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Buon giorno,
We are Bob and Donna Gregoire from Lynnwood, Washington, and we want to share our Rick Steves' "Heart of Italy in Nine Days" tour with you. After months of talking and dreaming about where we wanted to begin our first post retirement travels (and after watching many Rick Steves' travel shows), we decided on the Heart of Italy Tour as it offered a great introduction to Italy. The Rick Steves' team made the trip so simple and enjoyable. We just sat back and took in the sights without the usual logistic planning required for such a trip. We chose an October tour for the reduced crowds and cooler weather, although it turned out to be unseasonably warm during our stay. Our pre-planning included a basic Italian class, a packing light seminar and a photography class all offered by Rick Steves, and very useful. The camera wizard suggested to take all the photos one wants since photos can always be deleted but can't be added when back home--sage advice. It was fun to have some language skills like, "si, no, per favore and grazie" when we arrived so no one could tell we were "tourists!" With all the tour reservations and ticket purchases done by the Rick Steves' team, we had the luxury of time to simply enjoy the trip. When we bypassed the enormous lines at the Vatican, the Uffizi Gallery and other popular sites, we realized just how much extra value the tour package offered. This tour provides a great experience of exploring Italy including Rome, the hill towns of Tuscany, the Cinque Terre and Florence. These locations were what we had hoped to see in Italy and met our highest expectations. Our tour guide, Jamie, was eccellente. He made the trip so much more informative, fun and enjoyable than if we had gone independently without a guide. We learned much about the behind-the-scenes Italian history, and Jamie presented it in such a lively way. We arrived in Rome two days before our adventure started, so we could recover from jet lag and use the extra time to explore that wonderful historic city. The two added days allowed us to see more Roman neighborhoods and begin our tour energized. We found this relaxed beginning to be a perfect way to start our trip. |
At the end of the tour, we also stayed two additional days in Florence. We were looking forward to viewing Michelangelo's David as well as other masterpieces
and historic sites exemplifying the Renaissance period.
and historic sites exemplifying the Renaissance period.
Please enjoy this brief tour of Italy. Use it as a guide to create your own memorable trip to this most engaging and beautiful country.
Divertirsi.
(Click on headings in the top left of page to see our tour of Italy.)
Divertirsi.
(Click on headings in the top left of page to see our tour of Italy.)
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