Hi JeanneB!
You already received tons of great advice in the previous posts (I particularly agree with Bob the Navigator and Ira), but.....deep sigh....you're talking Italy, so I can't resist offering my thoughts (feeble as they may be).
Bella Italia! You will LOVE it!!! I highly recommend a stop in Volterra, not far from Florence, Siena, etc. You don't need an entire day, maybe half day at most. Great arts and crafts (don't miss the artists' coop in the center of town), great food (try the local specialty cookie, called "bones of the dead" because they crumble so easily), and really nice Roman ruins. If you'd like some more of my Italy notes, recommendations, and ruminations, contact me directly at [email protected]
Buona fortuna!
-Mark M. (a.k.a. "Marco")

"Marco",

Are you sure your name isn't Frances....Frances Mayes? LOL!

She wrote eloquently about Volterra and "bones of the dead" in one of her books ("In Tuscany", I believe.) And yes, it's definitely on my list for a visit.


(I'll send you an email later...using a client's 'puter right now)

To Beaux; Can you please tell more about your ballooning experience.Thanks