DISCLAIMER - If you don't have at least 2 hours to look at Italy trip pictures, please go to previous posting or next posting for pictures of
the cutest children ever!
Just kidding! (Well, not about the 2 hours or the cute children). Many of my friends and family members have asked to see pictures of my recent trip to Italy. This posting includes some of my favorite pictures from the trip (I took 750 pictures so please understand that it took severe discipline on my part to share only 17 of them!).
I'm extremely blessed to work for Brownell, a company that treats the Top Producers and annual Employee Award winners, to a spectacular trip! I'm also blessed to have been included on the trip this year to:
It was a week that I'll never forget and a trip that will be forever unmatched in: luxurious accommodations and food and handsome men and fun and shopping... I could go on and on!
Several of you have asked me to post a self-portrait on the blog (Ugh!). Let's get that out of the way first and this is absolutely the best that I can do! 5 of the girls at lunch mid-week in Bologna. We had so much fun at this lunch! From left: Debbie Bell and June Tingle Griffith (both from Mobile office), Haley Johnson (the coolest airline rep ever and one of our Hosts for the week - we couldn't have asked for a better fit with our group!) and Kerry Stegeman (works in Atlanta office with me).
Now that we have that out of the way, let's look at the sights of Italy! I couldn't wait to see the distinctive Italian windows in person! I felt like I was looking at a painting!
The view of a hillside of villas from our private tour of Lake Como! Wow!!!
Maybe it's the Wisteria along the retaining wall, or the fact that it's Lake Como, or the fact that George Clooney lives 3 villas down but I think I could live in this one!
Does this lawn look familiar to anyone? (Think 007 and another handsome man!)
This is the lawn of Villa Balbianello where the scene from "James Bond Casinso Royale" was filmed - where James recuperates at the end of the movie!
And now a full view of Villa Balbianello. Truly spectacular, not to mention very interesting!
http://http://www.thevillapassalacqua.com/index.php/villa-balbianello/
Statue as you walk up to the Villa and more Wisteria (may be my new favorite flower/plant - purple, of course!).
Speaking of Mr. Clooney, here's his little abode on the Lake -
And the Villa to the left of his that he's turning into the guest house. Oh my!
Ok, so it's not an Italy "sight" but isn't it cute? The Italians definitely don't drive Exursions!
Moving on to Florence, a picture of the famous Ponte Vecchio! It's amazing how many people can squeeze onto this little bridge!
And the line waiting to get in -
The lawn at Villa San Michele - not a bad way to spend a late afternoon before dinner, right?
And a picture of the exquisite Villa San Michele - high in the hills overlooking the city of Florence. Breathtakingly beautiful! Can you see the rooms tucked into the hillside? And the Wisteria going up the side of the main building (on the left)? And the handsome Franco, General Manager of the hotel sitting on the lawn? Just kidding, he's in the next picture!
All the ladies were a bit enamored with Franco! This picture of Gayle, from our Richmond office, gazing at him is how we all looked during a most enjoyable 3 hour dinner!
Moving on to Milan. The Duomo/Cathedral is not quite as large as Florence's but still overwelming! (I was pretty entertained by the bread advertisement on the left side scafolding).
Now to be serious for just a minute - Every day of the trip, I saw God's hand in this beautiful country. The Italian people are "southern" in hospitality and friendliness, the Alps as we flew into Milan screamed "God created us!" and how easy it was to close my eyes and pray to Him a prayer of Thanksgiving for the opportunity to visit Italy!
Thanks for sharing in my trip memories!
