As previous posters have done, I am counting the 18 days until I leave for Florence (ten days with sidetrips), the Cinque Terre (2.5 days), and Venice (3.5 days) on June 3.

Let's see. I've figured out my daily itinerary, and read or purchased everthing to do with Italy from Barnes and Noble. I have purchased 6 maps; 3 for Venice alone. I figure that's one map a day, so I won't get lost. Yes, I am poking fun at my own map mania and realize I'm supposed to get lost in Venice. I also bought 5 guidebooks (plus one received as a gift), plus a phrase book.

I've spend five months practicing basic Italian using a program on cd.

I figure I can spend at least another week figuring out which books and maps not to bring with me. I can spend another week packing and unpacking my small and large duffel bag.

Seriously though, I still have way too much free time (something I never thought I would say). I've already viewed all the travel videos and movies set in Venice and Florence that I could get my hands on, and am in the process of reading Florentine and Venetian histories.

Anyone have any great ideas to help pass the time? I've had lots of fun reading everyone's post on restaurants and places to visit. I plan on keeping a trip journal and posting my own trip report when I return so I can share my favorite restaurants and experiences.

I have 3 more days before I leave for London/Brussels/Amsterdam.

Like you, I'm a obsessive-compulsive planner. I have also planned my itinerary down to the hour...

To help past the time?

I did some searches on this forum for old threads - for some unique ideas not mentioned in guidebooks.

I checked on various websites to see what exhibitions or concerts are on during my stay.

I borrowed several books from the library to read up on artists such as Rembrandt, Magritte, Bruegel, Van Gogh. I'll be hitting lots of museums on my trip.

I hope you guys have a great trip and I can feel your excitement. Just one word of advice from an old European traveling veteran if you don't mind:

When you are doing your planning down to the hour plan some time for just hanging out. I make a list of all the things I want to do at each location of my trip and all the side trips I want to take but I don't try to plan what I will do each day. I just try to do all the things I want to do while I'm there and in no particular order. If I find something unexpected that I really like than I will scrap something on my list and put it on my list the next time I go there. But it is very important to plan some amount of time in every day to do nothing but hanging out. Buy a can of Coke, sit on a bench by a fountain or along the Seine (if in Paris) and just hang out. You will see things you would have missed, meet interesting people you would not have met and enrich your whole experience if you do this.

Choosing Florence was a good idea. Too many Americans skip Florence and that's a mistake cause it's a great city.

For me it's 22 days and I'm off for 32 days of Ireland, Spain and of course France.

Have lots of fun.

Larry J

Tips...think about day tripping to Orvieto from Florence and definately picnic at the Pitti Palace in the Bobli Gardens.

CT...you MUST eat at Gamero Rosso in Vernazza, excellent, excellent. Spend time amongst the lemon trees just breathing the splendid air.

Venice...if you are there on a Sunday, see the Gregorian chant mass at the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore. Definately take a late night gondola ride. Well worth the splurge, so quiet, lovely and calm. I felt like it was a dream.

You sound like me with packing and believe me, because I AM AN OVER PACKER! You will pack and plan too much. Forget the books, except one or two really good ones and maps. I was told by someone to bring a compass to Venice. Not true, it is very easy to navigate. Relax and enjoy!

Thanks for the suggestions thus far. Keep them coming, please. Reading this board is about the only thing keeping me from going stir crazy.

Toriliz, Must be a disease! I am looking at 8 guidebooks and 10 maps on my desk as we speak. I still cannot figure out the best way from the Italian dolomites to Switzerland. I leave in 26 days for month long journey with my husband and teenage children. What to do to pass the time? I am walking, walking and more walking so I can eat and drink to my hearts content!! Of course thinking about my trip the whole time I am walking. Buon Viaggio!!

21 days and counting. Capri, Positano and Naples...and we already have enough planned to fill two vacations. So nothing left to do but wait.

As Tom Petty once said, the waiting is the hardest part.

But...if anyone has a last-minute suggestion I probably haven't considered yet, I'm all ears!

(Here's to a safe, happy and eventful trip for ALL of us!)

6 days and counting for a 40 day trip to Europe....Prague, Budapest, Athens, Santorini, Ios, Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre, Sorrento, Rome, Assisi, Hvar, Split, Dubrovnik, Medjugorje, Plitvice Lakes, Gerovo, Zagreb. I'm sitting here at work, and all I can think about is leaving for Europe - sooo excited! =)

I understand exactly how anyone feels about too much time to plan the trip. I refuse to do any more planning right now.

21 days and counting until our 14th trip to Sorrento. Obviously we love it there.

Topsy - I'd love to hear about what draws you back to Sorrento so often. We're spending several days there and its our first visit.

14 times? That is high praise indeed, topsy! Please, let us first-timers know what not to miss on a daytrip!

Hi Toriliz,

I found your post amusing & lighthearted. It is without a doubt that you will have a wonderful time!

To LarryJ: Excellent, EXCELLENT advice! Indeed, most of my favorite travel memories were made when the unexpected presented itself.

Make sure to post when you return, ok, Toriliz?

Happy travels, T.

Gosh, we have 54 days until we leave for Reyjkavik, London, Paris, then onto Begium and Netherlands for a total of 25 days. I have figured out which guide books to take, but still working on the clothing. I spend a lot of time reading Fodor's to pass the time. Now my son on the other hand is in his last three weeks of school and is all wrapped up with finishing projects and finals. He is busy and occupied but I'm not so sure I would like to trade places with him. I have to confess that I am a secret packer. When no one is home, I drag out my suitcase and mess with the stuff I think I might take. I'm going to wear it all out before we leave!!

I leave in 10 days for Paris-Amsterdam-Bruge! And just yesterday I got back from Hawaii!

I dont have any itineraries planned, just plane tickets and VRBOs. I plan to get a museum pass in Paris. I have the DK Top Ten book for all three places I am visiting, that's all I plan to carry guidebook-wise. I will wing it the rest of the trip, I hope I am not being too foolish for not making solid plans.

Spend some time biking or running the treadmill. You'll need the stamina! You could then try a day bike trip in Tuscany or hiking in Cinque terre.

Only 1 more hour till I leave the work. Only 16 more hours till my plane takes off.

We love the scenery, Italians, the food and the hotels. A drive to Amalfi is a must. Ischia, Positano and Capri are all worth visiting - despite the tourists. We always stay in the centre of Sorrento - Grand Royal, Excelsior Vittoria or Bellevue Syrene and have full sea view with large balcony as the Bay of Naples is beautiful.

Sounds wonderful, topsy. I can't say for sure which day we will be in Sorrento (one day, between June 19 and 25), but if you should run across a family who look somewhat like this:

onelittleworld.com

...be sure to say hello to Family Go!

Ooops, I meant June 12 - 18.

As an Orcadian, I do hope the Family Go manages to visit next time they are in Scotland. It will probably be cold.