Another vote for Florence. It is perfect for a solo weekend. If you need another place to check out for a place to stay, look at the Casci. Not fancy, but a good solid hotel with a fantastic location and the owners make sure you are taken care of.

Choosing a destination can be hard when you're spoiled for choice! At least it's impossible to make the "wrong" decision, and you're sure to enjoy yourself where ever you go.

I'm still batting for Florence, though

zeppole, thank you for posting about Botticelli's Story of Nastagio degli Onesti. I just looked it up and now I have one more reason why I need to get to the museums in Madrid asap!

Hi Cimbrone - Thanks for the info on Dresden. I will try to get there from Prague.

mms - Thanks for your vote and for the hotel recommendation! Hey, my daughter just pressed the button on the common application. Feels so good...

gruezi

gruezi--You deserve a weekend away Hitting that button is such a mix of feelings, relief, nervous, etc, lol! But now you can sit back for a while and breathe again.

mms -

Thanks! It is a good feeling for us all.

I wish she would come with me as a celebration, but she wants to study... mixed feelings sigh... It was supposed to be a girls' weekend but I'm the only one who has the time.

I decided last year I couldn't wait for my family to be ready to see Europe. They have their own lives now, and my goal is to travel while I'm still young. Fortunately, I enjoy traveling alone.

I've been "saving" Florence for a while now, but I think it's time to just go. I'm the only one in my family who has never been.

gruezi

Well, their loss! Florence is so compact and so easy to get around. If you go, be sure to visit the doors of the Baptistry at various times of day. The different lighting on them is really interesting.

gruezi, I also love the mosaics. How lucky to see all those in Ravenna with your teacher! I had planned to go to Ravenna in July 07 as a daytrip from Bologna, but I had a bad cold and just didn't feel up to it. All the more reason to return.

If you do get to Rome again (my favorite place), there are lots of mosaics there, too. In addition to Santa Maria in Trastavere, there is S. Prassede (near S. Maria Maggiore)and then the oldest Christian mosaics at S. Pudenziana on Via Urbana (just west of S. Maria Maggiore).

mms - I will do that. We visited the Pantheon 3 different times to see it in different light.

Susan - You must get to Ravenna. When you do, besides the amazing antique mosaics you will see, there are some modern mosaics in a few places that you should see as well - including a full park of international artists mosaics that were installed as part of a contest. Ask in a good mosaic shop when you arrive, or do some research before hand. Thanks for your tips on Florence. I print this thread out and bring it along.

Looks like it is Florence for my long weekend. But, I am trying to do one off these a month so if anyone has any other ideas please add them.

Also, any dining ideas for Florence are greatly appreciated as well.

Thanks again, everyone.

gruezi

Hi again,

Sorry for the delay -- I'm in the middle of a move from the US to Germany.

Anyway, I'm of the opposite opinion of Cimbrone about Dresden. I found it chock-full of museums, stately buildings, performances, and outdoor walks that I don't think a day-trip will scratch the surface. My first visit was only for three nights, and I'm going back again in April. But hopefully your day-trip will entice you sufficiently for another, longer visit.

Anyway, have a fabulous Florence weekend!

s

Thanks Swandav!

Where in Germany are you moving to?

Is this a first overseas assignment?

Best wishes and now you'll be on the European Fodor's time zone...

gruezi

Hey gruezi,

No, not a first European assignment (first travel to Europe was before I could walk; first European "assignment" was a year in school in Paris in 1977).

Not an assignment at all! I'm retired military and am going to see what it's like to live there as a civilian. Going to try Grainau first, and if that's too small then Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Any hints on how to get my old brain to learn a new language?????

s

ps,

Sorry, misread your question. I was born and raised in Saudi Arabia, so my first "overseas" trip was to the USA!

s

Oh Swandav I also have an old brain trying to learn German!

My problem is I'm trying to learn German in a country that really speaks something else. You will not have the same problem so things should move more quickly.

I do have some suggestions:

1. Don't be too hard on yourself, be patient and don't give up.

2. Know it will take time and it is a progression not an overnight sensation.

3. I very much liked the Goethe Institute Intensive I took in Munich in September. They have classes and locations worldwide and of course many in Deutschland. I suggest you take the plunge and spend the money on an intensive. Your progress will be so much faster. Plus, then you can return for a weekly class that progresses from where your intensive left off.

4. Find a tandem partner as soon as possible. (Someone you meet with once or twice a week who is fluent in German. You talk together for half the time in German and half in English.)

5. The shopkeepers will be your best speaking partners. They won't judge your skills and many may not speak English so practice your new German skills while you do your errands. The person most supportive of my German has been my hairdresser!

6. Many Germans like to speak English. To get them to speak German with you here is a nice way of asking, "Your English is really good, but I really need to practice my German. Would it be possible for us to speak in German?"

I hope you'll keep us posted on your move and on your language class!

Germany is a great location for travel all over Europe and beyond.

My very best wishes to you. I'm going to look up your new town on my map.

gruezi

I should also mention...

If you are in class of youngsters, they will learn a lot faster. I consider myself pretty smart and have always been a great student. I had to really accept that my recall memory is not what it was.

The good news is that learning a new language and culture is supposed to be very good for building new neural pathways in our very lazy old brains. Sometimes I literally feel my brain popping with all the new input.

gruezi

Thanks so much!! That's so encouraging!

I do have my eyes on the Goethe class in Dresden, heehee! They have an over-50 two-week course in June and in October that I would dearly love to take. They also have online course that I may use until I can find an intensive one.

Yes, I'm afraid that I will want to give up; I know I'll be disappointed with my slow progress and will want to just quit. Thanks so much for the encouragement!

s

Never, ever give up! and 2 weeks in Dresden sounds wonderful!!

I looked up your location - looks great.

Is there an airport in Innsbruck? Where do you go for international flights?

Hi again,

International flights I think I would go to Muenchen. Today though I'm flying into Paris with the train taking me to Garmisch-Partenkirchen; I don't actually arrive in Grainau until Tuesday 28 Oct. I have about two months in a Ferienwohnungen (is there a singular for that??) and then I have to find a rental.

I am just so jazzed to be there during the Christmas season!!

s

Without reading all the comments, I'll put in my two cents for Firenze. I just got back from a two-weeks stay and loved it for all the reasons Zeppole mentioned and many, many more.

Good luck and happy travels.

jdc

PS: As I'm not a big foodie, can't give you much recommendations on places to eat in Firenze. Two of my best meals while in Italy were on day trips to Lucca and Parma.

jdc

This thread with Florence Top 10 suggestions might be useful.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35105568

Have a great trip!