Jamikins and Bikerscott hit Tuscany for New Years
Jan 5th, 2014, 04:18 AM
#81
lol - love the driving rules. Have you ever been driven by an italian [except in a taxi]? I did a few trips with our teacher when I was at a language school in Tuscany and I was surprised that my foot didn't go through the foot-well in front of my seat. I wouldn't have minded so much if she'd driven consistently fast, but at times she drove irritatingly slowly too, getting us into needless trouble with other drivers.
great story about your fellow diner - a whole bistecca to himself? oh my.
hope the back recovers soon, Scott.
Where to next for you both?
great story about your fellow diner - a whole bistecca to himself? oh my.
hope the back recovers soon, Scott.
Where to next for you both?
Jan 5th, 2014, 07:11 AM
#82
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Thanks for the very entertaining report Jamikens and Bikerscott. Sounds like travel in Tuscany at New Year's was amazing. We were in Tuscany in March quite some time ago and it was very quiet as well. We stayed in Montepulciano itself in an apartment. The owners lived in Rome and got us settled in then left. We were the only ones staying there for part of our week. We loved all of it, with the quiet towns, lots of parking. We were passing through years later and decided to pop into Montepulciano for lunch on a mid-June day and couldn't even recognize the place it was so crowded.
Jan 5th, 2014, 08:45 AM
#83
Rule 8 - Autostrada - pick a line and drive on it.
Rule 9 - Traffic laws in Italy are mere suggestions.
Scott - I tweaked my back a few years ago from driving a manual car. I hadn't driven one in years and just pushing the clutch aggravated my previous back problem.
Rule 9 - Traffic laws in Italy are mere suggestions.
Scott - I tweaked my back a few years ago from driving a manual car. I hadn't driven one in years and just pushing the clutch aggravated my previous back problem.
Jan 5th, 2014, 11:36 AM
#84
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Great additions to the list kybourbon!
Annhig...we have a weekend in Norfolk at the beginning of Feb. Next big one is Barcelona and San Sebastián for 10 days in April! Can't wait!
Made it home and the laundry is in. Scott is very excited about our memory foam mattress tonight!
Annhig...we have a weekend in Norfolk at the beginning of Feb. Next big one is Barcelona and San Sebastián for 10 days in April! Can't wait!
Made it home and the laundry is in. Scott is very excited about our memory foam mattress tonight!
Jan 5th, 2014, 03:02 PM
#87
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Fantastic trip report, love the detail and photos.
We drove with a local Roman family friend to Amalfi Coast. I recall doing 140 kph on the highway in an ancient small Fiat, basically an eyes shut trip, too scared to put the foot to the floor well for fear of penetrating the rust.
There is one more rule that our friend told us - if you drive a Mercedes, there are no rules !
We drove with a local Roman family friend to Amalfi Coast. I recall doing 140 kph on the highway in an ancient small Fiat, basically an eyes shut trip, too scared to put the foot to the floor well for fear of penetrating the rust.
There is one more rule that our friend told us - if you drive a Mercedes, there are no rules !
Jan 5th, 2014, 06:13 PM
#88
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Wonderful trip report and photos. I really enjoyed "tagging along" with you both! I think you will really enjoy San Sebastian. I was there for a week in 2010 and loved it. If you're researching restaurants and/or pinxtos bars, my trip report may help, although it's now 3+ years old. 
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rip-report.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rip-report.cfm
Jan 6th, 2014, 02:07 AM
#91
Glad you are home safely, and hope that the memory foam worked its magic.
Norfolk sounds fun [albeit it's so "flat"] and so do Barcelona and S.Sebastien. We went to the former about 30 years ago, and to Barcelona about 5 years ago. a word of warning about the latter - the centre is quite large and we made the mistake of not staying right in it; my feet really suffered from all the walking we did, even though we used public transport when we could.
and do watch yourselves on the metro - it is truly notorious for "dipping".
Norfolk sounds fun [albeit it's so "flat"] and so do Barcelona and S.Sebastien. We went to the former about 30 years ago, and to Barcelona about 5 years ago. a word of warning about the latter - the centre is quite large and we made the mistake of not staying right in it; my feet really suffered from all the walking we did, even though we used public transport when we could.
and do watch yourselves on the metro - it is truly notorious for "dipping".
Jan 6th, 2014, 05:10 AM
#92
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Astounding photos and a fun report despite its inauspicious start at the airport/car rental. JR and I witnessed a couple of huge meals in Italy but your NYE one is the best!
Happy 2014! Where to next?
Happy 2014! Where to next?
Jan 6th, 2014, 05:49 AM
#93
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Ahh. Entirely fun. My new rule:
1. Don't miss any Jamie and Scott trip reports.
I assume that's Guido in white with a blue roof? Must have been fun to drive, when it wasn't painful.
I have a family member with atrocious table manners, have developed the habit of not looking at her the entire meal. Since she also likes to talk, not combining the visual with audio seems to help.
Ann, yes, our cold water kitchen pipe is frozen this morning, so far hasn't responded to blowtorch or space heater. It's minus 23C here with a foot of snow, very unusually, and supposed to warm up to -21C. Luckily the snow here is powder and easy to shovel.
We expect 10C by the end of the week. In Minnesota, where our older daughter lives, it was -29C at 0700.
So Jamie's photos are just what I need. Thanks for taking us along, you two.
1. Don't miss any Jamie and Scott trip reports.
I assume that's Guido in white with a blue roof? Must have been fun to drive, when it wasn't painful.
I have a family member with atrocious table manners, have developed the habit of not looking at her the entire meal. Since she also likes to talk, not combining the visual with audio seems to help.
Ann, yes, our cold water kitchen pipe is frozen this morning, so far hasn't responded to blowtorch or space heater. It's minus 23C here with a foot of snow, very unusually, and supposed to warm up to -21C. Luckily the snow here is powder and easy to shovel.
We expect 10C by the end of the week. In Minnesota, where our older daughter lives, it was -29C at 0700.
So Jamie's photos are just what I need. Thanks for taking us along, you two.
Jan 6th, 2014, 08:38 AM
#94
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Just sat down and read your report in its entirety. What wonderful reading, Jamie & Scott! Like others, I loved your food descriptions and photos. Fantastico!
We've been to Tuscany in the spring & the fall. I have dreams about traveling there in the winter over Christmas or New Years. You've put that idea up to the top of my list!
Thanks again for sharing your amazing holiday stories!
Happy New Year! Happy travels in 2014!
We've been to Tuscany in the spring & the fall. I have dreams about traveling there in the winter over Christmas or New Years. You've put that idea up to the top of my list!
Thanks again for sharing your amazing holiday stories!
Happy New Year! Happy travels in 2014!
