Viva Italia 10-13-2011

[beachcat]

Hello Jim

Please tell about your trip when you get back. Your very current comments about the trip would be great. Patti and I are doing a week on our own before joining the ABD group. Any suggestions for some different would definitely be appreciated. Have a good time.


RDH

 

[Mirthrindr2]

Buona sera beachcat. Will do.

We don't have any Pre-nights booked like yourself, but we do have 4 nights POST ABD booked. We reserved a car for 5 days that we'll pick up in Venice on the departure morning from ABD and drive back down to Tuscany to tour around some of the hilltowns and wineries for 4 days before flying out of Florence to come back home on the 5th morning.

Ciao!

 

[sssteele]

Wow! Wineries for 4 days sounds great. Who is the designated driver?

 

[Mirthrindr2]

Wow! Wineries for 4 days sounds great. Who is the designated driver?

LOL! Unfortunately, we won't be hitting wineries each day, but fortunately the hotel we are staying in (Castello Banfi - Il Borgo) for the first two nights after leaving ABD is ITSELF a winery! WooHoo! So no need to drive after indulging in Grape Juice Plus. ;-) In fact they are the producers of one of our favorite little wines we always have to stop in the Italy pavilion in Epcot and enjoy whenever strolling past... Banfi Rose Regale.

The day we bid arrivederci to ABD (Friday Sept. 30) we're stopping at two wineries, 1 in Chianti region the other in Montalcino (awarded #1 on the Top 10 Wine of the Year for 2006 by Wine Spectator ) as we make our way towards Castello Banfi in Montalcino. We'll use the Spit Buckets, I promise. ;-)

Saturday we'll get an early start and be on a full day guided Taste of Tuscany wine & gastronomic tour, so the tour guides drive. Then spend the late afternoon and evening back at Castello Banfi for a wine cellar tour followed by a Five Course Dinner with guided Wine Pairing from their own cellar.

Sunday no wineries alas..., departing Banfi late morning and meander our way through Tuscany and make our way over to Cortona to explore for the day and spend the night inside the city walls (Hotel San Michele).

Monday morning, another early start participating in an all day cooking class in Cortona which actually begins early morning at a little café in the main piazza for a cappuccino and discuss the coming days plans. After the cappuccino, we peruse the local markets to purchase all the ingredients necessary for the day of cooking ahead at the actual home of the nice Italian woman who is our host and teacher for all things Tuscan for the day.

At the end of the day we will actually head up to Florence for our final night. Return the car that evening, check into our hotel then take a romantic stroll around the area of our hotel near Piazza del Duomo and find a nice little local eatery for our final dinner and toast to Italy. Our flight departs pretty early Tuesday morning, 10:15AM, so probably just enough time to enjoy a little breakfast at the hotel before catching a taxi to the airport.

 

[sssteele]

Sounds like a wonderful 4 days, Jim.

We'll have to check out the wine in Epcot. Have a trip booked in August to enjoy AKV for several days, and wish Beachcat and DW Happy Anniversary.

Gee, you're close. Maybe you should meet us for a drink at the pool bar.

 

[Mirthrindr2]

Gee, you're close. Maybe you should meet us for a drink at the pool bar.

That would be quite fun sssteele, just let me know when and if we're not traveling that weekend we will make it. Always looking for an excuse to make a visit over to our Home Resort.

 

[beachcat]

We will be there at 3:00 pm 8-27-2011 hanging out with Laura and Kim who run the best pool bar at WDW in my opinion. Joan and Sam arrive 8-28 and will also meet up with Patti and I at Uzima Springs at about 3 on 8-28.

Would like to meet you. Patti wants to discuss Tuscany with you as we have two post days in Venice which are currently unplanned as of yet. Having already done one ABD, we will tell you all the Disney Surprises to expect if you want to know them.

RDH

 

[Mirthrindr2]

We'll be out on the east coast at the Cape Canaveral National Seashore the afternoon and evening of 8/27 participating in a Nighttime Sea Kayaking Tour to view the Bioluminescence in the Indian River Lagoon, but Sunday 8/28 works great.

We're rookies as far as ABD and Europe goes, this is our first for both, but looking very forward to talking about Viva Italia, Tuscany and hearing of your past ABD experiences.

Buona notte!

 

[beachcat]

ABD Party at the Uzima Springs Pool bar on 8-28-2011 at 3:00pm. Italy trip first. Australia on the horizon.

 

[sssteele]

Still booked at 58% several days ago when Sam called ABD to confirm our nights for pre and post tour.

 

[beachcat]

Just got a call from ABD backpack or totebag? Looks like we will be in Italy in about 75 days. Now what to do in the post tour days plenty of choices and the Hard Rock Cafe is within walking distance from the hotel. Complete with bad food but lots of good rock and roll memorablia for a rocker like Patti. Will definitely hit there for an hour or two.

 

[Mirthrindr2]

Just got a call from ABD backpack or totebag?

Strange, we're down to 52 days away from Viva Italia beachcat and we never received any call from ABD with a similar question. We'll wait and see what happens over the course of the next week since I heard from others here that you usually recieve your special package from ABD around day 45 or so.

 

[sayhello]

Strange, we're down to 52 days away from Viva Italia beachcat and we never received any call from ABD with a similar question. We'll wait and see what happens over the course of the next week since I heard from others here that you usually recieve your special package from ABD around day 45 or so.

Don't be too upset if you don't. We're down to 33 days, and no-one on my trip has gotten their box yet!

Sayhello

 

[sssteele]

Strange, we're down to 52 days away from Viva Italia beachcat and we never received any call from ABD with a similar question. We'll wait and see what happens over the course of the next week since I heard from others here that you usually recieve your special package from ABD around day 45 or so.

Perhaps Beachcat gets a choice since this is not their 1st ABD and they received one last time. They don't necessarily want to duplicate the gift. We didn't have a call.

 

[Bobo912]

Perhaps Beachcat gets a choice since this is not their 1st ABD and they received one last time. They don't necessarily want to duplicate the gift. We didn't have a call.

You're correct. The choice was offered to return guests.

 

[sssteele]

You're correct. The choice was offered to return guests.

Finally, after 42 years of marriage, I'm right about something.

 

[sayhello]

Finally, after 42 years of marriage, I'm right about something.

Sayhello

 

[beachcat]

You are right Joan. Because this is your first trip, you get the backpack. Patti uses hers a lot. Its not bad for a freebie.

So Say Hello How was London and Paris?

RDH

 

[sayhello]

So Say Hello How was London and Paris?

RDH

Haven't gone yet! I leave on Aug 27th, and the ABD starts on Sep 2nd. I'll be sure & do a FULL report!!!

Sayhello

 

[beachcat]

For some reason I thought you were there and back already. Hopefully Eddie Hinton will be your guide. Tell him that Richard Harris says hello. He did a good job for us especially with train tickets back to London after the tour. Our other guide Francesc has moved on I believe. Now works for the BBC. Walk across the Tower bridge if you have time. The tour does walk across the Millieum Bridge.