Random items.

A few things:

Interesting slideshow listing what you can and cannot bring home, customs wise.

AOL Travel's best 11 travel apps for smartphones/iPads

Ann -- I know you've been all over apps and such. If you find awesome things you think we should all have, will you post here, please?

The Uffizi gallery (Florence) site has downloadable stuff and also has a link to reserving tickets, but from what I can see there is a pretty big charge for the online service, which shouldn't be needed-- you can reserve tickets (recommended to avoid long lines) at the Uffizi office in advance for just a small charge. So, for those of us who want to hit the Uffizi for sure, we can reserve tickets when we get there, a day in advance. Plus, it sounds like you can reserve tickets for the Accademia (where Michaelangelo's David lives) at that same office.

Also, I'm checking into Chianti region tours; there are a lot of options. I'll update you after I narrow it down. I'm looking for Sunday, half day.

Grazie!
-cr.

p.s., please be sure to reply with ideas, thoughts, things to share. I think it's easy to do once you set up an account the first time. Or you can do anonymous, just be sure to say who you are. Thanks.