We left with good friends for a vacation in Italy! Our first flight was from Columbus to JFK International Airport. We had several hours before our overnight flight to Naples. We spent that time relaxing in the Delta One lounge. It was well worth it!
We took off from JFK a little late due to the backup of planes waiting to take off.
Leaving New York for Naples!
Thursday, August 28th, 2025
Naples here we come!
The pilots made up our lost time and we arrived in Naples a little early.
Approaching Naples!
The plane was too big to pull up to a gate so we got off on the tarmac and took a bus to the terminal. We went through customs and then had quite a wait for our luggage.
A driver met us at the exit of the airport and he drove us to our hotel. He was quite the aggressive driver! We made it safely to the hotel and we checked our baggage because our rooms weren’t ready. It was only 10:00 AM.
Off exploring Sorrento we went!
Sorrento
Our lunch was at the Ristorante S. Antonino. We had a delicious gluten free pizza!
Ristorante AntoninoOur gluten free pizza
After our lunch we walked back to our hotel. It was around 2:00 PM and our rooms were ready. We grabbed our luggage, freshened up and went for a glass of wine!
This morning started with a bus tour of Glasgow. Our first stop was at the Glasgow Green. Here was saw the Doulton Fountain. It was a five-tier fountain in a French Renaissance style. It was built for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 1887. It was restored in 2003-2005 and stood 46 feet high and 70 feet across the base and it was thought to be the largest fountain in the world.
Doulton Fountain
We did our O-H-I-O in front of the fountain!
The fountain was located in front of the People’s Palace. It was built from 1893-1898. It housed the city’s social history collection.
People’s Palace
We passed the Hydro. It was an indoor arena that had a capacity of 14,500 including the standing room and opened in 2013. It holds various events.
The Hydro
The bus also took us past the Clyde Auditorium which resembled the Sydney Opera House in Australia. The Clyde Auditorium also known as the Armadillo and opened in 1997. It hosts big entertainment names and performers and has a capacity of 3,000.
The Clyde Auditorium
As we walked up to the Glasgow Cathedral we saw one of the former blue police boxes that were used from the 1920s and have been sold and converted into businesses. If you were a Dr. Who fan these former police boxes were used as his tardis (time machine) to travel from place to place.
This police box is now a coffee shop.
We had an hour to tour the Glasgow Cathedral on our own. It was dedicated to St. Kentigern, also known as St. Mungo. He was a Christian missionary from the 6th century AD.
Glasgow Cathedral
The cathedral was built in the 1100s and it took 350 years to finish. It was a medieval cathedral.
The Queen/King’s BoxIn the foreground is part of the Pupitum, carved stone screen from the 1400s.
We walked through the crypt that housed the tomb of St. Mungo.
Down to the cryptTomb of St. Mungo
The set of stained glass windows were made in the 1860s by the Munich glass and were installed in the Cathedral between 1859 and 1864. The windows deteriorated and had to be replaced and the three pictured below were restored by Historic Scotland.
Behind the Cathedral was the Glasgow Necropolis. It was a Victorian cemetery and the first garden cemetery in Scotland. It opened in 1833 on a hilly site and the top was dominated by the 12 foot statue of John Knox. He was known most for the Scottish Reformation.
The entranceThe Glasgow NecropolisStatue of John Knox
Near the Glasgow Cathedral was a statue of David Livingstone by John Mossman. He was a Scottish born doctor, missionary, and explorer. When we traveled to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe in 2018 we saw a statue to Livingstone who discovered the falls in 1855 and named them after Queen Victoria.
David Livingstone
Across the street from the Glasgow Cathedral was the oldest building in Glasgow, Provands Lordship. It dated from 1471 and was used by the clergy when they visited the cathedral.
Provands Lordship
Located behind Provands Lordship was St. Nicholas Garden. It was established in 1995 and contained herbs and plants used in the 15th century. In the center was a carved granite fountain. At the back were cloisters which contained Tontine Heads that were removed from the old Tontine Building which was once used as an exchange for sugar dealers. Below are a few of the Tontine Heads.
St. Nicholas Garden
Before lunch we visited the Riverside Museum. It was filled with transportation and technology collections. The building opened in 2011 and took four years to complete. Dame Zaha Hadid was the world renowed architect that did the design.
The Riverside Museum was located at the junction of the Clyde River and the Kelvin River.
Riverside MuseumCar WallSkateboardsBicycle CollectionMain Street (1890s-1930)Some examples of the various vehicles in the museum.
Displays from Star Wars could be found throughout the museum! Below were a few of the Star Wars collections.
This afternoon we have a tour of the National Piping Centre. It was located in a building from 1872 that was extensively renovated and the Piping Centre opened in 1996. We learned all about the history of Bagpipes. It was founded to promote the study of the music and history of the Highland Bagpipe. The Centre housed a museum of piping which we were given a tour. After our tour, we all had the opportunity to play “Mary Had a Little Lamb” on a chanter. It was fun to try it. A couple of people from our group then tried playing the bagpipe!
The Piping CentreOur guide who also played the Bagpipes for us.Playing Mary Had a Little Lamb. Reminded me of my clarinet days!Playing the ChanterOur travel group in front of the Piping Centre
Our group really wanted to see the Highland Cows and when we finished at the Piping Centre we quickly left for the train station to go to Pollok Country Park. Of course we went to the wrong train station first! We made it to the correct train station, bought our tickets and had to rush for the train! At the second train stop we hopped off and walked to the park which wasn’t far away.
Little did we know that this park was Glasgow’s largest green space! It was gifted to the city in 1966 and the Maxwell family owned this estate before it became a park. The Maxwell’s established the famous Pollok Highland Cattle fold nearly 200 years ago. They were brought down from the Scottish Highlands to graze the grounds within the estate. There were about 50 cattle. These Highland cows spend all year outside due to their double coat of hair. We walked quite a distance in the park before we spotted some coos (or cows)!
Mama and Baby
As we walked back we found coos close to the entrance which weren’t there earlier. The park was huge! You could spend a full day here and not see all of it!
We had round trip train tickets that took us back to the city center.
The train station for the Pollok Country Park.
We were ready for dinner after a busy day! Near Merchant City where our hotel was located we passed a restaurant that could seat eleven of us! We ordered drinks and food and enjoyed both.
As we walked back to our hotel we passed by the Gallery of Modern Art which was located in an early 19th century neoclassical building in the city center. In front of the Gallery was a statue of the Duke of Wellington who had a traffic cone on his head! The placing of the traffic cone on his head and sometimes on his horse began by late night revellers in the 1980s. It demonstrated a sense of humor and that tradition has continued!
After walking almost six miles today we were tired and ready for bed! Tomorrow would be another exciting day in Scotland!
Our step-on guide with us today was Erika. She explained the history of the city of Budapest as we toured on the bus and when we were walking around the city.
The Danube River divides the city of Budapest. We crossed the river on the Margaret Bridge and began on the Buda side of the city.
Crossing the Danube
We walked up to the Buda Castle district.
The Buda Castle sat on top of the hill and was a symbol of the city. Much of the building had been rebuilt several times and the latest was from WWII.
Buda Castle
The Fisherman’s Bastion gave us great views of the Pest side across the Danube. It was built as a viewing platform in 1905. It got its name from the medieval guild of fisherman responsible for defending this stretch of the castle wall. It had seven cone-topped turrets which represented the seven chiefs of the leaders of the Hungarians.
steps down from Castle HillOne view of the Fisherman’s BastionPlaza by the Matthias Church and the Fisherman’s BastionMost of our group with the Fisherman’s Bastion in the backgroundView across the DanubeAnother viewView across the Danube with the Hungarian Parliament Building
The Matthias Church was first built in 1015 and was located on the Buda Castle Hill. It had been repaired and restored over the centuries. Two Hungarian Kings were crowned in the church.
The Holy Trinity Statue was in the middle of Trinity Square and near the Matthias church and Fisherman’s Bastion. It commemorated the people in Buda who died from the two outbreaks of the Black Plague!
Holy Trinity Statue
Walking around the area away from the Trinity Square. It was a beautiful walk and the weather was perfect.
We crossed the Elisabeth Bridge that connected Buda and Pest over the Danube River.
Elisabeth Bridge
Heroes’ Square was the largest in Budapest. It was a World Heritage site. In the center was the Millenium Monument erected for Hungary’s millenary celebrations. The two colonnades show the most important and famous leaders. On top were chariots depicting war and peace.
Heroes’ Square
One of the most photographed icons of Budapest was the Chain Bridge which was built between 1840-1849. There was debate if the lion sculptures have tongues. We didn’t see any from our viewpoint.
What do you think? Tongue or no tongue?
We also walked around the city center.
The New Miracle DeerGermanus Gyula ParkStatue of Balassi- a Hungarian lyric poetMichael Jackson tree near where he stayed when he performed a concert here.In the city centerHungarian Post OfficeSt. Michael’s Church
We used the “Find Me Gluten Free” app to find a restaurant for lunch that offered gluten free options and had good reviews. Bohémtanya Gluténmentes Vendéglo was an excellent find. It was a restaurant where everything was gluten free. Our food was delicious.
After lunch we walked to the Great Market Hall. It was built in 1897 and was the largest and oldest indoor market.
Great Market HallOne of the many stalls in the market.Paprika can be found everywhereChimney CakesChimney cakes ready for sell.
The Hungarian State Opera House was built in the late 1800s and a beautiful building. It was located near our hotel.
Hungarian State Opera House
By the time we arrived back at our hotel we were ready to relax. It was a day filled with learning about Budapest and seeing a lot of the city!
This morning we had to be up early to check out of our hotel in Rome and carry our luggage over to the Metro station. We rode the Metro with our luggage to the main terminal exit.
Waiting for the subway.
From the terminal we found the track that our high-speed train would arrive on and then take us to the Firenze S.M. Novella stop.
At the Florence Airport we got off the train with our luggage and then boarded the Metro to take us to the airport!
Our 3rd mode of transportation today!
When we arrived at the airport the guys left and took the rental car shuttle to pick up our van and car. When we first planned our trip we were hoping to rent one 10-12 passenger van. When we checked with Italy’s car rental agencies we were told you had to have a special bus driver’s license to drive any vehicle that carries 10 or more passengers. Therefore we had to rent two vehicles, a nine passenger van and a five passenger car.
Our rental carOur van
After loading both vehicles with our luggage, we headed for our villa outside of San Gimignano, Torraccia Di Chiusi. It was our 4th mode of transportation!
The last two miles of our drive to the villa was gravel and because of all of the rain that they have had there were many potholes and uneven surfaces! Below are pictures from around Torraccia Di Chiusi.
Our room!
We all loved our rooms, the staff, and the grounds of the villa.
Our key to our room!
It was around 3:30 PM when we arrived at the villa. This evening we were going to eat dinner there and it was served at 8:00 PM. Since we hadn’t had anything to eat since morning, we talked to Maria, the manager, and she had the kitchen make up two meat and cheese trays with fresh bread for our group. Of course, we also had several bottles of their wine. It was the perfect “happy hour”!
The grounds were beautiful and the scenery was spectacular.
San Gimignano in the distanceSan Gimignano
Right by our villa was the Via Francigena Toscana, an ancient pilgrimage route. It was a 1300-mile long route in the Middle Ages from Canterbury through France, Switzerland and Italy before reaching Rome. We met a couple that was hiking part of the route.
After dinner some of our group played Euchre, some read, and others found that sleep was calling their name. It was a long day of subway, train, and cars so it was an early night for most!
Today we took the Metro back into the center of Rome and our first stop was the Mamertime (Mamertime is a term attibuted to the prison in the Medieval Period) Prison. On our way to the prison we stopped by the Church of Santa Maria ai Monti. This church was built in the 16th century and was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It was beautiful inside.
Inside the Church of Santa Maria ai Monti.
Then on to the prison.
Mamertine Prison
It was built in the 3rd century BC and in this prison, according to legend, Apostle Paul and the Apostle Peter were imprisoned here by Emperor Nero. The prison was known as the Carcer which means prison and it was the only prison in ancient Rome. The Tullianum which was speculated to hold religious importance, votive offerings were found during excavations. It was used for death row prisoners and these prisoners were let down through the hole in the ceiling.
Upper Chamber of the Carcer- this altar is in memory of Saint Peter in the Carcer.Tullianum- is a circular room
We walked over to the Circus Maximus. It was the largest ancient Roman chariot-racing stadium. It was constructed in the 6th century BCE. It was U shaped and had seats on 3 sides. It was rebuilt by Julius Caesar in the 1st century BCE. There could be 150,000 spectators and it was enlarged by subsequent emperors until Constantine in the 4th century AD and it had a seating capacity of almost 250,000 spectators.
Circus Maximus
The tower was part of a medieval fortification.
We walked over to the Parco Savello, Giardino Degli Aranci and it was located on the Aventine Hill. This park was named after orange trees and was very peaceful. It has an excellent view of Rome. The park was designed in 1932. There were medieval walls surrounding the park. It was worth the hike up the hill!
The entrance to the park.The medieval walls around the park.A view from the park.Another view from the park with the Tiber River in the foreground.
Poppies were growing everywhere.
We crossed the Tiber River as we walked down from the park.
Tiber River
By now it was early afternoon and we were hungry so we found outdoor seating at a restaurant called Sabatini in the Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere a neighborhood in Rome. Trastevere was known “as the foodie neighborhood of Rome”! Our meals were fantastic!
The 10 of us at Sabatini!
The drinks were excellent too!
The wine was good!Our drink, an Aperol Spritz, was refreshing!
This neighborhood had narrow alleys and in the Piazza di Santa Maria was the Basilica di Santa Maria which was one of the oldest churches in Rome.
Inside the Basilica di Santa MariaThe ceiling inside the Basilica.
As we explored the neighborhood of Trastevere we saw cobblestone alleys and interesting restaurant windows and shops. Below are a few.
At Pasta e Vino, she was making pasta in the window!Some of the pasta she was making.Narrow alleysAlmost Corner Bookshop!
I loved seeing these boys as we walked down one of the alleys!
Some boys playing chess along one of the narrow streets!
Our walk continued to Janiculum Hill (Gianicolo). It was quite an uphill trek with stairs and narrow streets. It was worth the climb! At the top of the hill there was an equestrian statue dedicated to Geribaldi who was a military figure and hero.
Statue of Geribaldi
The Janiculum Promenade served as a monument to the 84 partisans who fought and died protecting the Romans from the French invasion of 1849. These statues surround the area.
The views from Janiculum Hill were incredible.
The Fontana dell’Acqua Paola was a marble fountain and was built during the 17th century and was also called “The Big Fountain”.
The Big Fountain
After walking back down the hill we passed by the Victor Emmanuel II National Monument. It was built between 1885 and 1935 to honor Victor Emmanuel II who was the first king of a unified Italy.
Victor Emmanuel II National Monument
As we were walking to the location for dinner we passed by more Roman ruins. Unfortunately the information plaque explaining what we were looking at was blocked off and we couldn’t get the information.
We walked into a neighborhood area of Rome to find a local restaurant and we found an excellent one. It was family run and we had great food and service.
Our group of travelers at Trattoria Da Valentino
It was a beautiful evening to walk from our dinner restaurant to catch the subway and head back to our hotel after a busy day and over 21,000 steps!
