We found  empty, cobbled streets, gorgeous vistas of snowy hillsides, abandoned
stone towers, and an enjoyable glimpse of how hard life in the Middle Ages must
have been during times of inclement weather.  As the February wind picked up
from the valley and chilled us through our winter coats we retreated to a meal
of warm minestrone and whole grain bread, and I found myself wishing for the
comfort of a roaring wood fire.

Some of our best trips have been to places we were specifically instructed not
to go.  That's a valuable lesson for travelers, and as a guidebook author I am
very reluctant to steer travelers away from places; rather I prefer to just
provide the information and let the facts speak for themselves.

San Marino was a vivid example of this experience.  Our guidebook described a
silly village, overrun with tourists, pretentious, and best avoided.  But we
visited on a cold day in February and found instead empty, cobbled streets,
gorgeous vistas of snowy hillsides, abandoned stone towers, and an enjoyable
glimpse of how hard life in the Middle Ages must have been during times of
inclement weather.  

As the wind picked up from the valley and chilled us through our winter coats
we retreated to a meal of warm minestrone and whole grain bread, and I found
myself wishing for the comfort of a roaring wood fire (we enjoyed this
experience again, fire and all, on another trip in Rocca Calascio. I went home
with a narrow, brass hilt pocket knife, and an appreciation for a lifestyle
long forgotten.  

The simplest pleasures are unpredictable.  As a result, I say to guidebook
authors everywhere, "let the traveler decide."