Adventureseeker returns to Italy! As glorious and detailed as before!
Nov 12th, 2017, 08:29 AM
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Adventureseeker returns to Italy! As glorious and detailed as before!
It’s been 10 years since our extensively detailed “Our glorious 19 days in Italy” 10 year anniversary trip report that reads like a novel.
This return trip celebrating our 20th anniversary was nothing short of amazing and I will share every detail, story and tip. What we learned, loved, disliked, etc.
It’s been 10 years, yet feels like yesterday. Memories last a lifetime...
Please join us on our Italian journey...
WHO ARE WE?
About us: My husband and I are in mid-50’s (young at heart, hip and adventurous) and live in Southern California. Hubby is a Project engineer and manager for construction projects. Me, an overly passionate soul who was a former banker (13 years), entrepreneur of a resortwear and accessory business (20 years) and recently pursing my dream job of writing and traveling (will write for travel!). We have a 16 yr old son who is a traveler and shutterbug.
Enough about us.
The type of trip we wanted (and planned): This was our third trek to Europe....a "third honeymoon" filled with it all: culture, art, history, romance, adventure, food, wine, off-the-beaten-path experiences, etc. (Yes, I copied that from our previous trip report, because nothing has changed...we want the “full monty” experience from all our travels!)
THE PLANNING
I love the planning phase as much as the trip itself. For our first trip in 2007, I immersed myself for 2 years prior...reading practically everything Italian, about Italy, etc.
Fast forward to 10 years later...we have a wealth of info at our fingertips thanks to technology. Travel guides, blogs, Facebook, Instagram, etc. No shortage of beautiful photographs to entice and itineraries to follow. Travelers don’t really need to delve further, but I, personally...don’t wanna miss out on the process.
Planning gives us discovery and anticipation. I get more mileage out of my travels this way. There’s much to explore, still much to learn. And...I’m an “old school” gal! I prefer unfolding a map to checking gps. I crave to see the lay of the land and know what’s nearby. Don’t want to leave a stone unturned...
I still peruse libraries and prefer the feel of a book in my hands to reading a screen. This trip had a bit of both...old with new (technology).
That’s where my trip begins...a blank slate. Where to go? Italy, of course! It grabbed our hearts 10 years ago...and never let go.
Our previous trip centered in the Northern region. We had Venice (a class in itself), Florence (city), Tuscany (countryside), Cinque Terre (sea).
We longed to repeat a similar mix of places (city, country, sea) to this trip. Having been back to both Florence and to Vernazza (Cinque Terre) in 2009, we reluctantly steered away. Those of you who’ve read my 2007 trip report, know how difficult this decision was to not visit Vernazza...our favorite place on the planet!
WHERE TO GO
The burning question! There’s so much to see in this big, beautiful world of ours!
Do we travelers return to places we’ve visited and loved? Do we discover somewhere new?
Every trip I’ve taken...it’s never been enough time. I start scribbling my “next time” list well before the wheels go up. I leave nearly every place as a changed person; utterly inspired and craving more. My guess is that the Fodorite reading this now...can relate.
My bucket list is long. I scratch one entry off and add 5 more. But, I’m selective. I don’t desire to go everywhere. I don’t desire to take those “How many places have you been to?” tests and rack up numbers (one exception: I wish to visit all 59 National Parks in the USA!). So...now you know what makes me tick as a traveler. That’s a quick insight to what’s in store if you take a peek in my travel diary and join me on this journey...
Here’s the final itinerary...
Dates: October 11-29 2017.
*Venice (3 days)
*Conegliano (3 days)
*Lago di Garda (2 days)
*Camogli (3 days)
*Dolomiti (3 days)
*Venice (3 days)
And...Paris (2 days)
NEXT UP: Planning angst!
This return trip celebrating our 20th anniversary was nothing short of amazing and I will share every detail, story and tip. What we learned, loved, disliked, etc.
It’s been 10 years, yet feels like yesterday. Memories last a lifetime...
Please join us on our Italian journey...
WHO ARE WE?
About us: My husband and I are in mid-50’s (young at heart, hip and adventurous) and live in Southern California. Hubby is a Project engineer and manager for construction projects. Me, an overly passionate soul who was a former banker (13 years), entrepreneur of a resortwear and accessory business (20 years) and recently pursing my dream job of writing and traveling (will write for travel!). We have a 16 yr old son who is a traveler and shutterbug.
Enough about us.
The type of trip we wanted (and planned): This was our third trek to Europe....a "third honeymoon" filled with it all: culture, art, history, romance, adventure, food, wine, off-the-beaten-path experiences, etc. (Yes, I copied that from our previous trip report, because nothing has changed...we want the “full monty” experience from all our travels!)
THE PLANNING
I love the planning phase as much as the trip itself. For our first trip in 2007, I immersed myself for 2 years prior...reading practically everything Italian, about Italy, etc.
Fast forward to 10 years later...we have a wealth of info at our fingertips thanks to technology. Travel guides, blogs, Facebook, Instagram, etc. No shortage of beautiful photographs to entice and itineraries to follow. Travelers don’t really need to delve further, but I, personally...don’t wanna miss out on the process.
Planning gives us discovery and anticipation. I get more mileage out of my travels this way. There’s much to explore, still much to learn. And...I’m an “old school” gal! I prefer unfolding a map to checking gps. I crave to see the lay of the land and know what’s nearby. Don’t want to leave a stone unturned...
I still peruse libraries and prefer the feel of a book in my hands to reading a screen. This trip had a bit of both...old with new (technology).
That’s where my trip begins...a blank slate. Where to go? Italy, of course! It grabbed our hearts 10 years ago...and never let go.
Our previous trip centered in the Northern region. We had Venice (a class in itself), Florence (city), Tuscany (countryside), Cinque Terre (sea).
We longed to repeat a similar mix of places (city, country, sea) to this trip. Having been back to both Florence and to Vernazza (Cinque Terre) in 2009, we reluctantly steered away. Those of you who’ve read my 2007 trip report, know how difficult this decision was to not visit Vernazza...our favorite place on the planet!
WHERE TO GO
The burning question! There’s so much to see in this big, beautiful world of ours!
Do we travelers return to places we’ve visited and loved? Do we discover somewhere new?
Every trip I’ve taken...it’s never been enough time. I start scribbling my “next time” list well before the wheels go up. I leave nearly every place as a changed person; utterly inspired and craving more. My guess is that the Fodorite reading this now...can relate.
My bucket list is long. I scratch one entry off and add 5 more. But, I’m selective. I don’t desire to go everywhere. I don’t desire to take those “How many places have you been to?” tests and rack up numbers (one exception: I wish to visit all 59 National Parks in the USA!). So...now you know what makes me tick as a traveler. That’s a quick insight to what’s in store if you take a peek in my travel diary and join me on this journey...
Here’s the final itinerary...
Dates: October 11-29 2017.
*Venice (3 days)
*Conegliano (3 days)
*Lago di Garda (2 days)
*Camogli (3 days)
*Dolomiti (3 days)
*Venice (3 days)
And...Paris (2 days)
NEXT UP: Planning angst!
Nov 19th, 2017, 08:01 AM
#8
Do you know where you'll go in the Dolomites? In most of the mountain towns, quite a bit of the lodging and restaurants close at the end of the summer season (by mid-October) and re-open for the ski season (December). Nearly all of the lifts will be closed except for a few that operate year-round. If the weather is nice, you can still have a great trip. If the weather is bad, I'm not sure how much you'll enjoy your very brief time there. BTW, if you maintain the order of destinations as you posted them, it will take an entire day of driving to get from Camogli to the heart of the Dolomites, so you would have 2 days there, not 3.
Lake Garda and the Cinque Terre are two other destinations that can be iffy weather-wise at that time of year.
Why two separate stays in Venice? Why not pick up the car upon landing and drive immediately to Conegliano (about an hour) and consolidate your Venice days before Paris? In that scenario, I'd head to the Dolomites after Conegliano (you'd already be almost halfway to Cortina), then go to Lake Garda and Camogli. Drop the car and train back to Venice.
Lake Garda and the Cinque Terre are two other destinations that can be iffy weather-wise at that time of year.
Why two separate stays in Venice? Why not pick up the car upon landing and drive immediately to Conegliano (about an hour) and consolidate your Venice days before Paris? In that scenario, I'd head to the Dolomites after Conegliano (you'd already be almost halfway to Cortina), then go to Lake Garda and Camogli. Drop the car and train back to Venice.
