Rick Steves' Village Italy in 14 Days
Bucket List: Trip to Italy. CHECK!
Ahhh yes, another check on my Bucket List.
After researching multiple options and tour packages from many different internet sites and tour companies, my "sister" Melodee and I chose the Rick Steves' Village Italy in 14 days tour. Ultimately, it was a wise decision.
For weeks prior to our journey we read up on all the information from the RS website - the many suggestions and hints of previous experienced tourist and guides. We attended classes at the R.S. Travel Center. We even got Italian tapes from the library and learned Italian. Well, enough at least to get us what we needed on menus and basic directions. We were able to compliment people on their culinary creations and get us from point A to Z - many times. Of course, we didn't leave home without our phrase book and dictionary. And we found it very helpful to always carry a business card of the hotel we stayed in just by chance we got lost or as I say "took a little side adventure".
This tour met my every expectation. Everything and everyone from our tour guide, Patricia, our amazing bus driver, Fausto, the places we stayed, the tours we took, the events we attended and participated in, the food and all the people we met both on the tour and in Italy --well the culmination made for one incredible journey and fantastic memories. On each of the following pages you understand why.........I ENJOYED IT ALL.
I had purchased our tickets on line months prior after comparing prices. My goal was to have everything in place prior to our September departure.
Melodee and I decided to leave for Italy a day prior to our tour start date in order to compensate for the time difference and combat the much anticipated fatigue from the long journey from the Pacific North West. My husband dropped us at SeaTac Airport and with a bit of Euro in hand along with our carry-on bags we were set to begin our journey. Although we didn't experience jet lag we were happy that we made the decision as it gave us a bit of time to settle in at our first stop, Padua (pronounced Padova).
Before disembarking from the plane in Venice we made sure we had in hand the name and directions to our first hotel. We had done our homework on how to get from the airport to Padua. We were as prepared as we were going to be and felt confident we would make it to our hotel with little effort.
We were smart enough to have taken the advice of the packing instructor at the Edmonds Packing Class and so we had only our Rick Steves heavy duty carry-on luggage. Of course I had my Canon camera with me - and from that point on it went where ever I went, capturing memories. We were off to a good start and ready to find our bus which would take us to Padua.
On the next several pages you'll be treated to the photographs I took while on the tour. My aim is to show you some of the amazing sites we visited not to bore you with facts. I hope you enjoy my site but better yet I hope it inspires you to take a journey, a tour with one of Rick Steves' amazing guides. The possibilities are endless but it's up to you to take the first step. If you live in Washington State or nearby I recommend you visit his tour center and attend classes.
Ahhh yes, another check on my Bucket List.
After researching multiple options and tour packages from many different internet sites and tour companies, my "sister" Melodee and I chose the Rick Steves' Village Italy in 14 days tour. Ultimately, it was a wise decision.
For weeks prior to our journey we read up on all the information from the RS website - the many suggestions and hints of previous experienced tourist and guides. We attended classes at the R.S. Travel Center. We even got Italian tapes from the library and learned Italian. Well, enough at least to get us what we needed on menus and basic directions. We were able to compliment people on their culinary creations and get us from point A to Z - many times. Of course, we didn't leave home without our phrase book and dictionary. And we found it very helpful to always carry a business card of the hotel we stayed in just by chance we got lost or as I say "took a little side adventure".
This tour met my every expectation. Everything and everyone from our tour guide, Patricia, our amazing bus driver, Fausto, the places we stayed, the tours we took, the events we attended and participated in, the food and all the people we met both on the tour and in Italy --well the culmination made for one incredible journey and fantastic memories. On each of the following pages you understand why.........I ENJOYED IT ALL.
I had purchased our tickets on line months prior after comparing prices. My goal was to have everything in place prior to our September departure.
Melodee and I decided to leave for Italy a day prior to our tour start date in order to compensate for the time difference and combat the much anticipated fatigue from the long journey from the Pacific North West. My husband dropped us at SeaTac Airport and with a bit of Euro in hand along with our carry-on bags we were set to begin our journey. Although we didn't experience jet lag we were happy that we made the decision as it gave us a bit of time to settle in at our first stop, Padua (pronounced Padova).
Before disembarking from the plane in Venice we made sure we had in hand the name and directions to our first hotel. We had done our homework on how to get from the airport to Padua. We were as prepared as we were going to be and felt confident we would make it to our hotel with little effort.
We were smart enough to have taken the advice of the packing instructor at the Edmonds Packing Class and so we had only our Rick Steves heavy duty carry-on luggage. Of course I had my Canon camera with me - and from that point on it went where ever I went, capturing memories. We were off to a good start and ready to find our bus which would take us to Padua.
On the next several pages you'll be treated to the photographs I took while on the tour. My aim is to show you some of the amazing sites we visited not to bore you with facts. I hope you enjoy my site but better yet I hope it inspires you to take a journey, a tour with one of Rick Steves' amazing guides. The possibilities are endless but it's up to you to take the first step. If you live in Washington State or nearby I recommend you visit his tour center and attend classes.
Bon Giorno Italy, Mi chiamo Signora Lippert..........Parla inglese???
If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light.
Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness and fears.
Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness and fears.