kwren

Hi LCI from yet another Libra - I'm late to this party! You may remember that I wrote the original trip report about the cooking school in Abruzzo, and another about Abruzzo 2.0 which I coordinated, and am so so glad that you took the chance, went, and loved it as much as I did!!!

I was reading another report today, saw your name, wondered about your trip and pulled up your report. Such enjoyable reading and it certainly brought back many wonderful memories.

I'm glad you did the mosaic class. That was such a fun and relaxing afternoon (that prosecco helped ) I forget - did you read my report from my second trip to this cooking school? Our mosaic was packed in our carry-on and in the wisdom of the Florence Security, it was way too dangerous to be allowed on the plane. Into the garbage it went , along with a bottle of that wonderful lemon olive oil which DH had forgotten to remove from his backpack to the luggage. We took a few good swigs before pouring it out

It's interesting that the porchetta experience has now been moved to a bar. We sat outside in a park for ours and along came Massimo with large baskets of the sandwiches and oversized bottles of Peroni beer. It was perfect that way, but I always wondered what he would do if it had been raining. Voila! a bar!

For us as well, it worked well to have a week following Abruzzo planned to avoid the let-down of going directly home. We did the week in Rome the first time, and after our second cooking school trip, we did Cinque Terre and Florence (of the mean security guys!)

I especially enjoyed reading about your Rome experiences and now you have me excited to try the restaurants and participate in the food tour and wine tastings.

aussie_10 - start watching Groupon around December/January. That's the prime advertising spot for them and now Massimo gets top billing! I don't know why you couldn't participate since airfare is not included. All you would need to do is get to Rome at the appointed time and meet the group. Maybe even call Groupon during a slower time to ask about it. Another option is that Abruzzo 3.0 for this coming fall is not being run through Groupon. If there is space left, you would book directly through Massimo and the Abruzzo Cibus website. I can't make it for this third time, but I know it will be great. They will be harvesting olives this time instead of grapes. (I did like stomping those grapes in that huge barrel though!)

Sorry for digressing LCI!! Thanks for the wonderful report! Now I have to get back to my report on Ireland, coming along slowly since my son is getting married (*gasp*) a week from today!!!

LowCountryIslander

Hi kwren!

I did read your TR about the second cooking school experience and was heartbroken when I read you had to leave the mosaics behind. They were so heavy, we put the ones we made in our checked bags, after reading about what happened to you I'm glad we did that!

I'll look forward to reading about your Ireland adventures and congratulations on your son's upcoming wedding!

kwren

Thanks LCI. I was so glad to hear that my TR helped save your mosaic I wrote to Massimo and asked him to tell people too.

If you can believe it, my second son is also getting married this summer, seven weeks after the first, the end of August. No wonder I left the country!

jujubean

Hi LCI,

I recall on a previous trip report thread that you keep a restaurant list. How might I get that list from you?? pretty please? I am currently planning a trip to Rome and I like to plan out restaurants - there is nothing worse than being hungry and wandering around looking for a place to eat!

let me know how I might get that from you…or if you have it posted here someone and I've just missed it. Many thanks!

LowCountryIslander

Hi jujubean,

I no longer have that Rome restaurant list, now I use the Elizabeth Minchilli Eat Rome app and Katie Parla's Rome app for all my Rome restaurant research, along with reading each of the blogs those ladies write, plus other information I happened to stumble upon.

jujubean

OK - thanks for the information! I'll have to look them up.

LouisaH

What a wonderful trip report, thank you! I've always enjoyed your TRs and was happy to find this as I start planning my next trip. I stayed at the Albergo del Senato a few years ago in November but the rooftop was not open. My room was in the front with a great view of the Pantheon but it was surprisingly quiet. I will inquire about rooms in the back next time though.

LowCountryIslander

LouisaH,

Thank you, glad you enjoyed the trip report.