"Andiamo!" calls, Tricia, our guide. "Let's go!" 

And we eagerly follow 

on foot,

on boat,

on train,

for she has something good in store. 

We taste local wines, pressed oils, fresh truffles.

We see colorful frescoes, magnificent architecture, bountiful vineyards.

We hear of personal stories, traditional histories, current perspectives. 

We breathe the lush countryside, the coastal air, the pungent rosemary.

We feel the warm sun, the cooling breeze, the hard cobblestones. 

This isn't a trip, 

this is an experience. 

An Italian experience.