We are off to beautiful and romantic Tuscany!

Tuscany - the subject of many movies glorifying its grape arbors, olive trees, its rolling terraced hills, the ancient artwork, the churches and basilicas, the Chianti wine and, best of all, the Italian FOOD.

Seven days (minus two for traveling) of sightseeing and enjoying the wonders of Tuscany. We are together with our companions, Dr. Gary and Susan Greene, starring in the film Jericho Goes to Tuscany. Gary has his dynamic movie camera and I have my throwaway picture taker.

The Lufthansa plane is very crowded without much legroom and we are flying to Frankfurt. From Frankfurt, we go to Florence. Next to us is a darling 12-year-old German boy, who has spent two weeks in America playing Rugby. Lorraine asks him what he likes best about the U.S.A.; he quickly says, "Dunkin' Donuts." We agree whole-heartedly.

We arrive in Florence and are met by Sondra, a cute, confident tour guide, who speaks proper but passable English. On the bus ride to Montecatini (our final destination) we pass hundreds of garden nurseries with trees and flowers that are shipped worldwide. It is our first introduction to the lush scenery of Tuscany and our fellow tour mates, all from N.Y.C.

Montecatini is one of the most important European spa capitals. It is a picture-book town with very beautiful, expensive shops and restaurants. Our hotel is the Grand Hotel Vittoria. It is an imposing edifice, with 20 stairs up to the lobby. The lobby is right out of a Sophia Loren or Gina Lollobrigida movie. Our room is also very quaint with a very high bathtub and a hand-held shower.

After a guided walking tour with Sondra, we are on our own. The next stop on day one is a fun train ride up the mountain to Montecatini Alta, a mountain village with winding streets. We eventually sit down at a restaurant for wine, beer, cheese and bread. The food and drink are superb. We are then introduced to the Euro, the currency of Italy.

Each Euro is equivalent to 1.66 dollars. Everything, we soon learn, is very expensive due to the negative exchange rate.

Day two we traveled west to Lucca and Pisa by railroad. The Italian trains are clean and efficient. Lucca is a walled city with exquisite shops, churches and winding streets leading to the central square, the Duomo. The Palace Gardens with Roman statues of gods and a fountain were sublime. Dozens of lemon trees surrounded the fountain. Pizza for lunch.

Onto Pisa!

Back on the railroad tracks to Pisa. Everyone in the world wants to take a picture of the Leaning Tower. The town was filled with happy Italian students on a holiday, playing on the huge lawn. The Arno River divides the town. The tourists come to see the Piazza dei Miracoli. The Cathedral, the Church and the Leaning (Hanging) Tower of Pisa. The Tower has been called one of the world' s Seven Wonders. The ground under the Tower collapsed and reinforced concrete has been injected into the base and steel beams have been applied to the opposite side.

Part Two - Florence, San Gimignano, Siena and Chianti to follow. Stay tuned!