"Let's go biking in Tuscany!"

What started as a quick comment to a recently widowed friend, culminated three years later in a three week adventure of exploring Italy through Renaissance art, gourmet food, regional wines, and more than a few shops. Several of the 1000 Places To See Before You Die were checked off and numerous pages in Folder's and other guides became dog-eared as every point of interest was eagerly sought after to be appreciated. The Tuscan countryside was explored at a slow pace and asses were pedaled over hill and dale in an effort to add a bit of exercise to the trip to augment feeding frenzies. The five towns of Cinque Terra were connected by thousands of steps. The amazing results: Experiences longed for since young adulthood were finally achieved with a freedom of self discovery in an environment away from family, and a mutual tolerance developed for church-exploration, shop-hopping, and endless shutter-bugging.