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jabez Oct 27th, 2005 05:23 AM

Just returned!
 
Three weeks to Lucca, Chianti, Montalcino and Rome. We also had one night near Parma and in Milan while traveling. This is our 3rd trip in the last three years and great as always.
I'm coming back to a busy season at work so I'll do a report in a week or two.
A couple things:
-Lucca's great.
-Fagiorali had a very good cooking class and a great dinner, but we would not return. The rooms and service just aren't up to the level of others in the area.
-Castellina has a two great restaurants that we keep returning to.
-Der Pellaro was a fun GTG and highly recommended.
-l'Orso 80 was not as good (we tried it twice). Watching them empty uneaten portions of food served to others(antipasto)back into their serving plate for others didn't help this opinion.
-BEWARE of Rome pickpockets. My wife yelled at a man as he started to place his hand into my pocket. A woman carrying a baby (in a pouch) quickly tried to get into my pocket as I walked into a subway train.Fortunately, I had my hand secured against it. She was like a whirlwind. She went for it , didn't get anything and was out the door before I could blink.
My wife actually had her wallet picked from her purse. Very fortunately, She noticed it just as we got off the bus. Because a man next to me had "accidently" touched my hand that was in my pocket, I suspected him and jumped back on bus. Yelling for the police I faced him down when another man (looked like a gypsy) right near him pointed down and the wallet was laying there. It would have been impossible for it to fall out. It was later explained that these two were probably a team and they often throw the evidence down if they think they are getting caught.

Overall a great trip.

ssachida Oct 27th, 2005 05:40 AM

sounds like a very interesting trip jabez. Looking forward to the report.

Voyager2006 Oct 27th, 2005 07:01 AM

Did you keep your moneybelt??

jgg Oct 27th, 2005 07:26 AM

What were the names of the restaurants in Castellina? We will be there in June.

annabelle2 Oct 27th, 2005 11:14 AM

Hi jabez
Did you stay again at Podere Torre in Chianti? I was back in Italy in May/June but we didn't stay in Chianti this time. I have great memories of Podere Torre, though! Hope to get back there (and the fun and good restaurant La Castellana in Montefioralle)


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