Ciao from Italy (Monica)
May 28th, 2006, 05:05 PM
#61
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, many people wear jeans. I choose not to bring any because they can be heavy and sometimes hot to wear, alghough my last day in Venice I was wearing my black sweater and light jacket together!
Monica
Monica
May 28th, 2006, 08:26 PM
#62
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Monica,
I've just skimmed through your wonderful trip report. Will print it off and read it in bed tonight with a cup of tea (should probably be a glass of wine!)
Your photos are terrific. What camera did you use? I tried to get the same moonlight shots of the Ponte Vecchio this time last year but my Sony Cybershot just wasnt up to it. Your photo really captures the scene. I can remember how beautiful it was - one of the many magic moments one captures in the memory for life.
Thanks for sharing.
I've just skimmed through your wonderful trip report. Will print it off and read it in bed tonight with a cup of tea (should probably be a glass of wine!)
Your photos are terrific. What camera did you use? I tried to get the same moonlight shots of the Ponte Vecchio this time last year but my Sony Cybershot just wasnt up to it. Your photo really captures the scene. I can remember how beautiful it was - one of the many magic moments one captures in the memory for life.
Thanks for sharing.
May 29th, 2006, 02:40 AM
#63
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
EmBee,
I recently purchased the Canon SD550. I love it! It took three photos of the Ponte v. at night and the other two didn't come out as well. It was beautiful with the moon out behind the clouds, like a veil. If you look at my photos, there's a sunset photo I took - not of the ponte. v, but of ponte alla Carraia.
Monica
I recently purchased the Canon SD550. I love it! It took three photos of the Ponte v. at night and the other two didn't come out as well. It was beautiful with the moon out behind the clouds, like a veil. If you look at my photos, there's a sunset photo I took - not of the ponte. v, but of ponte alla Carraia.
Monica
May 29th, 2006, 07:50 AM
#64
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
FYI, although I was able to email everyone here on Fodors my journal as I went along on my trip, I just posted my final journal, which has a lot more detail. I do warn everyone - it is long! 
http://luvtotravel.homestead.com/ItalyJrnl06.html
Phew, I am done with this trip, unless I find other information to add to my journal, restaurants, and hotel information. Back to work tomorrow!
Monica ((F)
http://luvtotravel.homestead.com/ItalyJrnl06.html
Phew, I am done with this trip, unless I find other information to add to my journal, restaurants, and hotel information. Back to work tomorrow!
Monica ((F)
Jul 19th, 2006, 10:48 AM
#65
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Monica, you mentioned in your trip to Greve that you also walked/hiked up to Montefioralle. I plan to do a similar trip next month (yes, I know it will be hot in Aug, but not a major concern for me
. Is the route easy to be found ? I was going to do the Greve/Montefioralle portion as a day trip from Florence where my hotel is. Are there frequent buses to Greve from the city? I liked your tip about going on a Sat market day, as my choice would be either Fri or Sat, and you've made that easier.
. Is the route easy to be found ? I was going to do the Greve/Montefioralle portion as a day trip from Florence where my hotel is. Are there frequent buses to Greve from the city? I liked your tip about going on a Sat market day, as my choice would be either Fri or Sat, and you've made that easier.
Jul 19th, 2006, 03:39 PM
#69
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 260
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Monica, I want to thank you for the suggestion to take a walking tour of Bologna. We did so on our recent trip and it really helped us understand and appreciate the city. On our arrival day, we wandered without much of a plan, and it was hard to develop a feel for things. The next day we took the tour and enjoyed it very much. We were only in town for two nights but had a great second day and night.
I'm sure we will return, but not in the summer. Too hot!
I'm sure we will return, but not in the summer. Too hot!
Jul 20th, 2006, 10:44 AM
#71
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi. Love hearing about your trip. We are a family of 6 going over for the kids' first European vacation and I have a couple of questions for you. 1) We are renting a home in Tuscany (just south of Siena) and want to do a couple of day trips via train. (Florence, Lucca) It sounded like you took the train everywhere. How did that work out? Can we do this for day trips or do we need a car. We thought the train was the way to go. Please advise.
mc
mc
Jul 20th, 2006, 01:40 PM
#72
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Mauld,
The walk was a little tough, as I was/am out of shape. But I took it slowly and enjoyed the views of the country side. Also, I had already bought a few things from the market, so I was carrying that. It’s easy to find – there’s a small sign that directed people to “Views” or something like that and it was to the little lovely town of Montefioralle It’s worth the walk for the view and of course lunch! Being in August, it will be much hotter than when I was there, so take a hat. No, the buses were not frequent for Saturday, especially getting back to Florence. I took the 8am bus to and 3pm bus back to Florence, which gave me plenty of time to shop, walk, have lunch, and walking around Monte. Pick up the bus schedule at the bus station to the left of the train station. I gave mine away.
Thanks Beth, Melissa (nope, no pumpkin wine for me), Sandy for the birthday wishes. Tony and I already drank the Prosecco! I was going to save it for our anniversary in October, but I couldn’t wait. It was excellent!!
Hi jd dallas,
Glad you took the walking tour. I found it to be very informative and enjoyable. Where did you dine?
MC, for the Tuscany area, it depends on where you’re staying. I took the bus from Siena to Florence back in 2004 where I stayed for a few days. I had a rental car at the beginning of the trip, so from the Pisa airport, I drove to Lucca, then to Tuscany, to Siena; bus to Florence. You’ll have to see where the nearest place is for a train. The car would be much better, but for a day trip to Florence, I might not recommend it. Again, it just depends on the location of your rental home. Hopefully others will chime in here with better advise than what I gave you.
Monica
The walk was a little tough, as I was/am out of shape. But I took it slowly and enjoyed the views of the country side. Also, I had already bought a few things from the market, so I was carrying that. It’s easy to find – there’s a small sign that directed people to “Views” or something like that and it was to the little lovely town of Montefioralle It’s worth the walk for the view and of course lunch! Being in August, it will be much hotter than when I was there, so take a hat. No, the buses were not frequent for Saturday, especially getting back to Florence. I took the 8am bus to and 3pm bus back to Florence, which gave me plenty of time to shop, walk, have lunch, and walking around Monte. Pick up the bus schedule at the bus station to the left of the train station. I gave mine away.
Thanks Beth, Melissa (nope, no pumpkin wine for me), Sandy for the birthday wishes. Tony and I already drank the Prosecco! I was going to save it for our anniversary in October, but I couldn’t wait. It was excellent!!
Hi jd dallas,
Glad you took the walking tour. I found it to be very informative and enjoyable. Where did you dine?
MC, for the Tuscany area, it depends on where you’re staying. I took the bus from Siena to Florence back in 2004 where I stayed for a few days. I had a rental car at the beginning of the trip, so from the Pisa airport, I drove to Lucca, then to Tuscany, to Siena; bus to Florence. You’ll have to see where the nearest place is for a train. The car would be much better, but for a day trip to Florence, I might not recommend it. Again, it just depends on the location of your rental home. Hopefully others will chime in here with better advise than what I gave you.
Monica
Jul 20th, 2006, 05:24 PM
#74
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 260
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Monica, our best meal by far in Bologna was dinner at Cesarina. I don't remember if you recommended it, but it got several favorable reviews here. The setting, if you eat outside, was a great bonus.
Jul 21st, 2006, 03:57 AM
#76
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks Monica, I think I'll do exactly as you mentioned. I'm at the Westin in Florence, so its an easy walk over to the SITA buses and I'll go for the 8am, and then do my 'walk' to Montefirolle earlier in the day, then head back to Greve before the Sat market closes and take the 3pm bus back. (I downloaded the schedule) I'll be sure to wear comfortable shoes, have on sunscreen and take a hat. I also noticed there may be bikes that I can rent for the day if I don't feel like making the walk. I will try out your suggestion for lunch as well-- I assume it's in the center of town, or easily found??
Jul 21st, 2006, 05:28 AM
#77
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
None of the fashionistas on Fodor's every tells people NOT to wear jeans in Italy. We tell people not to wear cheap, powder-blue jeans bought at a jumble sale in 1982. We also tell people not to wear them with impossibly white aerobic shoes or Ked's.
BAN MOM JEANS NOW!!!!!!!!!
BAN MOM JEANS NOW!!!!!!!!!
