WHEN THIS IS OVER
During Covid-19 I’ve had a lot of time to dream about where I want to go when this is all over. “When this is over” is something I keep saying these last several months. There are too many places on my bucket list I must visit before my time is really up. If nothing else, not having the freedom to travel emphasizes just how important it is for us travelers to experience new places and cultures.
I’m dreaming of that perfect trip to Italy. I think I’ll rent a villa in Tuscany with some of my friends and family and explore the region with an Italian expert guiding us. Someone who knows where to go and what to do. One who knows where the special places are that guide books don’t mention.
I don’t want a tour in the traditional sense. I want 12 to 16 of my friends to rent a beautiful Villa in Tuscany. We will hire a private chef of course. (who wants to cook in Italy?) We will meet local artisans that welcome us like family to their world of cheese, olive oil and wine.
We’ll visit a winery that makes Brunello wine, made entirely from Sangiovese grapes and marvel at the breathtaking views from that winery. We will go in October when the crowds have thinned out and the temperature is perfect. It’s also a perfect time to go truffle
hunting. We will go with truffle hunters with their specially trained dogs and look for those elusive white truffles, one of the most expensive substance in the world. White truffles begin to lose their flavor at the time they are harvested and some only last a week. That private chef will really come in handy that day.
We will take a cooking class or two and learn the Italian way to make pasta. Eggs or no eggs?
Whenever we travel to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, I get excited. Italy is home to 55 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. By definition, World Heritage is the designation for places on Earth that are of outstanding universal value to humanity and as such, have been inscribed on the World Heritage List to be protected for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.
The Val d’Orcia Region in Tuscany is one of them. (Photo above.)
When this is over, we are happy to turn that dream trip of yours into reality.
Next Month: 2021 Deals!