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Italy Part II
  • MaryGrace Schumacher
  • MaryGrace Schumacher

Italy Part II

Yes, I'm going back to Italy, this time going north from Rome - Tuscany!! Can you say WINE!!
I will be traveling the Tuscan Countryside for 9 days in early April. Should be a beautiful Spring trip.
PS - Jerry is coming too! Leia mais
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  • Inicio da viagem
    26 de fevereiro de 2019
    MaryGrace SchumacherItaly Part IIViajante

    Rome & Tuscan Countryside!

    24 de março de 2019, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Starting to gather my things together. 6 days until I depart for Rome via London. Going in a day early so I can get ready for the upcoming week. Glad to have this opportunity to tour Rome for a few days then head to Tuscany with day trips.
    Some people have a 'Flat Stanley' or a flamingo they travel with, I have Jerry, my minion. I won him on my first fam trip to Universal Studios. He also has the same name as my dad, so it's like I'm sharing these experiences with him.    Leia mais

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  • MaryGrace SchumacherItaly Part IIViajante

    Now to wait

    30 de março de 2019, Estados Unidos ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Head into Charlotte early to enjoy this beautiful day with my sister Peggy. She can't join me on this trip but hopefully the next one.
    CLT airport was easier to get to then other times and then I get TSA precheck. Now to wait, boarding starts at 545p.Leia mais

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  • MaryGrace SchumacherItaly Part IIViajante
    Lit this candle for a special 2nd grader at Holy FamilyJerry's at it already!!

    Roma

    31 de março de 2019, Itália ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Arrived to a beautiful sunny day! After 55 minutes waiting to clear the passport screening, went to get my suitcase I had checked it in CLT, less to keep up with, I had a moment of panic when it was not on the belt, but when I went back, it was there, just upside down and I couldn't see my luggage tag. Anyway, my transfer driver was so patient, helped me find it then off we went. Gorgeous day for drive... he pointed out some sites along the way and showed me how close Santa Maria church was to my hotel... so after checking in, changing clothes I head off to 6p Mass, all in Italian of course, but mass is the same in any language, and I actually understood quite a bit. Way back to the hotel I popped in a corner market for a bottle of water and a bottle of Prosecco (when in Rome). Right across the street from the hotel is a great little Familia Pizzeria - my dinner consisted of pasta la pesto, chianti, & tiramisu. Great start to a great upcoming week!Leia mais

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  • MaryGrace SchumacherItaly Part IIViajante
    From the top of the Spanish Steps

    Hotel Victoria

    1 de abril de 2019, Itália ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    No April fools day here, greet this morning to another beautiful sunny day. Moved to the Hotel Victoria and meet a few of the other agents. Took a stroll around this side of the city, made it to the top of the Spanish steps and weaved our way through Villa Borghese and a street front cafe for a light lunch and wine! Tonight we will see an overview of Rome, dinner at a nearby pizzarelli and early night. We have early morning skip the line passes to the Vatican and museums.
    More later.    Leia mais

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  • MaryGrace SchumacherItaly Part IIViajante
    Holy Door, will not be reopened until 2025#simplytrafalgar1St. GregoryPope Francis will be here tomorrow

    From the Vatican to Tuscany

    2 de abril de 2019, Cidade do Vaticano ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    Early wake up and breakfast then off to do the Vatican museums, St. Peter's basilica and Colosseum. Definitely must do Vatican city with a skip the line pass, early admission too. Not very crowded when we got in, but long lines formed quickly. Amazing sculptures, tapestries, paintings and views. After lunch of Caprese salad, headed to the Colosseum then north.Leia mais

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  • MaryGrace SchumacherItaly Part IIViajante

    Fresh market and pasta making

    3 de abril de 2019, Itália ⋅ 🌧 15 °C

    Montecatini morning was cloudy, rained a bit on our way to the fresh market in Florence. Met Chef Libero and Rosa. We broke into groups of 5 or 6 and were given a list of a few items needed for our cooking lesson and lunch- in Italian.... they did give us Euros to purchase the items. Once we translated our list consisted of red onions, bunch of Rosemary and Sage. Mission accomplished. We the wandered through the market looking at all their fresh meats, cheeses, breads, and fruits. After enjoying bread and stuffed sun dried tomatoes we got back on the coach to Libero's restaurant & estate vineyard. Warmly welcomed with a glass of blue champagne! Yes, blue, hint of raspberries.
    On to pasta making. Donned in apron and hairnet sous caps, we got to work making ravioli for our lunch. Also made a panzinela salad, zuppa and biscuits (what I would call biscotti).
    Amazing wine tasting with starters of fried squash blossoms, crostini & fried polenta.
    Rained while we ate and drank then the sky cleared and we had a beautiful drive back to the Hotel Columbia.    Leia mais

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  • MaryGrace SchumacherItaly Part IIViajante

    Cinque Terre

    4 de abril de 2019, Itália ⋅ 🌧 13 °C

    Pictures, postcards, stories cannot full explain the beauty of this area. The vineyards terraced on the hill side, the colorful homes and storefronts, the coastline and force of the Mediterranean..... it is an experience you must see in person! As part of this tour during warmer weather you will arrive in La Spezia and take a boat between the 5 (cinque) villages. We walked, and walked, and walked some more then took the train to the farthest village. Toured there and had a simple lunch and gelato. Took the train back to La Spezia where our motorcoach brought us safely to Hotel Columbia. Little wine shared with new friends and fun time at dinner. More adventures tomorrow so off to bed.
    One thing I really like about this travel style is we are staying at the Hotel Columbia for 6 nights... there is so much to explore from here within an hour or so drive it's a great location.    Leia mais

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  • MaryGrace SchumacherItaly Part IIViajante
    1

    Pisa and Vinci

    5 de abril de 2019, Itália ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Rain has moved out and we are given blue skies for today's adventures: Pisa - yes, where the tower is still leaning, tho some angles not so much. Then down the Countryside to Vinci, birthplace of Leonardo. Very picturesque, full of history and nestled between olive groves. Nice stop for a snack and glass of wine. Tonight we have a regional meal at a local home. We'll see how they press olives into oil, grapes into wine and enjoy a traditional meal.Leia mais

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  • MaryGrace SchumacherItaly Part IIViajante

    Regional meal in Montecarlo (Italy)

    5 de abril de 2019, Itália ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Another amazing experience, Regional dinner at a family estate: vineyard & olive grove.
    After a walk to the vineyard and an explanation of the olive press, we headed into dinner: bread, meats and cheese, olives, barley soup, sauteed veggies, roasted potatoes, grilled chicken, ribs, and sausage... wines of course with biscotti to finish with. Such a terrific way to meet the locals and see their way of life. Trafalgar has many of these experiences on most of their itineraries. We even met a group that was on a Costsaver tour which included this meal. Something for everyone!Leia mais

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  • MaryGrace SchumacherItaly Part IIViajante
    1

    San Gimignano

    6 de abril de 2019, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    Morning edition- San Gimignano beautiful view from the roadside stop: vineyard, church, and friends. When we arrived we took a stroll to the center of this quaint village. World famous gelato was a great treat, pretty storefronts, excellent meats and cheeses-which we made into an indoor picnic.Leia mais

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  • MaryGrace SchumacherItaly Part IIViajante

    Be My Guest

    6 de abril de 2019, Itália ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    A great opportunity to dive into the Countryside and be the guests of the Lenzi family for a tour, meal and tasting of their estate wines. Magnificent! Husband and wife, along with their daughter, who is the chef shared their history, wines, and served us a wonderful meal.
    Beautiful experience, just another must do!    Leia mais

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  • MaryGrace SchumacherItaly Part IIViajante
    1

    Then there was dinner

    7 de abril de 2019, Itália ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Enjoyed an incredible meal with Libero and his son at Villa Machiavelli. Started with a Limoncello-Prosecco followed by a tour of their old cellar and beautiful garden. Upstairs to a private dining room where we enjoyed wine pairing with appetizers, meats & cheese, crostini, gnocchi, pasta, roasted potatoes and Prime Rib. Delicious. Bring on the Prosecco for dessert of panna cotta and tiramisu. Glad I wasn't driving... love their Prosecco!!!!Leia mais

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  • MaryGrace SchumacherItaly Part IIViajante
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    All roads lead to Rome...

    8 de abril de 2019, Itália ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Pulled out of Montecatini this morning and headed back to Rome where we will spend one night before flying home. We were dropped off for a brief walking trip to the parthenon & trevi fountain. Then a quick lunch and some shopping. Checked in for the night, now off to our farewell dinner.Leia mais

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  • MaryGrace SchumacherItaly Part IIViajante

    Farewell dinner

    8 de abril de 2019, Itália ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Another awesome 'Be My Guest' experience, dinner at Chef Fabio's home on Tiberina Island.
    Greeted by Chef Fabio with Prosecco and cheese pinwheels in the lower level then to the upper loft area where dinner is prepared for us; lasagna, saltabacco, roasted potatoes and tiramisu, each dish paired with 2 lovely wines.
    Was wonderful to be back here, I was able to do a pasta making class in November. An amazing experience too.    Leia mais

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