Dream Trip 2009

Great Travel Moment

My mother had never been to Europe, so for her 60th birthday my two sisters and I took her on a paid vacation to South France and Italy (Tuscany and Rome). We were staying in Florence and ready to take a bus to Siena, when our Italian friend (and cab driver), Stefano, said with his robust accent, "No no no! The bus ride is not beautiful. I will take you through the Chianti region--it is very beautiful!" And sure enough, we took the most beautiful ride I have ever been on, stopping along the way at a market and a medieval town. However, my favorite view was when we stopped on the side of the rode and saw the rolling hills and morning mist settling in the background and rows of grapevines in the foreground. That is where I took this picture!