http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , Italy , Tuscany en-us Thu, 26 Nov 09 05:06:06 +0000 Thu, 26 Nov 09 05:06:06 +0000 Gourmands and wine connoisseurs alike lap up an afternoon in Florence tasting an assortment of cheeses and Tuscan favorites on this exclusive adult's only foodlovers' tour.Set in a Florentine wine bar this small group maximum 12 people offers the ideal opportunity to taste locally sourced cheeses accompanied by the many flavors of figs truffle honey and aromatic strawberry vinegar.With your http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Florence/blog-455344.html We went on the hunt last night to no avail. I however was looking mighty fine in my brown bitch boots. Alas we only ran into the Ragazzi. The guys here are really not very gentlemanly. But then again they are only like 19 years old. We need some older men. So we went out with the Brits last night and Helena told us that she had to go to the drycleaners because Loren drunkpissed on her bed. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Arezzo/blog-454476.html Our internet in the Monastary and Annex is so bad. It comes and goes and more often than not lately is not existent. Tonight there was a meteor shower that we were going to go to like it's an event or something but Alyssa and I have Italian in the morning and we have discovered that if we go out the night before we are really hard to wake up at 8am. Gag. But right now it's our only clas http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Arezzo/blog-454474.html FlorenceVisiting Tuscany would not be complete without exploring Florence. Founded by Julius Caesar in 59 BC Florence was the epicenter of Renaissance movement in 1500's. It is a place where arts architectures and cultures come to meet you. Florence's fascinating sights brimming ambiance and ambrosial smells give any visitor sensory overload. The relatively compact old town separated from th http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/blog-453003.html SienaDriving towards Siena I discovered a nifty feature. When I crossed the middle lane without turning my turn signal on the departure lane warning system vibrated the steering wheel. It vibrated like my mobile phone. In California during my regular commute I witnessed other drivers brushing teeth putting make up reading Wall Street Journal and eating with chopsticks on the highways. Those http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/blog-453000.html SR 222The morning sun did not shine on my face. The roasters did not wake me up. It was my intrusive alarm from my mobile phone that did it. This place was just too tranquil to do anything this early. But we were on a mission to enjoy the driving vacation under the Tuscan sun.SR 222 goes through the wine region of Tuscany. No wonder the Italian loves to make sports cars. Roads like this are their http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/blog-452996.html our tous groups3 DAYS2NIGHTSTuscany famous for its great artistic cultural and natural heritage is also a region rich in food and wine traditions. We can offer a tour to discover wines typical products and traditional recipes with ldquogenuinenessrdquo as main ingredient.1st day Arrival in the afternoon and accommodation in a farm holiday part of a big farmhouse. We will visit the ce http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Arezzo/blog-451702.html our tour groups4 DAYS 3 NIGHTS1st day Assisi. The visit begins with the Porziuncola in Santa Maria degli Angeli the tiny oratory where the story of the Francescan Order began and where the saint died. We will go on to Assisi and visit the Basilica with the frescoes of Giotto and the tomb of the saint. Then on to the Gothic Church of Santa Chiara and the Medieval centre of the town. In the af http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Arezzo/blog-451682.html our tours groups3 DAYS2 NIGHTSThe province of Arezzo is extraordinarily rich in Etruscan archaeological sites. This tour was offered for the first time in 2008 following new discoveries and the opening of new display areas at the MAEC museum in Cortona.1st day Arrival at the hotel. Visit to the Archaeological Museum of Arezzo and tour of the old town centre. Visit to Casentino valley with its http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Arezzo/blog-451674.html our tours groups4 DAYS 3 NIGHTS1st day in the morning visit Poppi a Medieval village in the Casentino valley and the Conti Guidi castle. Taste typical products Scarpaccia ham cheese from the Talla dairy. In the afternoon a visit to the Castle and the Parish Church of Romena. Dinner and overnight stay in hotel.2nd day after breakfast the Romanesque trip continues with a short stop at the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Arezzo/blog-451627.html our tours groups5 DAYS4 NIGHTS1st day Completely dedicated to a guided tour of Arezzo. We will visit the Logge del Vasari in Piazza Grande the Romanesque Church of Santa Maria the Church of San Domenico with a crucifix by Cimabue and the Cathedral plus the nearby park perched on all that remains of the townrsquos ancient walls. Lastly we will visit Piero della Francescarsquos masterpiec http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Arezzo/blog-450905.html Wow it's been awhile. We've been biking almost every day since Florence in some pretty remote parts of Tuscany so it's been hard to find time to write. Biking through Tuscany has been an interesting experience. On one hand the food is amazing and everywhere you look there's olive trees and fields of vineyards turning yellow and orange. But on the other hand those rolling hills of Tuscany are not http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Pisa/blog-450691.html Day 14 LuccaWe rented bikes today and rode around on the city walls 4.2 kilometers and we went around twice... in the warm sun....the city is very liveable...compact and with many nocar areas. They are beginning to take down the many many tents that cover each of the plazas put up for the giant comicgaming fair over the weekend. Hopefully some will be gone before we leave.After our bike http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Lucca/blog-450445.html Dias 64 a 67 Devido a um erro em minha mensagem pelo couchsurfing repentinamente fiquei sem lugar para dormir em Florena. Havia mandado meu pedido com a data errada e quando no dia anterior enviei uma mensagem confirmando minha chegada para o dia seguinte meu anfitrio disse que havia me esperado trs dias antes. Expliquei meu erro mas ele no poderia me hospedar no sbado apenas a parti http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Florence/blog-450305.html This is a small bay east of the citadel above Porto Azzurro. Good anchorage with north winds or calm weather. Stay out of the white buoys. Anchor in 510 mt sand. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Isola-d--Elba/blog-450282.html Florence is a very walkable city with lots of great Gelato places. But don't go to this one. It's next to the Loggia in the Piazza Della Signoria. See the picture. We got ripped for 10EU per cone http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Florence/blog-449495.html A couple of weeks ago we went to the Boboli Gardens which is connected with the Pitti Palace but we didn't go into the palace that day. We stopped to get a few sandwiches and ate them in the Gardens. The Boboli Gardens are open and uphill so it was a little hike to the top and along the way there are paths to either side to explore further. A person could spend all day in the Gardens exploring st http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Florence/blog-448689.html Florence ItalyMonday October 26 2009As I sat on the steps of the Duomo in Pisa and watched the people milling about the leaning tower I started thinking about engineering. You see the leaning tower of Pisa wasn't designed to sit at that angle but through a series of engineering mishaps and miracles it has ended up that way. What started out as a simple bell tower for the town's church turn http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Florence/blog-448456.html ciao everybody It's my last night in Firenze Florence for all you gringos... Just kidding and I finally have time to write an entry. Thankfully this hostel has wifi but only on the first floor. But hey works for me. Actually the hostel itself is an interesting story. Ah yes Interesting story 6 and yes I know it's ridiculous to try to keep track because obviously I have more than 6 in http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Florence/blog-448433.html We've been in Florence for the last few days and I'm sad to leave this morning because it means biking every day again. Not that the biking itself is bad just that our lack of planning causes a panic every day at 4pm about where we're going to stay that night. It always seems to work itself out though.Florence was really nice though it rained yesterday. We visited the statue of David what a te http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Florence/blog-448040.html