Well, when we were in Barga this year, we were asked by Dana (our host & guide of The Inspired Tourist) if we’d like to attend a cooking class.  Of course, my mom and I signed up for that!  When you have a chance to interact with locals through an experience like learning to cook local dishes from them, you take it. So, one afternoon, we headed over to La Mezza Luna, a bed & breakfast and cooking school, for Tuscan style cooking and dining with Rita.  It also happens to have a beautiful view. Rita was one of the most delightful people I met on our trip.  She is warm and boisterous; an Italian woman born and raised in Scotland.  Because of her Scottish upbringing. She still speaks English with a thick accent.  So much so, that you almost forget she’s Italian. Rita assessed group, which was the largest

On the afternoon of our first full day in Barga, we had the pleasure of doing a walking tour led by Keane, a man who moved from the UK 30 years ago and has made Barga his home.  We didn’t get to do this tour last year, so I was excited to learn more about this ancient walled town.  The main focus of the tour would be visiting the 1000-year-old Duomo at the top of the hill.  It’s a Christian church with a pagan history where the steeple bells are still rung by hand. Keane took us the long way up the hill through the winding streets of Barga.  One of my favorite things about these old European towns is the narrow streets.  I love the way the light falls into them creating sharp shadows and bringing the warm colors of the plaster to life. I love the little passageways

None of us were looking forward to an early morning wake-up call to catch our train from Paris to Milan to Florence, but that is what had to be done. Since train travel is less expensive then air travel, my mom and I decided to splurge on business class tickets.  Since we were on the train most of the day, it was a good move. Our seats were comfortable and the train car was less crowded and quieter.  That made for a great day to relax and enjoy the view. I just spent time to write in my journal and enjoy the view out the window.  One of my goals in taking the train was to get lots of pictures to use as references for paintings.  Taking pictures out of a train is a tricky business.   You have to start to feel the rhythm of the train and the cadence

Before we leave Paris and head to Italy, I thought I would share the “souvenirs” I purchased.  For me, I like to bring things home that I will use.  When I interact with them, they will remind me of my trip and, hopefully, a great memory that accompanies them. I already shared about the antique fountain pen and the lesson I learned about giving a situation a second chance. I also purchased a reproduction of a French handwriting primer… ..and my beret and books from Shakespeare & Co.  With my beret, I’ll remember being physically shown how to wear them properly.  Those books will always bring me back to the narrow aisles of the bookshop frequented by Hemmingway. The last items I purchased were from Charvin Arts. I selected items that I haven’t come across before or I most likely couldn’t buy at an art store in the US. I

We got a late start to our last day in Paris.  It was the only day we didn’t have to wake up for a tour, so we slept in and were slow to eat breakfast and get ready.  When traveling, there is always a tension between wanting to see as much as you can and wanting to stop to take a breath.  This morning, we took that breath. There were a couple of stores I wanted to visit, so mom and I decided we’d take a slow walk to get there, just enjoying the city along the way. The morning was chilly and I wanted to buy a beret anyway, so the gray and cold weather was a good excuse.  I picked a black, wool beret, put it on and paid for it.  My mom and I took a few steps when I encouraged her to buy one.  It helped

As I was planning out our France leg of the trip, the number one thing I wanted to do was take a day trip to Champagne.  For me, it wasn’t about the grapes or the tastings, but it was about seeing the French countryside…seeing tiny villages nestled in lush green hills and checkerboard fields. So, I booked a private tour for our group with Artventures.  If you’re planning a similar trip, private tours are more expensive than group tours, but they offer a lot more flexibility.  Since both John and I wanted to be able to stop and take lots of pictures, this was going to be the best option.  Also, when you split the tour between four people, the price is more reasonable. (As an aside, this is a tour we paid for and this post is not sponsored.) We were picked up at our apartment early in the