[Idyllchat] Hello Everyone Re Tuscany South

[Leigh Hursh]

We have just returned from Tuscany South.  I was not the driver but I was an 
enjoyer. We especially liked visiting the abbeys; Pienza; and being a 
participant in the Etruscan Banquet in Murlo (a three hour event with tour 
of museum; an 8-course dinner...note that there will be 8 wines!...while a 
cadre of costumed people danced and played medieval instruments). Both Murlo 
and Pienza are beautiful small walled towns with the alleys and hills of the 
original town. We were in Buonconvento and became very comfortable in this 
town...patronizing both the major grocery and a small grocery; a pastry and 
candy confectioner; dining at Mario's twice (the first time was like a 
carnival: dining in the patio-garden behind the restaurant....perhaps 20 
tables with children dancing and playing in the driveway behind) and Roma 
(take a dictionary and enjoy ravioli with spinach and cheese filling); the 
sacred art museum and the museum of agricultural life a century ago; a 
celebration of food in the alleys of the town...buy a ticket and enjoy; and 
a couple of boutiques---they were glad we visited. We were fortunate to have 
our main person of the three of us who arranged a half day tour to a cheese 
tasting (with wine wash) at a cheese farm (goats) and then lunch at a 
working organic farm ( a member of WOOF and many staff are volunteers...we 
talked to a student from Vienna who is studying agricultural science and a 
chef from Seattle).  We went to Florence by train twice and probably would 
have planned to do it in one day next time...that is, it was a lot of hours 
on the train and we had tickets for only two places, Uffizi and Academia. 
Florence and Siena are places with many tourists. We decided to take the car 
back on the day before return flight so stayed in the Ibis hotel near the 
hotel...it was fine.  We did fly into Venice (stayed in a small palace and 
went to a Vivaldi concert) and then drove to our town. Our wonderful driver 
said the drive was not easy flatland interstate. If it sound like you would 
like more info from us, let me know.

Leigh in South Carolina
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <barbara_watts at campbellsoup.com>
To: <idyllchat at lists.untours.com>
Sent: Friday, September 29, 2006 2:30 PM
Subject: [Idyllchat] Hello Everyone


>
>
>
>
> I am new to this chat as well as to Untours.  While I haven't yet made a
> commitment, my "girlfriends" and I are planning a 60th birthday 
> celebration
> next year in Tuscany!  We are seriously contemplating the 9/26 tour but 
> are
> torn between Southern and Northern Tuscany.  Any light you can shed or the
> pros and cons of each would be greatly appreciated.  Also, for any
> travelling women out there, what are your experiences in Italy?  Good?
> Bad?  Things to watch out for?
>
> I have many more questions so please share with me and excuse the deluge 
> of
> questions you will undoubtedly receive from me.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Barbara
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