Travel Tales and Adventures

I wanted to start a travel thread where we can share our travel adventures. I have always wanted to travel and love hearing about people's trips abroad and their experiences with other cultures.

I would love to share my upcoming trip to Italy with you all. It will be my first European adventure and I will be celebrating my 50th birthday in Rome. It has been something hubby and I have talked about for the last 10 years or so, but never had the money (still don't!), time, or both so never did it. I helped a dear friend celebrate her 50th last year that she had been dreading, and it turned out to be one of her best birthday's ever because it was so special. I wanted to carry that tradition on as well.
So that is how it all started, and I have been planning it since about February of this year.

I am 3 weeks and 3 days away from landing in Rome as of today.
It still seems surreal and somehow unbelievable, but I know now it is going to happen!

Can't wait to hear about some of your travel adventures!

You will have to send us pictures. I have been to Athens, but not Rome; my mom went to Venice and sang in St Peter's Basilica.

I can't think of a more wonderful way to spend your fiftieth than visiting exciting places. If I won the lottery, I'd travel all over the world.

Luca, I'm soooo excited for you. Italy is a fantastic place to visit on your first trip to Europe. I loved it! Your senses will be filled every minute you are there. What other places in Italy will you be seeing?

Abrahammy, I have always wanted to go to Greece...especially Athens. The classical architecture really moves me. Your mother sang in St. Peter's Basilica? Professionally? Spill! Would also love to hear more about your Greece trip! What are your fondest memories of it?

Janice, so you have been to Italy! I am dying to hear where you went and what the highlights were! We are flying into Rome, spending two nights, then will take the train to Assisi where we will spend 6 nights in Tuscany exploring the hill towns. Then on to Florence for 2 nights, then back to Rome for one final night (the big 5-0!), then fly out the next day.

I envy all of you that have traveled to Italy or Greece. Hubby keeps saying we'll go to Greece..........but I'm not holding my breath anymore. He's Greek, he has cousins there........I don't understand not going.

The farthest I've been was to Nova Scotia, Canada this August. I loved it there, it's so 'unspoiled'. I want to go back............but if Greece became an option well.....there would be no question..........

I would love to travel anywhere and everywhere! Maybe we need to win the Lottery.

I just plain need to make some mega money. I want to go many places. i can't wait to hear all the details about the Italy trip, luca, and any trips anybody else makes, too.

I am so excited for my dear friend Luca!!! I can't wait to see her pix!

Sounds like several of you have had wonderful trips!! I am like Sky and the furthest for us was two trips to Canada. I don't see world travel in our future really. At least not until after the boys are out of college. Just not enough funds for that. It's OK as I am terrified to fly. Now a cruise I would be up for!!! If I can get somewhere by ship that would great!

So sadly I am not going to have anything to contribute, unless of course you all are really interested in the wonders of the Amish in the Midwest or the great world's largest Xmas shop in Frankenmuth Michigan!! (we go there every year to get new Xmas things)

FC, I've been to the Amish country in Minnesota, it was fascinating. The Christmas shop sounds like my kind of shop!

I think it would be cool to hear about the Amish.

The Greece Trip: we spent a month viewing all the antiquities all over the country: we went to Athens, Olympia, Corinth, Delphi, Knossos, Heraklion, and a whole bunch of other places that blur in my mind now. I wish I could find the journal I wrote for that trip.

We also went to Santorini. Santorini has a 4 star personal life memory in it. It gets its own post.

Lots of places - don't know where to start, but I will give an ode to Olympia. When I saw it, it was covered with a gorgeous, vast spread of deeply green conifer trees. A breathtaking view, and I don't mean the ruins.

I was heartbroken to hear about the fires.

Sky, it is called Bronners! It is HUGE with the most gorgeous Xmas things ever! They have beautiful outdoor grounds to wander. It is a beautiful German town with many fun Bavarian restaurants and a gorgeous Inn that we love to stay at!

Here, check out their site!
http://www.bronners.com/

Check out Frankenmuth! The third pic shows in inside of Bronners. Trust me if you love Xmas and amazing food you should go to Frankenmuth. It makes for a wonderful 4 day weekend for us! I never tire of going there.

http://www.frankenmuth.org/

Here is the Inn! Fantastic place with wonderful dinning!
http://www.bavarianinn.com/

Oh what fun! Frankenmuth sounds like a kick!

Abrahammy wrote:

Quote :

We also went to Santorini. Santorini has a 4 star personal life memory in it. It gets its own post.

Lots of places - don't know where to start, but I will give an ode to Olympia. When I saw it, it was covered with a gorgeous, vast spread of deeply green conifer trees. A breathtaking view, and I don't mean the ruins.

I've got my popcorn out for your walk down memory lane! Can't wait!

Here is WA's Bavarian town. Beautiful to see in the fall because of the leaf color, but Christmas in the snow, lights, carolers, and shops....it's even more special. It has the nicest Christmas shops. I've saved your links to look at later, FC.

http://www.leavenworth.org/

Wow, that looks beautiful Sky!!

Yes, winter in Frankenmuth is great fun. They have this wonderful Xmas train that takes you thru the woods at night with trees decorated with thousands and thousands of lights and other fun things.

We probably are not going to make it up there this year. Just too many other issues this year. It will be our first year skipping it in several years

Bronners Xmas store is over 50,000 square feet. The coolest part is they have a section that is "from all around the world" with ornaments and decorations from every country you can think of! We have brought back things from Sweden (hubby's side) and Poland (my dad) and France (my mom). Everyone who loves Xmas should hit Bronners at least once. You'll be in it for hours and then you can go have a wonderful all you can it Bavarian meal at the Inn.

Here's a pic at Christmastime................



Your Bavarian village looks beautiful too, I haven't had time to go to Bronners yet!

Sky, you are from Seattle right? I am in Yakima Washington just east of you! I have been to Leavenworth a few times and it rocks! Very beautiful place indeed.

I just emailed the Italian woman who runs the B&B we are staying at in Assisi to ask about the best place to rent a car there. Also, I just found out it is a 7 hour trip from Rome to Assisi! Gulp-and we are figuring it is only about 60 miles! That will kill two days travelling from Rome to Assisi and from Florence back to Rome. I hope I am wrong about that!

Luca, I don't know how much this will help, but I just did Google maps.

I had a hard time believing that Italy is BIG enough for one thing to be seven hours from another. (Greece certainly isn't.) Sure enough, this map seems to suggest that you are looking at more like a 2 1/2 hour journey.

My goodness, this thread is making me drool. I want to do an Italy cooking-wine tour. I can do that one alone.

I hereby declare I will do it, somehow.

I also want to go on an Ireland-pub-hopping tour with a companion who likes to drink. ( my best friend who died was my imagined companion for that one...so I need to find another).

I have my Paris buddy--fancy hotels and cafes--already. I just need money and time to do that one.

Luca, I didn't get to Tuscany when I visited Italy, but I have heard from others who have traveled through that area that it is beautiful. I met a young Italian-American who spent a summer there and is looking forward to returning. He likes that part of the country the best. My cousin, who saw Italy with me for her first trip to Europe, and I have discussed traveling to that area and the Cinque Terra next time. When we were there we visted places along the coast....Florence, Rome, Naples, Amalfi Coast, Messina on Sicily as well as Venice. We walked all day everywhere, drank the best cappucino ever, ate the best gelato ever, and saw the wonderful works of art and architecture in person. I have an even better appreciation now of how much of a genius of Michelangelo was. What a perfect place to spend your birthday! I'm looking forward to hearing about your Italian experience!

I've also been to Greece, Spain, Dubrovnik in Croatia, the south part of France, Monaco, and Copenhagen. I thought Monaco was like stepping into a childhood storybook. It's the most pristine, perfect place I've ever seen. I don't think there is even any dust on the outside areas! I wanted to go into the casino, but it really looked as stuffy and staid as those in the the James Bond movies. so I didn't get past the main entrance. For one thing, proper attire was important and for another....money.

In Asia, I've been to Japan, mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Bangkok. The mainland China trip was 20 years ago, the year before the Tiananmen incident and before they started bringing in equipment for the massive rebuilding programs in the major cities. I saw rocks and heavy materials being moved by humans instead of machines. At that time the main mode of daily transportion for the residents was the bicycle and the streets were filled with thousands of cyclists rather than cars. Mao and the Cultural Revolution really did stall progress in China. It was unbelievable. My aunt and I toured China for three weeks and saw most of the sites one reads about and had some "unusual" food in the northern parts. It might just be the most fascinating trip I've taken and we still talk about it.

Sky, I like Leavenworth as well. What a fun place to browse and the setting is beautiful...an oasis in the forest.

The Amish country mentioned earlier would be another interesting place to visit and that's on the list. Actually, it's one on a very long list! Each time I hear about someone's trip, the list gets longer and I hope to cross off one or two of the destinations next year.

Wow Janice!! I can't believe you have been to so many countries! How cool for you!

Abrahammy! You were right! I emailed Letizia (the Italian woman who runs the her B & B in Assisi we will be staying at for 6 nights!) and she directed me to a link for the train schedules in English...It is like a 2 hour trip!

Janice! You have really travelled extensively! Thanks for sharing some of your adventures! Walking endlessly in a place with the most beautiful antiquities/architecture in the world drinking the best cappucchino and eating the best gelato does'nt sound half bad now does it???? I would also love to spend some time at Cinque que Terre and the Amalfi coast, but that will have to be another trip. Between Rome and Florence which was your favorite?

Frazzle...I am taking a cooking class at the B&B in Assisi and will copy the agenda for you to really make you drool! Letizia is a really interesting woman, I can't wait to meet her!

Your trip sounds absolutely perfect! My son and wife had the time of their life in Italy this past summer.

Well, we get pizza from Little Italy! Does that come close?

Yes, I think Luca is in for one incredible, beautiful, delicious, exciting and romantic time!!! I think I will stow away in one of her suitcases!!

I don't think I will have any room with just one carry-on! But, I sure would love to have you come along somehow! *smooches*

Oh noz!! When I mentioned telling you about our trips with The Amish I was referring to all the times we go to Nappanee, Indiana. We go to a place called Amish Acres. It is just a wonderful and fun place. Here is a link about it.

http://www.amishacres.com/

We always stay at the Amish Acres Inn when we go there. It is lovely.

Well, I just put on the 10:00 PM local news and the number one news story is about a tornado that ripped that town apart. Hundreds of homes and businesses completely destroyed. The footage was heartbreaking. Many are homeless. I feel terrible We have wonderful memories from Nappanee and the people were always so welcoming.

How sad this happened. Thank God there were no fatalities

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071019/LOCAL/710190515