Are You Ready?

I hope all of you are almost ready with your preparations--we will be there next week! I know many of you have guide books for Italy and I think that is a great idea. Good guide books have maps and overviews of interesting things to see. I like DK's Eyewitness travel Italy because it has good info and great pictures. There are many other good guidebooks though. The Blue Guides are particularly great for art. There are Blue Guides for Venice, Rome, Tuscany, Southern Italy, and many other places. While we are traveling, you will be navigating the cities we visit in small groups and it would be a good idea to start preparing now!


Also, I hope you are thinking about/researching things you want to see and learn about while we are in Italy (in addition to our course work). My sons are trying to plan a tour of a Ferrari or Lamborghini factory and my daughter Eve is hoping to see how Parmigiano Reggianno Cheese and olive oil are made in Parma. Of course I know what I want to see and learn more about--paintings and gelato! My experience is that the more you prepare the more rewarding the program will be.

A big chunk of amazing Parmigiano Reggianno cheese!

There is an interesting video about Herculaneum that you can watch online at PBS. I really love Herculaneum and it is one of the first ancient sites we will visit in the south. As you know, we will be staying on the Amalfi coast for a few nights while visiting Herculaneum, Pompeii, and Paestum. You will have some free time there to draw, explore, and swim.

The Amalfi Coast


This will probably be my last post before leaving. See you in Rome!