Let's Go Italy

24/10/2018

Ciao e Tutti,

This year for the first time we are doing two Let’s Go Italy tours in November to explore and celebrate the olive oil, chestnut, white truffle and new wines harvest! I am so excited to learn more about these processes and enjoy the fall weather and foods in Italy. Some experienced Italian guides say it is their favorite season in Italy, but I must say my favorite season is the one I am there for, whenever that may be!

So, before I leave on November 1, I would like to announce the 2019 Let’s Go Italy Tours. The dates are very flexible and the themes can be set by the assembled groups. The past several years I have had more groups of friends and families joining us. We have been able to totally customize the tours to allow each group to focus on the area of their interests. Here is a short list of the themes we can easily address, but some of our best experiences have been when someone has a request beyond the list and we have explored to find it, such as wood working, antiques, and architecture, so do not limit your imagination.

Here are some themes in no particular order:

· Textiles: weaving, natural dyes, felting, lace making, embroidery, h**p

· Food &/or Cooking: olive oil, truffles, natural grains, organic and biodynamic farming, cheese, saffron

· Wine: there are several major regions within an hour drive of our farm, the Upper Tiber Valley of Umbria, Montefalco, Orvieto, Cortona Syrah, Chianti, Montepulciano, Monticino Brunello, plus more

· History and Art – everywhere!

· Architecture – Etrucan, Roman, Medieval structures, everywhere!

· Umbrain Hill Cities

· Umbrian local crafts – ceramics, glass blowing, honey making, weaving, etc.

· This year we did a Yoga retreat, and we could do writers, painters, photographers, etc.

· Or of course a combination of it all!

We would like to organize one or two spring tours for late April or anytime in May and again one or two groups in late September and anytime October. I will let you know how our November tour goes, and maybe we can do that again as well

If you are thinking of joining us on a tour in 2019, please reach out to me. I would like to first plan around your interests, and then later I can announce our open groups you might like to join.

By the way, our November tour starting November 10 to November 19 still has room for one more person, and the second group is now full!

More later,

Ciao,

Linda

Let’s Go Italy

24/08/2018

My new office mate! Looking for a cool floor for an afternoon nap!

21/08/2018

Finally I returned to Umbria. I’m preparing for our next tour beginning August 30! This will be a textile tour with a felting workshop. A first for us and should be great fun. Pictures of all our adventures will be shared! Stay tuned

15/10/2017

An amazing visit to Ravenna to see the mosaics

04/09/2017

04/09/2017

A beautiful day in Florence with friends. Getting ready to go to Venice for several days!

02/08/2017

Time to Plan for 2018 Trips!

Caio e Tutti,

Time to plan for your 2018 travel to Italy! So many of you have told me you want to do this tour but it seems to get pushed out year by year, but this is the year it must happen. I’m not sure how many more years I will be doing these tours. It finally occurred to me last year, not only am I getting older, but our hosts in Italy are getting older too. Without them, I cannot possible do these tours, so for now, it’s year by year and tour by tour. Do it now while we can all travel and we have amazing hosts in Italy!

Let’s Go Italy Tours are customizable because we are always small groups (typically 6-8 people). I spend lots of time getting to know your interests before we ever get to Italy so we can visit sites of your interest. Also, since I drive a private 9 person van, we have additional flexibility to tailor our tour as we go. This year the Fall Tours are both a private groups and are we have totally customized the tour to their desired plans. The scheduled 2018 tours posted are also very flexible to the itineraries and can be customized for the sign-up groups. I suggest you visit the website and see what the typical itineraries have been and you will get a good idea to the content of the tours we lead.

We begin and end all our tours in Florence, where I will pick you up at a hotel near the airport on the morning of Day 1 and return you there late afternoon early evening on Day 10. All expenses are covered from the point I pick you up until I drop you off, except of course any incidentals you may buy along the way and if you have time on your own, such as visiting a museum or buying a gelato or coffee while you are exploring. We eat all our breakfasts at home in our well stocked kitchens, most mid-day meals out (our large meal of the day) and many evenings are light meals at home enjoying our lovely surrounds.

We will lodge for the 9 nights at a working alpaca farm, called an agroturismo. We will live in a beautiful restored 17th century house, where we will have all the comforts of home and have a spectacular view of the Niccone Valley spanning Umbria to Tucany! (see photos on the web site www.letsgoitaly.com)

Here are the dates and themes of proposed 2018 tours:

Spring 2018
April 11 – April 20 Open for a Custom Tour
April 25 – May 4 Textile Tour (focus will depend upon the groups interest)
May 9 – May 18 Food and Wine of Umbria and Tuscany
May 23 – June 1 Dolce Vita Tour – Yoga with Zohra Campbell

Fall 2018
August 30 – Sept 8 Textiles – Felting workshop
Sept 13 – Sept 22 Textiles – Handwork of Umbria Embroidery and Lacemaking
Sept 27 – October 6 Food and Wine

Offered for the first time ever!

July Dates to be set Three Arts Festivals – Umbrian International Film Festival, Umbrian Jazz Festival and the Spoleto Two Worlds Festival
Nov 20 – 28 Harvest Festival Time in Umbria! Time to press our olives and celebrate our harvest!

I love talking about Italy and our tours, so do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or details you may have about a tour. Several of the tours have some folks already signed up, so do not wait too long to let me know about your interest in a tour. A deposit will hold your space.

Please feel free to share this message with friends and families!

Gracie,
Linda

PS: I am departing on August 27 for the fall tours and will not return until the end of October. I will have email access, facetime, WhatsAp, and Skype. We have good Wi-Fi at the house.

Let’s Go Italy
www.letsgoitaly.com
650-520-4664

11/05/2017

I Love Tuscany

04/05/2017

27/04/2017

Visiting Cantina Blasi in Umbertide, Umbria today! An amazing wine cella, great wine and food!

24/04/2017

Spring wisteria in Umbria. Our spring tour will begin in two days. I hope the blooms lady as few more days for our guests.

24/04/2017

Castello Bufalini in San Guistino