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| Hotel Onda Verde Praiano |
We did day trips to Amalfi, Pompeii and Positano from there and
then just spent time relaxing and reading -- a great place for that as
you look out over the water to the islands. We took the water taxi to
Positano which was a fun way to go and then we took the little yellow
local bus back which was also fun as it took trips up and down the
hillside taking people home. Several restaurants in the area provide free
transportation at night. The owner makes great recommendations and
then calls for reservations at what ever time you want and arranges for
the pickup. It works out very nicely.The driver usually ends up being
one of your waiters.
then just spent time relaxing and reading -- a great place for that as
you look out over the water to the islands. We took the water taxi to
Positano which was a fun way to go and then we took the little yellow
local bus back which was also fun as it took trips up and down the
hillside taking people home. Several restaurants in the area provide free
transportation at night. The owner makes great recommendations and
then calls for reservations at what ever time you want and arranges for
the pickup. It works out very nicely.The driver usually ends up being
one of your waiters.
| Positano |
| Pompeii |
Next stop was Florence. Again, the hotel had given us directions so things worked out well. We stayed at the Westin Excelsior which was gorgeous.
Because Ken is at the highest level of their premier program, we had a junior suite on the top floor (5) with a balcony as large as the suite -- overlooking
the Arno and rooftops of Florence. We felt like and were treated as if we were visiting dignitaries -- wine, fruit and cheese delivered to our room daily
(gifts from the manager.) This is one of "the" hotels of Florence and so the services are of the highest caliber but accomplished with understated style.
Because Ken is at the highest level of their premier program, we had a junior suite on the top floor (5) with a balcony as large as the suite -- overlooking
the Arno and rooftops of Florence. We felt like and were treated as if we were visiting dignitaries -- wine, fruit and cheese delivered to our room daily
(gifts from the manager.) This is one of "the" hotels of Florence and so the services are of the highest caliber but accomplished with understated style.
As we have been to Florence in the past, we
were able to be more selective about what to do
this time. We revisited some favorite museums
and churches and did a lot of just meandering.
One recommendation I do make and urge
anyone to follow is to make reservations for the
Vasari Corridor.This is the passageway from
the Uffizi to the Pitti Palace which runs across
the top of Pont Vecchio. It was built by the
Medici's so that they could travel back and forth
without "getting wet" The corridor was the main
recipient of the 1993 mafia bombing of the
Uffizi and has been closed for several years. It
just reopened this year. It has very limited hours
-- 10-2 (I think) just 3 days a week. Advanced
reservations are a must. It is a 2 and ½ hour
guided tour by highly informative, engrossing
guides. Each group is limited to 30 people. Of all
of the recommendations I make, this is right at
the top.
were able to be more selective about what to do
this time. We revisited some favorite museums
and churches and did a lot of just meandering.
One recommendation I do make and urge
anyone to follow is to make reservations for the
Vasari Corridor.This is the passageway from
the Uffizi to the Pitti Palace which runs across
the top of Pont Vecchio. It was built by the
Medici's so that they could travel back and forth
without "getting wet" The corridor was the main
recipient of the 1993 mafia bombing of the
Uffizi and has been closed for several years. It
just reopened this year. It has very limited hours
-- 10-2 (I think) just 3 days a week. Advanced
reservations are a must. It is a 2 and ½ hour
guided tour by highly informative, engrossing
guides. Each group is limited to 30 people. Of all
of the recommendations I make, this is right at
the top.
I had promised my hair cut guy that I would come back
with an Italian cut. So in Florence I went to Tony and
Guy's Salon. I love the cut -- it is so good -- very simple
but, I swear, I look 10 years younger!! Since I have been
home I have had a couple of people stop to ask where I got
my hair cut and I blithely say "Italy". It is really fun to
watch the expressions. Anyway -- my guy here had better
be able to follow the lines or I may need to go back.
with an Italian cut. So in Florence I went to Tony and
Guy's Salon. I love the cut -- it is so good -- very simple
but, I swear, I look 10 years younger!! Since I have been
home I have had a couple of people stop to ask where I got
my hair cut and I blithely say "Italy". It is really fun to
watch the expressions. Anyway -- my guy here had better
be able to follow the lines or I may need to go back.
Last stop was the agriturismo Colle Lungo outside of Castillina in Chianti. We were there for 11 days. We liked this vacation rental. We used the
time here to visit the little villages and vineyards of Chianti and then to go to Arezzo, Siena, Volterra, San Gimignano and other places. We did a lot of
white road (poorly or unpaved) adventuring which provided many unexpected treats --tiny hamlets, isolated churches, captivating old farm structures
and nice people.
time here to visit the little villages and vineyards of Chianti and then to go to Arezzo, Siena, Volterra, San Gimignano and other places. We did a lot of
white road (poorly or unpaved) adventuring which provided many unexpected treats --tiny hamlets, isolated churches, captivating old farm structures
and nice people.
Our last night was at the Villa Malpensa which is directly across from the Milano airport--very convenient and a nice alternative to sterile airport
hotels. It was built at the beginning of the century by a wealthy business man from Milan as a second residence where large week long parties were
held. It was a very large estate which encompassed all of the ground now occupied by Malpensa plus a lot more. During the war both Mussolini and
Hitler were guests of the Count. After the war when the fascist were rousted, the family lost its money and power and the villa was pillaged.
Subsequently it has been made into a hotel with a very good restaurant. It makes for a nice last night if one can ignore the ghosts of its ignoble past.
hotels. It was built at the beginning of the century by a wealthy business man from Milan as a second residence where large week long parties were
held. It was a very large estate which encompassed all of the ground now occupied by Malpensa plus a lot more. During the war both Mussolini and
Hitler were guests of the Count. After the war when the fascist were rousted, the family lost its money and power and the villa was pillaged.
Subsequently it has been made into a hotel with a very good restaurant. It makes for a nice last night if one can ignore the ghosts of its ignoble past.
The flight home was long but uneventful. Having traveled a lot in Europe, we are accustomed to soldiers in airports with the big ugly guns but it was
a strange feeling to be greeted by our soldiers in fatigues with the same ugly weapons here in San Diego. I must admit that my reaction was "It's
about time." It had always seemed as if we were rather naïve in our lack of visible deterrents.
a strange feeling to be greeted by our soldiers in fatigues with the same ugly weapons here in San Diego. I must admit that my reaction was "It's
about time." It had always seemed as if we were rather naïve in our lack of visible deterrents.
Next was Hotel Onda Verde in Praiano--between Ravello and Positano. We have stayed in Positano before and so decided to stay somewhere else this
time. We were here for 5 nights (probably one more than we needed.) I recommend Onda Verde if you don't need or want to be in a place where you
can walk around visiting shops, restaurants, etc. The hotel is beautifully situated with wonderful views of the water. There is a path and steps down to
a rocky cove where there are several little fish restaurants. The cove is very charming and picturesque. People swim there and sunbath on the rocks.
There are small fishing boats that go out in the morning to set nets and then retrieve them in the afternoon --which means the fish you eat that night is
truly fresh. The hotel has a car park at the top of the road (an enclosed cage like structure which is locked at night.) Then there is an elevator with
outside openings at each of the room levels. Rooms are simply furnished but quite adequate and spotlessly maintained.The thing is about this place is
that you definitely want a room with a terrace and not all terraces are created equal. We had a marvelously large, private terrace but other people were
not as pleased. I believe ours was room 101.
time. We were here for 5 nights (probably one more than we needed.) I recommend Onda Verde if you don't need or want to be in a place where you
can walk around visiting shops, restaurants, etc. The hotel is beautifully situated with wonderful views of the water. There is a path and steps down to
a rocky cove where there are several little fish restaurants. The cove is very charming and picturesque. People swim there and sunbath on the rocks.
There are small fishing boats that go out in the morning to set nets and then retrieve them in the afternoon --which means the fish you eat that night is
truly fresh. The hotel has a car park at the top of the road (an enclosed cage like structure which is locked at night.) Then there is an elevator with
outside openings at each of the room levels. Rooms are simply furnished but quite adequate and spotlessly maintained.The thing is about this place is
that you definitely want a room with a terrace and not all terraces are created equal. We had a marvelously large, private terrace but other people were
not as pleased. I believe ours was room 101.
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