Before my first tour, I worried that the bus rides between destinations would be tedious. That’s not at all the case. You’ll be stopping for a break every two hours, sometimes for some great food, and you’ll make lots of interesting side trips along the way.
Inside Scoop:
Inside Scoop:
You will have an experienced, safe driver at the wheel of your roomy, comfortable bus. Unlike other tour groups we came across (close enough to touch on these narrow mountain roads), you will not have a person in every seat as they did. Traveling like that did not look like fun. In your bus, you’ll be able to stretch out across two seats and take a nap if you like.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One such side trip was to Emperor Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli. It was built in the second century. This villa was massive. Only about 10% has been uncovered so far.

 

Hadrian's Villa
Tivoli

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Go Gators!
The dome of the Pantheon would look like this if it hadn’t been preserved all these years.

 

 

Vieste
 

 

 

 

 

 

We saw stray dogs everywhere in Italy, even wandering around alone among the ruins!

 

 

 

 

 

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We had to duck our head to get into some of those caves, but what a view from inside!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our boat docked for a visit to one of the most unusual beaches I’ve ever seen. The “sand” was river gravel! It was like walking on a bean bag without the bag. Other beaches in Italy were much different, where the sand was more of the texture we’re used to in the states, but more grey or more brown in color.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robin and Rita were buddies, and Natalie and I were buddies. The two of us tried to collect a pebble of each color to bring home. I still look at mine occasionally to bring me back to Vieste.

 

 

 

Inside Scoop:

 

You will have great food on this tour!

At the beginning of the tour, you’ll choose a “buddy” who’s not in your party, and you’ll do a buddy check before departing for your next destination to insure that no one’s left behind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Inside Scoop:
You will have great food on this tour! Your breakfasts and about half of your dinners are covered, which gives you ample opportunity to explore on your own. Your dinners with the group will be leisurely as is the custom in Europe and will often include a variety of delightful wines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back at the hotel we were treated with a pasta-making demonstration and were amazed with how fast these men whipped up five different pastas. The best part, though, was the meal we had featuring the homemade spaghetti with marinara sauce that was out of this world, orecchiette or “little ears” with broccoli leaves for a sauce, and a soup with white beans and pasta. Delizioso!

 

Robin and I made an honest effort to eat in the continental fashion while we were in Italy, with the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right, and also twirling our spaghetti on a spoon. It was awkward at first, but we did quite well by the end of the trip!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natalie, Rita, Lev, Gayle and George anxiously awaiting the next course.

 

Picking up local customs will be appreciated by your Italian hosts. We learned to say “buonisimo” while doing the “cheek screw” (turning your index finger on your cheek) to express pleasure to our waiters. They loved our effort!

 

 

 

 

 

 

What better way to end a meal than chocolate biscotti and limoncello!

 

Travel Tip:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All too soon it was time to leave the beauty of Viesta. Could we love love another place as much as this one? Well, we hadn’t yet experienced the magic of Matera. Within 24 hours we would know the answer to this question. The answer is “Yes, indeed we could!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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