Dearest Tuscany,
Thank you for allowing my mom and me to enter into your majestic, pristine, lush and romantic world. Thank you for being the place where we’d develop a lifetime full of friendships with our Backroads tour group, and thank you for countless days and nights full of gut wrenching laughter.
Thank you for the experience of waking up to views of rolling hills and vineyards as far as the eye can see. Thank you for the morning mist on the mountains. Thank you for the hikes and explorations. Thank you for your fiery red poppies and Cypress tree-lined pathways. Thank you for rows upon rows of olive trees, and thank you for producing the world’s greenest grass.
Thank you for dinner at Mimma’s house, where we were all instantly made to feel as though we were a part of her family. Thank you for the most incredible Gorgonzola and Arugula Lasagna that has ever touched my lips. Thank you for Mimma’s hilarious lesson on how to curse in Italian, and thank you for the Prosecco that we all sipped during this lesson.
Thank you for the delightful picnics. Thank you for the honey tastings at Benedictine temples. Thank you for olive oil tastings with olive oil experts. Thank you for the Brunello, Super Tuscans and for the cellar full of Chianti Classico ranging all the way back to 1937. Thank you for the introduction to Paolo, the truffle hunter, and his awesome truffle hunting dog, Millie. Thank you for the art. Thank you for your endless years of history. Thank you for the church choir that serenaded us with Ave Maria as we walked in the door.
Thank you for our fearless leaders, McKynlee, Michael, Edoardo and Vincenza, who all played a role in changing our lives. Thank you for that precious child who I watched run into her father’s arms in Pienza. Thank you for all the moments that I got to hold hands with my mom, and thank you for our renewed relationship as mother and daughter. Thank you for the smiles. Thank you for unabridged happiness. Thank you for giving me something to constantly dream about, and thank you for the BEST memories.
Ciao, Tuscany. Until next time…
Love,
Bailey