Excellent! Thanks a bunch George! You've helped to confirm what I've heard about Italy thusfar. I will get the Michelin guides as a reference to look up each of the cities and restaurants in them before we go...and use it while we're there. I hear that the wines don't have sulfites, which keeps you from having a hangover...although I think that if you drink enough, you're gonna have one anyway. Hmmmm...maybe 12 oz. of water for every 48 oz. of wine? Chao!
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by GeorgeSSSS:
First of all: Congrats.
Next: Always eat in the places where the locals do -- -- never at a multi-national chain hotel or someplace that is touristy. Italian food is the best on the continent and IMHO so is Italian wine. That includes French food [which can be quite good] and food anywhere in the UK [which sucks everywhere in the UK -- -- sorry, but everyone knows it's true]. Don't know what your budget is like, but one first-class gourmet Italian meal along the way will be long remembered. If you buy a red Michelin guide, it will give you all the restaurant info.
A green Michelin guide for each of the cities you visit will give you all the info on what to see and how to see it. They are really terrific and make the trip much more interesting. I lived in Europe for 4 years and used them extensively.
As far as which cities -- -- they're all great, but don't miss Florence.
If you could only go to one European country in your lifetime, Italy would be the one. I've been to them all, I'm not Italian, and it gets my vote.
Bon voyage,
George SSSS </div></BLOCKQUOTE>