Italy summer 2016

[mollyanna58]

I'm going to Italy in two years.  Is it too soon to get excited? 

[cael]

Definitely not!! We're in the early stages of planning a Greece trip w/ my SIL within 1-2 years and we're already excited even though we don't even have a plan yet! Where are you going to be and for how long?

[Deleted]

Where exactly? For how long? I want details!!!

[mollyanna58]

So far, all I know is we are going to Bari and Rome.  The rest TBD by my sister's sister-in-law, who will be doing the actual planning.  They plan on hiring a van with private driver.

SIL's grandmother was born in Bari.  She was the only one in the family who came to America, so there are still relatives in the area.

SIL has planned other family vacations that worked out perfectly.  So when I was invited, I said "I'm in!" 

[kittensaver]

Definitely NOT too soon! I finished pre-paying for our Alaska trip (next month), and have begun saving for a Machu Picchu adventure in 2016. Hiking with hubby and a few "best buds" - woot woot! 

[cael]

I hope I can convince my DH to go to exotic not-necessarily-first-world places someday with me! (he's not that well traveled and would not go to Central America or Africa with me...) Machu Picchu I bet he'd do though. That's awesome!

Mollyanna that's great. My parents went to Italy in the fall for the first time (dad's Italian, his grandparents are all from from Naples/Rome), they did Tuscany, Venice, Florence and absolutely loved it.

[Bonny]

Jul 17, 2014 12:32:54 GMT -5 mollyanna58 said:

I'm going to Italy in two years.  Is it too soon to get excited? 

Absolutely not!

We spent two weeks in Italy for DH's birthday in November 2011. It was a two-week Foodie Adventure. One week in Tuscany. We rented a little guest house outside of Florence and drove to different destinations each day. Then we rented an apartment in Bologna for 3 days and also visited Parma. Then 3 days in Borolo, Piedmonte in an Agriturismo. The Agriturismo turned out to be a real find. Not only was it the least expensive place to stay it also had the best view. We could see all the way to the Maritime Alps!

Besides the food one of our sweetest memories was stopping on Cortona after circumnavigating Lake Trasimeno. I think we arrived around 4:30 pm and the last tourist buses were leaving. We didn't have the town entirely to ourselves but it was pretty close. We had a drink and light snack on the lovely patio of a nice restaurant. The views over-looking the valley and watching the sunset was magical.

If you haven't already done so read "Under the Tuscan Sun" and watch the movie. They are so different it's hard to believe they are the same story. Both are very good.

Have fun! 

[mollyanna58]

Thanks for the recommendations, Bonny.  Loved the movie - I'll get the book.  The agriturisimo sounds interesting. 

My sister's in-laws are very nice people, and I'm sure SIL #1 will plan a wonderful trip. 

I'll start tucking away money for the trip.  I haven't been out of the country (except for Canada)  in many years. 

[sarcasticgirl]

Oh i definitely don't think it is too early! I have been to italy 7 times for a total of about 18-20 weeks and i still love it so much! i haven't been in about 8 years but I can still remember the streets of rome like the back of my hand! 

Keep us apprised of your trip details! I know that you'll love it! 

[mollyanna58]

Jul 25, 2014 12:42:55 GMT -5 sarcasticgirl said:

I have been to italy 7 times for a total of about 18-20 weeks and i still love it so much!

What are your absolute favorite places there?

[sarcasticgirl]

Jul 25, 2014 14:10:58 GMT -5 mollyanna58 said:

Jul 25, 2014 12:42:55 GMT -5 sarcasticgirl said:

I have been to italy 7 times for a total of about 18-20 weeks and i still love it so much!

What are your absolute favorite places there?

Rome and Positano- hands down