Ocotber is tomorrow...wow...time flies...

Just a couple of notes on recent research into air fares...try Hotwire and use the flexible option as to travel dates...recently, I found fares from Seattle to Rome under $700 RT...the cheapest in at least two years...with the Euro rising and the dollar falling fares might even get better as packages are assembled to encourage Americans and Canadians to visit Europe...who knows...but be prepared for a more expensive trip when you get there, although, if you travel close to the ground...Italy is still a bargain. One can find rooms and small pensiones and albergos under 70 Euro ($100) for two in most of the regions, convenient to the places we want to visit. For example, in Tuscany, San Gimignano, a room can be had even in season for $65 Euro in a very nice location inside the walls of the medieval village.