Let me preface this by saying that we lost all our travel notes, books, etc. in Hurricane Katrina and I feel like I'm planning our first trip all over again...
We are flying into Venice, spending four nights. We have been to Venice before, so I'd love to do just one day trip by train from there. Any suggestions? Perhaps Bologna?
From Venice we will head to Florence by train for a week. We will be staying near the Duomo, and we'd love to do maybe two day trips from there by train or bus. Can't remember if it's better to go to Siena by train and Lucca by bus or the reverse...I know I've read it here... Also, any advice on a cooking class other than the Diva class? It sounds lovely, but I couldn't spend that much without the hubby and he's no cook. We've never been to the Chianti region, is there a wine tour that might work for us?
The rest of our holiday will be in Villefranche and Paris, so I'll post on the France board for some ideas there...
You all can't imagine what a pleasure it is to read these posts, it's like a mental vacation for us, amidst so much debris and destruction...Thanks for everything! Jennifer
The "usual suspects" for a day trip from Venice are Verona, Padova or Vicenza.
For Siena, take the bus; for Lucca, take the train.
I'm afraid I don't know any other cooking classes in Florence.
For a wine tour, you can either go on a bus tour with CAF Tours (there are probably other companies, but this is the one I happen to know), or you can hire Luca Garrapa of Hills and Roads. He is highly praised by everyone here, and he can put together a customized tour for you.
Thanks, SJ, for the links to the cooking classes in Tuscany and Eloise for the info on the private tours...I'm working feverishly on our plans...will update and ask more questions as our travel time approaches.
Make sure to eat at Buca di Sant’Antonio – Via della Cervia 3, tel: 0583 55881 during your visit to Lucca. It's in my top 3 restaurants in Tuscany! You will need a reservation...YUM!
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