Prior to the pandemic, I had been keeping a long list of places I wanted to see. Sometimes these places would have sub-lists of must-see sights or recommended restaurants. It’s a substantial document! But after two pandemic years of hunkering down indoors or in country, I kept aching to go back to my favourite places and not to any new ones on the list.

Has this happened to anyone else out there?

It has surprised me! I had really expected to be in a big hurry to tick names off that list. Instead, I guess I’ve wanted comfort and normalcy because the sense of the unknown has been too pervasive and stressful. But I’ve decided for once not to fight this sensation and my first travels will be to familiar and heart-filled places.

My first booked short trip is to family in New York this spring, and then a month-long trip to Tuscany Italy this summer. While these trips are to familiar general areas, I will be staying in new locales and hoping to see some new sights mixed in with the old favourites.

My family are now located in Brooklyn and I look forward to discovering more about this city, as I’ve only briefly been there once. And as for Tuscany, even though I’ve been many times, I’ve not stayed one month in ANY spot and intend to get deeply into the day-to-day of the Chianti region. If you’ve got any good recommendations for either Brooklyn or the Chianti region of Tuscany, drop me a comment?

And let me know where your first trips will be?

Ciao! Ciao!