Well...we're ready to go. We've got the itinerary lined up, we have someone to house-sit, we've stopped the paper and the mail, I've got my packing list done...we need to do laundry, but other than that, I believe it's time to go to Italy.
Saturday, August 22
Flight to Chicago then on to Rome
Sunday, August 23
Arrive in Rome 9:15 am.
We are picked up by our driver and taken to the Hotel Zombie, I mean, the Hotel Sant’Anselmo, where we can freshen up a bit, grab a bite to eat and get ready for our 2:30 pm tour of the sacred basilicas of Santa Maria Maggiore, San Giovanni Laterano and Scala Santa (the Holy Stairs). After the three hour tour, we’re on our own for the evening. Perhaps we'll go to the Hotel Eden, behind the Spanish Steps. On the top floor, at the La Terrazza restaurant, maybe we'll get a window seat and be treated to a panoramic view of the city while we enjoy our dinner...hopefully we won't pass out in our plates...that would just be rude.
Monday, August 24
At 9:00 am, we head to Colle Oppio (a large park built upon the ruins of Trajan's baths...a huge bathing complex built, itself, on the ruins of Nero's palace) and begin our full day tour. We will visit the San Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains) Basilica, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and Capitol Hill, Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon and Piazza Navona to see the Fountain of the Four Rivers. We return to our hotel around 3 pm, exhausted, but looking forward to an evening on our own.
Tuesday, August 25
At 9:30 am, we are taken to the Vatican Museum to meet our guide. We will visit the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. At the end of the tour, about 2 pm, we find ourselves on our own, free to explore more of the city...particularly the gift shop at the Vatican, where you can have the items you buy blessed by the Pope. Yeah...the Pope.
Wednesday, August 26
At 9 am, our driver will pick us up at the hotel and take us on a tour of the Roman countryside. We’ll see Castelgandolfo (the summer residence of the Pope...But I don't think he'll be there...I'm sure he's back at the gift shop, blessing merchandise). We will see one of the deepest volcanic lakes and then continue to Ariccia and Nemi, the town of the wild strawberries, overlooking the Mirror of Goddess Diana lake before heading back to Rome at 2 pm. We have the rest of the day on our own...but it’s time to pack.
Thursday, August 27
We check out of Hotel Sant’Anselmo and take a taxi to the train station. We have train tickets to Florence. We arrive in Florence just after noon, and we will take a taxi to our hotel, La Residenza. It's actually only about a 10 minute walk, but I really don't want to wander the streets of Florence, lugging suitcases, looking for our hotel. We have the rest of the day to begin exploring. Probably will go see the Duomo and the baptistery.
Friday, August 28
Reservations to the Accademia (Michelangelo’s the David, et.al.), a stroll down through town, shopping and eating our way towards the Uffizi Galleries where we’ll spend the afternoon. The evening is for exploring and eating and shopping.
Saturday, August 29
We take the train to Pisa to see the Baptistry, the Duomo and the Leaning Tower, along with whatever else we can get done by the middle of the day. Then we’ll hop a train to Siena and do the Plaza, the cemeteries, some shopping and eating before catching a train back to Florence.
Sunday, August 30
Happy Birthday, me! I bought myself a trip to Chianti! A driver/guide will pick us up and take us along the old wine road, the Chiantigiana way. We’ll stop at Impruneta, Castellina in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti, San Gusmé, Castelnuovo Berardenga and Asciano- Abbazia di Monte Oliveto Maggiore. After eight hours of eating, drinking, shopping and taking in the breathtaking scenery (just what you’d expect to see in the Tuscan countryside), we’ll return to the hotel for a nice long nap or a drink out on the terrace.
Monday, August 31
Check out of La Residenza and catch our train to Naples. It’s quite a haul...we arrive in Naples at about 2 pm...I’m hoping we can sleep on the train...we’ll need it. Upon our arrival, Doug and Silvana will pick us up (or we’ll cab to their home) and we’ll begin our week-long adventure in Southern Italy: Amalfi, Pompeii, Sorrento, Positano, Isola Procita, etc.
Sunday, September 6
Take a train back to Rome where we’ll camp out at the airport hotel, Hotel Club Isola Sacra before we head home the following morning. We'll spend the evening crying or looking through the real estate ads.
Monday, September 7
Flight back to Chicago departs just before noon; we get back to Dallas about 8:30 pm
I'm sure it will be over before we know it. I'm just gonna hate that.
Italian lesson for the day: Dov'è il bar? (Doe-vay eel bar?) Where is the bar?
Ciao
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Two Weeks!
We're working on the final touches to our itinerary; I'll post it later this week. Y'all will be soooo jealous!
In a major discovery (I must have been living under a rock), I have come to find out that Italy is about 10 pounds of shit in a five pound bag. There is so much to see, so much to do, so much to eat, that I don't think even Italians could ever see, do and eat it all...and I'll bet that those of you who have been to Italy will attest to this...can I get a "si, si!"?
In the last couple of days, we've laid out our trip day by day, tweaked it and made some new decisions...some of you will be disappointed that we're not going to Orvieto; some of you won't be surprised that we're planning a tour through the wine country (yeah, I know, it's pretty much all wine country.) But none of this trip would be possible without the sure and guiding hands of Roberto Torrini and Nicoletta Polla at LCDM Travel. So here's my blatant plug. If you are planning a trip to Italy, these are the folks you need to work with. They are located in Rome, even though Roberto is in California, and they work with operators and companies all over Italy. We gave them a general outline of what we were interested in doing, and they came back with a plan. Joe and I took their suggestions and objective input into consideration and we've ended up with a fabulous vacation that is sure to be amazing.
I talked to Roberto last week. I told him that we were pretty much solid on everything, but I wanted him to tell me his favorite restaurants; his favorite places. You know...that one little cafe that's down some narrow medieval street, behind a blue door that has the most amazing terrace or food or whatever. I took down two pages of notes...confirming my above suspicions...there's too much stuff to see and do in two weeks. I told him (jokingly) that I was learning Italian so that I could deal with a realtor, because...um...yeah...we're not coming back. Roberto told me that he, in fact, had his broker's license, but not to buy in Tuscany right now because it's overinflated. Anywhere else you can get for practically a song (I wondered which song. Hey! I can sing.).
And who would want to come back? Who wouldn't want to live in a villa surrounded by Cyprus trees and olive groves? I saw "Under the Tuscan Sun." Who wouldn't want to have neighbors down the way who's family has made a certain kind of cheese for the past 200 years and who will invite you to eat with them on a weekly basis? Who wouldn't want to be able to go into town and have a meal at a local trattoria that's been in business since the 1800s, making wine from their vineyards, just steps from their doorstep? Who wouldn't want to wake up in the morning and look out the window to see an achingly beautiful countryside, sleepy and bucolic? I'm telling you...every time I hear that Italian music, played on what I'm thinking is a concertina or a mandolin, it just makes me Never. Want. To. Work. Again. ...ever.
Roberto, I may be calling you!
Italian lesson for the day: Quanto è la villa sulla collina? Quan-toe ay la villa soo-la co-leena? (How much is the villa on the hill?)
Ciao.
In a major discovery (I must have been living under a rock), I have come to find out that Italy is about 10 pounds of shit in a five pound bag. There is so much to see, so much to do, so much to eat, that I don't think even Italians could ever see, do and eat it all...and I'll bet that those of you who have been to Italy will attest to this...can I get a "si, si!"?
In the last couple of days, we've laid out our trip day by day, tweaked it and made some new decisions...some of you will be disappointed that we're not going to Orvieto; some of you won't be surprised that we're planning a tour through the wine country (yeah, I know, it's pretty much all wine country.) But none of this trip would be possible without the sure and guiding hands of Roberto Torrini and Nicoletta Polla at LCDM Travel. So here's my blatant plug. If you are planning a trip to Italy, these are the folks you need to work with. They are located in Rome, even though Roberto is in California, and they work with operators and companies all over Italy. We gave them a general outline of what we were interested in doing, and they came back with a plan. Joe and I took their suggestions and objective input into consideration and we've ended up with a fabulous vacation that is sure to be amazing.
I talked to Roberto last week. I told him that we were pretty much solid on everything, but I wanted him to tell me his favorite restaurants; his favorite places. You know...that one little cafe that's down some narrow medieval street, behind a blue door that has the most amazing terrace or food or whatever. I took down two pages of notes...confirming my above suspicions...there's too much stuff to see and do in two weeks. I told him (jokingly) that I was learning Italian so that I could deal with a realtor, because...um...yeah...we're not coming back. Roberto told me that he, in fact, had his broker's license, but not to buy in Tuscany right now because it's overinflated. Anywhere else you can get for practically a song (I wondered which song. Hey! I can sing.).
And who would want to come back? Who wouldn't want to live in a villa surrounded by Cyprus trees and olive groves? I saw "Under the Tuscan Sun." Who wouldn't want to have neighbors down the way who's family has made a certain kind of cheese for the past 200 years and who will invite you to eat with them on a weekly basis? Who wouldn't want to be able to go into town and have a meal at a local trattoria that's been in business since the 1800s, making wine from their vineyards, just steps from their doorstep? Who wouldn't want to wake up in the morning and look out the window to see an achingly beautiful countryside, sleepy and bucolic? I'm telling you...every time I hear that Italian music, played on what I'm thinking is a concertina or a mandolin, it just makes me Never. Want. To. Work. Again. ...ever.
Roberto, I may be calling you!
Italian lesson for the day: Quanto è la villa sulla collina? Quan-toe ay la villa soo-la co-leena? (How much is the villa on the hill?)
Ciao.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Oh! CRAP!!
Double Crap!! That was me last night as I was finally going through all of our travel documents. Lemme 'splain.
Some backstory: Joe's mom and dad are travel gods. They have friends and contacts all over the world. And when we decided we were going to do a land package, instead of a cruise, Joe called his dad, who, of course, says, "yeah, I know a guy." (What makes this even more perfect is that Wally is from New York, so you have add in the accent, the eyebrow/head shrug and the pants hitch.) Can you picture it? It's real. So Wally puts us in touch with Roberto, an Italian friend who is married to an American; they live in Southern California. Roberto runs one of the largest tour operations in Italy (he KNOWS guys!) and is more than happy to help out Wally's son and daughter-in-law. (It's good to know the travel gods.)
After weeks of research and surfing the web, I set up a call with Roberto and simply tell him what we think we'd like to do during our time in Italia. Within days, he sends me an e-mail with a very organized plan (I like this guy already), complete with transfers, recommendations, and options. It's fantastic! and Joe and I begin to gear up our excitement about the trip. We confirm our choices with Roberto (including our hotel in Florence, which I separately booked online) and he turns us over to his operations manager, Nicoletta, un gioiella (a jewel). Nicoletta sends us our transfers and tour confirmations (along with the names of our driver, Walter and our personal guide, Gloria), train tickets, hotel vouchers, everything! All of which I put in an envelope and set aside until I get a chance to go through everything...hey! I've been busy.
Well last night I had my chance. I laid out our vacation day by day to look for any blanks and make sure everything was in order. It was at that moment when...OH! CRAP!! I couldn't find my separately made Florence hotel reservation/confirmation. Great. Well, at least I caught it last night and not standing in the hotel lobby on the appointed day. So I'm writing a very contrite, hopeful e-mail to La Residenza, pleading with them to locate my previously made reservation and confirm that we're in good shape. Imagine my conversation with Joe: "Um, honey. I can't find our confirmation for the hotel in Florence...we're going to have to stay at the Hotel Merde...you won't mind too much, will you, muffin?"
Turns out...all was well. The staff at La Residenza, Luciano to be precise, e-mailed me that we, in fact, had a reservation and they were awaiting our arrival to their beautiful city. They'd even make arrangements for reservations at the Accademia (the David) and the Uffizi (fabulous renaissance art museum) for us at no charge (I'm soooo taking them up on that).
But back to Roberto/Nicoletta. I have to say to all the things I've read about Italy: how beautiful it is, how good the food is, how spectacular the ruins are, how wonderful the art is, how fabulous the gelato is and how expensive the leather is, I'd like to add how wonderful the people are. We had a couple of changes that needed to be made, and Nicoletta took care of us in a flash. She also answered one of my questions, with, "as you like, you are the chief." I immediately told Joe I had proof that it wasn't just me who thought that. I have people around the world who think so, too. He was nonplussed.
So now everything is in order. And more than seeing the breathtaking scenery, gorging on tasty pasta and gelato, standing in awe at the Colosseum and in Pompeii, tearing up as I take in amazing paintings and sculpture and getting a noseful of buttery soft leather, I am anticipating a Grinch moment. You know the one. At the end, when his heart grows three times its size? I think that's how I'll feel meeting and interacting with people, who, like Roberto and Nicoletta, are proud of their beautiful country and rich heritage, are truly gracious and immensely helpful, and who are ready to share their easy style with open arms and welcoming words.
Non possiamo aspettare! (We can't wait!)
Ciao.
Some backstory: Joe's mom and dad are travel gods. They have friends and contacts all over the world. And when we decided we were going to do a land package, instead of a cruise, Joe called his dad, who, of course, says, "yeah, I know a guy." (What makes this even more perfect is that Wally is from New York, so you have add in the accent, the eyebrow/head shrug and the pants hitch.) Can you picture it? It's real. So Wally puts us in touch with Roberto, an Italian friend who is married to an American; they live in Southern California. Roberto runs one of the largest tour operations in Italy (he KNOWS guys!) and is more than happy to help out Wally's son and daughter-in-law. (It's good to know the travel gods.)
After weeks of research and surfing the web, I set up a call with Roberto and simply tell him what we think we'd like to do during our time in Italia. Within days, he sends me an e-mail with a very organized plan (I like this guy already), complete with transfers, recommendations, and options. It's fantastic! and Joe and I begin to gear up our excitement about the trip. We confirm our choices with Roberto (including our hotel in Florence, which I separately booked online) and he turns us over to his operations manager, Nicoletta, un gioiella (a jewel). Nicoletta sends us our transfers and tour confirmations (along with the names of our driver, Walter and our personal guide, Gloria), train tickets, hotel vouchers, everything! All of which I put in an envelope and set aside until I get a chance to go through everything...hey! I've been busy.
Well last night I had my chance. I laid out our vacation day by day to look for any blanks and make sure everything was in order. It was at that moment when...OH! CRAP!! I couldn't find my separately made Florence hotel reservation/confirmation. Great. Well, at least I caught it last night and not standing in the hotel lobby on the appointed day. So I'm writing a very contrite, hopeful e-mail to La Residenza, pleading with them to locate my previously made reservation and confirm that we're in good shape. Imagine my conversation with Joe: "Um, honey. I can't find our confirmation for the hotel in Florence...we're going to have to stay at the Hotel Merde...you won't mind too much, will you, muffin?"
Turns out...all was well. The staff at La Residenza, Luciano to be precise, e-mailed me that we, in fact, had a reservation and they were awaiting our arrival to their beautiful city. They'd even make arrangements for reservations at the Accademia (the David) and the Uffizi (fabulous renaissance art museum) for us at no charge (I'm soooo taking them up on that).
But back to Roberto/Nicoletta. I have to say to all the things I've read about Italy: how beautiful it is, how good the food is, how spectacular the ruins are, how wonderful the art is, how fabulous the gelato is and how expensive the leather is, I'd like to add how wonderful the people are. We had a couple of changes that needed to be made, and Nicoletta took care of us in a flash. She also answered one of my questions, with, "as you like, you are the chief." I immediately told Joe I had proof that it wasn't just me who thought that. I have people around the world who think so, too. He was nonplussed.
So now everything is in order. And more than seeing the breathtaking scenery, gorging on tasty pasta and gelato, standing in awe at the Colosseum and in Pompeii, tearing up as I take in amazing paintings and sculpture and getting a noseful of buttery soft leather, I am anticipating a Grinch moment. You know the one. At the end, when his heart grows three times its size? I think that's how I'll feel meeting and interacting with people, who, like Roberto and Nicoletta, are proud of their beautiful country and rich heritage, are truly gracious and immensely helpful, and who are ready to share their easy style with open arms and welcoming words.
Non possiamo aspettare! (We can't wait!)
Ciao.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Three Weeks Out
OMG! Three weeks from tonight, we'll be packing fools. Actually, Joe will be a packing fool. I will have completed my packing days before, having totally organized my wardrobe on a daily basis, carefully planning each change of clothes as if I were channeling Stevie Nicks in concert or one of those characters from Tuna, Texas.
Those of you who know me personally have a little insight as to my packing disorder. I can't just throw stuff in a suitcase. I can't just choose neutrals and hope for the best as I toss in even numbers of tops and bottoms. I can't even plan, just a bit - taking into consideration day wear and evening wear. I have to plot each and every day, every change, every outfit, every sock, bra and pantie. I chart out and strategize my daily attire as if I'm preparing for a military campaign. I make a list, check it twice, edit, streamline and generally drive everyone crazy. Let the madness begin!!
At this point, Joe's kind of thinking about what he's going to take. He thinks he's done all his shopping and is ready to roll and the drop of a hat. I'm just starting to configure outfits and shoe options. But, hey! I've got three weeks.
One of the bonuses on this trip is that the last week, we'll be staying with friends and will have access to a washer and dryer (just cut our packing by half). Two years ago, on our trip to Australia, we were gone three weeks and spent every open hour in the ship's tiny laundry room doing tiny loads of clothes...along with 1700 other people trying to do the same thing. Ugh!
Anyway, we're only three weeks out. In the next week or so we'll get back in touch with our tour operator, as he has offered to give us recommendations in each city for restaurants, "off-the-beaten-path" things to see in our free time and whatever else he thinks we'd like. I've been working hard on my Italian and studying up on our city "Art" maps. What I really need to be doing is working on a way to slow down time...I'm afraid it's all going to go by too fast. It always does.
Today's Italian lesson: Vorremmo due bicchieri di vino, per favore. (vor-ray-mo do-ay bi-kee-air-ree dee vi-no, pair fa-vor-ray) We'd like two glasses of wine, please.
Ciao.
Those of you who know me personally have a little insight as to my packing disorder. I can't just throw stuff in a suitcase. I can't just choose neutrals and hope for the best as I toss in even numbers of tops and bottoms. I can't even plan, just a bit - taking into consideration day wear and evening wear. I have to plot each and every day, every change, every outfit, every sock, bra and pantie. I chart out and strategize my daily attire as if I'm preparing for a military campaign. I make a list, check it twice, edit, streamline and generally drive everyone crazy. Let the madness begin!!
At this point, Joe's kind of thinking about what he's going to take. He thinks he's done all his shopping and is ready to roll and the drop of a hat. I'm just starting to configure outfits and shoe options. But, hey! I've got three weeks.
One of the bonuses on this trip is that the last week, we'll be staying with friends and will have access to a washer and dryer (just cut our packing by half). Two years ago, on our trip to Australia, we were gone three weeks and spent every open hour in the ship's tiny laundry room doing tiny loads of clothes...along with 1700 other people trying to do the same thing. Ugh!
Anyway, we're only three weeks out. In the next week or so we'll get back in touch with our tour operator, as he has offered to give us recommendations in each city for restaurants, "off-the-beaten-path" things to see in our free time and whatever else he thinks we'd like. I've been working hard on my Italian and studying up on our city "Art" maps. What I really need to be doing is working on a way to slow down time...I'm afraid it's all going to go by too fast. It always does.
Today's Italian lesson: Vorremmo due bicchieri di vino, per favore. (vor-ray-mo do-ay bi-kee-air-ree dee vi-no, pair fa-vor-ray) We'd like two glasses of wine, please.
Ciao.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Off we go again!
So even though Joe has spent his life traveling the world (Fiji at 7; London at 8...you get the picture), he has never been to Italy. And neither have I. Well, all that's about to change. We're heading to the boot of Europe mid-August for a 17-day trip that will include Rome, Florence, Siena, Orvieto, Pisa, Naples and the Amalfi coast. I KNOW! I'm excited, too!
You may recall from our most recent travel blog (Munich to Amsterdam) that we have friends (Doug and Silvana) who live in Naples. When we were on that last cruise, they invited us to come visit. Well...okay...if you twist my arm. We promise to be good house guests and buy them all the limoncella they want!
So we leave on August 22...time to start thinking about the packing list. Everyone tells us, "Hey, it's gonna be hot in Italy in August." Well, d'uh. But it's hot in Dallas in August. So, let's see, August in Dallas or August in Italy? Hmmm. And you know...it's time for a warm vacation for us (see Munich blog...brrrrr!!!). I've had "Italian in 10 Minutes a Day" in my car for a couple of months and getting pretty good speaking along with the cd. How that translates in real time...who knows? Mah, adesso posso parlare e capire un poco Italiano. (But, now I can speak and understand a little Italian.) My two favorite phrases I've learned are: Faccio tutto (I do everything!) and, of course, the title of this blog...
Stay tuned. We're finalizing our itinerary, and I'll post soon, so you can keep score. Ciao.
You may recall from our most recent travel blog (Munich to Amsterdam) that we have friends (Doug and Silvana) who live in Naples. When we were on that last cruise, they invited us to come visit. Well...okay...if you twist my arm. We promise to be good house guests and buy them all the limoncella they want!
So we leave on August 22...time to start thinking about the packing list. Everyone tells us, "Hey, it's gonna be hot in Italy in August." Well, d'uh. But it's hot in Dallas in August. So, let's see, August in Dallas or August in Italy? Hmmm. And you know...it's time for a warm vacation for us (see Munich blog...brrrrr!!!). I've had "Italian in 10 Minutes a Day" in my car for a couple of months and getting pretty good speaking along with the cd. How that translates in real time...who knows? Mah, adesso posso parlare e capire un poco Italiano. (But, now I can speak and understand a little Italian.) My two favorite phrases I've learned are: Faccio tutto (I do everything!) and, of course, the title of this blog...
Stay tuned. We're finalizing our itinerary, and I'll post soon, so you can keep score. Ciao.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
