Welcome Back To Italy 2018
It has been quite a journey to come
back here as we had to miss last year due to my Isabel’s fight against breast
cancer and then a brain tumor. I promised her we would return and that she
would conquer this battle and be the victor which she has done and she returns
now cancer free. We again, thank all of you for your prayers, meals, gracious
deeds, etc. that you all did for the two of us during this difficult period. It
meant so much to us knowing we were not alone in this fight. It has brought on
an awareness of how prevalent cancer is out there and how precious every moment
one has as you never know what lies ahead in the road. All we know, is that for
NOW, now is all that matters and so we are celebrating every moment of every
day and in particular this year’s tour to one of our favorite places on earth,
ITALY!
I
have so many memories that rush back to me while on this tour, in particular
here in Florence. Such a magical place and over the course of the last 18 years
I have been coming here it is somewhat awe inspiring to notice the change in
technology from those first trips with no cell phones to how easy it is to
travel here and navigate around compared to then. It is also reflective to look
back at how I have changed since that first trip in 2000. Many of those
memories come back to me while walking down the streets of Florence remembering
the first time I saw the Duomo or crossed the Ponce Vecchio. It makes me wonder
at age 57 if I really have more trips ahead of me or in back of me. 
I love sharing this journey with my
travelers, this time 22 travelers, many having this tour their first experience
traveling to Italy. What an honor it is to share this with them. I have had so
many rookie travelers from past journey’s go on to become amazing world
travelers because of this Tour. I love that. Travel is amazing – it wakes you
up and gets you out of your comfort zone and I love seeing my travelers bring
parts of this trip home and into there everyday lives. Americans are always in
such a hurry to get to the finish line and Italians celebrate the journey. They
are marvelous and beautiful people and truly one of the best joys of coming
here. Over the years, I have made so many wonderful friends here and that too I
cherish.
Our
trip here went without a hitch thanks to the impeccable planning and execution
done by my business partner, Evelyn Jung! She makes this tour and all of our
tours click! She is our mission control and she is a master at it. We traveled
all day Wednesday and arrived Thursday afternoon to the Hotel Brunelleschi to a
champagne welcome and check-in. Bravo – that is the way to check in. I love
this Hotel and have been coming here for years. They treat us like family and
it was wonderful for a number of my travelers already tell me “they feel like
they are home” here. 
After settling into our rooms,
unpacking and freshening up, we all met at the hotel terrace for a welcome
cocktail and then we were off to dinner at the Buca San Giovanni Restaurante
right in front of the Duomo! What a great spot to kick off our tour with the
stars overhead and the Duomo as our backdrop. How can it get any better…..well
it does as my travelers will all see.
Following dinner, many returned to the hotel to battle the jet lag and a few of us
wondered down to the Westin on the Arno for some rooftop cocktails and then I
enjoyed a cigar and some gelato on our walk home. Fantastic start to our 15thTour
and I know how special every single moment is.
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