ExplorerB

My husband and I recently completed a three-week tour of Tuscany, Provence, and the French Riviera. We had a most enjoyable, rewarding time exploring a wide-range of destinations, both urban (Florence, Siena, Nice) as well as less populated and tourist trampled (Montepulciano, Vaison la Romaine, St. Remy). With each of our annual trips to Europe, I make a point of maintaining a journal, and this year I complemented this project with the creation of a blog. The travel blog features photos and a day-by-day review of our experiences, and I trust readers will find it helpful and informative - perhaps even a travel tool as you plan for your next France/Italy adventure. Any feedback would be appreciated.
http://explorerbear.blogspot.com/

lpsmith

ExplorerB-
How funny that I saw this tonight. We are leaving Saturday and doing a 6 week trip covering almost the exact areas + London and Paris. We too will be blogging for our family and friends.

Sounds like you had a fun time and I'm so excited about going and seeing all of these places.

LP

Samsaf

Nice site, ExplorerB! Thanks for the report.

ExplorerB

Ipsmith & Sansaf,

Thanks for the feedback. I was so glad you enjoyed the report.

ipsmith, this may be too late, but best wishes for a wonderful, safe trip. Also, I'd love to be able to read your travel blog.

ggnga

Hello ExplorerB,

I loved your blog. Sent it to a friend. I would enjoy following that itinerary at some point. I especially liked that your traveled by train, bus and rental car. Thank you so much for this report. I enjoyed it more than any travel "surfing" I have done in a long time. An inspiration.

gg

lindam

I loved it!! I saved it to my favorite places, so I can share it with my husband. We have visited those places, but your blog is going to let me relive the experience much better than my photos! Thanks for sharing.

Bellini1

Hi Bear. Just read the Italy part of your blog and saw the pics. We are leaving for those parts end of September and it was just great to have this wonderful preview. Thanks for taking the time to do this. It was great!

ExplorerB

gg, lindam & bellini,

Thanks a bunch for the kind words. I'm so glad that you enjoyed the travel blog. You might be interested to know that in past years I've maintained a travel journal during my annual Euro-holiday. This year, however, was different in that the journal was complemented with a blog. It was very time consuming, to be sure, but I enjoyed it immensely, as it helped me reflect on each day -sights seen, adventures undertaken, and fellow travelers we came to know.

Thanks again, one and all.

lovesroses

ExplorerB, thank you for the link to your report...enjoyed it immensely. We are staying at the Hotel Santa Caterina during the Tuscany portion of our trip...leaving in just 18 days gt; With each trip report I am more eager!! Thanks again.

2Italy

You should have inquired at the Farmacia di Santa Maria Novella. Their scents are wonderful and reasonably priced. My wife buys several for herself and for gifts whenever we're in Florence.

ExplorerB

lovesroses & 2italy,

Many thanks for your comments. It's much appreciated.

roses, as noted in the travel report, I very much enjoyed my stay at the Caterina. Despite the fact it's located on as busy road, I had no problems regarding noise, and the hotel's outdoor dining space is peaceful, with smashing views of the Tuscan countryside. It's about a 15-minute walk from the Caterina to Il Campo, but be mindful of speeding scooters and delivery trucks eager to unload their wares in the heart of the tourist district.

2italy, I did enjoy a short visit to the atmospheric, Old World Santa Maria Farmacia, but in hindsight I should have made at least a couple purchases. It was a most distinctive place in an otherwise unremarkable Firenze neighborhood.

tower

wonderful blog, ExB....many memories oof our trips into the same areas.

Love Roses...at the S.Caterina, parking is at a premium in their very tight parking lot behind the hotel....get there early and you'll probably get a space...they realy squeeze 'em in.

You'll probably get one of those , what I call, "double decker rooms" facing the back terrace...with the bed on the "upper deck"...be sure to remember this if you get up in the middle of the night!!...Have a great trip!

Stu T.

tower

ExP...forgot to mention, that we also enjoyed the Villa Steno in Montrerosso...have recommened to several friends. Tix to
walk the paths? Must be something new...we were last in CT in 2001..no tix necessary.

Stu T.

kismetchimera

Explore, our itinerary,two years ago, was almost similar to yours, only we stayed 6 weeks .
We landed in Rome and spent 5 days there , but we added Pescara ,Venice and Paris. We left from the beautiful Ville Lumiere..
We loved CT very much..

ExplorerB

tower and kismet,

Thanks for taking the time to write. It's always interesting to learn of fellow travelers who've experienced the same hotel, eatery, or historical site.

tower, I'm glad you referred to parking at the Caterina. While I wasn't driving during that part of my holiday, the Caterina does, if memory serves, have a rather steep daily parking fee (perhaps 15 euros) Many travelers will want to consider this if planning on having wheels while staying in Sienna.

As to the Villa Steno, in the Cinque Terre, I enjoyed my stay there very much. The service was very good, breakfasts were ample and tasty, and my room, with a/c, was most comfortable, with distant, if somewhat obscured, sea views. Should I return to the CT - and I would like to do so next summer - I'll make a point of looking into the Monterosso-located Hotel Pasquale, located right next to the beach and owned by the same folks who run the Steno.

Lastly, part of the Cinque Terre is now a national park, which is the reason behind the tickets. I believe this went into effect several years ago. Personally, it's hard to object to the hiking fee should it go toward improved park and trail maintenance.

kismetchimera

Explorer, we stayed 8 days in Manarola, a very charming and quite village especially at night,we rented a very nice 2 bedroom apartment in town.
I hope to go back again someday.
Do you like Provence? When i go to Europe that region is always included in my itinerary. I have few cousins there but one in particular is my favourite's and because now she is getting older,I make certain to spend few days with her.
I was a teen the first time that I went to her house in Avignon and this city always hold a special place in my heart.

dedec

ExplorerB

I loved reading your blog. We are leaving for Italy in two weeks and will be also be staying at Antico Pozzo and Meuble Il Riccio. I look forward to trying Oscanda de San Agostino whle in San G.

ExplorerB

kismet & dedec,

Thanks for your replies.

kismet, we had a splendid time in Provence. While we didn't make it to Avignon, we did enjoy several days' stay in the Cote du Rhone, based in Vaison la Romaine. Here we found few American or English-speaking tourists. The area was quite lovely, filled with many attractive villages and opportunities to enjoy locally produced wine. We also spent a couple days in the Luberon, based in St. Remy. This town features noteworthy Roman ruins and works as a fine base to visit Les Baux and Pont du Gard - both exceptional sites.

dedec, you've made a wise choice in opting to stay at Il Riccio and Antico Pozzo. You'll feel comfortable right away at both, with the former an especially fine accommodation. Enjoy.