I have been working on plans for my Italian language vacation.  Monday through Friday of both weeks will be at the Koine language school in Florence, Italy but I had the middle weekend and the weekend on the end to plan.  It worked best to fly out of Milan so the last weekend was set.  I found a great hotel and a day tour that included the Last Supper so not much else for that weekend.

For the middle weekend I was open to anything.  I considered Venice which was an easy train trip but I have done before.  I also considered San Marino but there was not everything I wanted for the weekend.  I enjoyed a short day in Orvieto on a previous trip and decided a trip back to Umbria should be on the agenda.  Looking into Orvieto I decided I had time to add another city and began looking at Perugia which was easily accessible from Orvieto and had a nice old walled inner city.  Looking for things to do in Perugia I stumbled across a post for the European chocolate Festival.  What are the odds that it would be going on while I am in Italy.  Luckily 100%.  The only thing that rivals my love to travel is my love of chocolate.  In my world chocolate is my answer to everything…bad day have some chocolate, celebrating… chocolate cake, hot outside chocolate ice cream.

So with the chocolate festival the deciding factor the middle weekend will be in Perugia.  I even found a hotel with a front door that opens to the festival entrance within my price range.  When I told my sister about the chocolate festival she said I must be living right for that to have worked out so well and I definitely agree.  I must be living right.

I love to plan trips, almost more than I enjoy the traveling but not quite.  The trips are always great but they only last so long.  Planning can last for months.

I am currently planning for my first solo travel.  I am off to Florence, Italy (my all-time favorite city) to study Italian.  For my first real solo trip this might be a bit ambitious but what the hell might as well go big.

My ultimate vacation will be a full year in Italy the year after a retire (hopefully 2022).  In order for that to be the vacation of my dreams I want to be able to speak Italian and I have started learning.  For some 7 years to learn Italian might seem like a lot but am afraid I will need every minute it.  I have been taking classes at a local language school and I am ready to test my limited skills.

A vacation with my mom fell through and I decided it was the perfect opportunity to go off by myself and take a language class in Italy. After much encouragement I picked a language school in Florence and started making my plans.

There were several schools to choose from and they ranged from bargain to extravagant.  My choice was easy as soon as I saw the “Cooking with Mama” class I was sold.  I will have language classes in the morning and then will cook with “mama” in the evenings.  I will be staying with mama at a bargain price.  It won’t be luxurious accommodations but will be a great way to practice my new skills.

I can hardly wait.