Traveling Companions & Great Friends 

This past month traveling with six friends, some of whom we have known for many years and others whom we have just begun to get to know, was a delight and an education.  

Thanks to all of you—Mart & Bob, Carole, Jennifer & Steve and Blythe—for making it a memorable and fun-filled adventure! Let's do it all again—real soon.

Starting with Paris, where longtime friends and oft traveling buddies, Mart & Bob, let us join them in a delightful apartment, near the Metro and in a neighborhood full of shops and restaurants. We shared four fun days highlighted by a full day at Giverny and another at Chartres—where we also got to meet their childhood friend, Barb.

Then it was onto Tuscany, where we all gathered at Casabella and Casabellina and met our wonderful hosts Marzia and Renzo.

Anna, everyone's favorit guide,  gave us an introduction to the city of Siena, its history and especially the Palio and the Contrade, especially her contrada, Lupa. 

Some of us even took the challenge to climb to the top of what was to be the largest church in Christendom, only to be thwarted by the Black Death and hubris. 

Others of us were just contented  with shopping or drinking our new favorite an Aperol Spritz.

 Oh the meals we enjoyed together, some days it seemed like the pasta or wine couldn't get any better, 

only to discover another great dish or wine at the next hill town...

or the next... 

and then we learned to cook some great Tuscan food ourselves...

Did you ever think we would visit Elba? 

We weren't quite able to find the real  Naplolean, but it was a great island visit, neverthe less.

The walk from Casabella thru the Tuscan hills  that Steve discovered for us was great fun, just glad that Carole didn't take one or all of the kittens home with her.  Will  we see crazy mop headed chickens again? Could they be Polish chickens?

The birthday party for Sue was perfect...and the napkins, the most thoughtful of gifts, and your  driving all over Tuscany to find the napkins was above and beyond. 

The Birthday Party dinner for 14, including our hosts, Marzia & Renzo, and four new friends they introduced us to, was a stellar and memorable night and one we will long remember and cherish. 

The food and shopping were so good at Monteriggioni that we had to return twice. 

Bob certainly wins the prize as the most dedicated sketcher, as well as the most appropriately dressed ; it was always fun to see how his artist's eye interpreted what we were seeing and experiencing. 

Larry enjoyed having his skills and leadership being recognized and rewarded—but is still wondering why you didn't always follow his directions?
 

But all good things do come to an end, so we spent the last week saying goodbye. 

First to Jen & Steve at the Orvieto Travis station. Then we were six...

and five, 

and finally you all left us, but our journey continues but with  new traveling partners, John & Bonnie (Sue's brother and sister in law.)

In the next couple of weeks we will be exploring a little further afield in southern Italy and Sicily...so stayed tuned.