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Home Travel advice for trip to Tuscany this summer

BrightSpot

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Apr 14, 2005
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2,547

Hi all,


I hope everyone is well & enjoying the summer so far. I wanted to thank all of you that gave me such wonderful advice for my trip to Paris & Barcelona last summer. I had a sinking feeling I forgot to update you guys once I returned home. I just found my old post & I was right.
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I''m so sorry! I tried to update it, but perhaps the post was closed as "reply" was no longer an option. I had a wonderful time on the trip & your recommendations not only made me feel more comfortable about going to Europe for the first time, but also made my trip so much more fun!

TGal, Maribel’s guide was a huge help for Barcelona. It also helped me find my hotel (Hotel 1898), which was fantastic. It was in an old tobacco factory & even had a spa pool in the basement that used to be the storage cellar.

Mara, how was your trip to Barcelona? I thought about you when I was there & hope you had an amazing time.

Some Barcelona highlights: strolling on Las Ramblas (clutching my purse, of course), Gaudi (Park Guell & Sagrada Familia), shopping at the Boqueria, Tibidado (amusement park on top of a mountain!), paella at Can Majo, Picasso museum, a day at the beach, a super helpful bus tour, tapas, and a pitcher of sangria every day!

Some Paris highlights: Boat tour & picnic on the Seine, the Eiffel tower, which was amazing, taking silly pictures with the statues at the Rodin museum, d’Orsay & Louvre museums (the latter was a bit overwhelming), feeding the pigeons at Place de Voges, bizarre art at the Pompedou Centre (including a dress made of meat—ick!), the wonder of Versailles, and just savoring the beauty everywhere!

A note on pickpockets: in a moment of panic, I purchased a “slashproof” purse for my trip, which may have been overkill.
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It did work, though, and was designed well, though it was a bit heavy. (The body of the purse was lined with steel mesh & the straps were reinforced with steel cables. Good grief!) I also kept a hand on my purse at all times. It seems the word had spread in Barcelona as most of the women on the street were similarly cautious. I felt very safe in Paris.

So, I’m finding myself in Europe again this summer, but this time in Italy. I’ll be attending a 3-week long opera program in Tuscany this summer & would love recommendations. I’ll be in Greve in Chianti, which is 20km from Florence, singing during the week, but will have the weekends off to travel & sightsee. Any suggestions for places to see/things to do that are feasible on a weekend trip from Tuscany? I’ll have 3 weekends free. Also, I’d love any advice you have for travel in Italy or any personal experiences you’d like to share. I’ve read a few threads about Italian travel & am getting really excited for my trip! (LaurenthePartier, I especially enjoyed seeing your gorgeous photos!)

Thank you so much for your help!
 
Hey Brightspot!!! Have missed you. Your trip sounds amazing, but can''t offer any tips. Just wanted to say HI!!!
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Looooooove Italy, but haven''t been to Tuscany yet! I am jealous
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but mostly I wanted to say HI! and we miss you!!
 
Hey Kaleigh & icekid! It's so good to see you guys! How are you? I've missed you too.

Icekid--just saw your post in the newly preggers threat. Huge congrats!
 
Suz,
I am good, Ash graduated from U of Penn... And here you were such a huge help to me with the whole college process. Can you believe she''s done. She finished early, and studied for her CFA which she just took. She has a job with a great firm and starts next month. She''s very happy to have found a great job here, she didn''t want to move away. She''s got a wonderful boyfriend who we just adore. My son ended up at Trinity and has loved it.

I''m good, and wish I could remember your email addy... Hoping you remember mine, LOL!! One way or other, we will catch up.
 
Lisa,

I can''t believe Ashley just graduated! How time flies! Congrats to her on her graduation & fab new job! That''s wonderful news. And a great boyfriend to boot! Is she sticking around in Philly or is her job elsewhere? I''m glad Rob (right?) is enjoying Trinity too. What year is he?

Big hugs to you. It''s so great to catch up! (Will look for your email addy too...) Sorry I''ve been MIA on the boards for a while.

Suz
 
Your trip sounds amazing - i
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italian operas
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I studied italian in florence, some great weekend spots are Siena, Isola d''elba (for some beach, island action!) and of course Verona/Venezia. I took a three day weekend to do the last one and had an amazing time - i saw Madama Butterfly at the Arena di Verona. Most romantic experience of my life and i was single
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http://www.arena.it

I would also have loved to have gone to Bologna, and Perugia and Assisi. You could also do Cinque Terre in a weekend....Hopefully in the next couple of years ill go back to see more of the country - i loved it there so much
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good luck with your trip planning
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