This week, we’re giving you an insider’s view of what traveling with us is like in Sicily. Yesterday we wrapped up our first 2022 tour with a group of women touring this stunning island. One of the guests was doing this tour for the third time! Letting other people (us) do the planning for you while you soak up life in the slowdown are what dreamboards are made of. Judging by the photos our guests have been sharing, highlights of the tour include: watching the sunset in Pollara with a glass of prosecco; wine tasting; walking the beautiful streets of Ortigia; and lunch at the countryside home of a real, honest-to-goodness countess. Don’t ask about a favorite moment — it’s too hard to choose just one! We have two more Sicily trips scheduled for this September. Choose from September 2-10 or 11-19, 2022 (both are co-ed). Reply to this email for more info.
Planning an epic adventure is the opposite of just spontaneously rolling into weekend plans. An epic adventure takes time to research, it takes dedication to the process, and of course it takes creativity to pull it all together. A few years ago I imagined a bite sized adventure — I wanted to do something I’d never done before. And that was sailing in the Med. I had never actually been sailing and I didn’t even know if I would like sailing (I was worried it would be too windy. I know that sounds nuts!). I was deeply curious about seeing more of Sardinia. I grew up on an island and I just keep getting drawn to them. So I moved ahead with it — made some calls, spent a lot of time online, asked people who knew more than I did, and put in on the calendar. One week sailing in Sardinia and Corsica with my best friends. Check! What I found on my trip is that Sardinia and Corsica are next level — so many beautiful beaches and inlets and pretty villages along the coast. Want a bite-sized or epic adventure in these parts, too? Whether you swim (yes, people actually SWIM between Sardinia and Corsica, and these people will help you), sail (like I did, and these people will help you do that), or just hang closer to the land, Sardinia (and Corsica) absolutely do not disappoint. Epic adventures — I dream for you to have more of those!
When we stay with clients in Palermo (the first stop on our Sicily tour) we like to visit historic Palazzo Conte Federico for a private viewing. It’s one of the oldest buildings in Palermo, and part of it contains the original fortress walls that protected the city. Built in the 12th century, it’s filled with art and antiques and frescoes from all eras. With a history like this, it’s quite the place. But what’s unique about this palazzo is that the original family still inhabits it — it’s really a living museum, and they work to keep it in the family. So many of these grand palaces in Italy get sold and turned into hotels — I mean, can you imagine the cost of upkeep on a place that has 20+ rooms? (Some weeks I can’t even keep my own closet organized.) The private palace does have a small collection of apartments that are available for rent — here’s the link. Airbnb on steroids? Yup! (PS: The photo is of the palace, not the rentals.)
