Ideas, suggestions and tips.

Most of my basic planning has been done already; I have booked my flight, reserved accommodation in hotels and reserved some train trips. Now I get to the difficult part and that is to use the short time I have in Italy to see the best sites and visit the most interesting locations. I have read one travel book and searched the Internet where I have got a lot of useful information, but then it struck me that I could also ask for personal suggestions from friends who are reading my blog. I am looking for suggestions that wouldn't be found in a regular itinerary, I want to leverage your experience so that I can avoid the huge crowds of tourists who are being ushered around by a yellow umbrella carrying tour guide. Not that the Colosseum isn't worth seeing, but there is often a lot we miss when trying to fit 5 cities into 15 days as I am.

My itinerary is as follows:-

Milan 2 days, Cinqueterre 2 days, Rome 5 days, Bologna 2 days and Parma 2 days and 2 days on trains.

If you have any suggestions, please let me know.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:At home,Hartbeespoort,South Africa

The Italian Embassy

I was pleasantly impressed; based on my experience at the Belgian Embassy last year the Italians are way ahead of them. They are organised, friendly, efficient and just a pleasure to deal with. Well, they don't tell you on their website to bring cash, but apart from that they score very highly in my book.
I am due to collect the visa on the 25th - more feedback then.

VISA Application

It is amazing how much information is needed by an embassy in order to decide whether one can visit their country. I can understand the application form and maybe the flight ticket as well as proof that you have somewhere to stay, but why do they need a letter from your employer and THREE MONTH'S BANK STATEMENTS. Just because Europe has a problem with visitors overstaying their welcome, bona fide tourists are given the 3rd degree.

No point in complaining though, if I don't comply I don't get a visa and that won't do! I am off to the Italian Embassy in Pretoria on Monday to bare my soul and plead for a visa. I hope I pass their stringent qualification standards.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Hartbeespoort,South Africa

Setting up this Blog

Setting up a blog isn't something I have done before so I feel that I need to issue a warning to readers that I am a novice. Any suggestions would be welcomed and maybe, with everyone's guidance I will be an accomplished blogger by the 19th of August.

An adventure begins

Travel planning

Scott and I have sketched out our trip as follows.


Scott will arrive in Europe first to attend Anders' wedding in Helsinki on the 4th of August, the same day I land in Milan. We will meet up in Genova then spend a few days on the Cinque Terre before heading off to Rome for 5 days.


Then we split up; Scott heading off to the UK and me going on to Bologna and Parma before heading back to Milan to fly back on the 18th August.


Future posts will cover the plans, experiences, highlights, low-lights, embarrassments and anything else that seems worth sharing.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Home,Hartbeespoort,South Africa

Background

It has been a dream of mine to return to Italy. Rose and I toured Italy - well, Venice, Florence and Tellaro on the Ligurian coast - in 1999 and ever since then we have both wanted to come back. Shortly after turning 50 I proposed that we aim to return to Italy during my 60th year and have been saving up and planning ever since then. As it turns out Rose won't be able to join me because of work pressures but I do have my son Scott as a travel companion.

This will be my 60th birthday present to myself - absolute self indulgence!