Any last advice for this 3-week Italian Vacation?

Wow, I am just so envious! You've got a wonderful itinerary there!

It is a lot to do, so I hope you'll have a couple of days to rest once you get home. During the trip, give yourself some slack in case you begin to feel you are overdoing it a few days in. Better to be well rested and really enjoy what you're doing than to push yourself to "get your money's worth" just because you'd planned a list of activities.

Sounds fabulous.

Sounds like a great, well planned trip! Have a great time! Be sure to report back.

“It is a lot to do, so I hope you'll have a couple of days to rest once you get home. “

Well, actually I’m home one day and then flying to Cambodia! Our church has helped provide a non-church community school for children in a rural area, and they need helpers to expand the size of the school. Since I just retired from my job in July, there’s no reason I couldn’t say “yes” when they asked for workers last month. I’m planning to sleep on the planes!

“During the trip, give yourself some slack in case you begin to feel you are overdoing it a few days in. Better to be well rested and really enjoy what you're doing than to push yourself to "get your money's worth" just because you'd planned a list of activities.”

Excellent advice, epltd! I’ll keep this in mind; I tend to keep going-going when I’m moving at my own pace so purposely lengthened the number of days at the last two locations to slow the pace. Bringing a watercolor pen set will help me sit down periodically and enjoy just being there! Also, planning some reflection time in these beautiful locations in the evenings since I’ve just retired, too.

Do not forget to use a money belt, especially in the larger cities.

Buon viaggio,

I wouldn’t try to squeeze anything more in at this stage. Yes, I see that you have a more hectic pace early on and more free time in the last few days which is a sign that you are a fairly experienced traveller and know how long you can keep going. I think you might find that having some flexibility is important as things will crop up once you are there which you may want to take advantage of.

If your watercolour is any good, and you are in a square or somewhere where the older folks congregate, it could be a great opportunity to interact with locals who surreptitiously wander by to see if you are painting them! Find a market and just wander around to soak up the atmosphere and then sit somewhere and paint that market! Do the ‘passeggiata’ in the evenings if you are in a small town. Generally the folks ‘take a constitutional (ie for their health) walk’ in the evenings and gossip with all their friends. All worth seeing to mix the local daily life with the more touristy sights. Enjoy, it sounds wonderful.
On another trip, you might like to follow the Adriatic Coast down south and see some lesser known and equally beautiful places, like the nation park in Abruzzo, Bari, the Triulli etc. I think you sound like the kind of traveller who would enjoy the more authentic and less touristy places.

Last advice?

None but to have a wonderful, wonderful time! :O)

RB, thank you! That’s good advice for the entire trip. We’ve worn one on trips since our first RS trip 15 years ago, and it’s even more essential since I’ll be traveling solo this time.

Mytoyotastarlet, your descriptions make me wish I was there right now! My watercolors will be beginner amateur but what better place to be inspired! I’ve been studying Italian language to prepare for this trip, so maybe a few Italian words will make a better connection than my art abilities. You are correct that I like the less touristy locations and savor the experience of the local sites & just being there.

For the areas that you mentioned for a future trip, do you think the RS Southern Italy would be better than self-itinerary route? We haven’t been south of Rome, yet. I’ve planned our itineraries for the last 8 years, and we travel by train or occasional bus.

LESS LESS LESS!!!!!!
Although sounds wonderful, you will be spending most of your time getting from A to B to C...and Z. find a town that sounds interesting, get lost, and enjoy it for a few day, then move on to another. You need to leave something to come back to. Way, Way, Way to much. Slow down and enjoy your time.

Just one man's opinion who has traveled a lot!
John

Two days in Ravenna -- I'm jealous! Loved the slower pace and gorgeous mosaics.
Have a great trip!

John, good to hear a variety of feedback. I’ve been to Stresa and Verona on our previous trips, so those days are sufficient. Actually only stopping into Verona for the third time to attend the opera, so the cooking class & bike ride are just for fun. This will be my fifth trip in Italy. I planned a few more two-day locations than our past trips because I’m traveling solo this time, so I’m able to cover a little more during a day.

I’m hearing a theme: slow down & enjoy!

Laura B, yes, looking forward to my first time in Ravenna!

I really try to pack light, but a small pair of binoculars are on my packing list for Ravenna. I’ll take them to the opera, too, and maybe use them the evening I’m staying overnight on Isola Bella.

And then off to Cambodia, a country that pulled at my heartstrings.
I urge you to slow down somewhat in Italy and enjoy doing fewer activities.
Cambodia will demand more physically and emotionally. And it will be hot! Very hot.

Jean,

Wow! Your itinerary is definitely packed with fun activities, and you'll certainly be moving at a much faster pace than I would!

• Don't forget to reserve the Alibus to Stresa.
• Eat lots of gelato! ; )
• "slow down & enjoy!"

Wishing you an amazing time in beautiful Italia!

Your jet lag is going to be terrible. But have a good time.

Priscilla, I’ve really enjoyed corresponding with you while preparing for this trip! I appreciated your info on the Alibus, and I have the reservation for 11:40am after I arrive at Malpensa at 9:30am. I promise to eat lots of gelato - ha! Since my husband isn’t on this trip, he told me to have a few for him, too....gladly!

I will have lots of places I’m planning to relax & enjoy the moments: at a bench at Stresa and in the gardens and definitely during the tranquil evening staying overnight on Isola Bella, at Ravenna, and planning to enjoy special relaxing moments at Montepulciano and Pienza, on the wall at the benches & piazzas of Lucca, and lastly savoring the time at the Parma cathedral. Since I’ll be eating alone at dinner, it will be good to reflect on the day and enjoy the comraderie of fellow dinners, too, as I pick up snippets of Italian conversation and hand gestures during a good, slow Italian meal at a local piazza.

Just closing the loop on this post in case someone is viewing it later. The pace of the itinerary was just right for me. The photographer in Lucca cancelled the session because he was out of the country, and I didn’t go to Montecatini Terme. Otherwise, I pretty much did what was listed. I never felt rushed (or pressured to follow this itinerary) and really enjoyed the experience to go solo this time to Europe.

I enjoyed it so much that I’m planning a 3-week trip to France for 2019: two weeks solo, and then my husband will join me for the last 8 days.