Mittens 2010 Italy -- Sat 31st July - Sat 7th Aug. Last few spots remaining!

[Miez]

What Chrille said: I really hope you can make it ... wouldn't be Mittens without you two.

[Matt Frith]

Yes, you two better come. I still owe you for that Mexican in Albany!

[m0ds]

Ditto! And get that scoundrel Mills to travel with you!!

[Darth Mandarb]

Okay ... I attempted to re-read this entire thread but didn't seem to locate the information I am looking for!

What is the closest train station to the villa? 

I am finding [train] tickets to Arezzo but that seems to be about 40 minutes from the villa and I'm sure I read there's a station much closer?

My [currently planned] itinerary:
- Fly into Venice (either on 29 or 30 July) and hop the train to Rome
- 1 day in Rome
- Pompeii (in the morning of) the next day and then on the villa for Mittens
- [hopefully] a road-trip to Pisa while at Mittens (for any interested)
- after Mittens back to Venice for a day
- Then fly back to the States.

Not planning on renting a car with this itinerary but if the need arises it can always be done.  I wouldn't mind chauffeuring a bit.

[m0ds]

I haven't found the name of the station or anything yet but I did just find this about getting to another villa in the area:

Both from the north and from the south, get off at the Arezzo train station, where you find connecting trains or buses to Foiano della Chiana operated by L.F.I. (La Ferrovia Italiana).

[Matt Frith]

I went to the L.F.I website and found timetables valid  up until 12th June 2010 showing the two stations closest to the villa (Lucignano and Foiano).  It seems to suggest it is about 30-40 minutes journey time, which I can't see changing drastically in the next timetable update.

Link

Darth, I made a map a while ago that should serve as a useful reference for the stations in relation to the villa:

Link

[Chrille]

None of the stations seem to show up on the map, Tier.

[Matt Frith]

Oops, you're right. Fixed it now hopefully

[Darth Mandarb]

Awesomeness.

Thanks for the info Tier and Mods!

[DutchMarco]

Okay all,

there The sun has shone on my good fortunes recently, it looks like I'll be with a job/an income after all, in spite of me having been made redundant in one place.So if at all still possible, I'd like to make my reservation for one of the reemaining places (as mentioned in the thread's title). I do not want to miss this opportunity of hanging outwith all you guys n gals again, in what must be God's very own Tuscan villa - it looks divine enough for that! Vatican eat your heart out.

So put me in as a - regrettably delayed - definite. As soon as I have confirmation of my placement in one of the last few spots, then I'll pay up. - I'll solve the empty checking-account issue with the help of my secret Swiss savingsaccount - just mention the words nazi-gold to the bankmanager and I'll be fine in that respect.

[Snarky]

Excellent. Go ahead!

[m0ds]

Good news Marco! See you there then hopefully. Which reminds me, I can pay the final bit of my deposit today. Woop

Right I think that's paid. Gunnar is it okay to just keep sending you the same amount until it covers the rest of my accomodation bill? It'd be useful to know if you're happy to recieve some back after Mittens because that will ease up my travel money situation. If it's a problem and it's going to be needed before Mittens that's fine, let me know. But this paypal thing is uber-convinient for me, and I'm happy to pay the fee each time.

[DutchMarco]

Excellent. Go ahead!

You're kidding, right? You really expect me to say that to a Swiss bankmanager? You do realise that after military training, all Siwss men (even bankmanagers right down to the lowliest clerks) get to keep their weapons at home, just in case their neutrality-trick doesn't work, gosh didn't this nautrality-policy do wonders for the Netherlands in the late 1930s...


Most jokes aside, this is utmost cool. I'll transfer the money, Snarky, asap or rather: as soon as I get a more positie bankbalance on my checking-account, having paid off my motorcycle-tuition put my balance a little bit into the red - Oh great, I haven't mounted my own motorbike yet and I'm already red-lining.

[DutchMarco]

God news: my bank balance has gone from red (if even only mildly so) to black (or blue, however you call that), so I've paid the $101 + fee to harboe (aka Gunnar) will pay the rest later on, I promise I will!

[Chrille]

To those arriving by train to Arezzo, did you book any tickets yet and if so, what time will you be arriving?

[m0ds]

Just to note, currently with 20 attendee's we will have to pay an extra 36 or so euro each.

If we make the cut off point the end of June I will get back in touch with Grifone and see if they can lower the price as we're 4 people short of what was originally planned.

But if anyone else wants to come, now is the time to make it known....hurry!

[Darth Mandarb]

Well ... shoot.

This is probably the worst possible time for me to announce this (given Mark's post) but it's looking like I won't be able to make it this year   Something has come up (not with me, but I'm caught up in it) and I need to be here.  There is a [very small] chance that I'll still be able to make it so I'm not canceling any of my ticket/reservations (and don't need/want a refund or anything) because if the time comes, and I'm able, I'm getting on that plane.

To those that are saddened (I'm sure there's one or two) I am sorry.  I was really [REALLY] anticipating this year's Mittens

[AGA]

So I guess that means Tarah isn't coming either?

[m0ds]

That's a real shame Darth!

I'm also umming and arring about funds for this Mittens. But we'll see.

[Matt Frith]

I am sad that all these cool people are dropping out.