May 3 - 11, 2011 - Trip Two

Walking and Sightseeing in
Umbria, Italy
May 3-11, 2011

Thank you for your interest in our return excursion to Malvarina and Umbria. For this eight day tour, I intentionally, do not have a set itinerary as I do for the other trips. This is YOUR tour. I am designing the itinerary to meet the interests of the majority of participants. What would you like to see and do on this return trip? Would you like to go back to Bagnoregio/Civita, Orvieto and Todi? Gubbio? All of these are worth repeating…..or we can add some other hikes, cities, villages, adventures. I am open to your suggestions.

In addition to your suggested excursions we will include the following:

A hike on Mt. Subascio will take us either across the ridge and down to the Hermitage of St. Francis or we will hike in the other direction as we did in 2009, from the top to Collepino to Spello.

We will return to a location that we visited in 2007… Norcia and the Sibillini Range where we walked through meadow of wildflowers in the Plains of Casteluccio. We saw where all of the wonderful lentils of Castelluccio are grown. Claudio has planned a special lunch for us in this area.

Our trip intentionally coincides with the celebration of Calendimaggio in Assisi (www.assisiweb.com/assisi_calendimaggio_en.html ) We will see if we are able to purchase tickets for the Saturday night event. This may ….or may not be possible. Never the less…walking around town anytime during this three day period is great fun as we see the many local people dressed in their Medieval regalia. The town is all decked out for the occasion. There are cave like restaurants serving medieval foods and wines and are open only at these three days. We would plan to be in Assisi for one of the days of our tour.

Keep in mind….you do not have to join in the all the activities. We are staying in a lovely location. You have the freedom to spend as many days as you wish….just relaxing….reading….absorbing…

While Tuscany has gained fame for having successfully capitalized on the charm of its sun-bleached stone farmhouses, those looking for a slightly less trampled alternative will enjoy an agriturismo in Umbria. Known as the Green Heart of Italy and home to such famed medieval hill towns as Assisi and Spello, Umbria hosts a treasure trove of gastronomic and cultural delights rivaling those of its more famous neighbor to the west. In Umbria there are works of art, harmonious architecture and views of a breathtaking and mystical landscape add to the total experience.

Always look forward to a return trip to Malvarina, our lovely base in Umbria. This will be my twelfth stay at Malvarina. I am planning to lead two consecutive trips. The first trip, April 25 – May 3, will be for those visiting Malvarina for the first time (or those who do not mind a repeat itinerary). The second eight day trip will be for repeat visitors and will run from May 3-11.

Weather in Umbria in April/May is beautiful. We have long days of daylight. Temperatures usually do not go above the mid-seventies. Evenings in the hill towns will be cool. At this time of year, the poppies are in bloom and you will hear the mating call of the cuckoo.

Accommodations:
Situated on a hillside east of Assisi, nestled among olive trees and rosemary bushes, La Malvarina is a renovated farmhouse.. The Inn dates from the Middle Ages. The name Malvarina derives from a strip of land once part of a castle complex. The estate has been tastefully restored by the owners. Each room is furnished with antiques from the area. Maria Maurillo and her family live on the property and take pride in maintaining it’s impeccably groomed grounds. Hospitality is a family affair. Maria’s son Claudio, his wife Patrizia, and their children enjoy making guests feel like part of the family. Grandson, Filippo, often takes us out on day trips. The buildings at La Malvarina date back to the fifteenth century. Stables, barns and annexes immersed in an oak forest, have been renovated to provide rooms with private bathrooms, all carefully refurbished in classic country style. Part of the old wine cellar has been converted into an intimate dining-room with a large fireplace where relaxed in the warmth and comfort of the surroundings, you can enjoy the immense variety of Maria’s cooking of old traditional Umbrian recipes using home grown produce. Maria, also offers cooking courses for those who are interested. We will offer an option of taking cooking classes at 25 Euros per person per lesson Maria and Malvarina were featured n Bon Appetit magazine (My 1997) and on CNN Travel Now (Nov. 1999 and March 2000). Kathy first learned of La Malvarina in a Wall Street Journal article. For photos of La Malvarina and information about the area check the following websites: http://www.malvarina.it Try doing a Google search on “Maria, Malvarina, cooking” and see what you get.

Malvarina is situated between Assisi and Spello…..four miles in each direction. There are scenic walks to each of these towns through olive groves along paths and dirt roads.

Price of trip covers double occupancy in rooms with private baths. You can have a private room and bath at a single occupancy cost of an additional 120 Euros for the eight nights.

Meals: At La Malvarina (Umbria) our breakfasts and dinners are included. On our daily excursions, you will purchase your own lunches. Breakfasts are at 8:00 am and dinners are served at 8:15 pm and sometimes last until 11:00pm. We are served course upon course of Maria’s wonderful home cooking. Wine and mineral water are included with our dinners. When one bottle is emptied….another one appears. To give you an example of a typical meal: toasted bread with olive oil, fresh faba beans, pecorino cheese, artichokes, a bean dish, special chicken soup, a faro (barley) dish, cannoli with veal, lamb shanks, greens of chicory and arugula. Dessert of cut up fruit and small cakes and cookies. Every night there was a pasta, a meat, salad, vegetables….and many extras!

The Italian breakfast is simple…scrambled eggs, bread, cheese, butter, homemade jams, fruit, juice, coffee, and tea.

Travel: Airfare is not included in the price of the trip. Kathy will keep you informed of the best buys for air travel. If you hear of a bargain rate, let Kathy know and she will share the information with the rest of the group. We will have a designated time to meet at the airport in Florence on May 3 (which means that you would need to leave home on May 2….or earlier). Highly recommend that you arrive at least a day early in Florence….just to be sure that you are there when the bus picks up the group.

A passport is required of Americans traveling to Italy. Be sure that it does not expire for at least six months after you return home.

We have hired a small bus and driver for our stay in Umbria. The driver will meet us at the airport in Florence and return us to the same airport at end of trip. During the week he/she will drive us to our day’s activities.

Local Guides: The guides that we used on past trips were excellent. Peppe, Filippo or Piera will be our guides for sightseeing and hiking in the hill towns and countryside.

Horseback Riding: Optional (at your own expense)….A half day of guided horseback riding in the mountains behind Malvarina is possible. This is for experience horseback riders…not novices. There are beautiful views as you ride through the olive groves.

Trip Coordinator
Kathy Didier owns and manages Pembrook in Woodstock, NH. She is an AMC Boston Chapter leader (hiking, snowshoeing, and skiing). Kathy leads at least two weekend trips each month in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and an average of eight one to two week excursions at more distant locations each year. In addition to AMC trips, Kathy leads her own trips and also coordinates trips for GoAhead Vacations.

Trip Insurance - Cancellation and Medical
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance when you book. This can reimburse you if you need to cancel last minute due to sickness, family emergency, jury duty, job change, or any other unforeseen occurrence. In the past year, I have had eight people cancel their trips or return home early due to loss of job, death of family member, and illness.


Requirements to Participate
a) To fully enjoy this trip, recent, on-going hiking/walking experience is required. We will be hiking or walking in towns from four to eight miles each day. Our pace will be slow to moderate. The idea of the trip is to enjoy the scenery that surrounds us. If a participant is not up to hiking eight miles, he/she has the option of staying at our accommodations and doing a local walk on his/her own.

b) Adaptability: An important criterion for this trip is the ability to be flexible. Our itinerary could change from day to day, planes can be delayed, and weather could cause changes. Everyone is expected to be able to “roll with the punches” as much as possible, be cooperative, abide by leader decisions, and add to the total group experience while enjoying themselves. Safety will always take priority in the leaders’ decisions.


c) Understanding Purpose of Trip: This trip is designed for everyone to experience the natural wonders, history and culture of Umbria, Italy while enjoying the company of fellow hikers. Although each person comes with his or her own expectations, this is primarily a group trip. Decisions will be made to benefit the group as a whole.


Equipment - You provide your own daypack, hiking boots, and rain gear.


Cost Particulars - The cost is $ 1895 if we have a full group of fourteen participants. Price would be $2050 if there are only ten participants. This cost is based upon the value of the US $ and Euro. I have used $1.50 US to one Euro. Final price of trip will be base upon the foreign exchange at time. I am hoping that it will be less and you will receive refund. If it is more, we will have to raise the price of trip.

Included in the price
1. Land travel by bus and driver while in Italy
2. Accommodations in beautifully restored farmhouse (double occupancy)
3. Eight multiple course dinners and wine, eight breakfasts
4. Lunch at Malvarina on day of arrival
5. Local guides for six days outings
6. Oil tasting
7. Special luncheon excursion on one of the days
8. Tips to Guides and Kitchen staff

Not included in price
1. Transportation to/from your home and your local airport
2. Flights form home city to Italy. Any Airport Taxes **
3. Alcoholic and bottled drinks other than those served at dinner.
4. Single supplement. 120 Euros.
5. Lunches
6. Cooking classes if you are interested (25 Euros)
7. Museum Admissions (total of about $10 pp)
8. Ticket to Calendimaggo – optional
7. Personal expenditures
8. Costs resulting from illness, injury, or emergency evacuation
9. Program changes and delays beyond our control
10. Any pre-trip costs such as Passport or anything else not in the above list of “included in the price”
11. Trip Insurance
12. Horseback riding

Payment Schedule
Registration - $ 600
September 1, 2010 $ 600
January 1, 2011 - $ Balance


Cancellation Policy
Cancellation must be writing -

a) $150 non-refundable portion

b) Any moneys paid out to vendors and money necessary to keep the trip cost from increasing - causing an increase for other trip members. Therefore, you should have purchased travel insurance by this time.

Please note that once the trip has filled and prospective participants are turned away, you will not receive a refund unless we are able to fill your space.

Once a trip begins, there is absolutely no refund, partial or full, for any reason. Travel insurance may cover you for this expense.

Registration
The minimum age for this trip is eighteen. Because of bus size, this trip is limited to a group of fifteen. A separate application is required for each person. To reserve a space on the trip, please fill out the application completely, sign the liability form and mail these with your deposit to:

Kathy Didier
PO Box C
Woodstock, NH 03293

Make checks payable to "Kathy Didier “. She will promptly review your application. Upon acceptance, a receipt and additional information will be sent to you. If not accepted, your deposit will be returned.

If your application is received and accepted after January 1, 2011, please add scheduled payments to the amount of deposit. Thank you. If you have any questions, please call:

Leader: Kathy Didier
PO Box C
Woodstock, NH 03293
603-726-3553 (Tele. & FAX)
kdidier@suchmail.com