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Sep082011
Tour/Activity
Ottawa City Hop-on Hop-off Tour and Cruise
Ottawa, Canada
My Rating
My Review
Great way to spend a few hours. The Ottawa River tour is the one to take as you see a lot of the canal from the bus tour anyway.
A lot of stairs up and down to the water but the Captain called a taxi to pick us up at the dock in Hull as I have emphysema. Four star service I'd say. Take the longer river tour as the boat is nicer than the other company's.
Sep162010
Tour/Activity
Skip the Line: Borghese Gallery and Gardens Walking Tour
Rome, Italy
My Rating
My Review
From the moment you enter this beautiful home your jaw just drops. A private collection of some of the most outstanding art you have ever seen.
Marble statues that look like they're draped in gauze and details the likes of which we have never seen. 2 hours in the Gallery and then 1 hour in the gardens which really is a park open to the public. Your final stop has the most breathtaking vista over the City of Rome
There are stairs involved in the gallery itself but I have emphysema and managed to make them going slowly. It was well worth the effort.
Sep142010
Tour/Activity
Private Tour: Lucca and Pisa
Florence, Italy
My Rating
My Review
This trip is so worthwhile. People of varying degrees of mobility should have no problem with it as both Lucca and Pissa are relatively flat areas. Our driver and guide, Sergio, was informative, humurous and gave us the option to spend more time in Lucca, less in Pisa as we opted to view the grounds only and not enter the buildings. You also get a private guide in Pisa who is local to the area which is very helpful.
And then you get Lucca. Beautiful, beautiful Lucca all to yourself with tons of fun shops to look at, marvelous old streets and a beautiful square. If you like walled Medieval towns but have trouble with the steep hills then Lucca is for you!!!
Would recommend this one highly.
Sep132010
Tour/Activity
Siena and San Gimignano Day Trip from Florence
Florence, Italy
My Rating
My Review
Keep in mind that these are hill towns and VERY steep. I wish companies would rate these excursions like cruise ships do as I would put this at "extreme" activity. MANY steep roads.
I have emphysema, two others had knee replacements and one older lady found it quite difficult. Thank God our guide found alternate routes up side streets rather than doing the "stairs of death" - seriously, that's what they are called.
If you can manage it, the towns are outstandingly gorgeous, expensive shops abound but the ambience is fantastic.
Sep122010
Tour/Activity
Skip the Line: Florence Uffizi Gallery Tickets
Florence, Italy
My Rating
My Review
This Gallery offers elevator service for those requiring it and, bonus, a washroom on the top level for handicapped if you ask one of the attendants in the various rooms.
It is well worth using this service as the line was over a mile long to get in and otherwise we might have just said "to heck with it" and missed this very special gallery.
Amazing views also from the top level as well as, of course, the amazing artwork inside. Well worth seeing.
Sep092010
Tour/Activity
Veneto Hill Towns Small Group Day Trip from Venice
Venice, Italy
My Rating
My Review
Enrica, our driver barely spoke English which I find enfuriating when the company knew they had an entire van load (8 people) of English speaking people.
He provided minimum information and drove 30 to 40 kmh OVER the speed limit at all times throwing us around the van, making us feel very grateful we had renewed our wills before we left town. It was a total nightmare.
A hill town of course has some steep areas but I worked around it by just waiting for the group at a designated point. My husband told me I didn't miss much by going to the distillery anyway.
What we did see was beautiful, including the town where they play chess every year using real people in Medieval costume. Here we were able to purchase Grappa, the local wine of the region.
Beautiful, beautiful scenery and well worth the trip if you luck out and have a knowledgeable guide who can actually speak your language.
Sep082010
Tour/Activity
Venice Grand Canal Boat Tour
Venice, Italy
My Rating
My Review
An amazing way to see Venice and gain some local information. Our guide, was an enthusiastic young woman, originally American, now married to a Venetian and passionate about her new home.
Unlike a gondola ride, which is also a must even if it seems a little "schmaltzy" you see more of the Grand Canal and the smaller canals and really get a perspective of this busy, busy City on the water.
Sep082010
Tour/Activity
Skip the Line: St Mark's Square Highlights Tour
Venice, Italy
My Rating
My Review
I'm sure if there weren't a million people in Venice the week we were there (film festival etc. going on) this might have been a better tour.
As it was we couldn't hear our guide, St. Mark's Square was flooded from the thunder storm the night before so we just gave up and left.
This may not be a fair review due to the conditions but the group was far too large and if you can't hear, what's the point? Perhaps a different time of year it may be better.
Aug212010
Tour/Activity
Small Group Stonehenge, Windsor Castle and Bath Day Trip with Pub Lunch from London
London, United Kingdom
My Rating
My Review
We had our guide last year as well. I would advise Our guide that sometimes less is more. He talked on and on and on and on so much with details we'll never remember or much less care about that we just wanted to yell at him to SHUT UP and let us enjoy the drive.
Windsor Castle is absolutely amazing and not too hard to navigate if you have mobility problems. Beautiful, beautiful castle.
Stonehenge is worth the look if you've never seen it before but unfortunately by the time you get to Bath it is soooo late all the shops are closing. If it's your first time there though the Baths are well worth a look.
We saw Stonehenge and Bath the year before and picked this tour primarily to see Windsor Castle and spend some poking around the stores in Bath. If you're of a like mind, I would skip this particular trip. Just see Windsor Castle and try to find some other way to get to Bath.
