Day by day

The Trip

Our European adventure as it actually happened — Rome, seven nights across the Mediterranean, and a last-minute detour to Florence. Written from the road by Wendy, photographed by Tatiana.

1
Sunday, June 28 · Rome Fiumicino, Italy
Day 1 — Off to Europe
Our first European trip begins — ITA Airways, and a Premium Economy upgrade that turned out to be completely worth it.
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2
Monday, June 29 · Rome, Italy
Day 2 — Rome, hitting the ground running
Landed at 1pm, dropped the bags at the Vatican Chic B&B, and pushed straight through the jetlag — Pantheon, Trevi, Piazza Navona and the Spanish Steps in one afternoon.
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3
Tuesday, June 30 · Rome, Italy
Day 3 — Ancient Rome, then Trastevere after dark
We slept until 1pm. Then: the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill in mid-90s heat — and a night wandering Trastevere.
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4
Wednesday, July 1 · Civitavecchia, Italy
Day 4 — All aboard the MSC Grandiosa
An early Trenitalia train to Civitavecchia, then seven nights at sea begin. Restaurants, pools, a water park, a theatre, a gym and an arcade.
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5
Thursday, July 2 · At sea, Mediterranean
Day 5 — A day at sea
No ports today. A late start, hours by the pool, a show after dinner, and live music until late.
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6
Friday, July 3 · Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Day 6 — Palma de Mallorca
No tour — just a taxi to the historic centre, an extraordinary cathedral, tapas in the sun, and a city we loved.
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7
Saturday, July 4 · Barcelona, Spain
Day 7 — Barcelona
Dropped at the Columbus Monument, up the busy streets to the cathedral — and the pinchos at Sagardi that stole the day.
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8
Sunday, July 5 · Cannes, France
Day 8 — Cannes
A ferry from the ship to the beach, the best coffee of the trip, and a chocolate mousse cake that explained why France is France.
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9
Monday, July 6 · Genoa, Italy
Day 9 — Genoa
A little dotto train tour, a pastry in a quiet alley, and the gilded ceiling of the Annunziata — which we could not stop photographing.
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10
Tuesday, July 7 · Florence, Italy
Day 10 — Florence, the favorite
We skipped La Spezia and added a night in Florence instead. Best decision of the trip — live music on every corner, a restaurant that's really a museum, and gelato at Venchi.
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11
Wednesday, July 8 · Florence, Italy
Day 11 — Florence, and the whole city at sunset
A music shop, a sandwich worth queuing for, and a waiter's tip that sent us up to Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset over the whole of Florence.
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12
Thursday, July 9 · Florence & the Tuscan hills, Italy
Day 12 — Tuscany by ebike, and a wine window
Four hours on ebikes through the hills above Florence with a guide called Santiago, Chianti at a trattoria on the ridge, and a wine window we'd never heard of.
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13
Friday, July 10 · Venice, Italy
Day 13 — Venice, in less than a day
A four-hour train north, then a water taxi the whole length of the Grand Canal. Not nearly enough time — but we couldn't leave Italy without seeing it.
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14
Saturday, July 11 · Focene, Fiumicino, Italy
Day 14 — One last day by the sea
A hotel one block from the beach, the best poke bowl of the trip, a swim, a nap, and a drink on the sand as the last evening went down.
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15
Sunday, July 12 · Fiumicino → Los Angeles
Day 15 — Flying home
An early taxi to Fiumicino and an ITA Airways flight home. Europe was amazing — but Italy has my heart.
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The Trip

Day 1 — Off to Europe

Day 2 — Rome, hitting the ground running

Day 3 — Ancient Rome, then Trastevere after dark

Day 4 — All aboard the MSC Grandiosa

Day 5 — A day at sea

Day 6 — Palma de Mallorca

Day 7 — Barcelona

Day 8 — Cannes

Day 9 — Genoa

Day 10 — Florence, the favorite

Day 11 — Florence, and the whole city at sunset

Day 12 — Tuscany by ebike, and a wine window

Day 13 — Venice, in less than a day

Day 14 — One last day by the sea

Day 15 — Flying home