Last Minute Things

The days grow closer to our departure. I have managed to get a list started for all the little things that we need to bring. I was informed to pack light, but with all the camera equipment, tri-pod, chargers, converters, the medical necessary stuff, like band aids for the feet, and all my the travel books and I created endless folders that outline all the highlights of where and what to see and do. Once we get done with an area i will trash the folders. All this stuff important stuff (LOL) needs its own suitcase. Maybe I will rethink things.........

I could not of asked for a better send off when I received my monthly bottle of olive oil in mail, from the "Itlaina Table", the magazine " I belong to the Olive Oil club. They send you a new bottle each month from a different region in Italy. I get one every other month or I would be drowning in olive oil. In the box comes a letter explaining the origin and the region of your bottle of pure green gold! , along with a wonderful recipes using the olive oil.

Come to find out this particular olive oil is made right down the road from where we will be staying in Vicenza. This had to be fate at its best! so I jumped on the internet and Googled the name of the olive oil farm, to see if they provided tours of a working olive oil farm. (The internet is a powerfull tool!) There in black and white was the a website and an email address! The next day I received an email mail back from the owner welcoming us to his farm and provided us with a local phone number when we get there to call him and set up a visit. Then to top it off, a couple days later I get a phone call from a man who lives in New York City. Silvo is the gentleman who is in charge of the warehouse in New York where they import their olive oil to the United States., also the right hand man who sets ups all the trade shows to introduce the Bonamini olive oil in the US. This is the website from the Olive Oil Farm in Italy. http://www.oliobonamini.com/

The girls in the office have asked for certain things before I go. One wants a purse of some guy named Lou. I will stock up on post cards and some dry pasta to take back as gifts and of course some great wine! There is a terrific store in San Marco square that sells posters. If I can only remember where it is. I do remember what side of the square its on, but who knows it may not be there. Its been twenty years. Venice made such impression in my mind that I feel like it was yesterday I was there. I really do not know how 20 years passed so quickly. I kick myself every time I think that its been that long.

In the May issue "Bon Appetite" magazine there's a wonderful article of Rome, Florence and Venice. OMG the places to hang out and eat are so fantastic. I think I will come back 20 pounds heavier unless I walk and walk and walk in Venice !!