Monthly Archives: December 2009

Italy: My Top 10 Memories of Last Time

Posted on December 31, 2009 by giratravel

Okay, I’ll do my top 10 list too and you can tell me what you think. I love Italy and these are the kinds of things that bring me back again and again. See you there in 2010 I hope. … Continue reading →

Posted in Italy up close | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

San Gimignano Style – Sosta del Duca

Posted on December 23, 2009 by giratravel

Sosta del Duca is a marvelous family-run enterprise. Sandra, Simona, Riccardo and Nicola love their property and take incredible joy in greeting you in and showing you around. And three times a week for most of the year, they are … Continue reading →

Posted in Tuscany | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Epiphany Celebration in Venice

Posted on December 18, 2009 by giratravel

The Feast of the Epiphany is a national holiday in Italy and is celebrated on January 6. It honors the 12th day of Christmas when the Three Wise Men arrived at the manger. Italy’s traditional celebration includes the tale of … Continue reading →

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How to Avoid a Speeding Ticket in Italy

Posted on December 17, 2009 by giratravel

If you think that Italy is still a land of fast and reckless driving, you might want to think again. With the encouragement of the European Union, Italy has stepped up its enforcement with lots of electronic cameras and a … Continue reading →

Posted in Getting Around in Italy | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

At Christmas, the Italians have the Presepio

Posted on December 14, 2009 by giratravel

Germany has its Christkindlmarkt, France its Bûche de Noël and England its ghosts of Christmas past. The Italians have the Presepio. From the Latin word praesaepe, ‘presepio’ loosely means ‘stall’, and refers to the scene of the infant Jesus, attended … Continue reading →

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How is it I have never been to Rome? by Melinda Miller

Posted on December 11, 2009 by giratravel

How is it I have been to Europe at least 15 times and never to Rome? Our first afternoon in Rome we walked from our hotel four blocks to the Vatican and St. Peter`s Basilica. Entering the piazza, I was … Continue reading →

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