Candelaria Design Tour Italy ~ Sept 2016 ~ Departure for Italy
We are officially off and on our way to Italy as we begin our 14th
Candelaria Design Tour Italy!
I love this trip especially when I get to introduce some newbies
to the experience of travel. I have a couple first timers to Europe and Italy
which is the best. Watching their eyes and expressions as we arrive in Firenze
and come upon the Duomo for the first time.
We have a wonderful group for our September trip. All of my
travelers this trip are from the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. I have five repeat
travelers and the Wedgie Media team who will be filming and droning our trip
and the beautiful sights we will see for our new show Design and Romance -
Italy. So 21 travelers in total. Some of my repeat travelers are enjoying their
third and sixth trips!
So what adventures will we be embarking upon on this trip??? I
have added several new venues this time including the Antinori Winery and a
truffle hunt and picnic at a nature preserve in Tuscany.
Follow our journey right here on my blog as I will upload posts
during the course of the trip. I will be posting a lot of pictures and videos
here, on You Tube, Facebook and Instagram so you can enjoy this wonderful trip.
I am very excited to start this trip with this group. I’m sensing some good
times ahead for sure.
Here is our basic itinerary so join us on our adventure:
- Sept 7th Departure from Phoenix
- Sept 8th Arrival in Firenze with dinner at the picturesque Villa La Vedetta
- Sept 9th A day in Firenze with dinner in front of the Duomo
- Sept 10th Drive to Umbria with a stop at the Antinori Winery then our welcome dinner at the Farmhouse.
- Sept 11th Sunday Brunch at Villa Piazzano then to Cortona for afternoon shopping and a fabulous dinner in a cellar.
- Sept 12th Assisi followed by a wine tour in Umbria and dinner alfresco.
- Sept 13th Wine tours in Umbria with our wine guide Pino.
- Sept 14th Farmer’s market in Umbertide followed by antiquing at Lacole then our cooking class at the farmhouse.
- Sept 15th San Gimignano and Siena
- Sept 16th Truffle hunt and picnic in Tuscany and farewell dinner at the farmhouse
- June 17th – Drive to Positano and the Amalfi Coast
- June 18th – June 19th Positano and Capri
- June 20th – time to come home!
Ok Here we go!
Arrival
in Firenze
When you travel for nearly 34 hours between getting ready,
getting to the airport, flying and then arriving and checking in…..you are in
somewhat of a dream state. I guess they call that jet lag!
18 travelers and a three man film crew, with travelers arriving
via NYC and Croatia and we all made it! Not one lost piece of luggage.
Amazing. Well we checked in and all got
settled one by one at the beautiful Hotel Brunellschi located in the heart of
Firenze http://www.hotelbrunelleschi.it We have
been staying here since 2004 and it is one of my favorites. The staff if
outstanding and very friendly and have been the same crew throughout the years.
It makes you feel like you are staying with good friends or family and they
treat you accordingly.
We all got settled, some of us arrived just before noon and we
had some time to do a little exploring and/or get a quick power nap in before
we all met up in the hotel lounge for cocktails before we made our way to the
spectacular Villa La Vedetta http://www.villalavedettahotel.com in the
hills above Firenze for our welcome dinner. This is our first time at this
venue and it was nothing short of spectacular.
Of course everyone is in this jet lag state of being and all of
a sudden you are enjoying a Bellini on the terrace overlooking Firenze with the
sun setting in the distance …..well like I said dreamlike for sure.
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| The Ladies of Candelaria Tour Italy at Villa La Vedetta |
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| Michele Watts and Walter Spitz at the Villa La Vedetta |
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| Michele Watts, Walter Spitz, Phil Giltner, and Isabel |
We start with cocktails and appetizers on the terrace - which
was absolutely lovely as we watched the sun set over Florence. This was
followed by a spectacular dinner with a set menu that we had created ahead
along with the wine pairings so my jet lagged travelers did not have to make a
single decision this evening – just relax and soak in the experience. The
stories and friendships were beginning……
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