Tra - I feel like I know you after all of this! I'm speechless after the slideshow, you both were always well-put together and seemed to be enjoying yourselves to the 9's! Reminded me a lot of our HM trip in 2002 (Lake Garda, Venice, Florence, Rome, CT) and completely re-energized me for our trip coming up this October.

(you've probably seen my neurotic posts! DH and I - late 20's - are escorting active grandma and grandpa to Luzern, Bellagio, Florence, Chianta, Venice, Milan)

Honestly, I was having complete burnout - saw grandma last weekend and gave her the details and showed her the hotels - she's never been to Europe and is beyond ESTATIC - but I'm just plugging away at transportation details, prices, restaurant reviews... you know the drill.

I didn't realize how much of a 'habit' it had become until I read your report and am completely enthralled and overjoyed once again - you reminded me why I'm doing all this legwork!

Now I've hijacked your post - my apologies, I hope a simple thank you will do.

Wow!! GREAT pictures and you two do look so happy! :-) I can tell what a wonderful trip you had.
Thanks for sharing

travelphile - I am so glad you liked the report and pics. Happy I could help psych you up for your trip! The planning is tough and takes a lot of work, but it's fun work. There were definitely burnout moments for me as we got closer to the trip. It is very worth it when you get there and can relax, knowing you've researched things ahead of time. It's the moments where you see long lines for museums where you have reservations and people fumbling to find restaurants that you are vaidated in all your planning. Have a great trip and post a report when you get back!

Hi Tra6,

Thank you very much for sharing your slide show with us - the photos are wonderful and along with your trip report, they got me even more excited for my upcoming trip to Italy! You make a great couple, best wishes to you both.

Question for you Tra6... I couldn't help noticing your handbag in the photos. I am on the hunt for the perfect daybag for my trip. Is yours the Overland Donner bag? Did you like it? Was it large enough to hold a guidebook, waterbottle and other daily essentials? Thanks for any info.

I am frustrated!!! I have tried four times to access the photos and when I get to the website there is a notice "Album not avaialable" etc.

I don't understand. Grrrr!

azure-Yes, the bag is overland (not sure the specific style name), and we loved it! I bought it at EMS (eastern mountain sports) here in Connecticut. It held 2 waterbottles, guidebook, camera, sunglasses, etc. The best things about it besides the amount of stuff it held were the unisex look/color, and the fact that the strap was long enough for putting diagonal across the chest - less likely to be stolen. I highly recommend it!

LoveItaly - if you don't mind giving me your e mail address, I can e mail you the album directly from ofoto.com. I am not sure how to share it otherwise? I am sorry you are having trouble with it. I wonder why itw on't work for you?

azure - here's a link to the store we bought our Overland Donner Shoulder Bag. It's $50.00 on sale for $40.00 right now. Hope the link works! If not, go to www.ems.com and search outdoor gear, then travel packs and bags, then shoulder bags and totes.

http://www.ems.com/products/product_...=1124916225456

Tra6, thanks for the fabulous report! My family of five (kids 13, 17 and 20) plan on doing the same two ContextRome tours that you did. Would you recommend your tour guides, Carlos and Caspar, for our gang? These are the only two organized tours we will do, and I want to make sure the guide will keep it interesting, especially for the teens!

Thanks again Tra6. I'm heading to EMS after work today to take a look at the bag :-)

Mercers- We really enjoyed the Contextrome tours. When we got the e mail confirmation about the tours, it said we would have someone named "Nicola" for the Roma Antica tour and then Carlos showed up at the meeting place. I guess they can change guides as needed so you I'm not sure you can really rely on what the website says. Or, maybe that was just a fluke? Both men were very nice and knowledgeable. Caspar was a little more lighthearted and funny, I guess, but we really liked both. As an aside, we gave them each 10 Euro as a small tip. Not sure what the 'going rate' is for tipping guides, but we thought they deserved a little something, especially given that it was about 100 degrees out! Also, unless you've been to Rome before, I would check out the meeting places in advance so you're sure where they are. I felt better knowing where we were meeting before that day. Enjoy!

You both look so cute and happy in the pictures! Excellent trip report, I enjoyed reading it.

Thanks for reading it, Eleni!

SUPER report and photos! Thanks so much for sharing.

Hey Tra6, you're pretty cute. Do you happen to have an even cuter sister?! ;) Loved the trip report so far but I'm only on chapter 127... hee-hee

No, but I have a funny one!

Tra6 -
Thanks for sharing your fantastic trip report and your great pics! I am so excited for my trip to Italy trip in 3 weeks!
I need to go buy some good shoes since I'll be walking all over Italy... You looked stylish and "comfy" which is what I'm going for. If they were comfortable and durable, can you give me the brand and maybe where you bought them (if it isn't obvious from the name)?

I forgot to also ask if you wouldn't mind sharing the contact info (website, email, phone number, etc) for the hotel you stayed at in Monterosso?
Thanks!

kyboo-Hotel Villa Steno can be found at www.villasteno.com

The shoes are Josef Seibel and I got them at a DSW store which you likely have somewhere near you, or I put the link below. They were very comfortable and matched everything so they worked out very well. You can try the websites below, but I don't see the style that I bought on the josef seibel website.

http://www.comfortshoe.com/josef_sei...on%20sale.html

http://www.dswshoe.com/index.jsp