Greetings from Cortona, Italy!
I received my vaccine passport just in time to hop on the train from Austria and make my way to the beautiful city of Florence, Italy. I've been here many times before, but it's such an incredible place to wander around, and all the moreso after such a long time without a trip.
I didn't get to spend any time in the museums or galleries as I was busy checking up on some things in preparation for our LiveAway programs next year...but there will be plenty of time for that when we return 🙂 Everything in Florence looks great, and I got to spend some time with our guide Angela, who is very much looking forward to showing us around Florence.
In general here the vibe is very relaxed and might I say...normal? There seems to be no shortage of tourists, though some of the shop owners and hospitality people here have told me it's definitely a bit quieter as there are noticeably fewer North American tourists here. The magic certainly hasn't left the place and it will be here waiting for you should you opt to join us in April or October.
After Florence I rented a little car and made my way to Cortona to check out the villas for the second part of our program. They are just oozing with the charm of the Italian countryside, and the views from the cliffs are just spectacular. I think it's the perfect place to hang your hat while exploring this part of Italy, as you get that 'living here' feeling that no hotel can provide.
I'll be sharing some video footage of the villas shortly if you're keen for a closer look. Other things upcoming include a big picture look at France and our Kaleidoscope program, and a webinar about our Crossing the Andes: Argentina & Chile program. Do join us for those if you are able.
I've got a few more things to check off the list here in Cortona before I head off to the south of France to do some recon for our Canal du Midi program, so stay tuned for that if you're curious how France is for travellers at the moment. Stay well and keep dreaming...lots more to come.
Cheers!
P.S. If you missed the webinar about our Namibia & Botswana program, you can check it out here, and the full itinerary is in your newsletter 🙂
Gordon Dreger
Founder, Wheel & Anchor
Gordon Dreger is the founder of Wheel & Anchor and has been in the travel industry for over 30 years. Travel is a self-expression for him, and there is nothing he likes more than talking about travel and sharing all of the joys of it with others.
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