Getting Prepared for Italy (2010)

OK, so we do not have long until we are off! We leave Brisbane (God willing) on Sunday 26th September. As excited as we are, we also know Kylie is more so as her first overseas trip is imminent! So close now ... last weekend was the time we finalised a range of accommodation and transport options and firmed up the itinerary. At times it seems like that is awfully "last minute", but in reality it has been a long time discussed and researched and thought about. Now it has been actioned.

Relatively minor adjustments to sort out for a few matters, but flexibility and plenty of days in one spot have been the objective of the planning and I believe we have achieved that pretty well ... now it just needs to come to fruition! Never one to plan too far ahead, it is actually quite neat to be able to lay it all out & feel like there is ample time to relax along the way and not much pressure to "be there".

Here is an idea of our plans ... I'm sure it will be good to reflect on these as we progress to see the extent to which we may need to adapt or wish that perhaps we had stayed a little longer (or not as long)! As part of exploring the features of the blogging tool, the links to each of the places we are staying are provided just in case you feel like seeing what the attraction was (definately NOT provided to make you too envious).

Thanks to Michelle Day for the opportunity to stay in Montone; thanks to Lisa for the assistance and special attention for Holiday Inns & Crowne Plaza; the rest I must admit owe most to the magic and serendipity of the Web and of course, Deb for turning 50 and earning a week for each decade (no blackmail involved!):

• 26 Sep - 1 Oct (Rome, Holiday Inn via Aurelia)
• 2 Oct - 15 Oct (Montone - Umbria, Belle Vacanze: Appartmenti Arietani)
• 16 Oct - 17 Oct (Sorrento/Pompeii, Crowne Plaza Stabiae-Sorento Coast)
• 18 Oct (Grosseto, Villa Isabella)
• 19 Oct - 21 Oct (Levanto, B&B Vignola)
• 22 Oct - 26 Oct (Vicenza, Bob & Jenny's B&B)
• 27 Oct - 29 Oct (Bergamo, Holiday Inn Express Begamo-West)
• 30 Oct - 31 Oct (Milan, Holiday Inn Express Milan-Malpensa Airport)

Sunset at Ballendean Lodge

Heading home from Milan on 1 November and arriving back in Brisbane early Wednesday 3 November. And feeling very sure that it will be a real challenge to settle back down :-). Hopefully we will maintain the energy to keep you posted about our adventure. More wonderful images like this one!