fiorentina, Lampredotto sandwiches, and more Gelato! In other words, Florence was all about the FOOD! Of course, there were the sites and museums as well. From the Duomo to the Ufizzi Gallery, Florence had sooo much to offer! Such a wonderful city with so much culture all around. Live music could be heard from the squares each night and there was a warm bustle through each of the markets. And of course, let's not forget about the food! No matter where we went, tourist joint or local dive, the quality of the Tuscan cuisine was apparent everywhere. Bold flavors and fresh ingredients were definitely the name of the game here! My mouth is watering just thinking about it again!

It seemed that everywhere you walked in Florence, you'd stumble across a gelateria. Of course we had to try as many as we could! Alas, gelato will never taste the same to me back here in the states. Florence has made us spoiled with their wonderful and gooey dark chocolate and pistachio concoctions!

Shot of the Duomo bell tower... didn't make it up there unfortunately but at least it looked pretty good from the ground!

Inside a local church we stumbled across in the city. As much as I love churches, this one gave me chills as it was extremely dark and empty inside

Frozen gelato on a stick. Genius!

This was a food cart we stumbled upon walking through Florence, L'antica Tripallo, which served up one of Florence's staples, the tripa and lampredotto sandwiches. In other words, tripe and cow's stomach, which was to die for! So so tasty. That's all I can really say about it. Between Jeannie and I, I think we ate four of them during our trip!

Now this I don't get at all... but for some reason, amongst all the fine tasting european beers, Duff Beer was sold all over the place in Florence!

Maybe the freshest basil and tomato bruschetta I've ever had!

Jeannie checking up on the latest news at one of the hidden wifi spots we were able to find.

Kids playing soccer up against a church wall we passed

Scarves and pashminas were huge sellers in Florence. With all the colors to choose from and at 5 euro a piece, it was hard to resist not picking up at least of few of these for back home!

Bellisima!

Nice to meet you too Mr. Piggy!

...yet another wifi finding!

What the?!... more locks!!!