The land of art and culture, pasta and pizza, gladiators and gondoliers. The land of leaning towers, archaeological ruins, and scenic coastlines. The land of fashion and faith; grapes, lemons, and olives.
After dreaming for more than ten years and then being denied the chance to visit for more than two and a half years, my wife and I returned from our two-week journey through Italy.
For some years, we saved money while searching for the tour right package. With so many tour options available, we looked for the one that offered the most of our must-have experiences at the best value. After an intense search, we selected the BEST OF ITALY from Trafalgar to celebrate our 20th anniversary. We decided November 2019 would be the time to go since it was the off-season, and the price was better. However, Trafalgar canceled when not enough people signed up for it. Bummer! But thankfully, we could reschedule for any time without worry. We decided March 2020 would be a great time to go because it was still the off-season, and the spring weather would be ideal. Yet again, our tour was canceled when the COVID-19 pandemic unleashed its ugly head on the world. The world shut down, people were forced to stay home, and traveling anywhere was forbidden. We rescheduled for March 2021, thinking everything would be back normal by then and we would not have to be concerned with any COVID-19 travel restrictions. Sadly, the pandemic was still in full effect and Italy had not opened its borders to foreign travelers. We waited a few months before deciding to reschedule our trip for March 2022. As the pandemic still had its hold on the world, we didn’t know if we would be denied once again. But thankfully, travel restrictions were lifted, Italy opened its borders and enough people had signed up for the tour. So finally, the wait was over and our vacation of a lifetime would soon become a reality.
It is hard to describe the two weeks we spent in Italy with adequate words. Each city offered a unique opportunity to learn something new. Bucket-list experiences or I like to say “God manifested dreams” were checked off the list. Visualizing places that had previously only been seen through a television lens. One post on the blog would not be sufficient to talk about everything we want to share. We will address the individual experiences and other topics in more specific posts. I will share the daily itinerary for this post, with the details to follow in the forthcoming posts.
JT at the Leaning Tower of Pisa Photo by J
Andiamo (Let’s Go!)
We leave home and our journey to Rome begins.
Day One
We arrive in Rome and check-in at our hotel. After meeting our travel director and our fellow travelers, we head out for a bus tour of Rome, followed by dinner at a local restaurant.
Day Two
We tour the Vatican museums, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Colosseum, and conclude with a walking tour around Rome with stops at the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon.
Day Three
We leave Rome to visit the Pompeii ruins and a drive along the Amalfi Coast.
Day Four
We arrive by ferry to the Island of Capri for a walking tour. We head back to Sorrento for free time in town, concluding with a dinner at a local farmhouse.
Day Five
Our journey continues to Assisi to view the Basilica of St. Francis and free time in the peaceful town.
Day Six
We arrive in Venice and view the islands by private water taxi, and experience a gondola ride through the canals.
Day Seven
We take a walking tour of Venice and go inside St. Mark’s Basilica, followed by a glass-blowing demonstration on the island of Murano, and stroll around the island of Burano, followed by dinner.
Day Eight
We leave Venice and have a free morning in Verona, a walking tour of Milan with a tour of the Duomo in the afternoon, and arriving in Como for the evening.
Day Nine
The day begins with a bus tour of Lake Como, then a boat ride to Bellagio and free time back in Como.
Day Ten
After leaving Como, we see the Leaning Tour of Pisa before heading to Florence with dinner at Villa Machiavelli.
Day Eleven
The day begins with a chance to see David at the Academia Gallery and continues with a walking tour around Florence to see the Duomo, gold and leather demonstrations, free time for shopping, walking over the Ponte Vecchi,o and concluding with dinner at Castello del Trebbio.
Day Twelve
After leaving Florence, we stop at a World War II cemetery before heading to the medieval town of San Gimignano and then returning to Rome for our farewell dinner.
Day Thirteen
Returning back Home
Stay tuned for more details about each day, the individual experience, and other things we learned about traveling aboard during the time of COVID.
Have you ever had an event so special that you dreamed of coming true, even though you have no idea how or when it would happen? My wife and I enjoy the music of Andrea Bocelli, and attending one of his concerts would be a dream come true. Thankfully, that dream became a reality this Sunday night when we attended his concert in Saint Louis.
Andrea Bocelli concert program cover
Our first experience listening to Mr. Bocelli’s music was when we purchased perfume from Victoria’s Secret in 2001. At the time, my wife enjoyed wearing Dream Angel, and the purchase included a gift – a compilation CD of the Italian tenor’s music. Having never heard anything from him, we did not know what to expect. However, from the first time we played the CD, his mesmerizing voice hooked us. We often played the CD as we would get ready for the day or night before bed. We couldn’t get enough of it, and we wanted to learn more about him and his music.
Since that Victoria’s Secret purchase, we experienced his newly-released albums and discovered his previously-released works. We did not understand most of the music since it was sung in Italian, but Mr. Bocelli did have a few songs in English. His voice is so powerful that it does not matter if it is Italian or English; he can move you, stir your emotions, and fill you with great joy. My wife would often say that she would enjoy going to one of his concerts if she had the opportunity.
A few years back, probably in 2018 or 2019, I had learned that Mr. Bocelli would be performing in New York City. It might have been Christmas special, although I don’t recall for sure. I thought it would be great to surprise my wife with a trip to the Big Apple for that concert of a lifetime. I went as far as looking at airline ticket prices and hotels near the concert venue. But the timing wasn’t right, and the trip didn’t happen. Since we had never been to New York City and knew almost nothing about getting around, I decided it would be best to wait for a better opportunity.
A couple of months back, as I was out running errands when I noticed a billboard with Mr. Bocelli’s photograph and the date October 17. Intrigued, I rushed home to see what I could find. To my amazement, Mr. Bocelli was bringing his world tour to Saint Louis. Our better opportunity now required no airline tickets or hotel reservations, but instead a quick fifteen trip from our house. The original tour, planned for 2020, was canceled when the pandemic was still lingering in December. How did we not know he was coming to our hometown? How did we miss it? But thankfully, good seats were still available, and we quickly purchased our tickets for what we knew would be a memorable evening.
Without a doubt, Mr. Bocelli did not disappoint the crowd of almost 18,000 people. As a man of few words, he let his music speak for itself. He had no long introduction at the opening; he spoke only one brief sentence, saying it was great to be back together since the pandemic had canceled the previous opportunity. His powerful voice filled the Enterprise Center with a mixture of songs from his most recent BELIEVE album and earlier selections. He moved from song to song without long soliloquies, and in some instances, Mr. Bocelli spoke no words. Larisa Martinez, Loren Allred, and Edward Park joined Mr. Bocelli on stage for spectacular duets. You could feel their passion and feel it deep down in your soul. My favorite moment of the night was when nine-year-old daughter Virginia Bocelli joined her father on stage for a heartwarming rendition of Hallelujah. Ayanna Witter-Johnson’s cello solo and singing added a punch of the unexpected. Brittany O’Connor and Paul Barris masterfully danced during many of the songs. Steven Mercurio conducted the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra to add the finishing touches for an amazing night.
The two-plus-hour show left my wife and me speechless, not wanting the night to end. Mr. Boceilli and his friends could have performed for another hour or two, and it would have been wonderful. Their performance left us in awe. Never have we been to a concert quite like it. I don’t know what concert could be any better than this one — only another Andrea Bocelli concert, but this time in Italy at the Duomo in Milan. That would be utterly mind-blowing, but one can dream.
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, are forever engrained into our hearts. We will never forget the horrific images of the airplanes careening into the Twin Towers. Or hearing the telephone messages of passengers calling their family members and telling them what was happening and they weren’t going to make it out alive. Or listening to someone talk about their loved one who died fighting in the war of terror that ensued after the fact.
September 11th invokes a wide range of emotions. My heart aches for those who lost their loved ones on that day or in the war. But at the same time, it is a day of much joy and happiness. You see, while today marks twenty years since the terrorist attacks, it also marks twenty-two years that JT and I walked down the aisle and became husband and wife.
The highs of knowing that my life has been forever changed by the most wonderful woman in the world, remembering the beautiful ceremony, eating wonderful food, and sharing great memories with friends and family at our wedding. To the lows of know that just two years later, life as we knew it had changed, terrorism was a real threat, and so many people died in the name of preserving the American freedom that we have lived in.
Now twenty years since that horrific day, I find that I have changed. In the years past, while I felt a deep sadness about what happened that day, I still wanted to celebrate our wedding anniversary. I found myself saying, “We were married before this happened, so I am going to celebrate.” But this year, it was different. I could only post things related to the terrorist attacks and the war on terror on my social media. I wanted to post photos of my wife as a countdown to our anniversary, but my heart told me NO. It wasn’t right. Maybe it has to do with the end of the war in Afghanistan and the recent loss of the thirteen soldiers in Afghanistan. Maybe it is the heartache for the people who died on that day truly hit me.
The terrorist attacks of September 11th and the war that followed became so real to me today. After eating lunch at Red Lobster for our anniversary, we went to see the Flags of Valor presentation. Over seven thousand United States flags are placed on Art Hill in Forest Park in Saint Louis, MO. Each flag includes a photograph of a soldier who died fighting in the War on Terror, along with a replica dog tag that gives their name, date of death, and where they died. There are also flags honoring the first responders, police officers, and firefighters who died while helping the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. A panel display includes photographs of each of the people who died on September 11th. Fox News captured this video shows the magnitude of the presentation.
Seeing more than seven thousand flags, each with a photograph and a dog tag of a man or woman who sacrificed their lives so that I can continue to live in freedom. So that terror would not prevail, and that evil has no place in this world. All I can say is, “Thank You!” And we all must say, “We Will Never Forget!:
A flag honoring Vincent G. Danz, New York Police Officer who died at the World Trade Center during the September 11th Terrorist Attacks
I want to take this opportunity to wish all of the fathers a very Happy Father’s Day. I’m not going to lie. For me, this day is tough. My father passed away when I was twelve. To be honest, I use to hate it. Having to ‘celebrate’ it without him was tough, especially when I would see other people’s fathers were still alive. What made it even harder is that my father’s birthday is June 13th, usually just days before Father’s Day. As time went on, I was able to turn my grief into joy. And today, I can take what was a sad day and still celebrate Father’s Day even though my own father is in Heaven.
Jay with his father
I know that many people who have lost their fathers will spend the day at the cemetery. For me, this is a big NO. I have done that in the past, and I felt more depressed and sad when I left. I refuse to go to a cemetery unless I am there for an actual funeral. For me, a cemetery does not bring me good feelings for my father. It just reminds me that he is gone and not with me in the physical world. And I am surrounded by the reminder that family members and other people are no longer with us. There is something about a tombstone that doesn’t bring me peace. So that is why I am not going to a cemetery unless it is to honor a family member or friend who recently passed.
When I am in a cemetery, it makes me focus on my father’s death. The last six weeks of his life were extremely hard for him. He lost his battle with lung cancer. I don’t want want to focus on that or how he struggled to live. I want to focus on his life and how he lived it. I want to focus on what he meant to me, my mother, my family, and the people he knew. Although he walked on this earth for only 54 years, he greatly impacted the people who knew him.
I want to remember him as the man who started a construction company with only an eighth-grade education. I want to remember the man who provided for this family, for his employees, and the partners even when he struggled through the tough times in business. Finally, I want to remember the man who told my mother that he wanted just one more child, which is why I am here today.
On Father’s Day, It is easy to think about the times that I lost out with him not being there. The first shave, my graduation ceremonies, my wedding, or the father-son talks that he missed out on. But I focus my mind on thinking about the good memories that I have of my daddy. I would spend time traveling to the construction sites; when he would give me a paycheck for helping him on the job or watching him build things in his woodworking shop. I had to train myself to focus on the good memories and to cast aside the bad memories. I had to work hard to focus on how he lived his life and not think about how his life ended. As the years went by, it became easier for my mind to stay focused on the good times. And now when I think about him, or his birthday or Father’s Day,
On this Father’s Day, I want to honor and thank my father. He is the reason I am here and why I am the man I am today. Even though his death has separated us in the natural for almost thirty-four years, I will always have him close in my heart.
Thank You, Daddy!
I Love You!
If your father is in Heaven, how do you remember him on this day?
I pray that you are having a wonderful day and keeping cool during this heatwave that we are experiencing on the first weekend of summer.
Today is June 19th, and I remember my mother today because it’s her heavenly birthday. Today has also been designated as a new federal holiday, honoring the legacy of Juneteenth. Many people may not be familiar with what Juneteenth is and why it needs to be celebrated and remembered.
June 19, 1865, marks the official end of slavery in the United States when the last remaining slaves were freed inTexas. The Emancipation Proclamation, signed by Abraham Lincoln, became law on January 1, 1863, and marked the end of slavery in the United States. But it would take two and a half years for all enslaved people to experience their freedom. Texas was the last of the confederate states that stood in rebellion following the Civil War. However, due to insufficient Union troops and officials in Texas, the Emancipation Proclamation was not easily enforced, and enslaved people were still being held captive there.
Union Major Gen. Gordon Granger and his regiment rode into Galveston on June 19, 1865, with news that the Civil War had ended in April and that the more than 250,000 enslaved people living in Texas were now free. Granger proclaimed,
“The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.”
Almost immediately, enslaved people in Texas celebrated their freedom with great joy and jubilation. They coined the celebration as Juneteenth. And in the years that followed, the newly freed men and women and their descendants would celebrate the day with music, BBQs, and prayer services. There is even a Miss Juneteenth Pageant in Fort Worth, Texas.
And now, one hundred and fifty-six years later, Juneteenth becomes a federal holiday. But how should we be celebrating or honoring this day?
I believe it is an opportunity to teach people of all ages about the stain that slavery has left on our country. The United States was established on the principles of freedom, but that freedom was not given to all people.
I believe it is an opportunity to teach people of all ages about unity and acceptance of all people, regardless of skin color or ethnicity. No matter what they believe in or who they pray to. We need to look at their heart and their character and learn to love them for who they are.
I believe it is an opportunity to teach people that history is not an easy thing to understand, that there is more to understanding it and learning it than what is presented in our textbooks. That the history of people who don’t look like us still needs to be studied and learned.
I am interested to see how, in the coming years, Juneteenth will be celebrated and honored. I see it as a great opportunity for healing and unity in this country. But only if everyone makes that effort and takes a step closer together.
Learn More About JT Bubbling with Elegance and Grace is a place for life long learners. The Bubbling With Elegance And Grace team was created 14 years ago. A passion for fashion sparked a lifestyle blog for our Elegant Community to enjoy. We are thankful and in gratitude to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for those who have been with us from the beginning and those who have just started riding with us on this lovely journey.
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