Scotty
Well-known member
Wonder if any of the forum members have booked a guided tour in Italy. I am planning a trip to Italy last two weeks in July. Probably do the dolomites.
Anybody been there? :blink:
Anybody been there? :blink:
Touring in Italy
- Thread starter Scotty
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wfooshee
O, Woe is me!!
Um, yeah, but it was 1965. . . . . I was 8. But I still have a jacket wallet from Rome, a blown glass canal boat from Venice, and an English-Italian dictionary!
I can't tell you about food, because I hadn't outgrown the "vegetables suck" phase yet.
I can tell you that highways suck. They think honking first gives you the right of way. At least I remember Dad saying that.
If you want art and architecture, there's no better place you can go. Rome was as far south as we went, but the trip (we lived in Germany at the time) included Milan, Bologna, Florence, Rome, Pisa and Venice, not necessarily in that order. I remember being humiliated when my parents allowed my sisters in the room with the statue of David. I remember climbing the stairs all the way up in the Leaning Tower, which they don't let you do any more from what I understand. You climb carefully, not for the lean, but for the fact that the steps are very well worn, and there are no rails on the outer platforms. I didn't undertsand the cathedral in Milan, but the doors in Florence were incredible. As for Rome, I didn't understand at the time the preservation of such junky stuff. I mean, any decent city tears down anything in that condition and builds a stadium or a convention center, right?
If I were going today, I would include Assissi, and get further south than Rome.
I would personally NEVER do a tour group. I absolutely HATE running somebody else's schedule, doing stuff I could care less about just because the group has to do it., etc.
I can't tell you about food, because I hadn't outgrown the "vegetables suck" phase yet.
I can tell you that highways suck. They think honking first gives you the right of way. At least I remember Dad saying that.
If you want art and architecture, there's no better place you can go. Rome was as far south as we went, but the trip (we lived in Germany at the time) included Milan, Bologna, Florence, Rome, Pisa and Venice, not necessarily in that order. I remember being humiliated when my parents allowed my sisters in the room with the statue of David. I remember climbing the stairs all the way up in the Leaning Tower, which they don't let you do any more from what I understand. You climb carefully, not for the lean, but for the fact that the steps are very well worn, and there are no rails on the outer platforms. I didn't undertsand the cathedral in Milan, but the doors in Florence were incredible. As for Rome, I didn't understand at the time the preservation of such junky stuff. I mean, any decent city tears down anything in that condition and builds a stadium or a convention center, right?
If I were going today, I would include Assissi, and get further south than Rome.
I would personally NEVER do a tour group. I absolutely HATE running somebody else's schedule, doing stuff I could care less about just because the group has to do it., etc.
thompsonian
Mr. Christmas Pants
FWIW, my wife and I went there last May as a second honeymoon present from her parents. Actually, it was SUPPOSED to be a family trip, but they had gotten their passports stolen the year before in Punta Cana and they thought the Embassy had issued them new passports when they were only temporaries! So needless to say it was only my wife & I and her sister and her husband on a tour of Italy for a week. Now granted we were on a bus tour and not on bikes, I don't know how relevant this will be for you, but just thought I'd give you a few tips on places to see.
1. Rome: Old and dirty. At least for me it was. However, all the history is worth seeing everything. Expecially when you are actually standing beside the Colosseum. This is my SO infront of it.
Also be sure to hit up Vatican City. Go see the Sistine Chapel. I will tell you this now. I saw MANY MORE beutiful works of art in other Cathedrals there. However I wasn't able to even have my camera out of it's case like I did in the Sistine. This picture is worth $25000 Euros ( ~ $30000+ US ). That was the fine if you were caught taking pictures. Gotta learn to cough and hit the shutter at the same time!
2. Florence: Felt like home. Nowhere else have I felt as much like home as I did in Florence. Don't know what it was, but the whole place just felt cozy and welcoming. Be on the lookout for sudden flea markets. We found 1 and then went back later, like an hour or so, and it had already shut down and moved. Here I am at one of the bridges that cross in between the "New" and "Old" Florence
3. Venice: Didn't get to spend as much time there as I would have liked to. Still, probably the must interesting place I have been. You either walked or paid aboot $40 for a gondola ride. Guess what I did?
So there is my .02 worth. I would love to go do a bike tour, but try to stay off the interstates. They were horriffic. If you ho, TAKE LOTS OF $$$$$$!!! You get charged out the arse for everything! Oh, also be sure to ask for the water with NO GAS, don't ask for ice ( they'll look at you like you are stupid!), and Italian for bathroom is " toilette " Hope that helps!
1. Rome: Old and dirty. At least for me it was. However, all the history is worth seeing everything. Expecially when you are actually standing beside the Colosseum. This is my SO infront of it.
Also be sure to hit up Vatican City. Go see the Sistine Chapel. I will tell you this now. I saw MANY MORE beutiful works of art in other Cathedrals there. However I wasn't able to even have my camera out of it's case like I did in the Sistine. This picture is worth $25000 Euros ( ~ $30000+ US ). That was the fine if you were caught taking pictures. Gotta learn to cough and hit the shutter at the same time!
2. Florence: Felt like home. Nowhere else have I felt as much like home as I did in Florence. Don't know what it was, but the whole place just felt cozy and welcoming. Be on the lookout for sudden flea markets. We found 1 and then went back later, like an hour or so, and it had already shut down and moved. Here I am at one of the bridges that cross in between the "New" and "Old" Florence
3. Venice: Didn't get to spend as much time there as I would have liked to. Still, probably the must interesting place I have been. You either walked or paid aboot $40 for a gondola ride. Guess what I did?
So there is my .02 worth. I would love to go do a bike tour, but try to stay off the interstates. They were horriffic. If you ho, TAKE LOTS OF $$$$$$!!! You get charged out the arse for everything! Oh, also be sure to ask for the water with NO GAS, don't ask for ice ( they'll look at you like you are stupid!), and Italian for bathroom is " toilette " Hope that helps!
Scotty
Well-known member
Thanks guys. we have traveled to Rome, Venice, Florence and most of Tuscany. Perhaps I was too general but I was thinking about the Dolomites, Stelvio Pass, Lake Cuomo area on a Ducati, BMW or if available an FJR.
beemerdons
Certifiable Old Fart
Guten Morgen Scotty,
My BMW Motorraden Club, AZ Beemers, just rode the Dolomite passes in May. For more of our information, please see https://www.azbeemers.org/forum/index.php?topic=536.0 und https://www.azbeemers.org/forum/index.php?topic=537.0
You cannot go wrong with Edelweiss Bike Travel at www.edelweissbike.com for their outstanding tours of the Dolomites.
I'm friends with Edelweiss Owner Werner Wachter und Touring Director Markus Hellrigl: [email protected]
I went on the EBT High Alpine Tour in October of 2004 and the Andalusia Tour of February 2006. If you wish to plan your own independent tour, please feel free to post your questions to me at [email protected] or call 480-917-3863.
Auf Wiedersehen, BeemerDonS
My BMW Motorraden Club, AZ Beemers, just rode the Dolomite passes in May. For more of our information, please see https://www.azbeemers.org/forum/index.php?topic=536.0 und https://www.azbeemers.org/forum/index.php?topic=537.0
You cannot go wrong with Edelweiss Bike Travel at www.edelweissbike.com for their outstanding tours of the Dolomites.
I'm friends with Edelweiss Owner Werner Wachter und Touring Director Markus Hellrigl: [email protected]
I went on the EBT High Alpine Tour in October of 2004 and the Andalusia Tour of February 2006. If you wish to plan your own independent tour, please feel free to post your questions to me at [email protected] or call 480-917-3863.
Auf Wiedersehen, BeemerDonS
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beemerdons
Certifiable Old Fart
Scotty, I noticed that my link, the 2nd one, my write-up and pictures is just not opening from fjrforum site here. So, go to www.azbeemers.org/forum and to "Ride Reports & Pictures from Road" and then to Alpine Pass Bagging 101 or... THX, Don
Scotty
Well-known member
Scotty
Well-known member
We just signed up for the Edelweiss tour in Malaga,Spain. We reserved a BMW R 1200RT for February 2008. My wife is going also but when she takes her trip to the Geneva jazz festival for a couple of weeks with her girlfriends I wanted to ride Italy(or somewhere) in the last two weeks in July. Tell me about your Andalusia Trip.
teerex51
The Italian Scallion
Yep. I live there
The Dolomites are real close to Milan (about 3 hrs away), except the end of July is high season and there'll be a lot of traffic.
That having been said, let me know if I can help.
If you rent a bike near Milan (this HERE is a BMW-rental firm near Milan airport) you can join a group of local riders for sorties into Switzerland and the Dolomites.
I guess late May in Spain is not what you have in mind, but check out this program all the same. There'll be a group of US and European riders and it'll be fun. Word.
Stef
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scubatech
Well-known member
I did the High Alpine Tour last October. Like Beemerdons said Eidelweiss is first rate. The food and lodging are excellent. They take care of your gear everyday.It was my dream trip,and the Alps were both technical and gorgeous. We hit everthing from snow & rain to perfect weather. We spent three days on each end of the week sight seeing with train pass. Do It!! I chose the R1200GS,it was great.
Ken.
Ken.
OrangevaleFJR
R.I.P. Our FJR Riding Friend
Stef,Yep. I live there
The Dolomites are real close to Milan (about 3 hrs away), except the end of July is high season and there'll be a lot of traffic.
That having been said, let me know if I can help.
If you rent a bike near Milan (this HERE is a BMW-rental firm near Milan airport) you can join a group of local riders for sorties into Switzerland and the Dolomites.
I guess late May in Spain is not what you have in mind, but check out this program all the same. There'll be a group of US and European riders and it'll be fun. Word.
Stef
When would you recommend riding in Italy?
teerex51
The Italian Scallion
Andrew
once you factor in weather, crowds and traffic conditions you're left with mid-May to early July and all of September to mid-October.
(That applies, of course, if you have to travel to Italy from overseas. We local folks get to ride in the Winter and early Spring, too, if we catch a break in the weather. )
Stef
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beemerdons
Certifiable Old Fart
Dear Ken,
Great minds really do think alike! I do the same exact thing that you do, I arrive three days early, before the bike rental period, and then leave three days after the motorcycle riding; and I use the excellent train system to do my sightseeing!
Dear Scotty,
You will have a fantastic time on the EBT Andalusia Tour! If Michael and Axel are your tour guides, please say Guten Tag to them from Uri Schumm and Don Stanley from AZ Beemers. Uri and I both speak German, it was fun talking to those two!
Uri & I did a writeup: https://www.azbeemers.org/forum/index.php?topic=244.0 Unfortunately, the pictures now don't open!
Following Ken's suggestion for a combination of bike riding and train travel, go to: https://fahrplan.oebb.at/bin/query.exe/en
As an example, we flew into Madrid and utilized the high speed train to reach Malaga; you could also divert to Lisbon, Portugal.
Scotty, you'll get a kick out of this: Austrian Railways utilizes the name SCOTTY for their Door-To-Door Information Website!
I am booking the EBT Dolomites Touring Center for May 10-17, 2008. I go to Europe every year to ride motorcycles (actually I am also going to New Zealand from March 8-20) and I personally cannot book a Dolomites M/C trip better priced than EBT!
For $2,490 I'll have the use of a Suzuki SV 650 for a week; perfect for the tight twisties of the Dolomites, if you're riding solo.
I then will bag the following passes: Penser Joch, Sella Group, Passo di Rolle, Marmolada, Staller Sattel, Grossglockner, Tre Cime, Misurina und Passo Di Duran; I even intend a high speed run down to Venice for lunch! Ach du Lieber, es geht mir Gut!
The mountain resort at Saint Ulrich is beautiful and all of the delicious breakfasts and dinners are taken care of in the price.
I plan to fly into Barcelona, train to Bolzano; ride the Dolomites for a week; train to Roma, Italia and then fly home to Arizona.
Ciao, Donaldo
[email protected]
Cell: 602-722-0427
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Scotty
Well-known member
Thanks for all the help and info. Wife and I road 300 miles last Sunday through Death Valley and over to Oatman on old 66 on Monday. Big country!
scubatech
Well-known member
I definetly want to do it again. Probably a tour of Italy next time. I will ride a GS again as well. It is easy to get lost on the Autobahn when I didn't understand the signs.It was all fun though!
Ric in Sac
Well-known member
Karen and I have been discussing this very trip. Sounds awesome.
