Stephanie Serino's Travel Blog

I usually advise clients to explore the Amalfi Coast when stopping in Sorrento to enjoy a relaxing day enjoying the stunning scenery and little resort villages. Instead of taking my own advice, I went to tour the ruins of Ancient Pompeii . It was as hot, long and tiring as I have cautioned; the four-hour walking tour over uneven terrain in the very hot sun of July was not for the faint-hearted, especially considering all the important artifacts have been moved long ago to the museum in Naples. Still, it was a rare chance to experience a Roman city and is an essential stop on the Grand Tour. It was an hour by bus from Sorrento to the ruins with some great views of Mount Vesuvius along the way. Upon arrival, we entered the Roman city of Pompeii. The tour visited the Forum, the bakery shop, the fast food joint and the plaster cast of several victims including the Dog of Pompeii. We also saw the Roman mosaics, some wall paintings and the iconic dancing fawn. Here are my photos from Po...

Hotel Cipriani was an oasis, the ideal place to stay during the summer. Just five minutes away from the bustle of St Mark’s Square, their complimentary water shuttle was a pleasant way to get to the heart of Venice Island. The hotel docks steps away from the St. Mark’s Vaporetto stop, making the whole city within easy reach. If I had more time, I would have retreated to their Olympic-sized pool for an afternoon swim during the hottest time of the day. After a Bellini, head back to Venice Island for dinner and strolling. My “Palladio Suite” was spacious, with a little terrace and a Lagoon view. I loved the bathroom, especially the shower: two heads converging plus the hand-held was wonderful. Room décor was a little Laura-Ashley-goes-to-Venice for my taste, but every detail was perfect (look at this closet!). The gardens were charming. Dinner at Cip’s Club looked like a fabulous way to watch the sun setting on St. Mark’s Square. Here's a link to my Slideshow .

"To spend one's mornings in still, productive analysis of the clustered shadows of the Basilica, one's afternoons anywhere, in church or campo, on canal or lagoon, and one's evenings in starlight gossip at Florian's, feeling the sea-breeze throb languidly between the two great pillars of the Piazetta and over the low black domes of the church — this, I consider, is to be as happy as is consistent with the preservation of reason." — Henry James, "Venice: An Early Impression" (1872) The flight arrived a few hours late so I splurged on a water taxi to the hotel (fabulous, felt like James Bond arriving in style). Hotel Cipriani is wonderful, a quiet oasis 5 minutes by boat from St Mark’s Square (complimentary hotel shuttle operates every ten minutes 24 hours a day). The “Palladio Suite” has a lagoon view from the balcony, lovely. Immediately headed to St. Mark’s Square. Enjoyed Bellinis and lunch at Harry’s Bar , fave haunt of Hemingway (cold zucch...