We’ve been back from our October Excursion for a couple of weeks now and have finally finished our post-trip chores. But let us tell you that we’ve been constantly in touch with our guests we just traveled with as well as the partners we will be taking our guests to in 2026. It really is an honor and privilege to curate these Excursions and make these friendships. Even more to see our guests becoming friends with each other and staying in touch after they return home. What a joy all around.
In October we led back to back Excursions in Italy. First, 7 days in Genoa followed by 10 days split between Bologna and Siena. Here’s a rundown of those trips.
Our Genoa guests began their Excursion by dealing with the very Italian phenomenon of protests and strikes. 3 of the 5 guests made it to Genoa from Milan before the trains shut down for the day. 2 guests had to rent a car to get from the airport in Milan to Genoa as their trains were canceled. They arrived earlier than they would have with the train for less money, and a story to tell. That first afternoon we walked above the city center to dive into the city’s urban architecture.We were then treated to a private Mass in the small chapel of the Basilica of San Siro from Fr Enea Traffano who offered a beautiful Mass for us all in English. Then to the Cultural Debris Excursion Headquarters in the San Siro apartment for cocktails before a multi-course dinner from chef Gianluca at Osteria Pandemonio. What a great start.
The rest of the week included deeply exploring the city at a leisurely pace that allowed time for real discovery at each spot, reflection and discussion. On some days we had our destinations to ourselves. One day we giggled as hastily led gaggles of tourists from a cruise ship quickly entered a church in which we were in marveling at the numerous Baroque masterpiece paintings (including 2 Rubens) while the groups just as quickly exited in minutes. Our day trip to Camogli and San Fruttuoso was a hit. It never gets old seeing the awe in peoples’ eyes when they see the 1000 year old monastery in the hidden blue-water cove only accessible by boat or foot. The burgers for dinner afterwards in Boccadasse caps off a great day. And what trip to Genoa would be complete without a visit to Ovada and our friend Angelo and his farm.
This year we had our first Cultural Debris Dinner Party for both our guests and our Genovese friends. Amy and Tiffany helped Tom shop for the ingredients and prepare the dinner while the guys went clothes shopping with Alan. They made the best meatballs, chicken curry, 2 salads and charcuterie boards! 11 Genovese guests showed up making Alan be a really busy bartender for the 18 attendees. And best of all, the people all ended up in the kitchen standing around the table picking at the food before later moving to the salon for relaxing post-dinner drinks. We will definitely try to make that a part of future Genovese Excursions. We hope the number of guests increases each successive trip. They loved meeting our guests.
We said goodbye to our Genovese travelers and got on a train for Bologna to prep for and catch our arriving travelers for the following 10 days. We had just finished with one group and were excited to start with a second group that was just starting their own Excursion. What a delight it was for us to see how well two different groups of people in different cities come together to make for a wonderful visit.
One of the truths of travel is that you can’t do everything, so you have to decide what you wish to do. Bologna is a rich vein of culture to mine that is blissfully undertouristed. The home of the oldest university in the world, Bologna is where St Dominic taught and died, where communism is centered in Italy, and where Umberto Eco taught and wrote his novels as well as boasting the most covered porticoes in the world. It is also the culinary capital of Italy. So it was no surprise that we ate well, walked under the colonnades, took day trips to Modena and Ferrara, and were gifted with a private Mass at the tomb of St Dominic followed by a tour behind the No Entry sign at the Dominican Priory. The final day we walked the world’s longest portico up the hill to the Basilica of San Luca overlooking the city.
From Bologna we all loaded up on the Flixbus for scenic drive to Siena through the Tuscan mountains and hills. Once in Siena we settled into our ancient B&B rooms and started exploring. We began with a private tour of the museum of the Onda Contrada, one of the 17 neighborhoods of Siena. The museum is not open to the public, so it is a great way to start the visit to the city. Siena is a visually striking city in the macro with views across the ridge lines and valleys of olive groves, as well as micro views of the medieval illuminated music books in the Cathedral, the Eucharistic Miracle of Siena or the incorrupt head of St Catherine. We climbed to the top of Brunelleschi’s Dome in Florence, and discovered the covered passageways of San Gimignano on two day trips. No surprise that the food was excellent and the Chianti flowed freely.
Now we are prepping hard for 2026. We will be in Andalusia, Spain, with guests the 2 weeks leading to Easter. As of this mailing there may be a spot open for that trip.Were waiting on confirmation from interested parties. Then in May we have a full group on a 13 day trip to Rome, Siena and Bologna, followed by a full group for 10 days in Genoa. We finish out our year in Croatia in October. Prior to the March trip to Spain, Alan and Tom will scout Bordeaux and Toulouse for a potential Excursion in 2027. Our plans for 2027 are France in April, Italy in May and Bavaria in Oct. Bavaria is already booked. There are some spaces open for France as we are planning back-to-back Excursions. Same goes for Italy. No firm dates for any of the 2027 Excursions as we are still working next year.
Write to us! (tomandalan@culturaldebrisexcursions.com) We love hearing from you. Tell us where you’ve been, where you want to go and tell your friends about us. Better yet, come with us and make new lifelong friends that you’ll want to travel with again and again.
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