And in conclusion - Our trip favourites and bests ... Let's narrow it all down ...

Favourite hotel: villa Vignamaggio, Greve-in-chianti, Tuscany.

Favourite restaurant: TIE - angiol d'or, Parma. And Villa Vignamaggio

Favourite local food: Prosciutto di Parma ... tuscan sausage and the spaghetti in Montalcino

Favourite city (urban): parma - but Rome is a close second

Favourite town (rural): Montalcino and Volpaia

Favourite quick lunch: 'Ino (panini) in Florence - and some little pizza place we found in Trastavere - no idea what it was called.

Favourite sit-down lunch: La Bottega in Volpaia

Favourite church, from the outside: florence duomo

Favourite church, from the inside: st. Peters, Rome.

Best Lemoncello: Montalcino ... Obviously!

Favourite Gelato: San Crispino, Rome

Best aperitivo: caffe alle logge di piazza wine bar, Montalcino

Favourite Museum: TIE! Capilitaline in Rome and Uffizzi in Florence

Best view: vechhia olivieri - without a doubt!

Favourite Drive: from greve-in-chianti to sienna (worst: Florence. By Far)

Favourite Wine: villa vignamaggio Cabernet Franc

Best coffee: eustachio, rome

Favourite excursion/experience: villa vignamaggio cooking class

Best walk: cinque terre hike and trastavere in Roma

Favourite site: rome - forum and coloseo

Best hotel breakfast: hotel flora, venice

Best airport lounge: frankfurt

Favourite other couple: betsy and nelson, from Atlanta

Best shopping: rome - around the spanish steps

Best dressed locals: Florence

Best lines:
"You're not American? ... But you speak English?" - anonymous american

"Why didn't you tell me before I picked it up?" (about the diesel gas spout) - Heather


- O

Olivier Cullen
613.862.7653
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