The Dis Goes to Italy 5/24 - 6/1/2012 Viva Italia!!!!

[LionKingRules84]

Add me to the living vicariously through all of you group! I would have loved to go on this trip but May and most of the summer is just bad for me.

White capris is a brave move! I don't even like wearing white t-shirts because it never stays white for very long.

 

[sayhello]

Google Maps just announced "3D Photo Tours" of various places around the world and there are a bunch from Italy.

http://maps.google.com/phototours

OK, that's really cool. Except St. Paul's Cathedral only showed the outside. Been there, done that! Wanted inside pics!

Sayhello

 

[slapwhitey]

Wow, we really are the late bloomers on this trip. All these "on your own" time plans being made and honestly we haven't even looked at what is out there. Feeling very unprepared for this one. We'll be winging it quite a bit I think.

Gonna have to seriously start doing some research and crack a book or 2.

Chris

 

[corky441]

Don't even give it a second thought Chris.
Half the fun was the unplanned time. Dino and I got lost in Rome, Florence and Venice. It was great.
You never know what you're going to find when you're not looking for anything.
That being said, get a really good guide book to carry with you. I'm particularity fond of the "DK Eyewitness Travel - Italy" book.
The guides will give you maps of each city too.
I would suggest that if there is a museum or tour you find you want to do, buy you tickets ahead of time.
Many tickets are time sensitive and most of all, the waiting lines for those without tickets can be worse than the Magic Kingdom on Christmas !!!

Don't worry... You'll find more than enough to occupy your free time without planning a thing.

 

[DisneyKevin]

Hey Folks,

Besides the "on your own" afternoon in Florence scheduled by ABD, John and I will be offering the chance to spend the "day at the resort in Tuscany" in Florence as well.

We are working with ABD on the transportation details, but you will have the chance to spend an entire day in Florence doing whatever interests you.

This will be in addition to the regularly scheduled afternoon.

Kevin

 

[corky441]

Awesome !!!!

 

[skunkvette]

Hey Folks,

Besides the "on your own" afternoon in Florence scheduled by ABD, John and I will be offering the chance to spend the "day at the resort in Tuscany" in Florence as well.

We are working with ABD on the transportation details, but you will have the chance to spend an entire day in Florence doing whatever interests you.

This will be in addition to the regularly scheduled afternoon.

Kevin

Thank you Kevin and John!

This will be a great opportunity to really get to know Florence.

And (unfortunately) it also offers an extended time frame for certain parties to shop to their heart's content. I guess I will need more Euros.

Tante Grazie!

 

[skunkvette]

Wow, we really are the late bloomers on this trip. All these "on your own" time plans being made and honestly we haven't even looked at what is out there. Feeling very unprepared for this one. We'll be winging it quite a bit I think.

Gonna have to seriously start doing some research and crack a book or 2.

Chris

Chris,

Just from our London/Paris ABD experience, we enjoyed taking it easy during our OYO time.

ABD packs a lot into their part of the day.

We plan on freelancing and seeing what we run into.

 

[slapwhitey]

Chris,

Just from our London/Paris ABD experience, we enjoyed taking it easy during our OYO time.

ABD packs a lot into their part of the day.

We plan on freelancing and seeing what we run into.

That's kinda my opinion Frank. I've only done 1 ABD (underachiever) but I think I will cherish our OYO time.

I really believe some of the most memorable experiences will be the trouble we get into while just exploring aimlessly.

 

[skunkvette]

That's kinda my opinion Frank. I've only done 1 ABD (underachiever) but I think I will cherish our OYO time.

I really believe some of the most memorable experiences will be the trouble we get into while just exploring aimlessly.

Agreed.

Looking forward to doing a lot of wandering about and finding out how bad I am at the Italian language.

 

[LionKingRules84]

Spent the evening watching Samantha Brown in Italy and I'm all very jealous of all of you but extremely happy for you all as well!

Florence is certainly a dream destination for me, someday!

 

[Circusgirl]

Hi Heather!
We were looking at the Borghese Museum. When were you thinking of going?
When do you arrive? Some of us are doing a food tour 9:45 am on 5/24. Would love for you to join us.
http://www.eatingitalyfoodtours.com/tours/romefoodtours/

I wish I could join you for the food tour but I don't arrive at the airport until 8:45 am on the 24th. I look forward to hearing all about it when I next see you!

The Borghese would be on the free afternoon of day three, the 26th. They sell tickets for two hour visits, so at any given time there are a set number of people visiting. 3:00 or 5:00 are the two potential start times. The Gallery is about a 20 minute walk from our hotel.

The Uffizi is not on the official list, but it's on mine! I can't decided between it and climbing the dome though. I don't know if we can fit both in. But I REALLY want to see the Birth of Venus in person.

Borghese is also on my radar but I'm not sure of a day for it. When were ya thinking?


In other news, I've been working so hard lately that it's cause my "condition" to get much, much worse. But that's a silver lining I think because today my therapist changed programs and started to focus on my neck instead of my arm and I feel like we made some progress. Maybe sometimes you have to get worse to get better? Who knew!

Glad you're finally getting somewhere with your PT!

 

[Circusgirl]

Hey Folks,

Besides the "on your own" afternoon in Florence scheduled by ABD, John and I will be offering the chance to spend the "day at the resort in Tuscany" in Florence as well.

We are working with ABD on the transportation details, but you will have the chance to spend an entire day in Florence doing whatever interests you.

This will be in addition to the regularly scheduled afternoon.

Kevin

Perfect! Thanks so much for arranging this excellent day of happiness!

 

[DisneyKevin]

In our experience, having a general (not too specific) plan usually works the best.

If there is a specific museum (etc) you'd really like to see, buying tickets ahead is a good idea.

But other than a hard ticket experience, there is way way more than enough to keep you busy, occupied, enthralled, mesmerized...you get the idea....in every location we visit.

John and I find the most magical things when we leave ourselves open to the adventure of just being where we are.

A unique shop, a street performance, an out of the way restaurant, a favorite pottery shop...are all waiting for you around every corner.

We also find that folks get the best ideas from something someone else has done or is doing.

While I didn't participate, it's my understanding that a late night Parisian stroll to see the Arc de Triumphe turned into quite a memory for some folks.....and that's just not something you can plan.

These are just some ideas to help you "see" the possibilities of where we will be going.

 

[apurplebrat]

Hey Folks,

Besides the "on your own" afternoon in Florence scheduled by ABD, John and I will be offering the chance to spend the "day at the resort in Tuscany" in Florence as well.

We are working with ABD on the transportation details, but you will have the chance to spend an entire day in Florence doing whatever interests you.

This will be in addition to the regularly scheduled afternoon.

Kevin

This sounds great!!

 

[sayhello]

That's kinda my opinion Frank. I've only done 1 ABD (underachiever) but I think I will cherish our OYO time.

I really believe some of the most memorable experiences will be the trouble we get into while just exploring aimlessly.

The other nice thing is that the Adventure Guides are a wealth of information! They can tell you all about tons of options for things to do with your OYO time. In Paris, Landon & Adam suggested I check out the Basilica du Sacré-Coeur, and gave me directions on where to catch the Metro and what station to get off at (plus providing me with a map). I had a wonderful time walking up there, checking out the Basilica and the surrounding hill, and the amazing views. Totally unplanned!

And yes, the impromptu group walk to the Arc du Triomphe, followed by drinks at a small cafe on the Champs-elysees was a definite highlight of the trip, and also totally unplanned!

Sayhello

 

[NYC MM]

Hey Folks,

Besides the "on your own" afternoon in Florence scheduled by ABD, John and I will be offering the chance to spend the "day at the resort in Tuscany" in Florence as well.

We are working with ABD on the transportation details, but you will have the chance to spend an entire day in Florence doing whatever interests you.

This will be in addition to the regularly scheduled afternoon.

Kevin

I'm kind of a planner and being busy and doing and going is part of my nature..I feel that I sometimes have to have every minute planned in my vacation to feel productive ..now having said that .. I think that I am going to really try to Stop and Smell the Roses or Coffee or whatever it smells like in Italy and try to wander and enjoy the OYO time. ...At least there are many of you that have "been " there before ..So you can help me plan the free time ...I'm trying !

 

[stenogoddess]

The Borghese would be on the free afternoon of day three, the 26th. They sell tickets for two hour visits, so at any given time there are a set number of people visiting. 3:00 or 5:00 are the two potential start times. The Gallery is about a 20 minute walk from our hotel.


Glad you're finally getting somewhere with your PT!

Heather: Loving the idea of the Borghese for this day. Are you set for sure on doing it, or are you still kicking it around? Let me know!

 

[Circusgirl]

Heather: Loving the idea of the Borghese for this day. Are you set for sure on doing it, or are you still kicking it around? Let me know!

I am set on this, and would be super happy to go together. The tickets will be about $20.00, so not so costly that we couldn't change our minds at the last minute if some other more fabulous opportunity arises. It looks like it will be a nice stroll to and from the hotel, and of all the myriad of things to see it is on the top of my list of things not covered with ABD. For the 3:00 admission we would need to arrive around 2:30, and for the 5 pm around 4:30. What do you think?

 

[slapwhitey]

See....this is what I mean by unprepared. I don't even know what Borghese is. When I try to think of my OYO planning I never seem to make it past Gelato and fresh bread, cheese and meat.

Everyone has their own priorities I guess. I need to find the food and beverage museum.