Coming back into reality after spending time in such an amazing place with equally amazing people, was needless to say a bit tough. It has taken me a week to acclamate myself into my once daily routine.

The "students" (on these journeys, I never consider myself a "teacher", rather a person who guides others through creativity and inspiration) were collectively the most supportive, helpful, generous, creative and talented people I have ever had the priviledge to be with.

Having my beautiful daughter Casey on this trip, was just icing on the cake. We were always having her model for us. Her four years of spanish certainly paid off, because she was able to actually carry on conversations with the local people.

We visited a very tiny town called Colotta. It is just above Carrera where the marble mines are located. This town's "piatzza" floor was entirely marble. It had been raining fairly hard, so we stopped here and had zuppa and homemade pasta. No one spoke english which only means there rarely are tourists... exactly how we like it.

Lucca is an amazing small walled city, uncluttered by tourists. The class spent a whole day there shopping with the locals, bicycling on the wall which circles the city, munching on pizza and gelato and of course relaxing in the afternoon with a thick rich cappuccino.

Cinque Terre is a group of five small seaport villages on the coast. No cars are allowed, so to access them you either walk a path along the cliffs, or take a train which runs from one to another. The colorful buildings, clear blue mediterranean sea and the incredible aromas from pizzereias and fish markets made Cinque Terre a wonderful opportunity for inspiring photographs.

The Ponte di Diablo or The Devil's Bridge was an amazing bridge that myth has it, was built in one night. The devil claimed the first soul that crossed the bridge, so the town sent a pig for the first maiden crossing.

After the sad farewells to the class, a few of us drove to Venice and spent several days there. Although the city is filled with tourists, we found getting up at dawn proved to be pretty amazing. Here the water is like glass, for no boats travel the canals that early.

Venizia

Casey and I said goodbye to the remaining girls, rented a car and drove to Provence. We traveled over the Italian Alps, through tiny mountain towns. The vistas were breathtaking! For four days, we drove around the beautiful backroads of Provence. I never realized that "french blue" really did come from France, for every shutter in this area is french blue!

One of the most moving places we visited was Saint-Paul-de Mausole, the mental institution where Van Gogh resided. We found ourselves completely alone in this beautiful place. Casey and I found a place to sit and just sat quietly for almost half an hour reflecting on the history of this magnificent place. In the surrounding towns, every corner we turned reflected one of the many paintings of this talented man.

This glorious old gate was just alongside the road. The garden within was completely overgrown.

My cup runneth over....my senses all equally filled. The tastes; afternoon cappuccinos, full bodied wines made from local vineyards and thick rich zuppa (soup) on chilly evenings. The visions; of olive grove patterns lining the distant hills, cobble stone roads, elderly people chatting in the piazzas or grapes hanging full and lush on their vine. The touch; of ancient stone buildings and warm hugs from new found Italian friends. The aromas; wafting out of bakeries and pizzerias or the pungent smell of grapes being processed into wine. And last, the sounds; of distant church bells and the Italian language being spoken in love above me as I walk through the narrow streets where everyone is tucked away in their homes having their afternoon meal.

I am so very blessed to have experiences like these. As for the future? Ireland just might be calling me from across the moors.