I leave for my big trip in ten days. Not counting the two days wasted on torturous trans-Atlantic flights, my mom and I will be spending five glorious days in Italy and then eleven days aboard the MSC Magnifica, stopping at various ports in the Adriatic and Mediterranean [cruise info].
Of course I'm thrilled as always to be returning to Italy; most places on the tour will be familiar, but some will be new territory: Bari, Montecatini, and Verona. As for the rest of the trip, this will be my first cruise, plus we will be visiting several countries I have never experienced.
Mom & I will be skipping the canned tours of Rome and Florence so that I can take her to some of the really cool off-the-beaten-path places I have found over the years. I'm excited to be able to finally share these things with her. It will be a tight schedule, but completely worth it!