Report from Italy: Day Two

More from our President in Italy!

December 2nd 2011

Today we had an early morning with a 7AM train departure but there was a wonderful buffet breakfast at the Via Veneto before gathering luggage and checking out. I took the train from Rome to Florence - the easist and quickest way to travel - only one and a half hours in relative comfort!

Florence is so beautiful; a Rennaisance city of historical significance with so many beautiful buildings, many museums and wonderful cobblestone streets all lit with beautiful Christmas lights at this time of year.

I met with 22 hoteliers throughout the morning and afternoon - discovered many wonderful properties throughout Tuscany.  Little gems of 10 to 30 room villas to larger hotels with 60 or 70 rooms.  All have a special charm or character about them - whether they be in Florence or near Lucca, Siena, in Chianti - near Pisa or closer to Milan - they all have wonderful achitecture, amenities and offer impeccable service.  Many are seasonal properties that are open April to November and afford their guests the option of truly living the Tuscan lifestyle - from cooking classes, wine tasting, olive oil sampling, etc - guests can live, eat and breathe the Tuscan way of life.

I had dinner this evening in a wonderful restaruant about 10 minutes from our hotel - the Borgo San Jacopo has a female chef that created very simple but amazing food - 3 courses paired with wonderful white and then red wines and culminating with a warm chocolate cake and pistachio ice cream desert that was to die for!  A walk back through the lighted cobblestone streets has made for an enchanting evening in the city of Florence.

Tomorrow I have a guided walking tour around this amazing city and then an afternoon aperitif at one of the local hotels.

- Terri Jo