Paula's Italian Trip Report

[Ocean Lover]

Yes, it was a wonderful read with my morning coffee. I could picture you walking for your morning coffee and pastry and then stopping at shop after shop for your goodies to take back to the family. It sounded wonderful!!!! Can't wait to see your pictures!

 

[audie]

wonderful report - wonderful time - i am jealous !

 

[Cheering472]

I wanna go...whine, sniffle,whine. Sounds wonderful Paula. Thanks for the mini vacation. I am waiting for pics.

 

[Paula]

Glad you enjoyed my long-winded Italian trip report. I definitely wanna go back... I now know that I'm quite ready to retire anytime (drat those upcoming college tuition bills...). I didn't miss work or the Wall Street Journal or anything like that at all -- and I really enjoy my job so that's saying something! Frankly, I feel the same way when I'm in SoWal.

Barga is indeed a special place and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who wants an out-of-the-way place with a lot of art, history, summer festivals, good and simple food, and friendly people who speak English yet where there are very few American tourists (most of the tourists are scottish and Americans really haven't discovered it yet unless they happen to have familiy there). And you'd be only a few hours away (a day trip by train or bus or car) from Pisa, Florence, Lucca, and I think Siena is pretty close too (I can't remember). The beach is only about 1.5 hours away (we used to go to Viareggio but I hear that's not as nice now). I could easily spend a month there.

And one of these days I'd like to go on Allifunn's cruise -- that sounded quite wonderful as well. I tend to like to plunk down in one place when I vacation, so a cruise would get me out to see new places and new faces. Maybe one of these days... Definitely one of these days...

 

[kathydwells]

:clap_1: Wonderful trip report Paula. I loved reading it, and I felt like I was right there with you. I am glad you had safe trip.

 

[Teresa]

Paula! this vacation sounds absolutely perfect from beginning to end. My favorite part of your report is the FOOD - the best thing about travel, especially to Italia.

also, I've seen that gorgeous photo of the sexy young women posing in a line - and I picked you out because you look just like your oldest daughter who is so beautiful.

Cinqueterra has a special place in my heart and memories...

I can't wait to go back to Italia and this time find one place to live for 2 or more weeks and truly experience the people, the place, the food, the daily life, as you have done. This is certainly a dream vacation. Thanks for sharing!!! :clap_1:

 

[Paula]

Paula! this vacation sounds absolutely perfect from beginning to end. My favorite part of your report is the FOOD - the best thing about travel, especially to Italia.

also, I've seen that gorgeous photo of the sexy young women posing in a line - and I picked you out because you look just like your oldest daughter who is so beautiful.

Cinqueterra has a special place in my heart and memories...

I can't wait to go back to Italia and this time find one place to live for 2 or more weeks and truly experience the people, the place, the food, the daily life, as you have done. This is certainly a dream vacation. Thanks for sharing!!! :clap_1:

Yup, was one of the best vacations we've taken as a family ever. We'll be redoing that bikini photo with the girls, their cousin, and their friends someday (in the not too distant future I'm sure).

If you don't go to your family's part of Italy, consider Barga because it is a dreamy place (of course, I can't tell how much of that is because I've come to know and love it over the years and because of the people I know). Sounds like some good stuff happened in Cinqueterra when you were there!

See you in August... And did you ever make it to Maine?

 

[DD]

I want to go there. :clap_1:

 

[ktschris]

I want to go too, sounds like you had a wonderful trip!!! Thanks for taking us with you. :clap_1:

 

[Paula]

Of course, you are all always welcome at our Italian table!