Dream Trip 2009

Great Travel Moment

To me, this picture represents everything I love about Italian culture: food, family, and the enjoyment of life. My family (along with my newly engaged fiancees family) set out to discover Italy, and we stopped for a Tuscan lunch at a hillside trattoria while exploring the Chianti region. Our lunch took well over 2 hours, but we were in no rush and lapped up every single minute. The breathtaking views of the Tuscan hillside provided an unforgettable backdrop, but the real enjoyment was the fact that our families grew closer over the shared enjoyment of Italian food and wine. The kind waiters even divulged to us some secrets of the local winemakers, which made the entire experience feel incredibly authentic. For this particular meal, we felt that we were actual Italians, taking part in a normal routine--not just tourists out for a meal.