Benvenuti a mia casa!

I wont sully this with my pathetic words, but there are some songs that speak to people. This one speaks to me every time I hear it.

Enjoy:

Spend all your time waiting
For that one second chance
For the break that would make it okay
There’s always one reason
To feel not good enough
And it’s hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction
Oh beautiful release
Memory seeps from my veins
Let me be empty
And weightless and maybe
I’ll find some peace tonight

In the arms of the angel
Fly away from here
From this dark cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You’re in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here

So tired of this straight life
And everywhere you turn
There’s vultures and thieves at your back
And the storm keeps on twisting
You keep on building the lie
That you make up for all that you lack
It don’t make no difference
Escaping one last time
It’s easier to believe in this sweet madness oh
This glorious sadness that brings me to my knees

In the arms of the angel
Fly away from here
From this dark cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You’re in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here
You’re in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here

FYI: reverie means “daydream”

I am still in the process to apply for Italian citizenship. Yes…I haven’t actually applied just yet. I almost did last time I visited the consulate, but he found a mistake he couldn’t get past.

I have since corrected that little discrepancy and we are heading back February 23rd to finish my application, along with dad needing to sign up for mandatory military service sign a document stating he is who he says he is and I am who I am.

Hopefully at this next meeting my application will actually be submitted since it has been two years since this whole idea crept into my little mind.

My guess is the first submission will get rejected for some reason or another so there is no way I’ll be a citizen by the April trip.

Perhaps once I get citizenship, we’ll have to fly out there for a short weekend just to celebrate!

I’d like to first state that I am not a tour guide, nor will I figure out what to do each day for all of us. I just want to set expectations that you shouldn’t look to me to entertain you for 2 weeks!

We are arriving Pisa April 24th around 1pm local time. We will pick up our car and head to Livorno and enjoy the afternoon at the sea.

We will head to the Porggio B&B for about 8pm and check into the room letting the hosts know about our friends late arrival. If it is open, we may grab some groceries for the room as well.

Rich and Kim arrive Pisa around 10pm. They’ll get to the Porggio B&B about midnight or 1 am (if they don’t get lost!).

Sunday is a recovery day and acclimation to the area…and there’ll be lot’s of catching up to do so maybe we’ll find a cafe somewhere.

The Poggio has bikes and is close to Siena so I’m sure we’ll be touring around the local towns.

I’d also like to try to get to Perugia as it is the chocolate capital of the world.

There are a couple places Sherri also wants to see, so we’ll avoid some of those the first week where possible. We should hit Colle di Val d’Elsa week 2 for instance.

May 1st, Rich and Kim take as much of our luggage as they can in their tiny little car and make their way to the Borgo and check in for all of us. Obviously you can do as you like, but if you could manage to check into the hotel at some point this day that would be good since –>

Me and Chrissy head to Pisa to pick up Sherri at 1pm. We will probably head back to the sea again, then to PIsa for Sherri, then to Lucca and Empoli before meeting up with you at the Borgo that night.

Another Sunday of recovery and acclimation.

I sense there will be more to do at this place, so we can visit their winery, olivery and honey’ery.

We will be closest to Firenze week 2, so if there is interest we could train into Firenze for a day as well.

May 8th: Rich, Kim and Sherri all have flights leaving Pisa around 1pm. If possible you all go to Pisa together, but I understand there may actually be car constraints. 3 humans with 2 weeks of luggage in a Fiat 500? Should be cozy.

We don’t leave Pisa until 7pm so we will do whatever we want today (Corsica???) and make our way to Pisa in time for our flight.

If we have to drive Sherri, we will go early and try to get on the same flight getting us more London time. If not we hang in Pisa for a few hours after seeing you all off.

Rich, Kim and Sherri all get home May 8th while me and Chrissy stop in London for a day and then leave for home May 9th.

Bene?

If you look to your right, you will now see an Italy_2010 Category.

Let’s keep all info related to the trip in that category so we can all easily reference it now and while we are there.

I’ve learned a lot about wordpress and mysql, but sure enough, once you find the problem it is an easy solution.

So we are back online and blogging, but I’m not sure what to do now.

I think it’s time for a change of sorts, but who knows what that is.

i’m all better now that you are up and running again.

Not sure what to say, except I’m not surprised the current record holder is American.

http://www.tgdaily.com/games-and-entertainment-features/45500-tv-nut-faces-yellow-peril

One massive thread about what you *might* want to see or try to do while we are there. Provide links where possible.

Chianti and Greve

~Relax the crap out of life

~Enjoy local foods and customs

~Tour wineries, oil’eries, honey’eries

~Horseback ride

~Hike

~View some real estate??

~Tour little towns and castles and ruins

~Take a cooking class

~Visit Firenze

~Take an Italian language class here or here

~Exploring the ancient town of Colle di Val d’Elsa (upper town). It is Italy’s largest producer of fine glass and crystal.

~Spend a couple of hours in our favorite Tuscan village, Monteriggioni (population 60). This picturesque village with its fortified walls and 14 towers is one of the most perfectly preserved villages in Italy. In recent years, it has become a popular spot for tour groups so arrive either early or later in the day when the tour buses depart.

~LBG Italia, located in Greve in Chianti, is a manufacturer of fine leather goods.

~Parugia

~Stroll down the covered soldiers’ walk in the 15th century defensive walls of Castellina in Chianti.

~Be sure to stop by the picturesque medieval village of Montefioralle (1 km west of Greve). The village walls are intact along with old tower houses and two Romanesque churches.

~Tour the majestic Castello di Brolio (10 km south of Gaiole). This beautiful castle was rebuilt after the war and in the 19th century Baron Ricasoli converted it into his fortified residence. You can sample and purchase wine and olive oil from the estate.

~Tour Impruneta that is famous for its terra cotta including the tiles on Brunelleschi’s dome in Firenze.

~Plants and Flowers Market Exhibition – This colorful event happens only once annually on the first Sunday in May and is a testament to the beautiful colors that typify the Tuscany countryside. This is another must-see destination if you are prone to traveling before the summer crowds are out and about.

~Much ado about nothing can be done here.

Some places we’ve found. in order of finding, not preference:

Giulia Sovicille; highly recommended from forum; $350/2 people; can help organize trips, etc; live-in-hosts; 3 B&B rooms, 1 apt: $495/2/1 week; active hosts;

Marzocca Montepulciano; Hotel; $60eu single; $90/2; includes bfast; Right down town; Parking restrictions in the city-could be a hassle;

Poggiosalvi (Rick Steves recommended; Sovicille; apartments/kitchen; ~$625/2)

Falconara Montepulciano; apartments/kitchen; ~$725/5 people in 1 apt; ~$550/3 people; good reviews; very responsive hosts, long email replies; questionable availability – possibly only good in May;

Voltrona San Gimignano-top mid-evil tourist town, quiet at night; $70-80eu/night; Single=$45/night; Near Firenze/Pisa/Lucca; Horseback riding; agreements with tour sites-$7eu/tickets; No apts;

Borgo Greve/Chianti; Working wine/oil/honey farm; $785eu/5; 3 bedroom apt; Intensley human hosts; no public transportation; 6km out of town center;

Il Piano Greve/Chianti; B&B only; $380/double: 2 double shared bath=$650/3; 4km from Greve;