25/09/2010 at 12:19 - Brilliance of the Seas
Dear Maurizio, I have to say that Italy was the highlight of the trip for me & certainly being able to book your services made a huge difference. We were able to see & do so much more with your tours than the cruise ship. There is absolutely no comparison. I felt the transportation was comfortable & that we were in good hands. Great conversations were had by all even if there was a little politics discussed, it was all good. The week that we returned from our cruise I had a dinner party at my house for 8 couples the following weekend. I don't think I realized how jet lagged I was, but it didn't matter because I was so excited from our travels that I couldn't wait to share the sights, wine & food from the countries I visited. Livorno Seeing the highlights of famous landmarks like the Tower of Pisa, Statue of David by Michelangelo..........you wonder already how the day could be better, but after touring with your company I know that it's possible. I'll never forget the beautiful sights of Ponte Vecchio & Arno River. The little bridge lined with jewelry shops. If only I had an entire day!! The wine tasting in Tuscany was quite a delightful experience. I have yet to make Mama's lasagna, but will be trying to do so soon. If you have any hints or suggestions I would welcome them. I remember when we arrived at San Gimignano & saw all the wine glasses on the table that we were going to have a good time. I've never had truffle oil poured over lasagna before, but I will certainly have to do so from now on. I can still taste the flavors how they melted in your mouth. It was a wonderful experience for us & we certainly ordered our share of wine. Lots of vino, excellent food & laughter. All the things in life that make a lasting memory. It's all good...............yes Rome Tour with Luca This morning started out a little differently. We were stopped by the polizia. We were not the only ones stopped on a tour so it appeared that today was the day for spot checking. They would ask Luca questions & he would produce papers. Then they would ask more questions & he would show more papers. Then they needed to see one of our passports. It seemed as if they needed to discuss in detail all paperwork. They let us go after about twenty minutes because they didn't want to spoil our day. Thank goodness they were in a good mood because I must say I was a little nervous while all of this was taking place, but Luca handled it well & was very professional. Hey, it's just another story we have to tell. I can't believe how many sights we were able to see in one day. Rome is unbelievable!! We 1st stopped at the Colosseum, then the Circus of Maximums, the keyhole for a special view, Mouth of Truth, etc. Trevi Fountain is most impressive & the only disappointment I have is not being able to see it at night while sipping on Prosecco. That may have to stay on my bucket list even though I've been there & seen it! Another wonderful lunch spot at La Soffitta. They of course knew Luca so we were treated extra special. Our server was very funny & extremely happy (kind of looked like a young Antonio Banderas to me), but I'm on vacation so I can dream. The food was excellent & we were pleased that Luca decided to join us. He was so informative about all the sights. He would show us books of the monuments so we could see what they used to look like before they were destroyed & give us a little history about the area. I must say he made us feel comfortable & we laughed a lot. He got us into the Vatican thru a side entry & it took us a good hour an a half to just walk through. The Sisten chapel was breathtaking & we spent about 10 mins there, but I would have certainly loved to stay longer. Must keep moving forward so we can stay close to our schedule. We wanted to get some souvenirs so Luca walked us across the street to a shop & talked to the owner so we could get a discount. He was very attentive to what ever we would say so he could accommodate us if possible. Then just when you thought, this day is complete ......he guided us to the Gelato shop. Gracious........what an oink oink (piggy) we became! That was over the top, but I don't think we regretted it or will ever forget it! As if two & three scoops are not enough they pile whip creme on top. I've never experienced anything like it. One more stop for an exquisite view of the city & then off to the ship. It was another fabulous day with great guidance, friendship & memorable moments. Naples with Adriano WOW - The Amalfi Coast. I must return & continue down the coast. This scenic drive It is beyond words. Pictures can not possibly capture the essence of the beauty from where we were sitting at lunch. Geeeez........I keep talking about food, but that's what we did. We ate & drank our way through Italy! Again he was most helpful at lunch & we had a fabulous meal. He was also very knowledgeable with the history of this area. Oh goodness, I have to tell you, because I just saw it in my notes where I wrote about him doing an imitation of a Frenchman. He sounded like he had a bone stuck in his throat. He made us laugh till we cried, but that was on the way back home which I will get to shortly. As we were tying to get to Sorrento (loved the shopping) we encountered a traffic jam. There had been an accident with a bicyclist & the bike did not look good. Traffic was backed up, but he knew how to get around it so there was not much of a delay..... just a short detour. Sorrento was quaint & could have spent all day there. The size of the lemons were enormous & I had my first taste of creme of lemencello. Well it certainly will not be my last. Excellent stop! Adriano loved to talk about food, recipes & how to make your own lemencello. Positano - I love the way it sounds when it's pronounced. It was one of our favorite places. The morning glories were in bloom everywhere & the Bougainvillea were in peak bloom. Interesting bathroom break I must say at a service station, but when you must you do what you have to do. Not like there were any public restrooms readily available & we were quite thankful to be able to stop. We took a walk down an alley street lined with various shops toward the beach area. Love the shops. Like I said lunch was wonderful. He helped us order & the owner took care of us. I don't think one could expect better treatment or hospitality. We stopped at Pompeii on our way back home. I'm glad that we stopped to experience it. It was quite interesting to see their way of life. On our way back home or to the ship we learned of some of Adriano's other talents. He talked about playing guitar with his daughter & his family life. Gave us that warm feeling of home life with family. He also plays musical instrument without any instruments. He likes to improvise. So he starts playing & then gives each of our husbands a part to play. This was just what we needed & to be honest they sounded pretty good together. It was hilarious & Mary & I laughed till tears ran down our faces. He is quite a talented, well rounded person. It couldn't have been more enjoyable. The culture, amazing sights, knowledge & driving abilities combined made all of our tours the best experience we've ever had. I would highly recommend your company & certainly hope that one day soon we will have the pleasure of using your services again. Many Thanks, Jackie & Jimmy
Author: Jackie & Jimmy
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