I immediately thought of what Parma said about the european temps this summer when i read your post. I agree, there were good lessons rolled into your experience-- and not that you need my validation, but you made the right decision. I know this is a trip of a lifetime for you-- it wouldnt have been as enjoyable if you werent all feeling great.

Hope your daughter is recovering well from the virus and her surgery.

Maybe you can do something to whet your appetite in advance of your trip next spring.

Maybe plan a trip into the city for an authentic meal. I LOVE Lupa-- one of Mario Batali's restaurants. It is not as upscale as Bobbo but it is a much more relaxed environment and the food is memory making. Of course there are so many great italian restaurants in NYC... many of which are smaller and less expensive. Perhaps you already have your own favorites.

Another option I highly recommend is a walking tour of the italian neighborhoods of NYC. Addie Tomei (Marisa's mother) runs Savory Sojourns-- I have been on a few of her tours over the years. She is so vibrant and interesting and KNOWLEDGEABLE. Her tours hit some "must see" sites as well as hidden treasures... and the whole experience is peppered with interesting and entertaining narrations about the life and history of the neighborhoods. It is really a great experience and I think well worth the price (about 150pp).

Or.. for a much more modest price, have a family movie night and rent The Big Night or Il Postino or Enchanted April

or Under a Tuscan Sun (I didnt love the movie as much as the book-- but still it has gorgeous views of the Italian countrysides).

I immediately thought of what Parma said about the european temps this summer when i read your post. I agree, there were good lessons rolled into your experience-- and not that you need my validation, but you made the right decision. I know this is a trip of a lifetime for you-- it wouldnt have been as enjoyable if you werent all feeling great.

Hope your daughter is recovering well from the virus and her surgery.

Maybe you can do something to whet your appetite in advance of your trip next spring.

Maybe plan a trip into the city for an authentic meal. I LOVE Lupa-- one of Mario Batali's restaurants. It is not as upscale as Bobbo but it is a much more relaxed environment and the food is memory making. Of course there are so many great italian restaurants in NYC... many of which are smaller and less expensive. Perhaps you already have your own favorites.

Another option I highly recommend is a walking tour of the italian neighborhoods of NYC. Addie Tomei (Marisa's mother) runs Savory Sojourns-- I have been on a few of her tours over the years. She is so vibrant and interesting and KNOWLEDGEABLE. Her tours hit some "must see" sites as well as hidden treasures... and the whole experience is peppered with interesting and entertaining narrations about the life and history of the neighborhoods. It is really a great experience and I think well worth the price (about 150pp).

Or.. for a much more modest price, have a family movie night and rent The Big Night or Il Postino or Enchanted April

or Under a Tuscan Sun (I didnt love the movie as much as the book-- but still it has gorgeous views of the Italian countrysides).

Here is a link that might be useful: Savory Sojourns

I immediately thought of what Parma said about the european temps this summer when i read your post. I agree, there were good lessons rolled into your experience-- and not that you need my validation, but you made the right decision. I know this is a trip of a lifetime for you-- it wouldnt have been as enjoyable if you werent all feeling great.

Hope your daughter is recovering well from the virus and her surgery.

Maybe you can do something to whet your appetite in advance of your trip next spring.

Maybe plan a trip into the city for an authentic meal. I LOVE Lupa-- one of Mario Batali's restaurants. It is not as upscale as Bobbo but it is a much more relaxed environment and the food is memory making. Of course there are so many great italian restaurants in NYC... many of which are smaller and less expensive. Perhaps you already have your own favorites.

Another option I highly recommend is a walking tour of the italian neighborhoods of NYC. Addie Tomei (Marisa's mother) runs Savory Sojourns-- I have been on a few of her tours over the years. She is so vibrant and interesting and KNOWLEDGEABLE. Her tours hit some "must see" sites as well as hidden treasures... and the whole experience is peppered with interesting and entertaining narrations about the life and history of the neighborhoods. It is really a great experience and I think well worth the price (about 150pp).

Or.. for a much more modest price, have a family movie night and rent The Big Night or Il Postino or Enchanted April

or Under a Tuscan Sun (I didnt love the movie as much as the book-- but still it has gorgeous views of the Italian countrysides).

Here is a link that might be useful: Savory Sojourns

Goldengirl, I'm so sorry that your DD fell ill.

Thank goodness for your trip insurance. I've been thinking about you and posted on the "visitor from the South" thread. While it was a horrible thing for your family to go through, I think you'll have better luck next year. It turns out that Italy was going through one of their worst heat waves when you were supposed to be there. Air conditioning is spotty, at best, there. You might have been miserable.

June is a better time to go. I'd never book a European trip for July or August. You just never know about the weather and frolicking about in short-shorts and halter tops isn't the norm, there.

Still, so sorry that your DD is under the weather.

Your poor DD!!! What a bummer summer she's had. I don't know how old your DD is but she's really had more than her share, hasn't she? You're so right - a cancelled trip is nothing in the grand scheme of things. Trip insurance was a real blessing for you but I'm sure your decision wouldn't have changed even without it.

Thanks parma, dlm and funky for all of your kind words. It took a full week to recover, but DD is doing much better. I knew it could get quite hot, but hadn't realized that the weather was exceptionally hot this summer. It looks like DD (poor thing) might have done us a big favor.

It was in the high 90's, in Parma, for over a week. That's in Northern Italy. Who knows what it was like in the South.

Looks like you might have dodged a bullet. I don't know your heat tolerance, but I would have been absolutely miserable.

Parma - thanks for the update and FYI I'm fair-skinned and my heat tolerance is VERY LOW ;0( so I guess we dodged a huge bullet ;0)

It's good to hear an update, even if it's not a trip report !! I'm glad your dd turned out well after a while, I guess there will be other trips.