Where we are staying

Two apts in Rome

http://www.sleepinitaly.com/en/show-monte_di_pieta-campo_dei_fiori-roma/appartam.php?id_appartam=83

http://www.tripadvisor.com/VacationRentalReview-g187791-d1447691-Spagna_Violet-Rome_Lazio.html

And the villa in Tuscany

http://www.toscanet.com/Murlo/1/homepage.aspx

Almost ready to go

My friend Deanna and I are embarking on our first trip to Italy.   I met Deanna in LA in graduate school while at USC. We happened to be a in a small neuroscience class of about 12 and both of us had gone to University of Michigan during the late 80's and 90's. Instant roller blading, beach volleyball, hiking, movies and making empanada friendship. She lead me to my first job in the biomedical device industry at Medtronic in Santa Rosa as her old boss became mine.  Deanna lives in Portland and we have been able to stay in touch even though we only see each other once a year.   Last year at my birthday party, I talked about going to Italy and she decided to join me.  We have both traveled quite extensively but neither of us have been to Italy.

We have planned this for a year now and can't believe its around the corner.  We are meeting in Rome next Wednesday and staying in an apartment for 3 days then we head to a Villa just outside Sienna for a week.  We plan on making day drips to Florence, Sienna, San Gimignano and Cinque-Terre.  After Tuscany we head back to Rome for 3 more days.

 In Tuscany, Deanna's friend Sucia is joining us

I plan to post many pictures of our adventures.

I'll link this blog to Facebook where you can check it and see what were up to and most importantly what we are eating!! :)