<p>We are going to visit our son in Morocco mid-December (one week) and then spend Christmas in Tuscany (one week). Do any of you have suggestions for what we should definitely do, not do or whatever on this trip?</p>
<p>Where have you already been in Tuscany? (I don’t want to suggest things you’ve already done.)</p>
<p>If you stay in the middle-towards-north Siena area, you can very comfortably make day trips to San Gimignano, San Quirico d’Orcia (which is itself a really great place to stay), Siena, Pienza, and Florence, plus all the other hill towns close by. Lucca and Pisa are longer but still manageable day trips from there, too.</p>
<p>We’ve never been to Italy or Morocco before. I think we are staying in the Chianti region.</p>
<p>I have a suggestion, bethie. Bring a friend to carry your bags. I’ve been working out.</p>
<p>I’ll keep going, just because it’s a great escape just to think about these places: Montalcino, Cetona, Sarteano.</p>
<p>(And I like TiredofSnow’s suggestion, but she said it first.)</p>
<p>I’m planning on sneaking into one of Bethie’s bags, so TOS can carry me - since she’s been working out. ;)</p>
<p>Sant’Antimo church, near Montalcino - Romanesque church from 1100ish. Bagno Vignoni. Monte Oliveto Maggiore.</p>
<p>(I’ll just ride along in a wheely-duffel.)</p>
<p>Wait, there’s gelato involved, right?</p>
<p>I did just get a larger bag, so I think you can all fit in. I have a feeling that I will not be losing weight on this trip.</p>
<p>You should be fine. Walking, lots of walking, in those beautiful hills is recommended. Need a guide?</p>
<p>I’ll come, I’ll come!!</p>
<p>I’ll take lots of pictures and say “ooh” and “aah” a lot. Not that I’ll be annoying or anything. Just the exact right amount of “oohs” and “aahs” ;)</p>
<p>No suggestions, but I’m drooling 
Enjoy your trip!</p>
<p>Yes, my suggestion is to hire me as a tour guide. 
</p>
<p>Not that I’ve been to Tuscany, mind you, but I’m sure I can make sure I, I mean, you have a lovely time!</p>
<p>Be careful in Morocco! I went on a cruise that had a stop in Tangiers, and me and my macho college guy friends thought we could handle it without an excursion or a taxi tour of the area that we wanted to visit (Medina, kasbah, etc.) Well walking out of the cruise terminal there, we were immediately latched onto by a tour guide who claimed to be “official” but his badge was obviously printed off of Photoshop for kids. We reluctantly let him tour us around after we realized we couldn’t shake him and noticed everyone who went on their own had a guide latch onto them. And he seemed nice enough. Well maybe 30 minutes into our tour a Mercedes pulls up, we watch him dart into this door with my friends in tow. I’m standing there in shock watching this all unfold as two guys jump out of the Mercedes, follow them into the door, and come out with our guide where he is shoved into the back of the car and they simply drive off and that was the end of that. My heart stopped waiting for my friends to come out of the little building they were in. They finally do, and a new guide latches onto us to show us the rest of Tangiers, while we’re trying to come to terms with our first tour guide being kidnapped by the mafia. It was one of the scariest travel days I’ve ever had.</p>
<p>So lesson learned here- take guided tours booked in advance!! My friends who have done this have loved Morocco.</p>
<p>Montepulciano in Tuscany; stay at Il meuble il Riccio:
[url=<a href=“http://www.ilriccio.net/english/meuble.html]Meubl”>http://www.ilriccio.net/english/meuble.html]Meubl</a></p>
<p>All the travel advice on Tuscany one would ever need at [Slow</a> Travel](<a href=“http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/index.asp]Slow”>http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/index.asp).</p>
<p>It might be of use to you to know that Tuscany is quite damp and raw in December. It’s not the same as it is in May!</p>
<p>If you stay overnight in Siena there’s a convent that rents rooms and is (of course) very clean, reasonably priced and comfortable. I cannot recall the name, but it is in the contrada (nieghborhood) of “il Dragone”, near a large church (not the duomo).</p>
<p>By the way, the correct English word for “gelato” is ice cream – for those who thought otherwise ;). While I’m on the subject, if, when speaking or writing in English, one refers to the Iranian language as “Farsi” it shows pretense and ignorance (contrary to the user’s perception). The correct name for the language is Persian. One wouldn’t ask “Do you speak Farsi?” as one wouldn’t ask “Do you speak espanol?”</p>
<p>Saddest part about traveling in Italy during December…most gelato places close down for the winter. Take thermal underwear, especially if you are staying in the countryside. Those old houses never ever seem to get warm enough since they are generally not outfitted with central heating systems. Be sure you know that there are restaurants nearby that are open during your stay.</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>Che schifosa? In the US gelato and ice cream are two different things. Gelato, although technically ice cream, is made differently than American ice cream. There is a world of difference in the taste and texture. I don’t think anyone here is being pretentious or ignorant.</p>