30 Days

ITINERARY

Thursday Sep 21
USA to Rome
8:40 AM Arrive Rome

Friday Sept 22 Rome to Venice (TRAIN: 4.4 - 5 hours)
Albergo Marin double room, complete bath with shower
Ramo delle Chioverete, Santa Croce, 670/b
Sat Sept 23- Venice
Albergo Marin

Sun Sept 24 Venice to Florence (TRAIN: 2.5 -3 hours)
Hotel Enza
http://www.hotelenza.it
Mon Sep 25 Florence and day trips
Hotel Enza
Tues Sep 26 Florence and day trips
Hotel Enza

Wed Sept 27 Florence to Assisi (TRAIN: 2 ½ hours)
Assisi Hotel: Hotel Ascesi includes breakfast
Via Frate Elia 5 - 06081 Assisi
http://www.comforthotels.net/italy/assisi/hotel-ascesi.htm

Thu Sept 28 Assisi to Rome
TAKES TWO TRAINS Assisi – Foligno (20 mins.)
Foligno-Tiburtina 1 ½ -2 hours)
then to Termini Station

Casa Agnese
Address: Via Aurelia 46 Roma
http://www.cross-pollinate.com/info.asp?id=34&kind=5&city=

Fri Sept 29 - Rome
Casa Agnese
Sat Sep 30 - Rome
Casa Agnese
Sun Oct 1 Rome to USA
Rome to USA
11:15A Depart Rome Italy
2:55P Arrive Phila

39 Days.

Well, Erika comes home tonight. Sue and I will travel to the airport to pick her up. I'm very interested in what she has to say about her trip. I hope she's coherent when we get there!
Went out and looked for appropriate shoes today. I have so many issues with my feet and I really want to be able to keep up with everyone. I've also been checking zappos.com for ideas.
Mostly, today I'm tired. I'd really like to spend some time figuring out packing and stuff but it exhausts me just to think about it. I have clothes to fold and zero ambition.
Maybe I'll take a nap.

41 Days
Sue's been scouring travel websites and this is what SHE found out:

September is a good time of year to visit Italy. Temperatures are beginning to drop and the weather is usually dry. Summer resorts are less crowded after the schools open in the middle of the month.
Autumn officially begins on September 23.

October is the best month of all for visiting Rome: the sunny days are known locally as the "ottobrate romane". In northern Italy and at higher altitudes, however, temperatures may already be quite low, particularly at night. The evenings are closing in and during the last weekend of the month the clocks go back.

late Sept., early Oct. is a great time to visit ITALY!!!

There are many harvest festivals (especially chestnut festivals)and truffles and olives are in season!

Ribollita (that great bread soup that I ate everywhere we went in Tuscany) and Polenta (grains) are also in season!

see below:

Venice is at its busiest in July and August and it can be extremely hot and humid at this time of the year, with occasional afternoon thunderstorms. At the end of the high season, the mild weather often continues, and days may be warm and clear - or alternatively they can be cold, damp and foggy. The best months for sightseeing are March to June, September and October, when the city is not too hot and the weather is generally pleasant.

So it seems that we are visiting at the perfect time....

42 days
I had to post today, y'see, because - it's 42. The answer to "how many days?" is - 42.
In any case, I've been scouring the travel sites to get ideas for comfortable shoes, luggage and how many of this or that to pack. Of course, you know, I'm starting to fret about how Shelden will fare when it comes to food. So far, I think we've found a McDonald's in every city we're vsiting - Erika even confirmed there's a McDonald's in - get this - Assisi!!!!!
I have a dentist appointment tonight and have had soem other dr appointments. I'm planning on being healthy for this trip... I also have a mammogram scheduled and I'm trying to get a colonoscopy scheduled before we go away. The colonoscopy is one of those "over 50, never had one" things. Just can't wait. The prep sheet suggests staying close to a toilet facility while going through the prep.... never mind.

44 Days

Well, with Erika in Italy, Sue’s been hitting the guidebooks again.Her excitement is contagious and I find myself scouring the web for comfortable shoes, luggage, and other deals.

I’m also double-checking train times and museum hours and possibilities for day trips. We’re also rethinking our first day in Italy. Perhaps it would be better to spend the day in Roma and take a night train to Venezia… eliminates a hotel stay and gives a refreshing morning arrival in Venice. We need to double-check with the rest of the group but travel is a good opportunity to think outside the box.

Look at me! I can’t even finish this post because I’m searching on line – not sure what I’m researching, but I keep clicking like a maniac.

I have this plan that I’ll be able to blog somewhat while we travel. There will be lots of train rides and many “internet points” so I suspect my plan will come to fruition.

I remember the thing I missed most, beside family, was good music. This time I have my little I-Pod shuffle. Hopefully, I can load it with some favorites. It amazes me that this culture with all of it’s great composers, artists, architects, etc., have the most horrible radio and TV programs. Also Italian pop music is abysmal. And apparently they like Madonna.

48 days

And I've done nothing but watch what I'm eating.

In any case, Erika is inItaly - been there since Saturday the 29th and will hopefully be there until the 12th of August. Unfortunately, Nate's grandmother died and he may want to come back for the funeral on Tuesday. His grandfather told him to stay but I wouldn't blame him either way.
They've been staying in a castle in Umbria and she's been to Florence, had a cooking class at the castle, a full body massage... She is very fortunate to be on this trip. I can't wait for our trip...

This picture is from our trip in 2004. It was taken from a window in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence

I think we should start making our train reservations and also start reserving our museum trips... Not too many museums... I'm really interested in people and love to watch the interactions.

This is a picture taken in the little town of Gaiole in Chianti. We stayed on the grounds of a castle in that town in 2004. It wasn't a particularly sunny day, but people were out and about it was either 5:00 pm or 10:00 am depending on whether the camera was on Italian time or Eastern! (I think it was morning...) People were out and about and it's just such a peaceful place.