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SKYLARK'S FEATURED ARTICLE OF THE WEEK - I HAVE A TUSCAN DREAM
I have a Tuscan dream. Dreams are embedded in our subconscious, and some dreams come true. What are some of yours? My dream is to make Tuscany, Italy, a second home. I love the Mediterranean lifestyle, and Tuscany has it all. Ha tutto!
Tuscan life is generally simple, yet elegant. There are lots of events happening around food, wine and life in the countryside. There are still weekly markets in most towns and larger villages, and many of the traditional festivals are deeply felt and honored by the town inhabitants. Tuscany is a special place.
I have traveled to Tuscany twice. The first time was to meet a friend who was staying in France. I met her there, and we spent several days in Paris and then boarded an overnight train through the Swiss Alps to Florence, Italy. This is the center of the Tuscan region. We stayed in a pensione (great house in Italian) for one week in a little town called Fiesole, in the hills, overlooking El Duomo in the heart of Firenze (Italian for Florence).
My second visit to Italy was with another friend, but this time we spent three weeks traveling around Rome, Venice, Capri, Florence, and Toscana (Italian for Tuscany). This was my favorite place. We rented a car from Firenze, and the drive to the countryside reminded me of Oz. There were sprawling vineyards everywhere and medieval homes you only see in fairy tales. We visited many of the historic Tuscan towns including Siena, Montepulciano, Assisi, and Radda in Chianti where we ran into a sommelier in a small vineyard restaurant. His name was Antonello. He was there purchasing wine for Barbetta, a famous restaurant in New York City on Restaurant Row in the theatre district. Barbetta is the oldest Italian restaurant in the city and is still owned by the same family. Antonello took us to the pensione he was staying in nearby and showed us the wine cellar that survived the bombing of Italy in World War II. I still have an empty bottle from there. I came home 10 pounds heavier.
Tuscany was the homeland of the Etruscans, which was annexed by Rome in 351 BC. After the fall of the Roman empire, the region, which became known as Tuscany came under the rule of a succession of rulers (Herulians, Ostrogoths, etc.) and emerged as a political entity with its own rulers. By the twelfth century, the Tuscan cities were gradually gaining their independence as republics and forcing the nobility to live in the cities. By the high Middle Ages, the cities of Pisa, Siena, Arezzo, Pistoia, Lucca, and especially Florence had become wealthy because of textile manufacture, trade, banking, and agriculture. There were many wars between the city states to conquer territory and power. Gradually, Florence came to overshadow and conquer all other cities in the region. Today, Tuscany is a major cultural center, with museums, galleries and churches full of great sculptures, paintings and frescoes and magnificent monuments built by the greatest masters of all time. Tuscany attracts millions of tourists each year and is regarded as the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance.
Do you have a Tuscan dream? Inizia a pianificare il tuo sogno o potrebbero morire (Start planning your dream or they may die). Possano tutti i tuoi sogni avversarsi! (May all your dreams come true). Bellisima Italia!
Peace and Love,
Skylark
At 60 and Beyond, we still believe in our dreams because we've seen some of them come true already.
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SKYLARK'S PICK OF THE WEEK - RADDA IN CHIANTI
Radda in Chianti is a commune (municipality) in the Province of Siena in the Italian region of Tuscany, located about 35 kilometres (22 miles) southeast of Florence and about 15 km (9 miles) north of Siena and borders the following municipalities: Castellina in Chianti, Catelnuovo Berardenga, Cavriglia, Gaiole in Chianti, and Greve in Chianti. There are vineyards as far as the eye can see here. This is Chianti country. Cin! Cin!
Here are some websites that give you information on visiting and living in Tuscany:
https://internationalliving.com/countries/italy/tuscany/
https://expatra.com/guides/italy/living-in-tuscany/#is-tuscany-a-good-p…
https://www.visittuscany.com/en/ideas/top-5-seaside-towns-in-tuscany/
Don't forget about the wine.
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SKYLARK'S SONG OF THE WEEK - QUANDO QUANDO QUANDO by MICHAEL BUBLE WITH NELLY FURTADO
Tell me when will you be mine
Tell me quando, quando, quando
We can share a love divine
Please, don't make me wait again
When will you say yes to me?
Tell me quando, quando, quando
You mean happiness to me
Oh, my love please tell me when
Every moment's a day
Every day seems a lifetime
Let me show you the way
To a joy beyond compareI can't wait a moment more
Tell me quando, quando, quando
Say it's me that you adore
And then, darling tell me when
Every moment's a day
Every day seems a lifetime
Let me show you the way
To a joy beyond compare
I can't wait a moment more
Tell me quando, quando, quando
Say it's me that you adore
And then, darling tell me when
Oh, my darling tell me when
Mmm, my darling tell me when
When?
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SKYLARK'S INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK
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ABOUT SKYLARK
Welcome to my weekly newsletter, Skylark Live Town News, representing Bay Shore and beyond. My articles are about human interest, nature, general observations, inspiration, music, and places I've been. There is also a calendar of upcoming events. Please consider becoming a subscriber. There are several levels, and it’s easy to do. Just open the newsletter and the subscribe button is there. As a subscriber, you will receive a copy of my newsletter each Wednesday morning in your email. You can also advertise your business or event here as well. You can do it yourself or email me to discuss this at christineskylark@aol.com. You can also PM me. Please follow me on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn under my brand, Skylark Live.
I also have an inspirational vlog, 60 and Beyond with Skylark, on the first Monday-of-the-month on my YouTube Channel, Skylark Live. This is designed to inspire people 60 and beyond to continue to thrive through knowledge and self-awareness. Please take a moment to subscribe and click the bell to get notified when I upload a new video.
Thank you for your love and support. Let’s go!
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