Couple's European Vacation Review: England, France, Italy, Cooking Classes, Museums, Cathedral's, Amalfi Coast, Wine & History

We were enlightened at each location by our guides. They were very informative and gave us a thorough historical perspective that only comes with the one-on-one conversations. Our London guide was superb with academic knowledge and he was fun to be with. Westminster Abby and St. Paul’s Cathedral was the highlight in London.

In Paris the cooking class was very special. We enjoyed the intimacy of a chef's apartment and his insight to ingredients and the art of cooking. Our guide showed us the iconic sites of Paris providing great historical detail. ­­ The Palace of Versailles was most memorable and tied together the relevant relationship of the Louvre with Versailles.

Florence, was our first exposure to the impact of the Corona Virus, and the lack of people in the popular tourist areas. For instance, our local guide commented that she never before walked into the Duomo and Accademia without a wait. To our benefit we were able to enjoy several sites easily including the iconic David. We sat on the rear bench and studied the sculpture unobscured. It was a tranquil moment and very memorable. The next day the government closed all museums. Two surprises still awaited us. We had a cooking class in Siena. It was the most fun and most work we had in preparing a 5-course meal. The making of Pici pasta was a workout and is very labor intensive. But we enjoyed eating the fruits of our labor a few hours later. The next delight was the trip to San Gimignano and wine tasting at a farm. We were practically the only ones at San Gimignano during our walk of the town, and when we visited the farm we were the only ones for lunch and wine tasting. Very enjoyable secluded adventure.

In Rome we were greeted by an exceptional guide. The first day we completed a pilgrimage to Vatican City, the Vatican Museum, VIP access to special areas, Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Church and the Square. The next day the government closed the Vatican and all museums, and guided archeological sites. We made the best of the situation on day two with our guide and a very informative walking tour around the Ancient Roman ruins. Our guide brought Rome to life with stories of ancient Rome.

The last day in Rome was a day trip to the Amalfi Coast. It was a warm and sunny for the day trip. The towns of Amalfi, Positano and Sorrento were fun to tour, shop and eat. Worth the 12-hour day spent.