Springtime in Italy

The unit had only one bathroom, but that didn't bother us. I liked the stone tiles. Unfortunately, right below us was a bar, and the blaring music kept us up most nights. Also, the resort was remodeling at the time we were there, so we couldn't use the pool. They did let us know beforehand.

The first day wasn't too welcoming, though. There were already quite a few guests waiting at the lobby, and the staff was just preparing their paperwork, refreshments, etc. right in front of us. We were tired from the trip, having driven three hours from Rome and no rooms were available yet. They told us that introductions were to be at dinner, so we made sure we attended that. It was a very good meal, and the hosts explained the Umbrian cuisine, and we introduced ourselves to the other resort guests. We tried to be perky, but we just wanted to sleep!

Perhaps it was the fact that Italians adhere to their 2-4pm siesta time(where nothing really gets done) or that they typically eat dinner late, that things weren't ready for the guests when we arrived there. This is something tourists should be mindful of. We improvised and made sure we had snacks between those times.

If you have a rental car, make sure you have a full tank when you're touring, because you won't see any gas stations open during those infamous hours!

We learned to take things in stride -- when we asked the staff for directions to the nearest golf course, they gave us the address of one that had been closed for renovations for a year! So we asked the locals, and they finally led us to the Perugia Golf Club. This was after we had driven practically all around the central hills of Umbria! Nevertheless, we enjoyed "losing our way" to Corciano - a small, medieval town situated on a hilltop - I was even glad for the interruption! Things have a way of righting themselves - my husband was finally able to schedule his tee time and I have the picture of Corciano tucked away in my memory forever!

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Fair
• Amenities: Fair
• Unit Satisfaction: Fair
• Family Friendliness: Fair
• Service: Fair

I fell in love with the picturesque medieval town, so full of history (not to mention the birthplace of my favorite saint!). We enjoyed meandering through its winding, cobbled streets, where every corner surprised you with quaint little shops - some, seemingly out-of-place with garish souvenirs, but most sold beautiful ceramic wares and religious icons. There was one store which had Da Vinci memorabilia and souvenir items. I tend to wander around, searching every nook, and several times, my husband and I lost each other, only to end up on the same street we started from - it was fun!

The highlight was the visit to the lower church to view the saint's tomb. Although I'm not Catholic, I appreciated the utmost reverence the people held for their hometown saint. I even got a litle surprise from a Franciscan brother who also hailed from the Philippines (it's a small world, indeed!)

It's a marvel that the people of Assisi were able to rebuild the town after a devastating earthquake four or five years ago. You could see some evidence of reconstruction here and there - huge cranes rebuilding cracks in the wall, etc. But, other than that, Assisi is glorious in its medieval splendor!

We survived driving the Italian Autostrada in our economy rental car, clocking speeds of 140 km/hr, which is nothing compared to how Italians drive! We learned riding the city buses and trains in Rome, and water buses around Venice. My dream come true was seeing the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the awesome Roman Colosseum, and Michelangelo's marvelous paintings in the Sistine Chapel. An added bonus was an appearance by the Pope in St. Peter's Basilica!

We paid homage to St. Francis's tomb in Assisi, meandered through the narrow cobbled streets of Corciano and Gubbio. My husband even managed to squeeze in a round of golf at the Perugia Golf Club.

While Florence gave us a glimpse of the Renaissance, Venice was steeped in the magic of the Middle Ages - the Piazza di San Marco, the infamous Pallazo Ducale, and its gondolas and canals.

But, all roads lead to Rome, and we literally marched through its glorious past - the Roman Forum, Colosseum, Palatini, and favorite tourist sites like the Piazza Venezia, Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps.

It was a hectic but wonderful and very educational trip. A good map, travel book, and a language guide proved very useful indeed.