Hi, I'm going to be looking for some specific Italy info. over the next few weeks as I put together a trip for our family of three. Some of the basics are in place, but I am going to need help on touring around (to drive or not to drive), horsebackriding (western saddle somewhere between Florence and Sienna), and arranging some small excursions, and figuring out the train as it dovetails with a rail pass for Switzerland. So, I'll head over to the Italy board and start with some questions.
Hello Lorraine and welcome to Slow Travel. I'm just back from a trip to Italy and Dubai and am in the process of planning a couple of trips back there for 2008.
I'll be there next April and hopefully again later in the year. I'll look forward to discussing details with you on the Italy board.
Re. Italy tips: If you must take a car to any of the hill towns, I'd advise you leave it at the train station and take a bus or cab to the city center. You waste a lot of time looking for a place to park in the city and you will not solve the riddle of where you are allowed to park. Even the spot you think is legal will not be for you and you will probably walk 20 minutes, each way to, and from, where you want to be. I'm not whining, just trying to be helpful. It doesn't bother me at all that cars are a last resort in Italy. Venice is as magic as you dream it is. We had a tiny, beautiful apartment right on a small canal with passing gondolas. Lucca is a wonderful small city and you can walk all the way around it on top of the wall. We loved the hotel The Dali in Florence. It is within sight of the Duomo. Seeing Michelangelo's "David" was a highlight of our lives. No photo does it justice. We spent six weeks there, mostly in Tuscany and Umbria. I'd be happy to offer more thoughts on places if you want them.
Welcome ManyHats and also Miramichier. I am likely one of the few people on this board that knows what "Miramichier" means!! Hi Dave - Debrah from Woodstock, N.B. (we met many moons ago) A Miramichier is a person from the Miramichi - an lovely river, world class fishing legend and now City of Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada. I was just "up the Miramichi" this past weekend - spent the weekend at a lodge near "Sunny Corner".
ManyHats - your trip sounds great, you came to the right place to research. I did the same thing in order to plan my own first trip to Italy last April. David - I am very envious of your six weeks!!
I'm just back from a trip to Italy and Dubai and am in the process of planning a couple of trips back there for 2008.
