Ciao! We are Lee and Bill; greetings from the San Francisco Bay Area, California.
We have been together 9 years, and this was my first time traveling to Europe. Bill went to Europe 4 times specifically to Paris for work.
We were ecstatic to finally join a Rick Steve’s tour, since we could explore Italy together for the first time. It was a dream come true!
The thrill of travel starts even before our journey. We were excited to review our itinerary and pack our bags.
The excitement intensified the night before our travel, and it continued when stepping inside the Lufthansa jet.
The thrill of travel starts even before our journey. We were excited to review our itinerary and pack our bags.
The excitement intensified the night before our travel, and it continued when stepping inside the Lufthansa jet.
In addition to our favorite tour moments, our travelogue/scrapbook presents the complete list below.
⦁ Why Travel?
⦁ Useful Phrases
⦁ Serenade During our Gondola Ride
⦁ Travel Tips
⦁ Myths
⦁ Daily Tour Itinerary
⦁ Highlights of the Day
⦁ Hotel Information
⦁ Fun Facts
⦁ Recipes from our Italian cooking class
Why Travel?
Traveling is a unique life experience as it is the best way to unplug from the push and pulls of daily life.
Life is all about experiences! Unlike material things, travel experiences stay with us forever!
Pursuing what we love brings us invaluable life lessons about ourselves, the people we encounter, and the world around us.
First, in this Rick Steve’s tour, we explored many new places, embraced Italian culture, sampled parts of Italian cuisine, learned about Italian traditions, customs, and their way of life.
Secondly, traveling with Rick Steves enhanced our physical health. We walked an average of 2-8 miles a day on cobblestones, up and down hills, crossing bridges and traversing narrow paths, so this trip will definitely get your heart going at a heathy rate.
In addition, we learned new Italian phases from our tour guide, Anna.
Finally, traveling allows us to establish new relationships. One of the most important benefits of traveling with Steve Rick’s tour is the opportunity to build friendships and connect with people from around the world. We met travelers from across the United States. During the Rick Steve’s tour, we could connect with other travelers over dinner, during museum tours and church artworks, in the hotel lobby, or in a cooking class. We often discovered our similar values and interests with other travelers. These memories and connections will last a lifetime.
Why Rick Steve’s tour?
Rick Steves presents the best of every destination and as the place to be! We were excited to enjoy this experience firsthand!
Of course, we had wishful thinking of having this charismatic man on our tour; nonetheless we were in good hands with the knowledgeable and experienced guides!
We were confident that we would have a hassle-free vacation. Our trip included fantastic guides, transfers, snacks (gelato!), meals, and other amenities that contributed to a stress-free trip.
So welcome to our tour:
Rick Steve’s Best of Venice, Florence & Rome –
10 Days of feasting (and walking!) in Italy.
https://www.ricksteves.com/tours
Rick Steve’s first travel tip – Manageable luggage and travel light
After viewing Rick Steve’s suggestions, we were determined to bring backpacks since its easier to maneuver through airports, uneven cobblestones, and flights of stairs at the hotel. We packed our large but sturdy camping backpacks. I packed 2 pairs of shoes, 14 dresses, 2 sweaters, 5 tights, makeup, curling irons, electronics, Rick Steve’s handbook, maps, etc.… As you can see, I did not observe the tip to travel light. Unfortunately, the backpack was quite large in comparison to my small stature. I needed to lean forward slightly to balance the weight, otherwise, I fell over backwards…ouch! On a positive note, I got in some heavy lifting with 40 lbs. on my back…Lol!
“We’re only going for a week, so pack light!”
Me (Packing light was not on my agenda!)
Per Rick Steve’s travel tips, there are 2 kinds of travelers, those who packed light and the other …. those who wished they packed light!
Next time we will follow Rick Steve’s advice - bring luggage that we can carry easily on our back, but also very light!
Venture along with us as we explore three timeless cities of Italy - Venice, Florence, and Rome.
Che Iávventura abbia inizio (Let the adventure begin!)
Our flight was an 11hour journey from San Francisco to Germany (on the way we flew into Frankfurt, and Munich on the way out) then another 1 ½ hour to Venice, around 12/1/2 hours total to Italy. With all the planning and excitement, we finally landed in Italy!
Unquestionably, Italy is one of the most beautiful and exciting countries in the world.
The region serves as a romantic rendezvous and historical heritage with art and architecture dating back 2,000 years ago.
Above all, it has the most delicious food!
Our first destination….
Salute (Cheers!) from Venice!
The excitement holds true when arriving in this magical destination, Venice, the “floating city”. With its numerous canals, small islands, unique architecture, and intimate bridges, Venice is the perfect setting for a romantic getaway.
Fun Facts about Venice: There are 116 islands and 417 bridges in Venice (72 are private bridges). Travel occurs via 350 gondolas and 400 gondoliers in Venice. Venice is sinking at the rate of 1-2 millimeters a year. The population of Venice has decreased from 120K to 60k in the last 50 years. Houses in Venice are numbered according to the district and not streets, making it difficult to find even, for the postman. In short, everyone gets lost in Venice, embrace it! It is part of the journey!
Myth #1: You have to speak Italian to get around
Although we didn’t take formal Italian language courses prior to our travels, we highly recommend being familiar with some common phrases such as thank you, good morning, good evening, I’m terribly sorry Madam, etc. Thanks to our tour guide, Anna, she taught us some of these useful phases listed below. With significant tourism in Rome, many younger Italians speak at least some English to assist the fatigued traveler.
Useful Italian Phases
Good morning/good day – buongiorno
Good afternoon - buon pomeriggio
Good evening - buonasera
Good night - buona notte
Thank you - grazie
You’re welcome - prego
Sorry - scusa
Please - per favore
Do you speak English? - Parli inglese?
Tip: Buddy Check – On Rick Steve’s trips, we choose a buddy, so we don’t listen for our names called multiple times a day. The buddy checks to ensure you are present before leaving the current site. Since I am a photo fanatic, I want to take perfect pictures from every angle, at every location, especially when tourists are absent from the picture. The only problem with that is sometimes….I become disconnected from the group…. I miss the group’s last maneuver and get lost in the crowd. Fortunately, my buddy, also known as my “photo buddy” who has the same interest as me, has my back. He ensures that that I don’t go missing in action …. I also reciprocate when he wants to take that “perfect picture!” On Rick Steve’s trip, I have my assigned buddy, Terri, my “photo buddy” Jeff, and my life buddy, Bill! How can I get lost with 3 buddies looking after me…Lol!
Below is the outline of our fun and memorable trip to Italy. We invite you to come along as we share our Rick Steve’s Travel Scrapbook with you.
Lee & Bill's Trip - Venice, Florence & Rome
Day 1: Welcome to Venice
We meet at 4 pm at our Venice hotel, Pensione Guerrato, deeply nested amidst the canals, bridges, and alleyways of this romantic city. After we submitted our Covid-test results and had an ice breaker introduction, we took off on an orientation walk to explore this magnificent city. Finally, we gathered together for a delicious, Venetian dinner at Vini da Pinto with plenty of wine and seafood.
We travel for romance,
We travel for architecture,
We travel for adventure
and to meet new people
Hotel in Venice
Pensione Guerrato
Calle Drio La Scimia 240a
Venice, 30125
Highlight of Day #1: With the beautiful waterfront, small islands, narrow back streets, renowned lagoon, intimate bridges, cobbled courtyards, summer sunsets, we found Venice as one of the most romantic and picturesque cities in the world as we strolled through the city together. Although I have not been to the “City of Love!” Paris, Venice is my top choice for the world’s most romantic city!
Tip: Do local grocery shopping.
We love to get 2 liters of sparkling or flat waters for 1.50 euro and that was a great deal! The water was very refreshing, cold, and better priced than anywhere else. The convenience stores also provide a great opportunity to purchase souvenir gifts such as an expresso pot, chocolate bars, scarfs, and post cards for family members back home.
Day 2: Historic Venice
After a delicious European breakfast, our local guides, Elizabetta and Laura, took us for a historic walking tour. We walked through the backstreets of Venice, ending in St. Mark’s square with many sculptures, columns, and more than 4,000 square meters of shimmering gold mosaics in the Basilica. St. Mark’s Basilica was originally constructed in 832 A.D. and major revisions began in 1063. The wonderful afternoon continued with a self-guided tour of Doge’s Palace and Correr Musuem. The Correr Museum was impressive, decorated by local painter Giuseppe Borsato and works by Antonio Canova. In the evening, we regrouped for an unforgettable gondola ride through Venice’s winding canals, moonlight lagoon, and private bridges. As we drifted along, we enjoyed the gorgeous architecture of buildings and romantic sunset.
Highlight of Day #2:
We avoided the sizable waiting line with reservations and toured the grand cathedral of St. Mark’s Basilica with a cavernous interior, a myriad of mosaics with matching golden alter. The cathedral was breathtaking. In addition, we also enjoyed our gondola ride along the striking building architecture, beautiful bridges, and winding canals with some of our group members. The ultimate Venetian experience was floating along in this beautiful gondola with my companion, Bill; it was the most romantic excursion on the waterways.
Fun Facts:
Back in the 17th and 18th Century, there were 10,000 gondolas compare to 400 today. They are made from 9 types of wood, lime, larch, oak, fir, cherry, walnut, elm, mahogany, and beech oar. It is not easy to become a gondolier since they have to complete 400 hours of training before passing a test to confirm their knowledge; only 3-4 gondolier licenses are issued each year.
******** Listen to the serenade from our gondola ride ************************* Thanks to our trip mate Patty for providing this file!
Day 3: Venice’s Accademia Gallery and Lagoon
We enjoyed our tour of the Accademia’s great Venetian art treasures starring Carpaccio, Giorgione, Veronese, Bellini, and Tintoretto. Later in the day, we are aboard a private cruise in the Venice’s lagoon. We visited the popular, local island, Burano, where you can see all sorts of colorful homes and had a reasonably-priced seafood lunch on our own. After returning, we were free to discover Venice’s other sights and fine dining in the web of alleys and trattorias. With the variety of delicious food that we enjoyed in Venice and on Burano, we can certainly say that myth #2 below is not true.
Highlight of Day #3: We loved the fairytale looking island of Burano in the Venetian lagoon. With their small, beautiful, and colorful houses in yellow, green, red, blue, and orange, the island projects a 360-degree rainbow experience. Best of all the food was superb. We had a 3 course meal with bruschetta al pomodoro, fried seafood or seafood pasta and salad for only 22 euro per person at Del Giorno. What a deal! That’s what we would pay for one entrée in San Francisco. The food was delicious and so fresh!
Myth #2: There is nothing to eat in Italy besides pasta and pizza.
Italian cuisine has more than pasta and pizza. There is fish, poultry, beef, risotto, vegetables, the list goes on. The best seafood dishes we had were in Venice and on the colorful island of Burano. In addition, I also had the best ox-tail dish in Florence.
Tip: We had to pace ourselves since many of dishes were so rich and filling that afterwards we became so full like a blow fish!
Tip: Never go to a gelato parlor that doesn’t have their prices clearly posted.
After you are served, shop keepers can charge you an arm and leg! We got gelato ice cream every day since it’s hot in Italy, it tastes great, and well what the heck, we’re on vacation! Since Italy has outstanding gelato, they normally charge 5-6 euro for 3 scroops of gelato in sugar or waffle cones. Well one day we decided to arrive at our meeting destination early and buy an ice cream cone while we wait; we stumbled across this parlor, and in hindsight we didn’t see any prices posted. We figured it would probably be around the same price as others. Further, shopkeepers are quick to ask if you want a waffle cone as that commands a 2 euro surcharge. The price can quickly escalate to 10 euro for 3 scoops ice cream in a waffle cone. What a huge difference! And it’s not like their ice cream was better or their scoops were bigger than the other shops. Reasonably-priced gelato shops will have their prices posted in large print in plain sight.
Day 4: Wonders of Renaissance Florence
Today, after our morning buddy check, we boarded water taxis to arrive at the bus station. We jumped on the bus, and after a couple hours, the group had lunch at an interesting rest stop: the auto grill is constructed directly over the roadway and can be accessed from either side of the highway. The vehicles whiz by directly below as you dine. Afterwards, the bust went straight to Florence, and after a welcome drink at the hotel, we experienced a Renaissance walking tour of the city’s historic center. We learned about the Duomo, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, and the rich history of Firenze! The group capped the evening with a wonderful Tuscan dinner at Bocca Dama.
Fun Facts:
Florence was once the capital of Italy. Now it's the capital of Tuscany. It's the first European city to pave its streets. Gucci was founded in Florence. It's also home to one of the most famous galleries in the world, where many Renaissance masterpieces are housed. Best of all, it's the birthplace of “Gelato” ice cream!
Day 5: The Backstreets of Florence
After a fantastic morning walking tour in Florence, we visited the Bargello Museum with impressive sculptures by Donatello - David Victorious and Michelangelo - Brutus and Bachus. The museum visit gave way to a cooking class at Tavola where the group made bruschetta, farmer’s chicken with wine and peppers, eggplant parmesan, and tiramisu for desert. Lunch was served! The rest of the day was sightseeing this beautiful city on our own.
Highlight of Day#5: We enjoyed our cooking class at Tavola, the Cooking Academy in Florence! We were able to create our own delicious Italian meal. It was so fun to slice, dice, stir, mash, and blend the fresh ingredients together with our team members, under the guidance of Italian chefs. After cooking, we had a better understanding of Italian flavors, culture, and customs in their food preparations. Cooking together was exciting and brought out our creativity! The two of us had a romantic adventure exploring the back alleys of Florence. We visited the rose garden, splendid water fountains, and gorgeous overlook of Florence with a well-known river and scenic bridge. We were grateful that one couple in our tour group informed us of the overlook and the best part is that it’s just behind our hotel (listed below). Thank you, Ron & Patty!
Tips from our cooking class experience
In the future, I have learned to wash my hands in the restroom after I am in my assigned group; otherwise, I can come back and be part of a different family. I didn't cook with Bill, but I thoroughly enjoyed cooking with my new family, Greg, Ava, Gavin, and Greta. We had a great time chopping, dicing, and stirring together. We caught the attention of our master chef since we were mischievous at times going ahead of his detailed directions. At one point, our fettucine came out broken when we fed it through the pasta machine, but our cooking instructor was so kind to show us how to link them together so that our pasta came out looking like they were made from professional rather than amateur chefs.
Recipe from Tavola (Cooking Academy in Florence) – www.intavola.org – Info@intavola.org
Tomatoe Bruschetta (Bruschette Al Pomodoro)
8 ripe plum tomtoes, seeded and diced
2 cloves of garlic, finely minced
2 tablespoons of exta virgin olive oil plus extra for garnish
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar
½ cup basil, coarsely chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Tuscan bread or baguette, sliced
Procedure:
Combine all ingredients in a bowl (reserving some of the basil for garnish) and let sit for about 1 hour to allow the flavors to blend. Toast the sliced bread then spoon the tomato mixture on top of each toast, drizzle with a little additional olive oil and garnish with a little of the chopped basil.
Fresh Egg Pasta (Pasta Fresca all’UOVO)
100 g. flour type “0”
100 g. semolina flour
2 eggs
Salt
Procedure:
Pour the flour in a mound on a large wooden pastry board, making a large wheel in the center of the mound. Break the eggs into the hole. Beat the eggs and salt well, then slowly begin incorporating the flour from the inside perimeter of the wheel into the mixture with a fork. Knead well until smooth and elastic. Gather the dough into a ball, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and let rest for at least 30 minutes before using.
By machine: Cute the ball of dough into 2 equal parts. Working with one half at a time slightly fold in 3 and roll with pin. Repeat two times. Run the dough through the machine at settings 1/3 and 5, folding and repeating until the pasta is the desired consistency. For ravioli finish on setting 6, for other cuts finish at desired thickness.
Mushroom Sauce:
400g fresh mushrooms (champignon or porcini)
2 cloves of garlic
5 tablespoons of olive oil extra virgin
Parsley
White wine
Salt & pepper
Procedure:
Put in extra virgin olive oil in pan with finely sliced garlic. Clean mushrooms with cloth and with knife cut into slices. When the garlic is lightly golden, add the mushrooms. Cook over high heat until they are golden brown, add salt, pepper and parsley then deglaze with white wine. Reduce. Cook the pasta, strain it, and add the sauce. Garnish with parsley and oil.
Farmer’s Chicken (Pollo alla CONTADINA)
1 medium sized chicken cut into small pieces
Flour to coat the chicken
30 g. butter
2 tbsp exta virgin olive oil
½ cup balsamic vinegar
1 bell pepper
1 medium-sized red onion
1 sprig of rosemary
1 sprig of sage
Salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
Procedure:
Rinse the chicken, then cut into small pieces. Lightly flour the chicken pieces. Cook the chicken in the butter until golden brown on all sides. Cut onion into thin strips. Add the onion slices, balsamic vinegar, peppers, rosemary, sage, salt & pepper; reduce the heat to simmer and cook uncovered for 15-20 minutes. If the mixture becomes dry, add boiling water in a small amouts to moisten. Roast the pepper in the oven for 30 minutes at 180 degrees. Then peel pepper, cut into small strips, and mix into chicken.
Now the Grand Finale!
Dessert: Tiramisu
3 eggs separated
100g sugar
300g Mascarpone cheese
Savoyard biscuits (aka lady fingers)
1 cup strong coffee
1 tsp brandy liquor
Cocoa power
Procedure:
Whip together ¾ of sugar and the egg yolks until pale and fluffy. Beat the egg whites and the rest of the sugar with a mixer until firm. Add the mascarpone to the sugar/egg yolk misture. Once incorporated, gently fold the egg whites in the mascarpone base. Mix the coffee and brandy. Quickly dip the Savoyard biscuits in the coffee/brandy mixture being sure not to over soak them. Layer the biscuits and custard in small dishes with a biscuit layer at the bottom and finishing with a custard layer. Dust the final layer with cocoa powder. Chill in refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.
Here is photo of of Bill and me in our cooking class. Even though we didn’t get to cook together but we can pretend that we did in our photo……Lol! However, we thoroughly enjoyed our cooking
lesson and that’s for real!
Italian's popular saying - “Everyone at the table eat!”
Day 6: The Uffizi and Accademia Galleries
This morning we visited the breathtaking Renaissance of the Uffizi Gallery with an incredible collection by Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Salviati. The afternoon was free to explore on our own, including slushy drink breaks to counter the heat. In the late afternoon, we gathered at the Accademia Gallery to view Michelangelo’s greatest masterpiece, David – but of course he was not dressed for the occasion…. some would say he was under dressed….Lol!
In the evening, we meet outside Accademia to walk to Caterina Balletti’s art studio where we would enjoy an aperitivo as she demonstrated her “Flash Art technique” – a painting was made in 5 minutes; we were amazed!
Highlight of Day#6: We enjoyed seeing Michelangelo's masterpiece, David! He is an amazing sculpture with an enormous body size and is very realistic based on the curves, muscle, even down to the veins. Travel tip: Visit museums early morning shortly after opening. Museums become very crowded during afternoon hours.
Day 7: Wine Tasting, Rome at Night
We ventured into Umbria, which borders Tuscany, and stopped for a wine tasting lunch at a family run winery. The wines were tasty, a good value, and available for purchase. After our wine sampling and small plates lunch, we reboarded the bus in route to Rome. After our arrival, we stretched our legs during a neighborhood orientation in Rome. We strolled through the historic heart of the city, visiting the Piazza Navona and Trevi Fountain. The hotel, listed below, is a short walk to the Colosseum. Our walk concluded with a traditional Roman dinner.
Hotel Lancelot (in Rome)
Via Capo D ‘Africa 47
Rome, 00184
Highlight of the Day#7: Wine and food tasting at the Tenata Le Velette winery was incredible. The table wine was fantastic, simple yet elegant, and served with a wide selection of small bites such as onion pizza, ham, zucchini pizza, bread, cheese, and almond cake.
Myth #3: It’s difficult to travel around Italy
We were surprised to find out that Italy is smaller than our hometown state (California- crazy huh?) so it does not take a lot of time to travel around the country. In fact, Rome public transportation, is pretty easy to get around from point A to B.
Tips: Save money on public transportation
Rome has good public transportation with frequent trains and convenient locations. One third to one half of Rome (especially the tourist destinations) is accessible by the subway. Rick Steve’s tour guide showed us how to get on and off the metro trains and she even provided us the tickets even for the next few days so that we can go out and explore various sites. How cool was that? Thank you Helen!
Our tour guide also advised us to be aware of our surroundings on public transportation. Although Rome is generally safe, ensure that you wear your backpack and handbags in front so you will not become victim to pick pocketers. Never store your wallet in the back pockets.
Day 8: The Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica
The group shuttled via taxis to the Vatican at 7.45am to get a head start on the crowds. We meandered through the Vatican Museum entry points with one of my favorite guides of the entire trip, Pedro. The works produced by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel take frescoes to another level. We were also introduced to the incredible St. Peter’s Basilica. We were in awe when we explored this enormous church. The church exemplifies Renaissance architecture. The Vatican is the most influential small city in the world.
⦁ Highlights of Day #8 - The Vatican was massive and the museum had a huge collection of fine art: frescoes, paintings, and tapestries. Wish that I had to chance to explore the Vatican Garden as it looked very beautiful when viewed through the window.
Tips: Better safe than sorry
While the subway provides access to many parts of Rome, the use of taxis is sometimes needed. Only use regular taxis with an official taxi driver. Do not travel with people who may approach you at the airport or in the train stations offering private taxi service. In Rome, I was offered a ride back to our hotel by a complete stranger with no official company logo on his car so please be careful.
On a lighter note, in fact, Steve Rick's tour guide arranged for ride back to the hotel after our dinner together. That was unexpected and so thoughtful. Thanks again Helen!
Fun Facts: Rome is older than Italy
Italy did not become a unified nation until late in the 19th century with Rome annexed in 1870 following a brief siege. Rome's founding occurred in 753 B.C., making the city more than 2,500 years older than the nation of which it is the capital. In addition, approximately 90 percent of the ancient city has not been excavated and may never be. Most of the remaining 90 percent is buried 30 feet or more below the current street level and covered by homes and businesses.
Day 9: Monuments of Ancient Rome & the Colosseum
We spent a morning viewing Ancient Rome. We toured the multi-layered San Clemente 12th century church, atop a 4th century basilica. We also visited the Colosseum. We were set back in time as we toured this impressive structure at center of the empire, as we listened to graphical stories of various gladiators. The farewell dinner provided an excellent time to exchange stories with our new friends!
Highlight of Day #9: Our trip to Rome would not be complete if we did not get the opportunity to marvel at the Colosseum which is the largest amphitheater in the world, since it can seat 87,000 spectators. Getting close to this wonder of the world and listening to the secrets and stories, make this truly an unforgettable trip.
Fun Facts: The movie, "Gladiator” was actually filmed in Malta where the director built his own Colosseum to film the movie since he was not impressed with the original. Furthermore, entry to the Colosseum was free to all Romans back in the day since the area was used to promote their political policies, while foreigners paid a coin or two to watch the game.
Tips: Advance ticket purchase
Purchase your ticket in advance and skip the line. As an example due to its popular demand, it’s extremely hard to get tickets to the Colosseum. However, Rick Steve’s tour obtained tickets in advance, so we could skip the line and enjoy the tour.
Myth #2: Everyone is always dressed well
Rome raises the bar in fashion compared to other cities. Not all Italians we met were well dressed, many were very casual in sneakers, t-shirts, and jeans (designer label of course!). We attempted to dress the same to blend in, as not to catch the attention of pick pocketers.
Tips:
As for cappuccino, we learned from the locals not to order a cappuccino in the afternoon or to drink one with our meal. Any coffee drinks with milk are generally not consumed after noon. That said, it was great sitting in the alfresco cafes taking a break from sightseeing, enjoying espresso and tiramisu.
Also, we recommend taking the Heart of Rome Walk as described in the Rick Steves Italy travel book. The walk starts at the public market, Campo de’ Fiori, and hits several piazzas, the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and ends at the Spanish Steps. It’s a great way to see many Rome sights on one walk. There are also several places along the way to enjoy an espresso, snack, or meal. If you are still looking for more walk, an expansive park with the Gardens of the Villa Borghese sits above the Spanish Steps. The metro is accessible from the Spanish Steps to transfer back to your hotel.
My last myth:
Legend says that if you face the Trevi Fountain with your back, close your eyes and then throw a coin with your right hand, you will either marry an Italian or return to Rome! Well, we don’t need another sole mate since we have each other already. However, during our entire trip, we had top notch transportation, comfortable, centrally located hotels, and terrific, hand-picked local guides; therefore, we would love to come back to Rome together again for another amazing Rick Steve's tour.
In addition, we also want to give a shout to our tour group which was amazing. We clicked well and enjoyed our time together. We would share our food and our stories when together. Our tour group had five participants under age 18 and it was great hearing their perspectives on the sights and experiences. We couldn’t ask for a better tour group; thanks to Rick Steves and our wonderful trip mates! Thank you for the picture, Bea!
On a finally note, we enjoyed creating this scrapbook and we hope that you enjoy reading our adventure to Italy. Whether you travel in groups, solo or as a couple, may your travel be filled with wisdom, laughter, and unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime.
Travel, Explore, Repeat!
Ciao, alla prossima! (Bye, until next time!)
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