Paula....

I hope you have a wonderful time reconnecting with family members. Safe travels Paula, and buon gusto!

Eat lots of food and drink lot of wine for us!!

Dio mio! Thanks for your kind thoughts and good wishes. Yes, we leave this Saturday night for Italy (we call it "the old country" in my family, which I love to say). 24 of us from the U.S. will hang out with our Italian relatives next weekend for some eating, bocce ball, etc. We arrive in Pisa Sunday night and ideally will drive the 1.5 hours to get to the apartment we rented in the little hilltown of Barga. A lovely town. I think we'll be there in time for the St. Christopher festival and several other outdoor festivals. It's a good summer. We'll be home for a week after Italy and then head out to SoWal. Life is indeed good... I'm bringing my SoWal stickers to Italy, by the way...

Thanks again for your good wishes. Ciao for now.

Meow and ciao, Miss Paula! It sounds like a wonderful and meaningful trip!

KISS SOME Italian men for me

Have a wonderful time Paula! Do a pregnant lady a favor -- have some lemon soda and pistachio gelato for me please. Enjoy yourself!! :clap_1:

Is it tomorrow that you leave for Italia? Have a wonderful time, SoWal something and take lots of pics. We'll miss you, but you'll have a great trip!

You are the best cruise director girl! Ciao Paula! Have a great time! Wish I were going.

Dio mio! 24 of us from the U.S. will hang out with our Italian relatives next weekend for some eating, bocce ball, etc. Thanks again for your good wishes. Ciao for now.

Sounds like Sunday dinner at my house! Mangia- Have funn

have a safe trip and a wonderful time in the old country !!

Dio mio! Thanks for your kind thoughts and good wishes. Yes, we leave this Saturday night for Italy (we call it "the old country" in my family, which I love to say). 24 of us from the U.S. will hang out with our Italian relatives next weekend for some eating, bocce ball, etc. We arrive in Pisa Sunday night and ideally will drive the 1.5 hours to get to the apartment we rented in the little hilltown of Barga. A lovely town. I think we'll be there in time for the St. Christopher festival and several other outdoor festivals. It's a good summer. We'll be home for a week after Italy and then head out to SoWal. Life is indeed good... I'm bringing my SoWal stickers to Italy, by the way...

Thanks again for your good wishes. Ciao for now.

Oh, Paula - it's going to be a wonderful trip to Italia - and I can't wait to hear all about it. Aren't you the one that told me that old St Christopher got de-sainted? Love all the saint festivals in the old country...

be safe and well, full of pasta and wine as well as lots of family love...

Have a warm and wonderful time with the familia, Paula.
Wow, what a nice summer for you!
TooFar, lemon soda and pistachio gelato are two of my faves, as well.

With Paula off to the old country for a while, it makes me ask...when does Allifunn get back to the new country?

With Paula off to the old country for a while, it makes me ask...when does Allifunn get back to the new country?

Not soon enough!

Well, 3 hours and counting til we leave for the airport. Bags are finally packed. I'll eat something for everyone, St. Christopher was De-Sainted but we won't say anything in Italy because he's the patron saint of the town, and I've packed the SoWal stickers (I'll see where I can post them...). I really think Barga is SoWal's sister town. Jazzy, artists, good food, photographers, mountains instead of beaches, focused on the good-life, has tourists but no overwhelmingly so, has earthquakes instead of hurricanes, has good humor and good people...

Looking forward to hearing Allifunn's and everyone else's summer stories!

have funn, wish i could go...