Hi friends!

We just returned from our Taste of Tuscany tour and it was definitely delicious! It did remind me however, that being flexible, especially when traveling, is as important as ever!

It was going to be quite warm, in the 95 degree range on Friday, and we had planned a very busy day of touring beautiful towns and of course tasting wine.
Silvia, our private guide for several days, suggested that we make an adjustment due to the heat, by replacing the very hilly town of Montepulciano, with a tour at a small vineyard called Nostra Vita. This flexible move revealed more of the Magic of Tuscany in several ways!

While on the way to this new stop, the natural magic of Tuscany began to reveal itself!

I had not been to Cozumel for quite a few years so when this cruise aboard the Celebrity Infinity came up, we booked it!

When we arrived, the weather was glorious. I could not have asked for a better morning. Unfortunately, Barbara woke up with a bad back and she thought it was better to not bounce around in a jeep for 4 hours, so she stayed behind.

I went down to the meeting place, the El CID HOTEL, and after navigating a maze of jewelry stores, trinket shops and multiple duty free liquor stores, I finally found the hotel.

WOW, the hotel had a spectacular location with a view to match!

Well, eventually, we all come to the realization that as we get older we need “downtime”.

If you recognize and pay attention to this very basic need, you understand that it truly is a needed part of life that we often overlook. 

For me, I learned early in life that MY fix to this issue is cruising. So that brings me to share this latest installment, in the fine art of doing nothing. 

We are currently on a Holland America cruise ship, the M.S. Noordam and are in the middle of 6 sea days from Vancouver to Honolulu. This is the beginning segment of a South Pacific 28 day cruise which, sadly, I do not have time for. That issue is, however, the entire reason for the downtime I speak of.

 We have been privileged to take this journey to Italy and of this writing we are still here. We  started out in Barcelona and cruised some of the islands in the Mediterranean, and disembarked in the port city for Rome, which is Civitavecchia. More about that in a different blog but I am really excited to discuss with you the adventure that is the drive in Tuscany I speak of! 

We started out from Castello delle Serre in the small hilltop village of Serre di Rapolano. I discovered this special place because of an old family tie that a friend had. He kept pushing to go here and see for myself and I am SO glad I did. 

The Castello itself has tremendous history and when you go there, hint - hint, you should have Antonio tell you the story over a glass of wine. Speaking of Antonio, this story is a family tale and the fantastic Castello would not have been reborn without the vision of his father Salvatore! He is the host, chef, tour guide and visionary of this place. To hear Antonio speak of it, the process of the purchase, refurbishment and the current beautiful results was less a project but more of an organic being!