Come sta?

Hello Everyone,

Sorry, that I have not been able to keep the blog up to date, but I had a few computer problems on those last days in Italy.  My little computer pooped out and I am just now getting everything back to normal. 

I left off with our stay at the castle and it was truly amazing.  I really hated to leave it.  If you are ever in the area around Verona, Italy, you should definitely stay at Castello Bevilacqua.  They do not have a lot of Americans stay there, but they are very helpful and nice.  We then made our way to the Perazzi gun factory.  It is located near Brescia, Italy.  Sadly, it is not in the most picturesque area of Italy.  The factory, however was pretty fancy and I know Pat was in shotgun heaven.  He was met by the factory manager to take care of his order.  He then met the owner of Perazzi who was in charge of fitting his gun.  All in all, it was a wonderful experience for him. 

We then made our way to Verona for a short visit.  Bonnie spent years teaching "Romeo and Juliett" and she was really excited to see the home of those star crossed lovers.  Verona is a beautiful city and we enjoyed our short visit there very much.  It was much cooler here as well.  We then made our way to Venice.  As always, I am so glad to return that rental car without a scratch.  Once you arrive into Venice you are no longer in a world of cars.  Everything moves by water there and this alone makes it a place like no other.  We took a private water taxi to our hotels which were located very close to St. Mark's Square.  We were staying in seperate hotels since I wanted to check out some new ones in Venice.  They were however, located just steps apart and very close to the Hotel Ala which I have used for my groups.  The Ad Place hotel where I stayed is a very unusual place.  My room and most rooms in the hotel are purple.  They are very modern however and lovely.  The only drawback is that you have to climb several flights of stairs to get to the rooms.  This is not much fun after hours of walking around Venice.  Other then that however, it is a great hotel with a superb location.

We walked around a bit and sat in St. Mark's Square enjoying a drink and some music.  This is one of the greatest experiences in Venice.  It is an expensive one, but truly worth every penny.  We then had an interesting dinner at a little place near the hotel.  The owner spoke no english, but had no problem telling us all about everything available for the evening's meal.  We only had a few choices of several courses and we ate whatever she brought.  It was a very nice experience and our meal was delicous.  It was also one of the best deals I have ever had on a meal in Venice. 

We slept in a bit on Tuesday and then made our way to St. Mark's Square for a visit to St. Mark's Basilica.  This church is like no other in Italy.  It has a very Byzantine influence on the outside and the inside is completely covered in mosaics.  It is magnificent!  We then took the Secret tour inside the Doge's Palace.  This is where the head of Venice lived and ran the country in the superpower years of Venice.  The Secret tour takes you into rooms that no one else can see. We even saw the prison cell where the infamous lover Casanova stayed.  The palace is spectacular and shows the true wealth that Venice possesed in her heyday. 

We then spent the rest of the day shopping and resting before our lovely dinner at Da Raffaelle along a small canal.  We enjoyed a delicious meal of some very fresh fish which is caught in the lagoons around Venice.

When Wednesday came it was really hard to believe it was my final day in Italy on this visit.  I am always a bit sad when the trips are coming to an end.  All of the planning and preparation that goes into each tour can be a bit overwhelming at times and it is so hard to believe when it is all over.  I spent this day showing Pat and Bonnie more of Venice.  We made a trip across the Rialto Bridge to visit the fish market.  Bonnie was amazed that it did not smell a bit fishy.  It is always fun to see the normal morning activities taking place in Venice.  Everything comes into the city by boat and it is pretty amazing. 

We managed to spend the rest of the day taking care of last minute shopping and just enjoying discovering more of Venice.  I really do love Venice and will hate not including it on my tours in 2012.  I will be glad to help everyone plan their own visit here however.  Venice can just be a bit hard to deal with when you have a group, even a small one.  Venice is however, easy to enjoy on your own.

Our final dinner was at the restaurant La Fenice, located right behind the old opera house also named La Fenice.  It was an elegant affair and a great meal to end our Italian adventure with.  We have truly eaten our way across Italy and have had some of the most delicous food in the world.  I will miss all of that pasta and gelato, but it will be back to Lean Cuisine once I get home. 

Spending these last few weeks in Italy with my family was such a wonderful experience.  I love to share my passion for Italy with my small groups and see their faces light up when they experience the magic for the first time.  I know it is what makes Italy so special for me.  Being able to share it with my brother for the first time was even more exciting.  He did have a bit of hard time accepting the "Italian way", but truely enjoyed every minute of his adventure.  Pat and Bonnie made this visit very special and we will have such wonderful memoires to talk about for years to come.  That is what traveling with family or friends can be like.  You create history together and where better to do so than in magical Italy.  I have not met a person yet who did not fall under the spell of "la dolce vita".

Thanks for your support and especially the comments.  I hope sharing our adventures has made you get the itch to see Italy for yourself.  Please let me know if I can help make that dream come true.  The fall trips for 2012 are almost full.  There is still room on the spring tours however.  I am still working on a possible March tour, but ran into a few snags on those plans.  As I always say, no matter how you can get to Italy, get there.  You will fall in love with everything.  You will be able to see all the pictures I took during the fall tours on the photo sharing website: www.italywithfriendstours.shutterfly.com.  I will also create a photo book there as well. 

Ciao for now.  See you next year.  Have a blessed holiday season ahead.  Hope to see you in Italy someday soon.

Molti Baci,

Suzan

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This morning we started our day with a visit to Piazzalle Michelangelo, the huge square overlooking Florence.  This is the best place to see a perfect view of the entire city with the dome of the Duomo standing proud.  Florence is truly a beautiful city, even with the crowds.

We then headed to the American Military Cemetery located right outside of Florence.  Visiting this lovely memorial to the fallen heros of WWII is truly an emotional experience.  Today was a beautiful day and it made it even more special.  Pat and Bonnie both found the cemetery very moving in many ways.

We then hit the Autostrada and headed north.  Pat even drove for a while.  We stopped along the way for some lunch at one of the service centers.  We traveled past Bologna, Farrara and very near Padua.  The landscape changed from mountains to flat farm land.  The area near the Po River valley is some of the most fertile in Italy.  Most of the wheat grown in Italy comes from this area.  We turned off before Padua and headed west.  Here we began to see some vinyards.  This area does produce several delicious wines.  We also passed several walled towns that looked like they stepped out of a medieval fairytale.

Finally we reached our destination, Bevilacqua.  We are staying in a beautiful castle that was built in the 14th century.  Our rooms are just lovely and the whole place is like being in a fairy tale.  We dined in the hotel restaurant and the food was truly a gourmet experience.  As usual, we all stuffed ourselves and had a wonderful time.  We are off to bed to prepare for Pat's big day tomorrow as he visits the Perazzi gun factory.  Do not miss that experience.  See you then.  Ciao, Suzan

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Today was a cool and windy day in Florence or Firenze in Italian.  We started our day with a visit to the Central Market to see all of the fruit, vegetables and meats available for purchase.  You will see parts of the cow for sale that would never be available in the USA.  I found some great cheese to buy.  Outside the Central Market is the San Lorenzo Market selling everything.  Pat and Bonnie found a few leather items that they could not resist.

We then went to the Ponte Vecchio so that Bonnie could check out all of the jewelery.  This old bridge is lined with shops selling everything silver and gold.  We managed to check out just about every shop.  Bonnie did finally find some beautiful cameo jewelery.  We then stopped to rest and have some pizza for lunch.  From here, we continued window shopping and just enjoying Florence. 

Later, we went to dinner at Il Latini.  I had told Pat and Bonnie that they would be amazed at the whole process of eating at Il Latini, but no one can really anticipate this experience.  First you have to wait in a line and shove your way into the place, even when you have a reservation.  Then you are served so much food that you are stuffed after the first course.  Pat and Bonnie did have the chance to try the steak Fiorentina, a Tuscan specialty.  They loved it, but it was almost even too rare for them.  We topped off the meal with lemoncello, which is really like moon shine with a little lemon flavoring.  It was a wonderful evening and the food was delicious.  They even gave us a bottle of wine before we left.  That makes four free bottles of wine so far.

Tomorrow we head north to enjoy some new experiences.  It should be fun.  Ciao,  Suzan

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We left lovely San Gimignano today and headed out to enjoy more of  Tuscany.  Our first stop was in Monteriggione, a tiny hilltown that is still surrounded by a complete wall.  It does not take more than 15 minutes to walk around the whole town.  It is just beautiful.  We even found a great little store selling some wonderful handmade jewelery.

Then we headed into the spectacular Chianti region known for its full bodied red wine.  This area is filled with jaw-dropping scenes around every winding road, and there are many of them.  Poor Bonnie.  We had another beautiful day.  Our destination was Castello Verrazzano for a tour and wine tasting lunch.  We were so fortunate to have a private tour led by Gillian, my favorite guide and friend.  We had the best time and learned so much about the 11th century castle and its history.  We even got to see the wild boars that they raise.  In fact, we saw a fight between two huge boars.  Then we sat down to one of the best lunches anyone could ever have.  We had a multi-course lunch of local homemade dishes accompanied by Verrazzano wines.  It was truly a feast.  After about 3 hours of wining and dining it was time to purchase some of the delicious wine to have shipped home.  It will be a happy day in Texas when that package arrives.

Sadly, we had to say goodbye to Gillian and Castello Verrazzano, but not before Gillian gave Pat two bottles of his favorites.  We then headed to Florence and saw the prostitutes on the way.  I just love for everyone to see this very un-Tuscan scene.  We hit Florence at rush hour and it was terrible driving into the city.  We finally did make it to the hotel and I was so ready to give that car to the "garagist" to take to the parking lot.  Our hotel is located right on Via Tornabuoni, the "Rodeo Drive" of Florence.  You can find almost every designer shop right outside our door.  It is a shopper's paradise.

We then took a little walking tour of the city.  It has definitely turned cooler.  It was late enough that the day tours were already gone, so it was so nice to see Florence without the crowds.  I am sure they will be back tomorrow, however.  I know it is hard to believe, but we then stopped for some dinner.  We made it an early evening so that we can all be ready to survive the frenzy of Firenze.  See you tomorrow.  Ciao,  Suzan

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Today was a wonderful day in the beautiful village of San Gimignano.   The weekly market was set up early right outside our hotel.  It is always fun to see all of the stalls selling everything you can think of.  People were everywhere!  Pat and Bonnie enjoyed a lazy morning which was just what they needed after all of the walking and climbing we have been doing.

We walked around the town for a bit and then went up to the old fortress area where you can climb an old tower for spectacular views of the city and surrounding countryside.  It is truly worth the work.  Then we just strolled the main streets of San Gimignano which are filled with shops.  It is a "mad shopper's" paradise.  We enjoyed another Tuscan meal in a beautiful old building.

Then there was time for relaxing or more shopping.  Pat spent most of the afternoon sitting at the bar in front of the hotel.  He did however find several things to purchase as well.  We met later for dinner at La Terrazza.  This lovely restaurant is always a delight and the food is delicous.  Pat tried some wild boar and he really liked it. We all had a great meal, as usual.  Luckily we only had to walk across the Piazza to our hotel as we were all stuffed.  San Gimignano has worked its magic as always.  Tomorrow we visit Chianti and will learn the art of wine tasting.  See you there.  Ciao,  Suzan

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Sorry that I was not able to post the blog yesterday.  I did not have internet service where we stayed.  Hopefully I can catch up tonight.  We left Rome very early on Tuesday morning.  Driving out of Rome was crazy, especially since we did not get out as early as we had hoped.  Poor Bonnie can get car sick and I know that first ride was pretty tough on her.  Of course, no one can imagine how crazy it can be to drive in Rome with cars and motorcycles everywhere.  We did make it however and were soon cruising the Autostrada at about 130 kilometers. 

Our destination was Tuscany and a stop at the Avignonesi Winery for a tour and lunch.  The estate is just beautiful and Pat was really impressed with the Tuscan scenery of vineyards and olive groves everywhere.  Our multi-course lunch was delicious and was accompanied by Avignonesi wines.  Pat had his first taste of Grappa, a distilled wine made from the grape skins.  A better name for it would be "fire water" as it is very strong.  He seemed to enjoy it however. 

We then made a visit to Cortona, the lovely hilltop village made famous in the movie, "Under The Tuscan Sun".  This was Pat's first Tuscan town and he was pretty impressed.  Cortona sits high above a valley and has spectacular views.  The town is filled with wonderful shops of all kind.  It does not take long to find many things to fill your suitcase. 

We then made our way through the farmland around Cortona to our hotel for the night.  Le Terre dei Cavalieri is an agritourismo near Cortona that is just lovely.  Our rooms were so beautiful and huge.  We even had a living room and kitchen that connected our rooms.  They have a pool and bicycles you can ride around the area.  We also enjoyed a light dinner made for the guests by the farm owners. It was all so much fun and almost makes you wish you could stay there forever.  The full moon shining over Cortona was pretty spectacular also.

Morning did come however and we enjoyed a delicious breakfast before heading out for our days adventures.  First stop was Montepulciano, another high hill town with marvelous views.  Visiting this town requires some steep hill climbing and Bonnie and Pat were up to the hike.  We did stop along the way several times for shopping and some yummy hot chocolate.  We then made it to the Piazza Grande, the heart of the village.  Pat and Bonnie bought several pieces of art that were lovely.  The pictures were by local artists and they were able to meet them both.  Seeing Pat try to speak Italian with his Mexican accent is really funny. 

From here we drove into Brunello wine country for our lunch at Castello Banfi.  Once again we enjoyed a delicious multi-course meal accompanied by Banfi wines in another spectacular setting.  As we were leaving we met the American owners of Castello Banfi and had such a good time visiting with them that they gave us a bottle of wine.  It made our experience just perfect and one we will never forget.

Then we hit the road again and poor Bonnie had to suffer through some very winding roads as we made our way to San Gimignano, our overnight destination. She did survive barely, and we were soon checking into the Hotel Leon Bianco right in the middle of the town.  I had arranged a special room at the hotel that has beautiful antique furniture for them and they were very impressed.  They look out on the Piazza Cisterna and will be able to enjoy watching Tuscan life in action.  We ended the day with dinner at a local restaurant where Pat tried some roasted venison that he said was delicious.  As you can already see, we are truly enjoying Italian cuisine to it fullest.

Tomorrow we will take it easy and enjoy San Gimignano to its fullest.  See you there.  Ciao,  Suzan

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Wow, what day!  We began with a walk to Campo dei Fiore, the lively fruit and vegetable market.  Bonnie enjoyed watching the man with the kitchen gadgets.  We then continued toward the Tiber River and crossed on the Ponte Sant' Angelo which leads to Castel Sant' Angelo.  This was the tomb of the emperor Hadrian built in the 3rd Century.  This is where you get your first view of St. Peter's Basilica.

We continued our walk to Vatican City, a tiny country located in the middle of Rome.  This is the headquarters of the Catholic Church.  St. Peter's Square was filled with people today enjoying the beautiful piazza designed by Bernini.  We had been walking for quite a bit and decided to sit for a while and have some lunch before we entered the Vatican Museum.  We enjoyed lunch at the little spot where I take all of my tour groups that has delicious salads, soups, and pizza.  After plenty of time to rest, we headed for the Vatican Musuem.

Once you enter the museum, you are pretty well set to be there for at least 2-3 hours.  We began our tour with a visit to the Carriage Museum that has some beautiful horse drawn carriages from the 1800's.  We then took in the Pinacoteca, the painting gallery with works by Raphael, Leonardo Da Vince, and Caravaggio.  From here we followed the thousands of tourists into the main part of the museum.  This is where you find the classical works of art, tapestries, and map room.  The museum itself is the one time palace of the Pope's so everything is very ornate and beautiful. 

Fianally we made our way into the Sistine Chapel, the highlight of the museum.  Michelangelo's ceiling is truly one of the most famous sights in the world.  Trying to imagine how he could have painted such wonderful scenes on a high ceiling is amazing.  Pat and Bonnie both enjoyed it very much. 

We then left the museum and entered St. Peter's Basilica.  This is the largest Catholic church in the world and does not dissappoint.  I think even Pat was pretty amazed when he stepped inside this church that covers over 6 miles.  We hit the highlights of the church and sat a while in front of the tomb of Pope John XXIII  Pat and Bonnie both touched the foot of the old bronze statue of St. Peter for good luck.  One of the most beautiful sights in the church is the "Pieta" , the sculpture of Jesus and Mary by Michelangelo. It is truly magnificent. 

We then followed the crowds out into the Piazza once again and were very thankful for the wonderful, cool weather.  We then made our way to the Spanish Steps, one of the most famous sights in Rome.  It was extremely busy here and many people were enjoying window shopping along Via Condotti with all of the designer shops.  We stopped into a little bar for some vino and just enjoyed everything taking place around us.  I have to say that both Pat and Bonnie are to be commended for making it through the whole day of extensive walking without a hitch or complaint.  I am very impressed and everyone should be proud of them.  They are pretty old afterall. :) 

We then made one last stop at the Trevi Fountain so they could toss those coins in the fountain for good luck and to ensure their return to Rome someday.  After a little time to rest those tired feet, we met for dinner at my favorite restaurant in Rome, Bottega Montecitorio. This was my birthday dinner and it was delicious.  Everything they have is freshly made and is so yummy.  We sat for several hours enjoying "la dolce vita". 

We leave Roma tomorrow for Tuscany.  Rome has been wonderful and full of marvelous sights, but Tuscany is so beautiful and peaceful.  I cannot wait to share my favorite area in Italy with Pat and Bonnie.  Ciao, Suzan

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This morning we began our sightseeing with a visit inside the Pantheon.  This building is over 1800 years old and is truly one of the most magnificent structures in Rome.  This is my favorite site in Rome and I love sharing it with everyone.  It is just so amazing.

Then we walked over to Piazza Venezia, the busiest place in Rome with thousands of cars passing through each day.  I nearly scared Bonnie to death when I just walked across the street in the crosswalks with cars coming toward us.  They do stop for people in the crosswalk, but it can be a bit unnerving the first time you step out in that street.  Here you see the huge white memorial to Victor Emmanuel, the first president of Unified Italy.  Then we climbed the Renaissance stairs designed by Michelangelo to the Capital Hill.  Here we made a visit to the world's oldest museum, the Capitoline.  It has many of ancient Rome's most precious works of art.  You also are able to stand next to the ancient foundation of the Temple of Jupiter built in 500 BC.  There are also fantastic views of the Roman Forum from the museum.  Pat was pretty impressed with just how old everything was.

We then walked down Via dei Fori Imperiale, the wide avenue leading to the Roman Colosseum.  Today they had a festival going on and the street was filled with stands selling all sorts of organic foods and vegetables.  Bonnie enjoyed some roasted corn that she said was delicious.  The street was closed to traffic, so it made it easy to get to the Colosseum.  Of course, this massive structure built in 80 AD is always amazing at first sight.  We went inside for a visit.  No matter how many times you see the Colosseum, you cannot help but wonder just how this massive structure could have been built so long ago.  Just goes to show you what can be done with unlimited slave labor.

We then took some time for lunch in a retaurant right across the street from the Colosseum and enjoyed a delcious meal.  Today turned out to be very cool and windy, so it was nice to be able to sit inside.  The sun was shining, but it was still pretty chilly.  This was really a change from the past few weeks.  After lunch we walked through the Roman Forum which has ruins dating from the 5th Century BC to the 7th Century AD.  We probably walked several miles today and Pat and Bonnie made it fine.  We made a stop at an Irish Pub on the way back to the hotel so that Pat could have a cold beer or two. 

After some time to rest, we found a nice little place for dinner.  The place was packed and the food was delicious.  Bonnie could not take her eyes off the people at the table behind us who ate 6 courses of food in less than 30 minutes.  In Italy, this is unheard of.  Meals usually last for hours.  They also had two little dogs with them that were dressed in denim outfits. 

It was a wonderful day of discovery for everyone.  Pat is already being a typical American at times thinking that everyone should speak English.  He is in for a rude awakening.  Italians could care less if they make you happy or not.  It should make for an interesting trip or he may just end up in an Italian jail somewhere. We visit the Vatican tomorrow, so lets hope he makes it out of there in one piece.  Of course, he was an altar boy when he was young, so I am sure he will get some special treatment for that.

Ciao, Suzan

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Today my brother Pat and his wife Bonnie arrived into Rome.  It is my brother's first time here in Italy, so I am excited to show him all of the sights.  They were pretty wiped out from their journey, but were lucky enough to get into their hotel room right away.  We then did a little walking tour of the area around the hotel which has sights like the Pantheon, Santa Maria Sopra Minerva church and Piazza Navona.

We decided to have lunch at La Dolce Vita, a restaurant located on Piazza Navona.  It was a delicious first meal in Italy of pasta, pizza and bruschetta, all with a fabulous view.  We then continued our walk past the Parliament building and finally the Trevi Fountain, which was packed.  Then there was time for rest before dinner at a little trattoria near the hotel. 

Finally we topped off the day with a gelato stop.  Both had to try the chocolate, a favorite of their son's.  Ryan I think they are hooked too.  It was a lovely evening and a bit cooler than the past few days.  Tomorrow we hit the cobblestones running with a visit to ancient Rome.  Ciao,  Suzan

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This morning we headed out for our sightseeing in Venice.  First stop was to be St. Mark's Basilica, but it was closed for some reason and would not open until 1:30.  We then proceeded on to the Rialto Bridge which is always a big hit.  The views are truly spectacular of the Grand Canal from the bridge.  It was fun to watch all of the boats bringing in their daily deliveries.  Everything is brought into Venice daily by boat.  You see everything from UPS deliveries to cement boats.

From here you cross over into the commercial market area of Venice.  The vegetable and fish market have been selling their products for centuries right in this spot.  It is always very interesting to see the many types of fish displayed.  Most of them are ones we have never heard of. 

We then headed back to the hotel area and everyone had some free time.  Several opted for a private tour of the Grand Canal, while others planned to shop till they dropped.  I think everyone has been pretty amazed with Venice.  Some were a bit leary about this city on water, but they immediately changed their minds once they took that first ride on a canal. 

We met in the evening to enjoy a Gondola ride through the small canals of Venice. It was truly magical to glide through the water as the sun sat.  The Grand Canal was very quiet and it was a lovely experience for all.  Hayden made sure it was an even better experience by making sure we had some vino to enjoy along the way.  We were then dropped off at Da Raffaelle for our farewell dinner.

This lovely restaurant sits along a canal so you can watch the gondolas glide by as you dine.  Several times there was singing from the boats and it was beautiful.  Our meal was another delicious feast for all.  Everyone was having a last taste of their favorite Italian foods. 

Then to my complete surprise a birthday cake appeared.  October 7th is my birthday and this group just made it one of the most special I have ever had.  How can you beat sharing birthday cake with sweet spirited people along a canal in Venice, Italy?  I will keep this memory in my heart forever, even if it is getting older and older.

The farewell dinner is always mixed with joy and sadness.  Everyone in this group has truly become "friends".  The Michigan 5 were already a wonderful group of dear friends and they were ready to welcome everyone else into that group during the tour.  Hayden and Barbara are a beautiful couple from Texas, so how can you beat that?  I really do believe everyone will go home saying "y'all".  Then there was Ruth, a Canadian who had to have a great sense of humor to put up with this group.  Right, eh? 

Thank you for all of your comments.  Gary was the big winner of the group, so he owes you.  Everyone will head out for the airport tomorrow except for Ruth, who is staying on a few days in Venice.  I am sure it is so she can recuperate from being with the Michigan 5 (Brad especially).  I will head to Rome today by train.  My brother, Pat and his wife Bonnie from Texas, will join me tomorrow and we will have our own little "Best of Italy" tour.  I will continue to write my blog as I am sure we will have some special adventures.  Also, I will continue to post more pictures of this group when I have time and a good internet connection. 

I do hope that you will be able to experience the magic of Italy some day.  I do have several tours available for next year, but they are filling up. Also, 2012 will be my last year for Italy tours.  I hope reading the blog and sharing our day to day adventures has been fun and that you will join me here some day.  For those of you already signed up for next year, I cannot wait to share all things Italian with you.  God bless to all and hope to see you here again.

Ciao,  Suzan  (another year older, eh)

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As hard as it was for everyone to say goodbye to Sestri Levante, we did pull out on time.  Everyone had one last breakfast with a view in this beautiful setting.  Then we loaded up the van, drove down the tiny winding road from the hotel and hit the Autostrada.  We stopped along the way a few times for food and fuel and after about 4 hours we were crossing the causeway that leads to the island of Venice.

We had to return the van and that process, which can be awful, went perfect.  We soon found a private water taxi to take us to the Hotel Ala.  There are no cars in Venice and you have to travel by water in the form of public water taxis, or private boats.  Our little boat took us down a small canal that opened up onto the Grand Canal, which is lined with lovely old palazzos.  I then heard plenty of oohs and ahs.   We then turned into another small canal which led right to our hotel and their little water landing.  Everyone checked into their rooms and had a little time to settle in. 

We then met to begin a walking tour of the back streets of Venice.  It does not take one long to realize that you are not in Kansas anymore and that you can get  very lost in this town filled with canals, bridges and tiny streets.  I try to orient everyone as best I can, but some groups just are more directionally challenged than others.  Everyone did enjoy seeing the tiny lanes and canals and finally ending up at the Grand Canal in front of the Rialto Bridge.  From  here we walked through a maze of shops to St. Mark's Square, the heart of Venice.  Most people are pretty impressed when they step into this lovely piazza and especially when they see St. Mark's Basilica.  The domed church is covered in mosaics and is truly like no other in Italy.  We will visit inside tomorrow. 

We then walked along the canal passing some other important sights like the Doge's Palace and Harry's Bar, where the Bellini was created.  Next it was down the street filled with designer shops that led back to our hotel.  Everyone then had time to enjoy Venice as they liked.  Ruth and Gary went with me across the Accademia Bridge that leads to the Dorsoduro district in search of the BNL bancomat.  This area leads out to the Giudecca Canal which is huge. 

Finally everyone met up for dinner in a place Ruth had chosen on the Giudecca Canal that was situated right on the canal.  It was perfect and everyone had another wonderful Italian meal.  Of course, this one was very different because we are in Venice which is unlike anywhere else in Italy.  As crazy as everyone was about the Italian Riviera, I think Venice has worked her magic once again and has put a spell on everyone.  There is just something so special about Venice that really cannot be described in words.  I know many poets have tried, but seeing Venice is a must if you really want to get to know her. 

Tomorrow we will visit some more of Venice and see what treasures we can find.  It is the last day of the Best of Italy tour, so we will make the most of it.  Also, thanks for all of the comments.  Gary is still ahead.  You better get them posted if you want them to be read before the tour ends tomorrow night.  Ciao,  Suzan

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Wow, what a day!!  We began early with a delicous breakfast at the hotel dining room that looks out over the spectacular Mediterreanean.  Then we were off to the train station for our excursion to the Cinque Terre villages.  The train ride was a first for some and took about 45 minutes.  We arrived into Manarola, one of the tiny fishing villages that make up the Cinque Terre or 5 villages.  All of the villages are full of brightly colored houses that hang on hillsides leading down to the turquoise blue water.  There are also brightly colored boats just floating everywhere.  Many people love to visit these villages and hike the many trails between the towns and along the hills above.

Between the town of Manarolo and Riomaggiore is the walking trail called the Via delle Amore.  This is the easiest of the many trails available.  I usually also walk the trail between Corniglia and Manarolo, but landslides from last May have closed that trail for now.  We all enjoyed this walk along the edge of the sea with views that were spectacular.  Brad was brave and jumped into the water along the way.  That was a first for Italy With Friends.  The Via delle Amore or the "way of lovers" is lined with graffiti extolling lovers vows and names.  There are also many locks everywhere.  It is a tradition for lovers to close there lock somewhere along the trail and then toss the keys into the sea signifying their eternal love.  We had two long time lovers partake in this tradition today.  Hayden and Barbara Head have been married for 42 years and will surely have many more ahead now that their lock has joined hundreds of others here along the Italian coast.

Riomaggiore is another quaint village that everyone enjoyed seeing.  We boarded a boat here that took us along the coast of all the villages.  This was a wonderful way to see all the villages.  Seeing the coast from the sea is always a magical experience.  We then stopped at Monterrossa al Mare, the only village with a real beach.  We took some time here for lunch along the beach and it was a delightful experience.

Then we rode the train once more to Vernazza, the jewel of the Cinque Terre.  This is the busiest of all the villages and is really pretty.  There are many shops selling the local products such as pesto sauce, pastas, and wine. Finally we boarded the train once again for the 45 minute ride back to Sestri Levante.  The Cinque Terre is always very busy so it was nice to get back to our peaceful retreat.  There was time to rest and relax before meeting again on the terrace for another round of delicious drinks with a view.

Tonight we all walked over to the Bay of Silence for dinner at a seaside restaurant called Portobello which is owned by our hotel.  Dinner was wonderful even though some of the dishes included icky, little fish with big eyes staring at you on the plate.  Ruth nearly jumped out of her seat when the little scampi almost moved on her pasta.  It was all delicious however and the setting was perfect.  It was another unforgettable evening.  I think everyone loves it here along the coast and would love to visit again. It has begun to cool off here in the evening.  The days have been cloud free with beautiful blue skys and temperatures around 85 degrees.  We could not have asked for any better weather for our tour through Italy so far.

Tomorrow we leave one watery paradise for another.   We make the long drive to Venice.  It will be very interesting to see what Venice will do to everyone.  Join us there for the last days of the Best of Italy.  Ciao,  Suzan

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Today was another beautiful day in Tuscany.  We headed out from our hotel and made a quick stop at Piazzalle Michelangelo.  This huge piazza provides fantastic views over the whole city of Florence.  Everyone was in such a rush to go to the Italian Riviera, but once they saw the views of Florence they were happy we made the stop.  Then almost everyone found something to buy from the many vendors that have little shops on the piazza.

Then we hit the Autostrada once again and headed east for the coast.  We did stop once at the Autogrill for a break, but were exiting off the autostrada before you knew it at Sestri Levante.  Of course, the fact that I was driving about 130 kilometers helped a bit.  Even then there were people passing me. 

Sestri Levante is a resort town on the Italian Riviera that sits between Portofino, the hangout of the rich and famous, and the Cinque Terre villages.  I think everyone in this group was ready to see the Mediterranean and were not dissapointed.  Our hotel, the Vis a' Vis is set high on a bluff overlooking the town and has some of the most beautiful views in the world.  We checked into the hotel and had fun once again looking at everyone's rooms and comparing who had the best balcony and view.  Then we went up to the terrace on the top of the hotel and this is where everyone's jaw dropped with amazement.  This area is just magical! 

We then went into town to walk along the promenade and dip some toes into the sea.  We found a great place to enjoy lunch.  Several tried the pasta with pesto sauce which is made in this area.  Actually, everything was delcious.  We then went back to the hotel where everyone had time to live "la dolce vita".  Gary, Brad, Cindy, Don and Deb spent time at the beautiful hotel pool.  Hayden and Barbara enjoyed their balcony.  Ruth spent some time discovering the hidden lanes of the town.  I of course, spent time writing this blog.  I then joined the group at the pool and had my first Mohito of the trip.  Several others indulged as well and were very happy with their choice.  They are delicious and very refreshing.

After some time to relax we met again for dinner at the hotel restaurant.  We enjoyed a wonderful multi course meal that was delicious.  The setting was pretty spectacular as well.  Finally we returned to the terrace to enjoy the moon shining on the sea.  Tomorrow we will spend the day on the Cinque Terre which should really blow everyone away.  See you there.  Ciao, Suzan

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We left beautiful San Gimignano this morning.  Sunday is always quiet on the roads and is a great time to travel.  Our first stop of the day was at the American Military Cemetery located rigth outside of Florence. Seeing this peaceful spot set aside to honor our young men and women who gave their lives during WWII is always very emotional.  The rows of marble crosses and stars of David remind us all that our freedom to travel in a wonderful country like Italy came at a high price to many.  Phil, one of the cemetery assistants was kind enough to give us a short orientation.

We then truly left the peaceful countryside of Tuscany for the "frenzy" of Firenze.  This Renaissance city is always busy with tourists and locals alike.   Sadly, there are almost too many crowds these days and it really does give Florence a less than A+ rating.  We took a walking tour of the main sights such as Piazza Signoria where you find a copy of Michelangelo's "David", truly the most famous sculpture in the world.  Then it was off to the Piazza Duomo to see the magnificent dome of Santa Maria dei Fiore or the Duomo.  This dome built by Brunelleschi was the first of its kind built since Roman times, and then was the model for all to follow such as the dome on the US Capitol building.  This terra cotta dome is the symbol of  Florence and can be seen from all over the town.

Another favorite spot is the Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge in Florence.  This bridge is lined with shop after shop selling gold and silver jewelry.  The views of the Arno River are lovely from this spot.  It does not take long to become overpowered by Florence and the crowds.  We soon ended out sightseeing and opted for some lunch.  Several ate at one of the many tavolo caldos/cafetteria and enjoyed it very much.  A few followed me across the bridge to a little eatery that sets along the river.  Here you can get some great photos of the Ponte Vecchio and enjoy a quick lunch.

After checking into our hotel, everyone had time to enjoy Florence as they wished.  Some shopped while others rested.  Ruth and Gary made the exhausting climb up Giotto's bell tower, all 413 steps.  They were however, rewarded with great views of Florence and the Duomo's dome.  They also had bragging rights for being the most energetic of the group.  Finally most ended up at the hotel terrace bar just enjoying the beautiful day.  We have truly been blessed with perfect weather.

We all met for dinner at a great little restaurant off the beaten path called La Campane.  We enjoyed some delcious pizza and pasta.  Everyone also tasted fried zucchini flowers for the first time and it was a hit.  Our walk back to the hotel was pleasant and filled with some pretty spectacular views as we crossed the Arno river.  Tomorrow we leave Tuscany for good and head to the coast.  I have never had a group so excited about seeing the Italian Riviera and the sparkling Mediterranean.  I have a feeling they will not be dissapointed.  See you there.  Ciao, Suzan

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This morning was a slow one in Tuscany.  I think everyone enjoyed being able to relax and sleep in.  We met at 11 o'clock for a little walking tour of the town.  We walked up to the old fortress or rocca where there is a little tower that you can climb for fabulous views of San Gimignano and the surrounding countryside.  As usual, it is another perfect day here.  From here we joined the throngs of tourists along the main street of San Gimginano as we headed out the main gate of San Giovanni. 

Looking back on the walled town is really a lovely sight.  There is a small park area with the towns memorial to its wall heros.  We ate at a wonderful restaurant near here.  We were pretty early for lunch in Italian terms, so we had the place to ourselves for awhile.  Once again we enjoyed another delicious lunch together.

Afterwards, everyone was on their own to enjoy the day as they wished.  I made a visit to the new exhibit, San Gimignano 1300.  This shows a clay reproduction of the  town as it would have looked in the 1300's.  It was very interesting and had a lot of great information about life in a Tuscan village. 

Everyone else spent the day shopping, sitting at the bar, taking a walk around the old wall or visiting the Torture Museum.  I will let you decide who did what.  Everyone met on the hotel terrace before dinner to enjoy some wine and stories about where everyone is from.  Then we all went to dinner at a restaurant that Brad and Don picked out near the hotel.  It had lovely views over the San Gimignano countryside.  The food was delcious and the company was superb.  Of course, there may have been a few Italians that did not quite get all of the fun coming from our table.  Oh well, che sara', sara'. 

Then we headed to the award winning gelato shop across the piazza.  They have so many flavors that it is hard to decide what you want.  We stood ourside in the piazza just enjoying right where we were.  It is almost like being in a dream.  This setting is almost too good to be true.  About that time some gelato drips on you and you wake up.  That is a Saturday night in San Gimignano.  Ciao,  Suzan

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