I’ve been dreaming of a trip to Italy for a couple of years now. Bought the Lonely Planet Italy in 2008, in anticipation, and the holiday is materializing this year. I am over the moon!

Souvik is pretty gung-ho too – wants a new wardrobe, toned physique, and looking forward to all the food.

In my dream, I live in the countryside, soak in the Tuscan sun, by the poolside, with a glass of wine and olives.

In reality, we will stay in an apartment, will take long walks to all the hotspots, drink wine and eat gelatos everyday 🙂

The tickets have been booked, the apartments too, and I’ve started to read “Under the Tuscan Sun” by Frances Mayes to get into the mood. Apartment hunt was the most fun I’ve had without moving out of my chair. I picked them out of www.ownersdirect.co.uk (great site!) and my imagination ran riot after that.

Next on the list is the visa and researching the works of all the great masters of the Renaissance.

Tomorrow we’re shopping for Souvik’s new clothes and mine are on their way from India (coz the Vietnamese sizes are way too small).

Also making a wishlist of must do’s while we’re there. To start it off:

#1: Catch a World Cup Match with the Italians

#2: Cooking class in Florence

#3: Toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain

#4: Eat loads of pizza