Picture Italy with Google maps!

Well, as Leslie knows, I am quite a fan of Google – and all of its services. That’s why I created a personalized Google map for the Italy trip where you can get a good (geographical) overview about locations and distances of all the things we want to do and visit. On the left of the screenshot of ‘our’ Italian Google map you’ll see the list with a brief descriptions of the places I added so far. Click on the screenshot in order to enlarge it. If one of my travel companions would like me to add something – drop me a note!

P.S. The link to this map is also listed in the ‘Essentials’ category of our bookmarks collection in the sidebar of this blog.

Vacation Blogging

What can I say. Web geeks use all kind of reasons (pretexts) to set up a blog. So I thought maybe this even a better tool than the shared website on Backpack (accessible only by family members) in order to share news, thoughts and ideas for our upcoming trip to Tuscany in October – and for keeping the memories alive afterwards.

On a personal note: I think that Tuscany is one of the most beautiful places on earth – after California (with its own version of Tuscany, the Napa Valley). For about 15 years in a row I used to go on vacation to my aunt Christina’s house near a wonderful village called Castagneto Carducci (more later), located in the beautiful Tuscan Maremma region. I spent there some of the most relaxed and happiest moments in my life. Needless to say that I loved everything about my annual holidays just 2 miles away from the mediterranean sea… the beach life (of course), the Italian mentality, the wine, the food, the women, the beautiful landscapes, and – as pretentious as it may sound – the Italian music, poetry and literature.

That’s why I am more than excited that I was ‘allowed’ to join the infamous Patsons siblings to their trip to Paradise. With the ideal location of our fabulous looking rental house in Cortona, I am sure that we are going to have a once in a lifetime experience together!