The Great Finale ... Rome

Rome was our last visit during a month's tour of France and Italy. What a fitting end to four weeks filled with culture, history, architecture, and wonderful people. The great foods and wines of France and Italy were thoroughly enjoyed which will result in much needed dieting. Every sip and morsel was worth it. At the end of the day, all we'll have are memories of life adventures ... and our precious relationships with loved ones.

I can't fully explain how much we were impacted by people we met along the way. I could tell you stories about Yvonne who helped at the villa in Tuscany, or the sweet neighbors that nodded and greeted us in Italian while out on our daily walks. How about Roberto who drove us around Rome bragging that he had been an outstanding driver for 35 years, then accidentally ran into a motorbike sending the man flying? We enjoyed 2 1/2 weeks of the trip with Valerie and Mike Thompson who proved to be great traveling companions sharing much of our interests in wine, food, and people. Sandy and Terry Bartow joined us for the week in Tuscany surprising us with their culinary expertise by creating marvelous lunches and dinners (all with local ingredients) at the villa. Spending time with new and old friends brought richness to our travels.

Most importantly, sharing this adventures with my soul mate, Stephen, was the best of all! We have been lucky to share so much of life together. The sharing part is what colors the experience. Do you have plans to share some life adventure with loved ones? It not, why not plan something special.

Joan

Making Memories

Spending a week cruising the Mediterranean from Nice to Rome was glorious.  Our tall ship held 280, with a Kosta Browne wine subgroup.  Our favorite stops included Portofino, Sardinia, and Elba.  The wine tastings in Bolgheri and onboard ship were memorable thanks to Dan Kosta..

Presently, we are spending a week in a villa bordering Tuscany and Umbria.  With our two couple friends, we are exploring cute towns like Assisi, Montalcino, Pienza, and Montepulciano.  Of course, we are managing to fit in some great wine tastings at producers like Banfi, Barbi, and other Brunello makers. 

Life in Tuscan towns are filled with beautiful scenery, delicious foods, and superb wines.  Life could not be better.  What are you doing to create great memories at this life stage?

Making Plans in France

Normandy was magical. The green fields with those notorious hedge rows were dotted with cows and sheep. The beaches of Normandy looked tame compared to what happened June 6, 1944 on D-Day. Imagine that we are currently celebrating the 64th anniversary of that historic event today. We encountered many families with older Dad's (in the 83-88 year range) that served. The American Cemetery brought tears to our eyes.

We stayed at a delightful Bed & Breakfast by the name of Le Manoir de Herouville (see www.herouville.biz). The proprietors are sisters (Sue and Lizzie), and their husbands (both named David). They have restored much of the beautiful 15th and 16th century manor house including a quaint guest cottage in the old pigeon tower. Lizzie loves to cook which meant the breakfasts were over the top. Interestingly, this was their 'what's next in your life' plan. Years ago, they planned to spend their retirement years in France's countryside. The Bed & Breakfast part emerged when they bought the property, and needed to fulfill reservations already made. They discovered that they enjoyed meeting interesting people from all over the world. Perhaps our lesson is that having a plan is important, but allow enough room for new opportunities to shape the final solution.

France is great!

Joan & Stephen