TXTransplant said:

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Have you watched Stanley Tucci's series on Italy?

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Not all of it, yet. I think I've seen the parts relevant to where I'm going, which is Milan, Cinque Terre, Tuscany, and Emilia Romagna.

We spent 4 weeks in Vietnam and I did the same thing prior. Well worth the time investigating and taking notes on where to go and what to get.

I've dropped 45 pounds in preparation for this trip. Not sure that's going to be enough.

Are you spending any time in the Prosecco region? I'm going on a hiking trip at the end of August that ends in Venice. Since the end of the trip falls on Labor Day weekend, I'm opting to stay a couple extra days.

A friend of mine who is also going and I decided to take a quick trip to the Prosecco region. Have an agriturismo booked near Valdobbiadene.

Would love to hear details if you spend any time in that area!

TXTransplant said:

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Are you spending any time in the Prosecco region? I'm
Found a hiking trip at the end of August that ends in Venice. Since the end of the trip falls on Labor Day weekend, I'm opting to stay a couple extra days.

A friend of mine who is also going and I decided to take a quick trip to the Prosecco region. Have an agriturismo booked near Valdobbiadene.

Would love to hear details if you spend any time in that area!

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I'm not getting that far north and east. I've been to Venice, so not including that on this trip (although that was in 1985, I don't think much has changed since then).

TXTransplant said:

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Haha...that's how I feel about our trip to Scotland and London next month. We are NOT going for the food! Beans for breakfast is just cringe.

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10 days last summer in Scotland and England, never had beans for breakfast. Plenty of eggs, toast, and bacon although their bacon is more like ham to us. We had good food in Edinburgh and London.

Are you backpacking or inn to inn walking? I did a self guided inn to inn named Hilltop Towns of Tuscany last October. It was fantastic. Walking through the Tuscan countryside for 7 days was like being fully immersed in landscape art. And the food in each town was awesome, though not diverse. Best meal was in Sienna at the end of the trip.

It's day hikes and overnights at various inns, with some short repositioning by bus/train depending on the location.

It's with a company called Wildland Trekking. Starts in Munich and includes 2 weeks of various hikes in the Alps before ending in Venice. I think there is a two night portion where we have to hike to a lodge with everything we need for those days and hike back out. But not backpacking the entire time.

I am looking forward to the food on that trip!

twk said:

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I can't stop watching food videos in anticipation of my trip to northern Italy next month. Anyone else had that same problem? I've been to other countries in Europe where they take food seriously (France, particularly), but this is next level. I could probably spend all my free time between now and my trip doing nothing but watching Italian food videos on YouTube.

There's got to be a 12 step program for this, right?

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never been across the pond...but I promised mama I'd take her to Europe next summer and Italy is definitely at the top of my list for potential spots....only because of what I've seen online about the food ha!!!

can't wait to see your posts and pictures of all the food when you get back!

twk said:

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I can't stop watching food videos in anticipation of my trip to northern Italy next month. Anyone else had that same problem? I've been to other countries in Europe where they take food seriously (France, particularly), but this is next level. I could probably spend all my free time between now and my trip doing nothing but watching Italian food videos on YouTube.

There's got to be a 12 step program for this, right?

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Trust that you will share some pics so we can live vicariously?
Buon viaggio.

billtheag89 said:

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twk said:

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I can't stop watching food videos in anticipation of my trip to northern Italy next month. Anyone else had that same problem? I've been to other countries in Europe where they take food seriously (France, particularly), but this is next level. I could probably spend all my free time between now and my trip doing nothing but watching Italian food videos on YouTube.

There's got to be a 12 step program for this, right?

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Trust that you will share some pics so we can live vicariously?
Buon viaggio.

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Sure

twk said:

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I can't stop watching food videos in anticipation of my trip to northern Italy next month. Anyone else had that same problem? I've been to other countries in Europe where they take food seriously (France, particularly), but this is next level. I could probably spend all my free time between now and my trip doing nothing but watching Italian food videos on YouTube.

There's got to be a 12 step program for this, right?

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The 12 Step program for this is the 17,000 steps per day.

I've been to Italy twice for a week each. I ate everything in sight including daily gelato stops and random afternoon pizza stops. I didn't gain weight either time. Food is healthier and doesn't have all the crap in it that we have here. Eat as much as you want and walk around a lot and your only problem will be not wanting to leave.

TXTransplant said:

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Haha...that's how I feel about our trip to Scotland and London next month. We are NOT going for the food! Beans for breakfast is just cringe.

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Aw come on, bangers and beans is the bomb! I had that sh*t as part of a full English breakfast almost every day when I was working in Australia for a few weeks back in the late 80s. We were staying in a small town of about 5K population and ate at a truck stop on the way to the job site every morning. There wasn't really much else to pick from of any substance. Of course I don't remember if they called it an English breakfast or not down there. I was just happy to have a hot cooked breakfast available vs what I was used to being served while staying in guest houses in Germany. You know, cold cuts of meat, cheese, a soft boiled egg and bread with butter and jam. Every freaking day!

Some black pudding lurking at 8 o'clock. Yum!

waryman said:

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Some black pudding lurking at 8 o'clock. Yum!

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I mean it got monotonous having the same breakfast almost every day, but I ate and enjoyed most of it.

Dealing with some jet lag and sleep deprivation, but I did have some good caccio e pepe and strolled around the Duomo surrounding neighborhood (blocks from my hotel). Sorry, no pics of the gelato. One thing that the experts tell you is don't have gelato at a place where they have colorful heaps of it on display. The ones that make it on site usually have it covered steel drums.

Limited time for lunch today, so just a schiachatta sandwich from All'Antico Vinaio





Dinner at Ristorante Nabucco in the Brera district. A starter of salamis and panzerotto followed by a classic Milan dish of Oso Bucco with Risotto

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The 12 Step program for this is the 17,000 steps per day.

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That's what I did today, and I didn't exactly do any hiking. Just going to see the Last Supper, the duomo (including the rooftop), and going to dinner. Yesterday was a pretty unimpressive 12,000.