Checking In: 44 Days

It's hard to believe that we only have to wait 44 more days until we get to embark upon our little European adventure! We have our flights booked and our tour manager has been confirmed. His name is Thomas Randall. Check out our trip site to learn more about him. ( http://www.acis.com/tripsite/?key=RFJjUDRLSFMwY3ZXQVpPWmVwaz0%3D )

On Friday night I recieved a big box full of our ACIS backpacks. No matter how many of these trips I go on, I always get excited when I receive the backpacks. It just means that we are that much closer to leaving! Although you are not required to use these backpacks on the trip, those who do usually end up loving them. The little blue daypacks end up becoming a vivid reminder of an incredible adventure; a favorite memory. I have a few former trip participants who have used and abused their blue ACIS daypacks, and always try to hit me up for any extra, unwanted packs to replace thier "well loved" ones.

Within the next couple of weeks, we should receive confirmation of our hotel reservations. I have never been disappointed with the hotels, or their locations in each of the cities we will visit. ACIS always books hotels close to the city centers, or close to public transit. This makes it possible for us to extend our visit in each city into the evening hours. Summer daylight hours in Europe extend well into the evening. It doesn't really get dark until at least 10:00! Who wants to stay cooped up in a hotel room an hour away from all of the action? Hotels close to the city center allow us to experience the true character of our host cities, in the evening when all of the tourists are gone and the locals come out to enjoy thier towns (especially true of Venice).

Stay tuned! I'll let you know when any more information about the trip is available.


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Rome

I don't think it is possible to have "enough" time in Rome. After all, Rome is the "Eternal City." Over 2,000 years of history lies, quite literally, beneath your feet when you walk it's narrow, wandering streets. To me, Rome is really three different cities; the classical capital of the Roman Empire, the crowded medieval city, and the grand Baroque center of Counter-Reformation Catholicism. During our short time in Rome we will have the opportunity to experience all three. We will get to walk through the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. We will have the opportunity through the cramped medieval streets of Rome's center, and we will experience the Baroque grandur of St. Peter's. We will also run into Baroque fountains just about everywhere. Because our time is so limited, I don't have any free time suggestions other than to simply take a stroll through Rome and enjoy our last evening in Europe.









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