So, we're back from Tuscany, CT and Rome just a few days, long enough to do laundry, go back to work and play some catch-up. Not long enough to sort through notes and pictures, but I just wanted to capture a few thoughts.
It was a wonderful trip, not slow enough but it was planned to take advantage of our daughter Rachel's study in Siena and my spring break. So over 12 days we spent time with Rachel in Siena, took her to Lerici and the CT for Easter weekend and ended with a few days in Rome.
For David and I, it was our first non-summer trip to Italy. Rachel said, think San Francisco in the spring and it was - sunny, cloudy, cool, and even a little rain. It was lovely to see the trees budding, to see the intense green of the hillsides, even the bare vines against olive trees and artichoke plants. David did say he missed the summer sunflowers.
So, we saw Siena for several days, had it through our daughter's eyes, then spent Easter weekend with her in Lerici and the CT. Thank you, Jim and Megan, everything you said was so true - the Doria Park Hotel was a wonderful place to park ourselves in the area - we took the ferry to the CT, got off, hiked, took a train, are lunch at the top of one town, took more ferries. Rachel says that Lerici is the most beautiful place she has seen in Italy. We'll go back, I think, I hope.
In Siena we split our time between the Palazzo Ravissa and the Borgo Grondaie - enjoyed both for different reasons - reviews will follow. While Rachel had classes and her final exams, David and I took some day trips, saw San Gimignano and Volterra (on the way back from Lerici we stopped in Pisa so he could climb the tower, went to Lucca for a stroll on the way to the CT), and one day when Rachel was free we all went for a Chianti drive. I got to return to Greve, my favorite shopping square in Italy and I think I see why Jane is moving there. I could live there for awhile. Lunch at Lamole, an afternoon in Florence, finally the Pitti Palace.
I may not have mentioned that one evening we were invited to have dinner with Rachel's host family - our first experience in an Italian home - wonderful people, great food and wine. My daughter had to work hard translating as they speak little English and we speak menu Italian.
Thank you, Cristina - did not need the dentist after all.
We ended in Rome, back in Trastevere for a few nights - this time at the Hotel Santa Maria - another place I would gladly return for its charming garden. Rachel had come to Rome in the winter with her Siena group but had not seen Trastevere; she found it fascinating. Small mention that we visited the Porta Portese flea market on Sunday am, in part to buy a second suitcase for her, since we were bringing her things home as she is now doing the backpack traveling thing.
Yes, the good parents were at FCO Monday am,checking 4 bags, only 2 were ours.
Once again, we did not have a bad meal anywhere in Italy - sometimes we went places that were recommended, sometimes we just popped into a good looking trattoria. All good - reviews will follow.
Even the flying was good - we were able to use our FF miles with AA in Business class, flew LAX to London, then on to Rome. The flight to London was on a 777 - had never flown that plane, it's very large and comfortable. We were able to use the AA and BA lounges so I think it helped with the weariness of the travel process. We used limoservicerome for transfers, like last summer (www.limoservicerome.it), highly recommend them.
OK, so this is now not really a postcard, but thanks to everyone on this board; your advice has put us through two trips and I do hope I can get this organized into a real report soon. Did I mention that I think I have two more trips in the oven, so to speak?
[paragraph spacing added to aid readability]
Marcia
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Colleen,
Rachel has a 6 week plan - right now she and a friend are doing Naples and Amalfi, then she's going alone to Greece for a week, then to Egypt to visit a friend; she's turnign 21 in Cairo. After that, Spain with another friend, Scotland, Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - some of this is alone, other parts with friends.
Kim - have a wonderful bat mitzvah with your daughter and family. We did this 3 times in the '90's - they were experiences to treasure.
What was the flea market like? We only have 2 short days in Rome. I was thinking of going in the morning while everyone was getting up and having breakfast.
The flea market, in Porta Portese in Trastavere, is only on Sunday mornings, from 6am to 2pm. We went around 11; I had been planning to go since it was near our hotel, but when our daughter had more stuff than her suitcase would hold, it became even a better idea for us - there were lots of luggage vendors there. The market was very crowded but was lively and rather fun - we did not stay long, especially after finding the luggage we needed. Our girls did some jewelry shopping - there really is a lot to see, from used jeans to new leather goods. If it's convenient, and easy for you to slip out, it would be interesting, I think. Marcia
Topic Closed
