Pompeii & The Amalfi Coast with Giuseppe de Toro

I think hiring a private driver for this port will be so worth it!  My husband loves to drive and explore, but I think this coast will be so spectacular, that he will want to enjoy the view too!

Again, we paired up with some couples we met on www.cruisecritic.com .  We will be using Sorrento Top Car and Giuseppe de Toro.  http://www.sorrentotopcar.com/ 

He will pick us up from our port, then take us to Pompeii.  We will have a private guide to show us the ruins of Pompeii.

Following this tour, we will head to various villages around the coast including Ravello, Amalfi, Positano and Sorrento.  I cannot wait to breathe in the fresh air, enjoy the views and fill my tummy with delicious food and drink!

 

Tuscany with Alessandro Cammilli

I somehow omitted our plans for our day in Tuscany.  Again, it is a very busy day, but we are in the capable hands of Mr. Alessandro Cammilli.  I am thrilled to meet him and for him to show us his native land. 

We are pairing up with a couple we met via www.cruisecritic.com .  From our port in Livorno, our driver will escort us to Florence.  It will really just be taste of this wonderful city.  I am sure it will entice us to visit again down the road.  We plan to see the David, do some shopping, exploring and of course I will take loads of photos. http://www.visitflorence.com/

For lunch we will head to a winery to sample local cuisine, enjoy wines, olive oils and balsamic vinegars from the region. http://www.montagliari.it/fattoria_uk.html 

And finally, we will end our day with a visit to Pisa for the required photo of “holding up” the leaning tower!

Rome

On Wednesday we will be in Rome!

We have a very ambitious day planned with visits to the Colesseum, The Forum, Trevi Fountain, The Spanish Stpes and St. Peter’s Basilica.

Thanks to The great podcasta from Rick Steves (love him!!) http://www.ricksteves.com  and to the wonderful members on the message boards at Cruise Critic for all the great advice, expertise and ideas! www.cruisecritic.com  

Mediterranean Bound?!?

If all goes according to plan (Our trip hinges on the activity of the Icelandic volcano), we will be in Monaco in one week!  We have been planning for this trip for so long it is very surreal that the time has finally arrived.  Though, now with the volcano, the reality of the trip will not sink-in until our planes sets down in Barcelona.

Our first day at sea has us docking in Monte Carlo.  On the French Riviera we will explore Monaco, Eze and Le Jardin Exotique http://www.webstore.fr/eze/village/ang/exotic_garden.htm .  I can only imagine how gorgeous the scenery will be, I only hope I have mastered my new camera well enough to capture the beauty of the landscapes we will see. 

Then, off to Next Tuesday, we are off to Pisa, Florence and Winery Montagliari with our driver Alessandro Camilli. http://www.montagliari.it/fattoria_uk.html .  It will be an action-packed day, but I trust our driver to show us the highlights and give us a taste of Tuscany.  I know we cannot see it all in one day, so this sampler will whet our appetites and hopefully we will go back one day.

Barcelona

In just one week’s time, my husband and I will be heading for Spain.  I cannot wait to eat tapas at Cerveceria Catalana, see the Sagrada Familia, dip my toes into Mediterranean Sea and explore the unusual and amazing Parc Guell- a Gaudi Park.  http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/gaudi/park-guell.html

We will be a bit jet lagged, but our plan on the first day of our trip is to take a Hop On/Hop Off bus.  We like the tours as they help acclimate you to the city, show you all the highlights and we can rest onboard the bus after a long day of traveling.  We plan on using Barcelona Tours – www.barcelonatours.es .  I will have a full report after we return. 

Top 10 bargain destinations!

Looking for a bargain destination, try one on this list!

http://www.bing.com/travel/content/search?q=World’s+Cheapest+Destinations%3a+India

NCL Jade, here I come!

I have not even left for my Mediterranean Cruise yet, and I am already day dreaming of where to go on the NEXT holiday…Mexican Beach resort, Asia, Panama Canal cruise, Alaska, Moscow??

So, I need to FOCUS on the trip that starts in 10 days!!  In just over a week, my dear husband and I will be leaving for a trip to celebrate our one year anniversary.

During our trip, we will visit Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Pisa, Florence, Rome, Naples, Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast, Palma and Budapest!  I am so excited. 

Our home for much of the trip will be the Norwegian Cruise Line’s Jade.  My husband is a virgin cruiser, so it will be fun to see his reactions to the experience.

Want to visit somewhere HOT? Try Iceland!

Iceland is on my list of places to visit.  With stunning scenery, geo-thermal spas, volcanic landscapes, geysers and whale watching, there is so much to see and do!

Check out more about Iceland:  http://www.visiticeland.com/ 

Harry Potter at Universal

It is so wonderful to use your imagination and escape to another world.  Starting this summer, fans of the Harry Potter series can escape to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal in Orlando!  Contact melissa@mytravelingpanda.com for package details.

http://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/