[dan42]

My wife and my friend's wife went last summer, and the four of us went the spring before. Go to Tuscany. You can actually rent a house in the country relatively cheaply - look online. Rent a car and take driving tours. You drive on the same side of the road as us, so it's no big deal - just get one with GPS. Go with an appetite - the food there is incredible. It's not just pizza, though that is very good - all sorts of pastas, fresh bean soups, salads, everything super fresh and home made. Both Sienna and Florence are pretty cool and have some incredible architecture - seeing Michaelangelo's David was pretty cool. The euro is a little cheaper now so it's getting more affordable. Also, I would go in the spring - it's really hot in the summer and everything is overrun with tourists. Have fun and take pictures and post them!