Simply Italy: May-June 2007

Hi - I'm going on the Simply Italy trip from 5/31 through 6/12. I've heard some great things about contiki trips, but the one complaint I've heard concerns the dinners. I've heard the included dinners aren't very good - which is fine with me, because I wanted to check out a lot of local Italian restaurants for dinner anyway. Will I have the chance to do that - or do I have to eat whatever the "group dinner" is for the evening?

Also, my friend and I (we're straight males) are 32 and 34, respectively - I know the trip is for 18-35 year olds, but do many people go who are at least in their late 20s?

Any other advice for the Simply Italy trip?

Thanks - looking forward to going!