My "DREAM" Trip

For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to visit Italy but for some reason or another, job, kids, etc. it never happened. After visiting Spain last year, I knew that I HAD to go to Italy. After all, my parents were born and raised in Sicily, and I have SO many aunts, uncles and cousins whom I have never met. Another plus is that I compeletely understand the language. The "speaking" is where I have my problem. I met a gentleman on a business trip who told me he belonged to a "conversational Italian group" here in Atlanta and that I should check it out. As it turns out, there are several groups like this. I decided to get out of my comfort zone and show up at a local Starbucks to meet this "group". Wow, what a surprise! Most of them were just like me who loved the language and really wanted to learn to speak it well. Others were very fluent and there to help the beginners. I started attending weekly and have made some amazing new friends.Recently, my Mom came to visit and I took her to one of the meetings. Of course, she was the hit of the party because she was a native and spoke Italian so well. It made her feel good to see so many people who loved "her" country and "her" language. It didn't take us long to realize that this might be the perfect time for us to go to Italy. My father passed away 2 years ago and my mother's family has been begging her to come visit. So, the plans began. I met a woman (through the conversational group) who introduced me to a gentleman who owns a tour company called Walker Travels - "Italy Revealed". He lived in Italy for 17 years and has been in the travel/tour business forever!! Within a few days our trip was booked.

Here is a highlight of our itinerary. We will spend two days in Venice and then board the train to Florence-