Dez has spent many years traveling her way through Italy and now wants to share her experiences with you! After receiving many requests, she has finally agreed to this excursion to take us on an adventure of a lifetime! See Italy the way Dez has seen this amazing country. Through her eyes you can enjoy the glorious gift that Italy is today. Live an Italian adventure by hiking through the rolling hills punctuated by cypress trees. Enjoy the flavors of Italian food paired with locally made wines. Explore the villages with winding narrow streets and treasure the warmth and vitality of the Italian people.
Suddenly you’ll discover your living the Italian Best of both Adventure!

Trip Dates: Arrival in Italy October 11 and depart Italy October 19, 2008

Cost $2900/p with single supplement option of $450

Tuscany, home to famous artwork, superb cuisine, and impressive medieval towns, is widely regarded as one of the loveliest regions in Italy and a wonderful place to explore on foot. Hiking through a timeless landscape along paths that wind through vineyards and past ancient farmhouses, shopping for locally produced specialties, relaxing in romantic outdoor cafes, or exploring the art
and architecture of the well known towns of Florence and Siena, Tuscany is truly a feast for all the senses.

• Walking off the beaten path to Tuscan hillside towns, giving you an intimate experience of
  authentic Tuscany
• Seeing the sights of Siena and Florence
  
• Savoring truffles, pecorino cheese and Italian wine
• Experiencing Tuscan country sides

This trip is for women who want to combine an in depth exploration of the Tuscan countryside with visits to some of its most famous sites and cities. Women should be comfortable walking on wellmarked paths, with occasional steep uphill grades, for up to five hours a day (usually split between the morning and afternoon).

Accommodations:

• Modern tourist class hotels that accommodate guests and provide the opportunity for a close up view of rural Italian life. All offer double rooms with private bathrooms.

Maximum group size: 10

Trip price: $2900 non-refundable $500 deposit.

Trip price includes:

• An Italian and an personal Best of Both guide + founder Dez Bartelt
• 8 nights lodging
• All meals from dinner starting Oct 11th to breakfast Oct 19 except for free days lunch and dinners
• Ground transportation in Italy
• Wine-tasting
  
• All park fees, museum entrance fees and day tours

Trip starts:
Arrive On Oct 11th 2008 -must arrive in Florence in the morning on the 11t

Getting there
You will be flying into Florence. The International Airport in Florence is accessible by many of the major airlines including: Delta, American, Continental, US Airways, Northwest, as well as British Airways, Air Canada, and Lufthansa.

Tipping Guidelines
Tipping at the end of the trip is optional. If you feel your guide(s) did an outstanding job and would like to reward him or her for their efforts, a suggested Rule of thumb is US $5-$10 per person, per day.
Oftentimes, trip members organize a group envelope (this makes it anonymous) and present it to the guide at the last shared meal.

Suggested Reading

• «In Tuscany, Under the Tuscan Sun, Bella Tuscany», by
  Frances Mayes Frances Mayes trilogy of her years in Tuscany.
  Beautifully descriptive, and fun reading for anyone Traveling to the region.
• «Lonely Planet Tuscany and Umbria», by Alex Leviton, Josephine Quintero, Racehl Suddart
  The Lonely Planet is one of the most beloved travel guides. In this edition, attractions of Tuscany and Umbria are covered - Discover Leonardo da Vinci's Hometown of Vinci and the breathtaking views of the Apuan Alps. Visit the gothic cathedral of Siena and see the Romanesque splendour of the gravity defying Leaning tower of Pisa. This guide to Tuscany also
  covers food, architecture and activities. Lonely Planet Rome is also available.
• «The Tuscan Year - Life and Food in an Italian Valley» In This book for Italian food lovers, Elizabeth Romer describes month by month a year in a Tuscan kitchen and the traditions of the villagers centered around food.
• «Vanilla Beans and Brodo - Real Life in the Hills of Tuscany». Isabella Dusi, an Australian, comes to live in the medieval village of Montalcino for a year. Her book details the daily events of village life and the traditions and history of Montalcino and Tuscany.
  This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in the Tuscan way of life.
• «War in Val D’orcia», published by David Godine Pub, This is the true story of Iris Origo and her husband, and their efforts to protect and rescue refugees and hide prisoners of war in the Italian countryside. during WWII. A stirring document about basic humanitarianism and true courage, it is a classic of war literature.

Websites of interest
There are lots of websites to look at. Here are a few to get you started

• http://www.turismo.toscana.it
  Tourism Bureau for Tuscany
• http://www.castellitoscani.com
  Information and maps about the castles of Tuscany
  
• http://www.choose-tuscany.com
  All about Tuscany food, wine, flora, fauna, history, and events.

Best of Both suggested packing list

In choosing clothing items, consider that lightweight 100% cotton is the most
comfortable in a warm climate—100% cotton does wrinkle though. For your warmer clothes, wool or synthetic materials are better than cotton as they still keep you warm when wet. Temperatures typically range from the upper 70s to low 80s during the day and mid-60s 50s in the evening, although they can be hotter or cooler. We strongly recommend bringing several lighter layers rather than one heavy layer so you can easily adjust to the range of possible temperatures.

Footwear:

• 1 pair of lightweight or mid-weight hiking shoes or boots; they should be well broken in and comfortable
• 1 pair of comfortable walking shoes, such as athletic shoes or Teva sandals*
• 2-3 pairs of socks (2 should be wool/synthetic)

Clothing

• 1- 2 pairs of comfortable long pants
• 2 - 3 pairs of shorts: one pair could be a quick-drying nylon
• 1-2 lightweight, light-colored, long-sleeved shirt to protect you from the sun
• 2 - 3 T-shirts or sleeveless shirts; synthetics are much easier to wash out
• 1 polar fleece jacket or wool sweater
• 1 rain jacket or poncho
• Underwear/nightwear
• bathing suit and small-medium size towel
• 1 wide-brimmed hat for sun and high fashion (very important)
• 1or 2 casual skirts/sundresses (optional-some women prefer a skirt when going out
  to dinner)
• Vest for layering (fleece, nylon or cotton, optional)

Toiletries (small everything)

• Toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, shampoo, contact lens paraphernalia (bring extras), sanitary supplies, soap, shampoo, washcloths (these are often not provided in Europe)
• Sunscreen and lip protection with sunblock of at least SPF 15 (absolutely essential)
• Small first aid kit with familiar medicine you might need for personal use,
  ESPECIALLY blister or foot remedies like toe tubes, moleskin, gelskin, blister bandages or similiar; these are not available in smaller towns. The amount and kind you bring will depend on your tendency to blister but many people get blisters on hiking tours.
• Other suggestions: remedies for respiratory ailments? Stomach ailments? Sore muscles or joints? We will have a first aid kit too, but if you already know what works for you it’s better to have it with you than experiment on a trip.
• Personal medications, if any. If you’re taking a prescription drug, bring a copy of the prescription or the generic name of it. Individuals allergic to insect bites must bring an anaphylactic kit. Please consult your pharmacist.
  

Essentials

• Sunglasses (100% UV protection)
• pocket knife,
  
• 2 quart capacity water bottles (folding bottles are recommended but standard bottles
  are fine)
  
• 1 daypack lined with a plastic bag, large enough to hold your supplies for the day
  (water, snacks, raingear). A
  padded hipbelt will make it more comfortable
  
• small plastic refrigerator container with lid, 7” square or round

Optional

• Camera (extra battery or battery charger) and film
  
• Trekking poles
  
• Book, notebook, journal, pencil/pen
  
• 1 or 2 bandannas
  
• Wrist watch with an alarm or travel clock
  
• Folding umbrella
  
• 10 ft light cord and 4-6 clothespins, detergent
  
• Earplugs and eyemask (for plane and in case of street noise at some hotels)
  
• electric converter if bringing hairdryer or similar (Italy is 220V and plugs are two round prongs)

We recommend bringing a suitcase or duffel with wheels and possibly a backpack as not all hotels have front door bus access. For extra purchases made in Tuscany, an additional small duffel bag for your return trip is useful.

1. Our packing list covers what we have found to be essential for your safety and comfort. Because of weight considerations, please use discretion when adding to the list. You may not use everything you bring; however, you need to come prepared for all possible weather conditions. Please consider your own travel style and personal needs as you may not want or need to bring everything listed (for example, do you get cold
   easily, do you like a little more time in the morning, are you sensitive to light or noise).
2. While the fall months are not usually wet, Tuscany can have mist and light rain so suitable raingear is strongly recommended to supplement your jacket. Don’t forget about ISIS poncho, you can order them online from our web site! For town, take a hint from locals: an umbrella is a great way to keep dry.
3. What to wear for after walking: Bring whatever makes you feel comfortable; your actives wear can double as non-active wear. No formal or especially dressy clothes are necessary during the trip, though a casual skirt or dress can be a nice change from shorts or pants. Don’t forget non-active shoes and swimsuit.
4. You need to bring a “day pack” to hold your rain gear, water bottles, snacks, sunscreen, camera, and an additional layer for warmth. You will carry this as you hike, so before you leave home make sure that it is comfortable to wear and fits everything. Having a pack with a hip belt will be more comfortable.
5. The hiking on this trip is not rugged so a good hiking shoe will be sufficient. If you have weak ankles, you should consider a light over-the-ankle hiking boot. If in doubt, bring two pairs of trail shoes and ask about daily conditions, or carry with you in your pack. Foot problems cause more misery on walking trips than anything else!
6. For packing lunch Some days we will split up the packing for a picnic lunch each person will carry some something we highly recommend a small plastic refrigerator container so you can carry fruit or vegetable salad for lunch for a change from sandwiches. You can save space by packing other things e.g. detergent, clothespins, pocket knife inside this container.
   Items on your packing list can be purchased through a number of outdoor outfitters. Here are three companies that offer mail order service and have Internet “stores” (often with special Deals):
   Recreational Equip. Inc (REI) Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) Campmor
   800-426-4840 for catalogue 603-924-7231 for catalogue 800-226-7667 for catalogue Website: www.rei.com website: www.emsonline.com website: www.campmor.com
   Another company that often has discounts on seconds and discontinued items and also has an excellent return
   Policy is Sierra Trading Post. Their number is 1-800-713-4534 and their web site is www.SierraTradingPost.com.
   You may also want to visit your local Army/Navy surplus store and thrift stores such as Goodwill and the Salvation Army.