Sunday, September 25, 2016

Packing!

Well I won't bore you with yet another blog on my neurosis about packing. Or maybe I will just a bit! Once again my minimalist husband will pack a day or two before without giving it more than a few brief thoughts, while I have been obsessing, plotting, and planning for weeks... well months! This time I thought I'd give packing cubes a try. The theory behind the cubes, is that you can compartmentalize items in your bag to make it easier to find things, but also to help with packing and unpacking. (just take out the cubes and put them in hotel drawer, then replace in cubes in your bag when ready to go) Sounds easy right?! Especially since we will be staying in 7 different places in 21days. Well, its worth a try! I'll keep you posted Lou's plan is to have a backpack, and a carry on size luggage. We will be hopping on and off trains and busses and will have to handle our own luggage. I'll do my best to fit everything into a medium size bag. I've been losing sleep over it for weeks! Wish me luck. And I hope we can find a Walmart once we get there to buy Lou all the things he didn't pack!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8Aw-DNzbCo

Saturday, September 24, 2016



Andiamo!!

Here’s the plan!  Follow us if you want.  We will post pics and updates. Wifi may be limited in spots

Seven stops!  Oh boy!  Lots of packing and unpacking! So many cities, not enough shoes!!



Stops:

1.         Bologna

2.         Ferrara

3.         Venice

4.         Verona

5.         Cinque Terra

6.         Milan

7.         Sicily


Here is some brief info about each city

Bologna

Called “La Rossa” for its red brick buildings and tile roofs it is the capital and largest city in Northern Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region. It’s also an architecture lover’s dream. Best known for its medieval towers and extensive porticoes.

Ferrara

 This “City of the Renaissance”, has a remarkable cultural landscape. The medieval town is encircled by a defensive wall built in the 12thcentury. Highlights include palaces, churches, and gardens.


A romantic city where canals replace roads and buildings rise up out of the Adriatic Sea as if by magic. Attractions include gondola rides on the canal, sidewalk cafés of St. Mark’s Square, the Basilica of San Marco, and holy relics.

Verona

Best known as the setting for Shakespeare’s play “Romeo and Juliet,” is a picturesque city filled with Roman ruins, Renaissance palaces and medieval buildings.

Cinque Terre (Five Towns)

Is a string of centuries-old seaside villages on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline. In each of the 5 towns, colorful houses and vineyards cling to steep terraces, harbors are filled with fishing boats and trattorias turn out seafood specialties along with the Liguria region’s famous sauce, pesto. The Sentiero Azzurro cliffside hiking trail links the villages and offers sweeping sea vistas.


Nearly destroyed from heavy bombing during WWII has since been reconstructed and is now the country’s financial and fashion capital. Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” and Michelangelo’s “Pietà Rondanini” are on display. Must-see attractions are the 18th-century La Scala opera house, the Duomo, (the world’s largest Gothic cathedrals) and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (the place to go for the best of Italy’s haute couture designs).

Sicily

We will be visiting family in Campobello di Licata, which is on the south central part of the island close to the Mediterranean.