The Italy Wedding Experience. Chapter 1

The Italy Wedding Experience

Friday & Saturday

A Day by Day Account.

In August of 2011, my wife and I we blessed with a trip to Italy to photograph a wedding for a client.  This trip was so amazing, so unreal that I can't stop thinking about it till this day.  The time spent there just opened my eyes to a totally different culture and way of life that I wish at times that I actually lived there.  The culture was so rich and full of life.  I took sooooooooo many photos as what I have decided to do is post photos from the trip and give a small description of each.  I will try to do this once a week or so.   i will just re edit this post and keep re-posting it.  So please scroll down to the bottom and check out the new photo.  I am doing this for myself and my kids so that one day they can look at these photos and see where their mommy and daddy visited. 

1.  This is the Hotel Napoleon.  When Carrie and I arrived in Roma Italy, after an 8.5 hour flight from NYC, our luggage didn't make it.  We were both so tired but decided to go ahead and go to the Hotel.  We arrived at the Hotel Napoleon.  This was a great little place with air conditioning in each room and lovely accommodations.   The staff was supper friendly and very helpful.   We unfortunately had to sleep in separate rooms the first night but they made it up to us with a free dinner.  Before the first night was over, we had to go to back to the airport to see if we could find our luggage.  We had gotten some information for the airline and they told us it had be sent to Piza by mistake but was sent back to Roma.  We got there and search and could not find it.  Then some one told us it was probably being held in a certain office and so we went searching.  We were running out of time before closing and there was only one way to get to that office as the air port was all but closed.  We had to go thru the employee only gate as a short cut or we would not make it.  I didn't want to do it but my wife was so convincing with her face full of tears that they let us thru.  Thank you God.  We made it just in time and honestly, when I saw those bags, it was like finding gold.  We grabbed our stuff and jumped on the train to take another 45 min ride back into Roma.  We got dressed and went out into the city.

Here is a link that shows some photos and a map of the hotel location.  Its best to always view them in the "satellite" view.  You get to see the city. 

Link:

http://maps.google.com/maps/place?q=hotel+napoleon+rome&cid=10684036947396376711

We went out that night in search of a much needed glass of wine as our day had been quite stressful.  We took a left out of the hotel on to Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II  and went up a few blocks and took a slight left onto Via dello Statuto.  We then took a right onto Via Merulana and went the corner of Via di San Vito where there was this place called "BAR Tabacchi" or at least that what the sign said.

(*You can see it in the google map if you go to that street corner and keep double clicking until the little yellow man shows up on the map.  Then click it and it will give you the street view.  Pan around till you see the cafe sign.  Another way to do it is this.  You will notice on the map that at the top left corner is the little yellow man.  You can grab him and drag him onto the map and to the street corner or location that I suggest.  The street view will appear.   I will do this occasionally so that you can see where we were.) 

Anyway, we sat there and ordered a glass of red wine, which was amazing as is all the wine in Italy, and notice that the waiter brought us a plate full of food, for FREE.  What?  Really?  This never happens in America.  I gave the man a tip and ordered another glass and before the night was done, he brought us another glass for free and more food.  This country is un-real.
While we sat there, I noticed a girl with a back pack.  Carrie and I struck up a conversation with Morgan Woods and she told us that she was from Atlanta GA her self and had been traveling for a while, backpacking with friends across Europe.  I remember that she told me that she had been to Turkey and that seemed so cool to me.  I got some information form her and she gave me the business card to a shop in Atlanta, owned by a family member.  It is called "poor little rich girl".  I asked for some sort of personal information that only she would know.  That why, when I returned, I could call the shop, explain how I had met her, and then give them the info and they would know that I was for real and not some crazy person.  (as a side note. I did call the shop in March of 2012 and they did relay the message to her.  She called me and we talk for a little while as she told me about her trip.  It was neat to talk with someone whom I met half was across the world.  She told me she was going back, just a few weeks after our call and I have to admit I wanted to go to but I know that Carrie was not ready to leave the girls again. 

After the glasses of wine were gone, Carrie and I returned to our hotel for some much needed sleep.  The next day would began our great tour of Roma.

Alex Aleman
 "capturing life perfectly"
Phone: 678-697-2049
www.alexaleman.com
www.facebook.com/alexalemanphotography

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