What is the address of your blog? I'm looking forward to the photos that go with the trip!
Loved the report... reminded me of the way my husband and I used to travel. Used to go off without any reservations. Now that we are more mature - we play it safer. When I hear of young people who travel with totally planned itineraries and first class hotels I feel sorry for them.

Blessings on your head, Tom-man. What an incredible account. Even if I never get to half the places you all enjoyed, it sure was fun to read about them and all your exploits and adventures (mis- and otherwise), and all the foods and potent potables you consumed. I can only think that all the hoofing you did accounts for the fact that you were able to wrap that seatbelt around your midsection once your gastronomic adventures were over. I'm so glad to have discovered you for myself. Keep on telling it like it is.....and molto grazie!

Tom, bravissimo e tanto grazie! Looking forward to the URL for your blog, and don't forget the promised recipes so we can travel vicariously... ;-)

Attitude is, indeed, everything.

For those interested, the site is:

http://travelswithmaitaitom.typepad.com/travels/

My report and pictures are not up yet, although if you want to relive a 2003 trip, that is there (with pics). I hope to have this trip up within a couple of weeks. it is taking a long time to figure out which pictures to use. Plus, I am still waiting on some of Kim's photos. I guess Dan's will remain at the bottom of the canal. Thanks.

Great trip report, MTTom--as entertaining as edifying.

Two notes: every year in the UK, 400 people mistakenly put petrol (gas) into diesel cars. You Are Not Alone.

While watching The Talented Mr. Ripley, in one scene, just before Matt Damon murders somebody, the character says, you're acting funny, have you had too much Sgroppino. Thanks to you, I now know what he was talking about!

Mille Grazie Tom!!! This was a fabulous report and I loved every minute. If per chance you need to haul along an assitant tour leader on your next journey... ;-)

And I thought my husband was organized! We are the ones everyone wants to travel with, due to his pre-planning, print-outs, etc. Glad to know there is a Tom's Tours to match (or exceed) Tim's Tours! Italy is our favorite (my sister lives in Rome) and you've given us ideas for our next trip. Other than driving in the piazza, I'd love to hear what else you did in Trevi--if anything. This is the town in Umbria where my sister's in-laws live. We've been there many times...a lovely, lively cultural outpost, halfway between Spoleto and Assisi. Highly recommended!
Joyce

I think we should take up a collection to send him back for another trip and another report

maitai:

I also had to become a registered Fodorite to compliment you on your travel dissertation. I've been enthralled all evening and have copied the entire thread to use as a guide on our trip scheduled for April-May. This is our 8th trip to Italy, each being 21-30 days in length and spanning 25 years.

This time we're doing it a little differently than most:
Flying into Nice and renting (lease/buy-back) a spanking new Renault 607 there, avoiding the high insurance costs in Italy. We'll ultimately drop the car in Rome at FCO. Caveat: To do this, you must rent for at least 17 days.

It's only about a 5 hour drive from Nice to Lucca, but we'll linger on the French and Italian rivieras for 5 days before reaching our first villa outside Vinci from which we'll day trip northern Tuscany for a week. Then we'll follow your beautifully illuminated pathway throughout southern Tuscany from our second villa in Montepulciano for another week. When we leave Tuscany, we'll end with 3 days in Rome.

Can't tell you how much I appreciated your vivid descriptions which animated the characters and scenes as though I were there. I could actually taste and feel it. Loved your selections of restaurants, hotels, travel sights and wines....particularly the wines...and promise to try to make you proud of another American quartet truly getting in to the joie de vivre that Italia inspires.

I'm sure he can give us a few more details he forgot??

Not to hijack this outstanding thread, but -- Tenderfoot, that car rental arrangement sounds excellent. Who are you renting from? (And maybe you'll do a trip report when you return? I like the sound of your plans .)

Ahh, Tom, I am so sorry that the trip report is finished. I copied and pasted all of your installments and then printed it out (49 pages). It was the best reading I have done in a long time!

I am also a SoCal person who loves wine, so maybe one of these days Bill and I will run into you and Tracy at some wine-related event. It would be a blast!

Thank you for taking the time to write your report - you remembered a lot of details in spite of all that wine!

Dear Tom
Just got back 2 days ago and had to tell you how very much we loved the areas in Tuscany you recommended.
We based right outside San Gimignano in San Donato at a lovely Fattoria. The kids went wild over the countryside beauty (we even went horseback riding) and even though it was November it was still green and mostly lush after a warm and wet autumn.
We especially loved Pienza and my son who is an amateur photographer took some amazing shots there during our picnic.
I also loved the Brunello although we only splurged a couple times!
All in all Grazie for the wonderful ideas and lovely places which we would probably have not found on our own.
My family has a special fondness for MaiTai Tom. (The kids think your name is cool)
Yolanda

Ianz: Where did you stay? I've had 3 fabulous trips to La Chiara di Prumiana, just near SanDonata & just love that area.

We stayed at Fattoria Voltrona.It was quite lovely and remote at the end of a back road. I only wish it had been earlier in the season as we were the only guests! But with 5 of us we only paid 112 euros per night. (no breakfast) That was actually our best per night rate of the trip. We had lovely rooms and great views.
It is a great place with wonderful homemade olive oil and vino.
I'd love to go in the early spring when prices are still good but there might be a bit more going on. Besides day trips and horseback riding it was pretty quiet at night which was fine by me but my three teens were a bit bored after three days.I personally needed it after flying in to Milan, getting the car and heading south to Tuscany all in one packed day.

I hadn't looked here for some time, so thanks for all the nice comments.

nancyhol, there is a new wine bar in Pasadena called The Crepe Vine Bistro and Wine Bar that is calling our name. Hope it is good.

BTilke - Thanks for the info on people putting the wrong gas in the car. A day that will live in infamy for me, but as Tracy said, at least it made for a good story.

Thanks to everyone else who enjoyed ur journey. It was a great trip, and we're already thinking about where we will go next. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah.

Tom, I just went to the Crepe Vine wine bistro and it was excellent! We had crepes and three different wines. Have you been there yet?

Wonderfully catchy title for a great trip report. I loved your witty details and humor - truly hysterical!

I have been to nearly all the places you listed in this report, however, I will never view them the same again after reading of your humorous accounts and escapades.

I, too, stayed at the same Rome Hilton this last May and couldn't agree with your more - location is everything. I loved the fact that one can walk from the hotel to the airport and one's flight. The hotel restaurant was not bad either, albeit it a little overpriced.

We are back from our trip and enjoyed ourselves as much as you did, thanks in part to many of your suggestions. I need to report that in Florence we ate one of your much-loved chicken sandwiches from Caffe Giacosa. I think it's the bread that makes it so good. However, it was very cold that day and I barely restrained myself from also ordering a cup of the most wonderful looking hot chocolate I had ever seen.It was so thick that people were drinking/eating it with a spoon (like hot fudge)and it looked delicious. However, since we were on our way out of town and scheduled to eat lunch at Lamole, I decided to exercise a little self-control. However, next time....

Our meal at Lamole was fantastic and am so glad that we ate there. The view was as described and the wines they suggested with each course were fantastic. It was one of the best meals, although it's hard to say which was the best since several were competing for the honor. I Sette Consuli in Orvieto was unbelievable as well and certainly shares top billing rights. The best pizza was in Rome at Pizzaria da Baffetto and we had a wonderful meal at Il Ritrovo in Florence.

Finally, you will be glad to hear that it was a slow day at the Fortezza when we showed up for some brunello tastings. I had brought with me info from Wine Spectator and they poured us a couple of 90+ rated wines. We then made our way to Poggio Antico for a tour and tasting and were able to bring home so bottles for a fraction of what the list price is here. This winery is fantastic and I would highly recommend a visit on some future trip.

SeaUrchin, Thanks for the rec on Crepe Vine. Since I also live in the area, I'll give it a try after all the people from Texas get out of Pasadena

Wow, the CrepeVine sounds like a place for a mini GTG.

SeaUrchin - yes, we went there for lunch last week. It was good, but the service is still a little slow when they get crowded, but I think they just need a little time. I also just tried Bistro Provence in Burbank. Another neighborhood place that is good.

Huitres - Yep, the location of Airport Hilton is worth the price, and the sauna tunnel is fun, too.

sharkmom - I am blowing out of work right now to go to the Food Bowl in Old Town Pasadena and hang out with the throngs of people. A buddy of mine got me a FREE itcket to the Rose Bowl tomorrow. Yes, I am lucky.

If a CrepeVine Bistro GTG gets in the works, count Tracy and me in.