09 Friday Jul 2010
Posted in Travel
Tags
cinque terre, Cortona, Greve in Chianti, Italy, london, Rome, Travel, Venice, Vernazza
My vacation is here! After all the sleep counting, I leave for Europe today. I woke up so early, hit the gym and am now I am just waiting around until it is time to head for the airport. I would say, I am more bouncing off the walls then waiting. Just so excited to embrace the adventure!
So see you all when I get back!
Ciao!!
25 Friday Jun 2010
Posted in Travel
Ok so I know I have written about my trip before but I can’t believe it is just 14 sleeps away.
I think it will finally sink in this weekend when I pull my suitcase out and start to get organized. I am really going to have to show restraint when packing because I am flying Air Transat and Ryan Air and they have serious weight restrictions. I am the typical girl who packs a huge bag to go to Whistler for 2 days so packing for a 2 weeks holiday is going to be a chore. I mean, I won’t know what I am going to feel like wearing that day, so isn’t it best to have all sorts of options? Like everything I own? But in all seriousness, I am travelling to Italy and there are going to be things purchased. Prada Outlets anyone? I must have enough room to bring things back with me.
We are going to be driving around Italy, so I had to get an international drivers license which I got this past week. Why are those photos always so awful? I look dead in it. I was saying that I need to learn to smeyes (Tyra Banks term for smiling with the eyes) to bring some life to those types of pics. My friend Sue text me after she got hers done… “I look like I am in a wind tunnel with a receding hairline”. Classic. We have a great Italy road map that should help us stay on track and I have printed out google maps. I love my google map collection: Cortona hotel to Prada outlet. Prada Outlet to Greve hotel. Greve hotel to The Mall outlets. I have my priorities!
We also have a lot of the main attractions in Rome and Florence booked already so we can bypass the lines. The last thing I want to do is waste time in a lineup. We have booked the Colosseum, Galleria Borghese Museum and The Vatican in Rome. In Florence we booked the Uffizi Gallery, Pitti Palace and the Accademia Gallery. Feels good to be organized!
It’s going to be another great trip. I get to travel with a good friend, attend the wedding of another and see a part of Europe that I have been wanting to see forever. 14 sleeps. Can’t wait!
11 Thursday Mar 2010
Posted in Travel
Tags
Cortona, florence, Greve in Chianti, Italy, Rome, Travel, travelling, Venice, Vernazza
I have always wanted to go to Italy so imagine my excitement when my good friend said she was getting married there this summer. A perfect excuse to finally take the trip I have been dying to take for years and years.
The Plan:
We are going to fly into London and stay two nights there. It will give us a chance to hang out with Jen (the bride) for a bit before heading to Rome. We are going to spend 3 nights in Rome and while there I can check off one of my bucket list items. See the Colosseum.
Next on the list: Siena. Probably just spend an afternoon there before heading East to Cortona. If any of you have seen the movie Under the Tuscan Sun, you will know Cortona as it is where the movie was filmed. I fell in love with this small Tuscan village when I saw the movie so kind of excited to see it in person! We are going to spend the night here.
Cortona
Next stop: Greve in Chianti where the wedding is. We will be in Greve for 3 nights. The Tuscan villa is where Mona Lisa, the daughter of Anton Maria Gherardini was born in 1479. Yes, THAT, Mona Lisa.
The setting for Jen’s wedding couldn’t be any better. I am so excited for her and George!
Vignamaggio Villa (where the wedding is & where we are staying)
After the wedding it is off to Florence, the capital of the Tuscan region, for two nights and after exploring all the city has to offer, a definite stop at the designer outlets malls close by!
Florence
We will drive through Pisa before heading to Vernazza. Pisa is the home of another bucket list item. The Leaning Tower of Pisa.
I am really stoked about going to Vernazza which is one of the five villages in Cinque Terra (along the Italian Riviera). We are only spending one night there but the plan is to do a lot of hiking. Apparently there is a trail that goes from village to village.
Vernazza
Our last stop on this vacation will be Venice. Bucket list item # 3 on this trip. Take a gondola ride in Venice.
Venice
There are going to be so many “pinch me” moments on this trip. Can you tell I am excited. The countdown begins. 17 weeks to go!
Becoming Jen 