My trip to Italy with the Italian Chamber of Commerce was very different from the Tuscan Trip with Debbie Travis and was even better!!
I spent two weeks in Northern Italy and Tuscany and stayed in very luxurious hotels travelling with an amazing group of architects and designers.
When I was on the Debbie Travis trip we stayed in the Villa she rents for 8 days and it was wonderful but I enjoyed travelling to various areas allowing us to truly experience the lifestyle of each place. I also preferred the mix of men and woman because it adds a different flavour to the trip. We had one gentleman that was so funny and entertaining he had us laughing the whole trip. It was so much fun and I havn't laughed like that in years.
Both trips offered very different experiences and I enjoyed both. I am looking forward to my return to enjoy more of the Italian Lifestyle.
SEPTEMBER 2009 DESIGN TOUR AGENDA
Thursday 17th - Departure from Vancouver/Calgary
Friday 18th - Arrival at Verona - check in at Hotel Villa Amista http://www.byblosarthotel.com/
Verona was amazing and we were in walking distance to the main downtown area. We had a cocktail party and Romeo and Juliet's home and we stood on the famous balcony.
Visit to Abitare il tempo in the late afternoon. VIP Party hosted at Villa Morellato (Original Palladian Villa)
Our first night was magical. We attended the VIP party at Villa Morellato and dined outside with wood burning fire pits burning all around us, a live orchestra, amazing food and wines, and a disco under tents on the estate. We ate, drank, and danced all night.
Sat 19th - Visit to Abitare il Tempo (VIP Delegation Pass) – debriefing with Fair Organizers Gala Dinner with local authorities
Sun 20th - Visit to Abitare il Tempo – B2B Meetings with exhibitors
Monday 21st – Visit to Abitare il Tempo – B2B Meetings with exhibitors
Tuesday 22nd – Leaving Verona in the morning and transfer to Novara.
In the afternoon: Presentation with Novara Chamber of Commerce and visit to 2 local companies.
Wednesday 23rd - B2B meetings in Piemonte and Novara Area
Thursday 24th - In the morning transfer to Viareggio (Lucca Area) and check in at Hotel Astor.
Lunch with the delegation
B2B meetings arranged by Lucca Promos
Viareggio is so beautiful and we stayed across the street from the beach. The sunsets were breath taking and we walked the beaches every evening before bed.
We went to the marble quarries on the very tip of the mountain and we were able to overlook the town and see the Italian coast line. It was sunny and warm and we were able to tour the marble quarries with the owner who shared his experiences working in the quarry.
B2B workshop meetings in the afternoon.
Guided tour of Lucca, Antique labs and dinner with the delegation in the City
We had a great time in Lucca and enjoyed roaming around taking in the sites. The architecture is stunning and we climbed a tower that allowed us to overlook the entire city. The hotel was new and was tastefully decorated. My room had a four poster bed and was very comfortable and welcoming.
Saturday 26th - A day in the countryside of Tuscany.
Sunday 27th – Transfer to Bologna and check in at Hotel I Portici (http://www.iporticihotel.com/)
Monday 28th – B2B meetings in Emilia Romagna and Bologna Area
Bologna was so much fun. The hotel was in the heart of the city and our rooms were huge. Two of the rooms had balconies over looking the downtown and we had a few after hour gatherings where we drank wine and laughed until we cried. I had so much fun here and I have never laughed so hard. It was Great.
0;">We had the pleasure of meeting one of the architects friends who lived just down from our hotel. her Villa was in the family for 500 years and the original art on the walls looked familiar as I had seen a few pieces in art history books. She shared stories of her past and a donation to a local museum that included original letters from Galileo Her daughter is now married to a Count and another daughter is living on the west coast. She was fascinating and charming and we enjoyed our visit with her.
Tuesday 29th – Meetings organized in Bologna
I spent two weeks in Northern Italy and Tuscany and stayed in very luxurious hotels travelling with an amazing group of architects and designers.
When I was on the Debbie Travis trip we stayed in the Villa she rents for 8 days and it was wonderful but I enjoyed travelling to various areas allowing us to truly experience the lifestyle of each place. I also preferred the mix of men and woman because it adds a different flavour to the trip. We had one gentleman that was so funny and entertaining he had us laughing the whole trip. It was so much fun and I havn't laughed like that in years.
Both trips offered very different experiences and I enjoyed both. I am looking forward to my return to enjoy more of the Italian Lifestyle.
SEPTEMBER 2009 DESIGN TOUR AGENDA
Thursday 17th - Departure from Vancouver/Calgary
Friday 18th - Arrival at Verona - check in at Hotel Villa Amista http://www.byblosarthotel.com/
Verona was amazing and we were in walking distance to the main downtown area. We had a cocktail party and Romeo and Juliet's home and we stood on the famous balcony.
Visit to Abitare il tempo in the late afternoon. VIP Party hosted at Villa Morellato (Original Palladian Villa)
Our first night was magical. We attended the VIP party at Villa Morellato and dined outside with wood burning fire pits burning all around us, a live orchestra, amazing food and wines, and a disco under tents on the estate. We ate, drank, and danced all night.
Sat 19th - Visit to Abitare il Tempo (VIP Delegation Pass) – debriefing with Fair Organizers Gala Dinner with local authorities
Sun 20th - Visit to Abitare il Tempo – B2B Meetings with exhibitors
Monday 21st – Visit to Abitare il Tempo – B2B Meetings with exhibitors
Tuesday 22nd – Leaving Verona in the morning and transfer to Novara.
In the afternoon: Presentation with Novara Chamber of Commerce and visit to 2 local companies.
Wednesday 23rd - B2B meetings in Piemonte and Novara Area
Thursday 24th - In the morning transfer to Viareggio (Lucca Area) and check in at Hotel Astor.
Lunch with the delegation
B2B meetings arranged by Lucca Promos
Viareggio is so beautiful and we stayed across the street from the beach. The sunsets were breath taking and we walked the beaches every evening before bed.
We went to the marble quarries on the very tip of the mountain and we were able to overlook the town and see the Italian coast line. It was sunny and warm and we were able to tour the marble quarries with the owner who shared his experiences working in the quarry.
My room had a living room, kitchenette, hallway, bathroom adn a bedroom. It was like having my own apartment. My balcony over looked the court yard.
Friday 25th – Visit to Campolonghi quarries in the morningB2B workshop meetings in the afternoon.
Guided tour of Lucca, Antique labs and dinner with the delegation in the City
We had a great time in Lucca and enjoyed roaming around taking in the sites. The architecture is stunning and we climbed a tower that allowed us to overlook the entire city. The hotel was new and was tastefully decorated. My room had a four poster bed and was very comfortable and welcoming.
Saturday 26th - A day in the countryside of Tuscany.
Sunday 27th – Transfer to Bologna and check in at Hotel I Portici (http://www.iporticihotel.com/)
Monday 28th – B2B meetings in Emilia Romagna and Bologna Area
Bologna was so much fun. The hotel was in the heart of the city and our rooms were huge. Two of the rooms had balconies over looking the downtown and we had a few after hour gatherings where we drank wine and laughed until we cried. I had so much fun here and I have never laughed so hard. It was Great.
0;">We had the pleasure of meeting one of the architects friends who lived just down from our hotel. her Villa was in the family for 500 years and the original art on the walls looked familiar as I had seen a few pieces in art history books. She shared stories of her past and a donation to a local museum that included original letters from Galileo Her daughter is now married to a Count and another daughter is living on the west coast. She was fascinating and charming and we enjoyed our visit with her.
Tuesday 29th – Meetings organized in Bologna
