I'm so excited!
 

I still have so many questions, but I'm not going to ask any more. We are flying out of St. Louis Saturday morning, headed for Venice. We will stay three nights there and then take the train to Florence. Again, three nights in Florence and pick up a rental car to drive to the farm where we will be staying just south of Pienza. We will drive around Tuscany for three days. The last will be driving to La Spezia where we will take the train into Manarola and spend two more nights. Finally, we'll take the train from Manarola to Milan where we will see the Last Supper and fly home.

It's a whirlwind trip, but I can't wait. I'm the most nervous about finding our way around Tuscany. I have printouts of viamichelin maps, but I hope to get a really good map once we are there.

I'll post about our trip once we get back. Thanks to everyone on the list for the help you have provided while we planned this trip. My friends can't believe we planned the trip ourselves instead of using a travel agent. The planning was a lot of fun.

Lisa

Have a great time. I loved the jewelry in Venice. Don't wait until the end of your Italian trip to buy yourself a few things, thinking you might see something better later. The glass beaded jewelry is lovely in Venice.

I don't speak Italian...
but I'll venture 'bona fortuna"...bon voyage...! Have great weather, better food, empty roads, great views, meet wonderful people...and post a long report with pictures!!! <GRIN - I'm greedy>

It's only a little whirlwind-ish. It's not like 9 cities in 10 days, so I think you'll have time to relax in each destination. Sounds like a great trip!

Have a wonderful trip! Relax about driving in Tuscany - particularly around the Pienza area. We, too, were nervous the first time we rented a car in that area and it's very easy....happy travels!

modglila,
Send me an e-mail and I will send you some ideas for Tuscan day trips with directions.

Henry

It sounds like you will have a wonderful trip. And don't worry about the navigation part. Everything will work out just fine as long as you have a good map. And sometimes getting a little lost can be fun, as it leads you to interesting places!

Tracy, a fellow St. Louisan

>I'm so excited!<

As, well, you should be.

Have a lovely trip, M/

((I))

If you see something you want to buy in Venice -- buy it! You may never find the store again! And that is not a criticism -- getting lost in Venice is one of the most delightful experiences imaginable. It is a magical place. Enjoy your trip!

Enjoy!!!

You won't have any trouble in Tuscany. My wife and I biked it for 7 days last year and had a wonderful time. We stayed in Pienza, Montalcino, Siena, Castellina, and Florence and shared the road (S222) in Chianti with many cars. Just enjoy the beautiful scenery and stop many many times to taste the wines (Brunello and Chianti Classico especially). We also spent 4 nights in Venice. I look forward to your trip report, as we're planning another excursion to Cinque Terra and Tuscany for 2007.