I've been using this site for a year now, gatheirng info for a Sept 2007 trip to celebrate 50th birthdays for myself and 4 other childhood friends, accompanied by our husbands. We celebrated the big 40 with a trip to Las Vegas, and since then have each been putting away $100.00/month for this trip. We're finally on the "1 year less a day..." countdown.
This is a trip of a lifetime for all of us.
Mine and my husband's personal vacation addiction is the Mayan side of Mexico, staying in small villages and private accomodations, so we are in withdrawal mode this year, as Italy will replace our annual Mexican vacation. From what I've read on this site,I'm sure it's going to be worth the sacrifice.

Welcome neighbor to the north! What a perfect way to celebrate the big "5-0". What cities do you plan to visit?

We're staying for 2 weeks in a villa in Barberino Val Delsa, which seems to be an easy drive to many locations. We'll see Florence, and probably Rome for a day or two on the way home. In between, we'll play it by ear. There seems to be so many quaint little places to see. I've been copying posts from the message board and keeping them in a folder for reference.

Thanks for the warm welcome ! Where is Shelton?

Hi there and welcome!
We have a small, avid and (right now) soggy bunch of members from the Canadian West Coast. Hope you write up a trip report for sharing.

Esposo,
90 miles SW of Seattle or 30 minutes from Olympia. Also copying many, many posts to a reference book. I've found more useful information here than in any guidebook. Enjoy...

Janie & Geoff

We're in Port Coquitlam, so will be having our morning coffe tomorrow. Crazy, huh?

Hey esposo....don't know if you're still checking this, but we too are from PoCo! Small world eh! We've probably rubbed shoulders in Costco!

We just returned from our first trip to Italy in Sept. Four couples also. Had a great time and great weather too. Went for a month and barely put a dent in all that there is to see.

There is so much info on this board and everyone is so helpful.

Hello to "The Rhodes". It really is a small world, huh? Seems there is a lot to see in Italy. Time is definately of the essance. Wish we had WAY more !

This is getting freaky, I grew up in Poco and my parents still live there. We've probably all rubbed shoulders in Costco

Lots of Poco people....wow! We'll be able to have our own Poco GTG.

The board is probably the best single source of info for planning a trip. We used it for just about everything from rentals to cell phones.

You will love Italy. Everyday there was a new "wow".

We are sort of going again this Sept. Not quite the way I would have planned it....but that's OK. We'll see a couple of places we didn't get to last time. Will spend the rest of the holiday in France...which I'm hoping is just as exciting as Italy.

Linda.

Hi Esposo!
I love the idea of celebrating birthdays with trips, eh? It doesn't make them so scary
I look forward to hearing about your plans. I read that you will be in Chianti! replied to you in another thread re: your plans in Chianti.