After flipping through the 1000+ page "Lonely Planet: Italy" book, we've narrowed down the towns we want to stay in and the areas we want to stay in ... now we just need to book! We're starting to get a little frustrated with the vacancy rates in June - a couple of our first choices for hotels are booked solid. Who knew people go to Italy in June?! (sarcasm).
So, our 20 day Italian adventure will see us go from the southern coast to central Italy to north west to north east ... maybe a lot of travel for less than 3 weeks, but Heather and I are seasoned travelers who know how to get around!
Our schedule looks like this (for now) - we're still debating Lake Como, but might be tough to squeeze it in there.
June 2: FLY! - Ottawa to Rome
June 3: Rent a car at the airport and drive from Rome to Positano
June 4: Positano (Amalfi coast)
June 5: Positano (possible day trip to Pompeii)
6th: Drive from Positano to Rome
7th: Rome
8th: Rome
9th: Rome
10th: Drive from Rome - Montalcino (Tuscany!)
-- Note: I wasn't sure where we should stay in Tuscany, so I left it up to fate. I went to Google Maps, zoomed out so I could see all of Italy ... and then just clicked until it was zoomed onto the Tuscan area ... then zoomed in, more and more ... I finally saw Montalcino in the middle of the screen. Off to Trip Advisor, typed in "Montalcino" and the most highly recommended place was called "Vecchia Oliviera" ... I think it was meant to be.
June 11th: Montalcino (possible day trip to Sienna)
12th: Drive from Montalcino to Greve, still in Tuscany - but in the Chianti region
13: Greve
14: drive from Greve - Florence
15: Florence
16: drive from Florence - Monterosso (Cinque Terre)
-- Note: Really looking forward to this 'cinque terre' area ... there are a number of great hiking trails that lead along the ocean, awesome views ... I'm just hoping Heather will have recovered from the marathon enough to handle the Sentiero Azzuro - Italy's "most drop dead gorgeous coastal hike"!!
17: Monterosso
18: Drive from Monterosso - Parma
-- Note: Parmesan cheese, Prosciutto ... all my favourite foods originate in Parma, and considering this trip is partly a foodie adventure, we have to eat at the source of this deliciousness. Also, the recipes from everyone's favourite Italian restaurant in Ottawa (Mamma Teresa's) are Parma specialties ... so, a direct comparison is necessary!
19: train from Parma - Venice
20: Venice
21: Finally, stuffed full of food, wine, love and adventure ... fly home from Venice - Ottawa
June 22: ... back to work
Now ... let's get booking!!
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