In College, my art professor would tell us don’t just look at the pictures in the book. GO, see them!

She was Italian and passionate about Italy. The way she would describe her native country was like hearing a fairytale for the first time. And they lived happily ever after. 

My fascination with Italy was reaffirmed in 2003 after seeing a movie called Under the Tuscan Sun starring Diane Lane. She was a recently divorced writer who was depressed and feeling down on her luck. Her best friends gifted her with a “Gay and Away” tour of romantic Tuscany. Albeit she wasn’t gay. However, her friends were gay but could not take the tour because they were expecting a baby. While there, she decided to purchase and renovate an Italian Villa, and thus the adventure begins. The cinematography in the movie left me desperately wanting to visit Italy and, so…I did!

My friend Dr. Tamiko Smith and I purchased two round-trip tickets and headed to Milan and Florence! We had no itinerary. We decided we’d get lost and hopefully live to tell the story. We had the absolute best time! We met some of the most hospitable people, ate authentic Italian food, shopped on Corso Venezia, stared in amazement at the Duomo di Milano, and took the train through Tuscany on our way to Florence.

In Florence, we visited the Florence Cathedral, saw the statue of David, ate gelato on Ponte Vecchio, and shopped (because a Lady must) at the Mall.

There are no words in the English language to describe Italy. There are over twenty regions. Each one is as different as night and day. Each day is a trip back into the past and tells a story without an orator. 

Travel is my therapy as it feeds my soul. I love being anonymous in a foreign country. I love getting lost and finding my way. I love learning a new language and immersing myself in the culture.

I also love curating trips for my friends and love ones. I am the ULTIMATE planner! I supposed I learned after not having a plan on my first visit. 

I have traveled all over the world and have seen many wonderful places. However, nothing quenches my soul like Italy!

The best part about traveling is that you don’t need an excuse (like a Gay and Away tour) to see the world!

Just pick a place and GO!

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page!” 

Saint Augustine