Mark and Isabel in Firenze on our first day of our Candelaria Design Italy New Years Tour
Just a handful of those whose flights arrived early from left to right, Erika, Debbie, Russell, me, Jaime and Isabel at the Hotel Brunelleschi.
It is always so wonderful to have time in Italy and especially during the Holidays. This trip, and now Tour, is my third time here in Italy during the Holidays and it definitely will not be my last. What started with just Isabel and I going turned into my brother, James, and his wife, Beth, joining us then our childhood friend, Jaime Gomez, and his girlfriend, Debbie, joining us and then two more couples, veteran Candelaria Design Tour travelers, Erika and Russell Dickey and Gicela and Anthony Dulcich all decided to come along and so I just resigned myself to making this a Candelaria Design Tour – our 27th.
In fact, I am organizing it just like one of our standard Italy Tours, starting in Firenze, moving onto our agriturisimo compound in Umbria for a week and then finishing with a couple nights in Roma. 15 days overall.
I love starting our tours in Firenze and during the Holidays there really cannot be a more festive and magical place to be. We spent Christmas with the family in Phoenix but we will be celebrating New Year’s Eve tonight here in Firenze. The weather is perfect, low 50’s and clear 30’s at night. Every street is decorated to the hilt.
Arrival in Firenze 50º on December 30th!
Wheels Up at Phoenix Sky Harbor with Erika and Russell Dickey.
Checked in to the Hotel Brunelleschi
Isabel and I flew with Russell and Erika from Phoenix, via Charlotte, North Carolina, then onto München, Germany and finally Firenze, some nearly 24 hours later. My brother James and Beth had their flights delayed and were first stranded in Dallas then Rome and finally made it late last night. All of the rest of us made it fairly unscathed.
We checked into the Hotel Brunelleschi, the same hotel we have been staying at for years and how nice to have my travelers walk in and be greeted with a warm welcome and, “You are friends of Mr. Candelaria. Welcome!!!” I love staying here – it always feels like family and I love their lounge and their breakfast is off the charts.
You gotta have the Bisteca Fiorentina when in Firenze
Once settled in we enjoyed our usual first dinner spot, Buca San Giovanni right in front of the Duomo and the big Christmas tree. Because it was too cold to sit on the streets we dined in the cellar which I love just as much. Of course we ordered the Bisteca Fiorentina for the table along with saffron risotto, pasta alla carbonara, and grilled vegetables all accompanied by a couple of bottles of Rosso di Montepulciano. Heaven and finishing the evening with a limoncello salute.
We were all pretty wiped out and so we called it a night but with the excitement of knowing tomorrow is New Year’s Eve and our first full day in Firenze.
I am so excited to be experiencing this trip with my brother James and wife Beth. It’s their first trip to Italy and boy are they in for an experience. I just love having the time with them and of course the time with my Isabel. So special and always a good time to go as the emails, calls, etc. are minimal during the Holidays.
James and Beth Candelaria with Isabel at the Ponte Vecchio.
Follow along on our journey – I will try my best to keep the blogs coming! And follow us on Instagram @Candelariadesign and my personal account @Mcandelariaarch.
Ok Ciao for now!