Excursions

Driving past cherry orchards, with the red fruit ready to be picked, we all “oohed and ahhed” over the abundance of brilliant red poppies everywhere ... there is something about France and Italy that simply ignites your senses ... things you pass by every day at home have a different sensuality, texture, color and smell in Europe ...later that evening we worked with our chef to pit the freshly picked cherries for a glorious, freshly baked cherry pie ... what could be better in our A Season Away home away from home ...

“Come here, I want to show you something,” motioned the former French National jai lai champion. Then he whispered, “They call this the “black gold” in Spain and you simply must try it.”  We were in a busy tapas bar in San Sebastian Spain, and the “black gold” was a special ultra thinly sliced ham that was only available in this one tapas bar, one of hundreds in the district...

Heading up into the wild country of the Pyrenees Mountains of southwest France in four-wheel drive vehicles, we were motioned to take a sharp right down a steep path. In 2-3 minutes we arrived at a shepherd’s hut where, under a simple pergola, VillaHost Wendi had arranged a sumptuous lunch prepared by a local artist. Sipping wine with our backs to the simple hut, drenched in sun, there wasn’t another soul in sight, just the towering Pyrenees keeping us company.

It was a villa trip to Italy we all wanted to create for our parents. They had raised us, even put away money for our children’s’ college. Now it was time to get together in Chianti in a big house with a pool and enjoy time together, perhaps for the last time as the family as we knew it. It was fun seeing Mom get tipsy on red wine, and Dad, with his goofy hat, telling all those god-awful jokes. Most of all, it was great to savor moments of the sunset of their life.

A Season Away has chosen the best of the best villas and apartments, and their local hosts (their so-called “secret sauce”) are well-educated and well-versed in the local regions. I believe that the entire concept of extended stay holidays including exception exceptional  local experiences and the services provided by A Season Away are of the highest quality... their attention to every detail let me know it was my “time” to learn, grow, smile, feel blessed, and enriched.