THE JOURNAL OF CORNUCOPIA JOURNEYS

2024 in Review

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 16:15:40 GMT

From Anne & Barbara

Happiest of new years to you and yours!

Looking back...Moving forward! 2023 in review

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 19:35:07 GMT

The Great Return to Travel in 2022 and Forging Forward in 2023 & 2024!

seaburleigh@gmail.com (Corey Burleigh) — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 15:45:00 GMT

Across America & Back by Rail

annefzimmerman (Anne Zimmerman) — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 15:51:06 GMT

Celebrating a 50th wedding anniversary

We had the extraordinary opportunity to plan a journey by rail across America and back for Jerice & Jon who were celebrating their 50 ^th wedding anniversary. I wanted to write a story about their magical journey, but I could not do any better than what Jerice wrote us after they got home:

We are not travelers.

However, 50 years ago, we took a train across the continent and ended up in Anchorage where we eloped. To celebrate that momentous occasion, we thought “Let’s do it again!” Only this time, we wouldn’t go all the way to Alaska, and—oh, by the way—there’s this pandemic happening.

Before we ever considered an excursion, we were wary of how a travel agency could possibly help us. “How hard is it to book a trip? we thought.

But this was to be a special trip, and we were out of our depth.

Enter Cornucopia Journeys .

We told them our story and that we wanted to see the US by different rail routes; we said that we were fairly open to any of their ideas since our own were vague and unformed. We said we didn’t care much about the particulars but that we did want to see things we had only heard or read about.

Our personal needs were specific: a) No air travel and b) One of us can’t walk without assistance.

Those are rather more inconvenient needs than most travelers, and we knew they were getting themselves into some weedy work.

After we went back and forth a few times to narrow down travel dates and so that they could understand us better, they got going.

Cornucopia Journeys set us up with perfect train routes and accommodations, stops at fascinating areas with terrific hotels, really excellent restaurants, and utterly amazing entertaining, and best of all: thoroughly knowledgeable guides! (How did they FIND these people?)

Throughout our trip, they dealt with various confirmations and sudden changes (a snowstorm in May, COVID at a destination), allowing us to not worry about – well, anything!

We learned so much and were delighted, untroubled, and active for nearly an entire month, and even if we don’t last another 50 years, we’ll hire them again!!!

Best trip ever!!!

We could not be happier that the trip was such a success! May they revel in the memories for years to come!!! We only wish we had some pictures of them along the way. Next time...!!!

Travel in 2022 is booming!!!

annefzimmerman (Anne Zimmerman) — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 15:37:52 GMT

It's been a long two years of not going anywhere...time to get going!

The Eternal City is an eternal favorite! There is nothing quite like Rome. It can feel like a modern city, and then you turn a corner and come face to face with an antiquity over 2000 years old. While tourists flock to Rome, it isn’t a city taken over by tourists. It is a living, breathing city where history is made every day. Recently, the president was elected for a seven year term, giving stability to the country and permitting the city to return to its normal life of capitol of Italy, home to the Vatican, and a city that Romans decidedly make their own.

It's a favorite destination for families, for new graduates, for people returning to Rome after years or returning after only a year. There is always something new to see, something treasured to revisit, and plenty of culinary treats in which to indulge.

Sicily is drawing a great deal of interest in 2022. From the northeast where Taormina sits overlooking the continually erupting Mount Etna to the southeast where Siracusa lays testimony to the milennia of occupiers of this centrally-located Mediterranean island, to the ruins of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, to the teeming streets of Palermo and the idyllic setting of Cefalù, there is literally something for everyone in Sicily. We are happy to say that our clients are excited about the 2022 trips we have planned for them!

Florence continues to allure visitors from all over the world, and our clients continue to include Florence on their journeys. This great city offers so much history, so much art, so many opportunities to explore its winding streets and hidden treasures. And from here it's a day trip away to Siena or Lucca or Cortona or Pisa. The Cinque Terre is also within reach. You can choose, after visiting the city, to spend time in the Tuscan countryside, from Chianti to Val d'Orcia to Maremma to Mugello. Florence & Tuscany never diappoint! Or you can take a fast train ride to Venice, Milan, Rome, Naples. It's an embarassment of riches!

And speaking of eternal cities, there is always Paris! Like all destinations, Paris is eager to welcome visitors. Not only do museums and monuments await discovery, but also a cheese workshop, a bicycle tour, a wine and food tour, a cooking class. You can wander through markets and explore each arrondissement , discovering its way of life and surprises. Or you can branch out from Paris to the Normandy beaches, to Mont Saint-Michel, to Van Gogh's residence in Auvers-sur-Oise, just 22 miles from Paris. Or why not head to Avignon, especially late June/early July, to see the brilliant lavender fields? Visit Provence from one end to the other, from the Southern Alps and Camargue plains to rolling vineyards, olive groves, pine forests and lavender fields. Or visit the Côte d'Azur (the French Riviera), where the elegant city of Nice and glamorous resort towns such as Saint-Tropez and Cannes line the coast. So many opportunities to immerse yourself in the culture, discover the history and way of life, drink in the sweet smells of the fruit and vegetable and flower markets, and bring home indelible memories!

Alternatively, you can head north to Scotland, where cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow offer cultured city bustle. Let the country's diversity lure you out of the city into the rolling countryside, to its icy mountain peaks and charming villages, up to the famous Scottish Highlands, to Loch Ness, to the Isle of Skye. And don't forget to add a visit to a whiskey distillery! Take a Scottish castle tour. Or embark on a culinary journey discovering Scotland's favorite dishes, including haggis, neeps and tatties, Scottish tea cakes, and, of course, whiskey. If you want to visit the renowned Edinburgh Festival in 2022, you may even be a little late!! It takes place in August and fills the city with visitors eager to attend performances in every immaginable venue. (Might be best to think about 2023 for the festival!)

Enough opportunites to fill a lifetime! Don't wait another second! We are eager to help you design the personalized journey of your desires. It's what we do. Well.

Ahead with 2022, Remebering 2021

annefzimmerman (Anne Zimmerman) — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 14:28:45 GMT

Ringing out the old year, ringing in the new!

It’s hard to believe that we are already looking back on 2021 and looking forward to 2022! It may not be as we had hoped by now, but we have made progress. Vaccination rates are up. People have begun to travel. And more are planning to do so in 2022.

Our 2021 was pretty frugal travel-wise. Trips planned for 2020 and rebooked for 2021 have been re-rebooked for 2022. But two trips went forward this past year.

Susan and her son Ben made a relatively last minute trip to Italy. They visited Venice, Florence, Siena and Rome. In spite of limited advance time, we were able to line up some of our favorite guides in each city, providing personalized and in-depth introductions to Ben who had never traveled before to Italy. Susan is a longtime visitor to Italy and wanted to introduce Ben to its wonders. Personal guided tours interspersed with down time so that they could wander and explore on their own in each city turned out to be for them a very satisfying combination. There was time for both the Uffizi and the Museo delle Pietre Dure in Florence, for a garden tour and a wine country tour around Siena, and an Underground Rome tour to see the newly-opened gladiator corridors under the Colosseum. All in all, a great success, as Susan reported:

I want to wait no longer to send a huge thank you for the great trip you set up for us. Couldn't be better! Ben got a deep immersion (remedial Culture I call it), visually, and enjoyed it all. Having the guides gave us much more insight than my usual guide-book references and made us focus on details and background we might have otherwise missed. All in all--- an absolute delight.

Our very first clients back in 2013 — a group of our friends who travel together, celebrating milestone events and enduring friendship — gathered for a delayed 2020 trip, originally planned for Québec City but moved stateside to Lyme, New Hampshire during this year’s fall foliage season to avoid border crossings. We cut back on planned activities and focused on time together, catching up, laughing, dining magnificently and often, and generally renewing lifelong friendships and strengthening newer ones. We were missing a few people this year but hope they will rejoin us on the next adventure of Goats on Tour, as we are fondly known among ourselves.

As for 2022...

Our patient friends Joe & Peg will finally, after rebooking numerous times, be heading for Florence, Naples, Capri & Rome in May. This much-delayed 60th birthday celebration will nonetheless be a celebratory milestone!!!

Equally patient Danni will finally make her way to Paris, Normandy & Avignon in June, a trip she has been promising herself for a very long time, originally booked for 2020.

Jerice & Jon will board Amtrak in May for a cross-America & back 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration , stopping along the way to visit family and also to visit San Francisco, the Grand Canyon, and Washington DC!

And, never ones to fall back into inactivity, Barbara & Anne put together a group trip to Sicily for the fall of 2022 for Kendal at Hanover residents. Putting together a journey for groups is not our usual bailiwick, but Anne had a great time doing advance work in Sicily this summer, and both Anne & Barbara are looking forward to accompanying the group to Baroque Sicily next fall.

Can we help you plan your next adventure? We are ready to help. It’s what we do. Well.

Meanwhile…happy new year!

Always sending our very best,

Anne & Barbara

The urge to travel again is upon us!!

annefzimmerman (Anne Zimmerman) — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 17:40:27 GMT

Time to begin to make our dreams into reality!

It is almost too strong to resist, this itching to go! We not only agree and encourage your dreaming of your next trip, but are here and ready to help you plan it! It's never too early to start planning. And while regulations will be shifting for some time to come, it is good to be and stay informed about what is possible and what not at the destination you have in mind. Are hotels and restaurants open? Museums? Workshops and other activities? Are guides available to deepen your understanding of what you are seeing? Can one move from one part of the country to another without encountering obstacles? What kind of protections can be built into your trip in case of cancellation or interruption?

The situation in Europe is very slow to improve. While England is beginning to open up, the rest of us are behind in vaccine rollout and openings. In Italy, for example, at the moment in orange zones you can eat in a restaurant at lunchtime but only take out is available at dinner, and there is a 10pm curfew in place at least until the end of April. Pressure is building on the Italian government to open more quickly, but given the slow momentum of the vaccine rollout and the explosion of variants, it is questionable how safe further openings are.

So the best word of advice is caution. Stay informed. Plan what you can as long as the plans can be cancelled without penalty. And use a travel planner to help you accomplish all of that.

We are here. Ready. It's what we do. Well. So don't hesitate to reach out! We will be delighted to help you plan the journey you have been dreaming about for the last 15 months!!

Displaying The Artists Among Us

annefzimmerman (Anne Zimmerman) — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 16:03:12 GMT

Displaying The Artists Among Us Artworks created by our clients on their journeys

One of the great rewards that emerges from planning tailored, personalized journeys for our clients is the surprises we receive upon the journey’s end. We always ask for feedback and are always pleased to have both good and not so good input as we seek to improve our service. We also ask clients to share some of their photographs with us. But the best—and most unexpected!-- is receiving their personal artwork created while journeying or upon their return home. These gifts always brings us such joy!

We planned a journey to Cefalù in Sicily for Neil & Gerry, a gift from their children to celebrate their 70 ^th birthdays. It was incredibly satisfying to spring the surprise, then tailor the trip to suit their particular hopes and desires. We had no idea that Neil was an artist and were thrilled to receive his artistic impressions of Cefalù & environs at the journey’s end. And it’s a gift that keeps on giving as he chooses one of his watercolors or drawings as his Christmas card each year, not only from his trip to Cefalù but from his travels around the world.

We planned a Tuscan adventure for our long-ago classmate Barbara & her partner Lynn and a couple of their friends, all of whom were interested in a “slow” vacation in order to wander and draw and paint the Tuscan countryside, and to sip wine wherever they found themselves. Lynn graciously shared a few of her sketches with us. We are still waiting for Barbara to share her efforts!!!

We planned a two- week stay in a villa in Tuscany for Margaret and her son who invited friends to join them. Michelle sketched a number of scenes over the two weeks, from the dinner table in their villa and intimate chats, to an outing to Pisa, to vineyard tastings, to restaurants. It is an intimate look at their journey and a wonderful gift to have to remember them all.

These works of art are even more special and treasured because of the connection we forged with our clients as we planned, executed, and completed their journeys. Memories are always the most precious souvenirs of any journey. These memories, so personal and so heartfelt, are among the best. We are honored that they have shared them with us.

It's here...2021!

annefzimmerman (Anne Zimmerman) — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 21:57:09 GMT

Time to put dreams into plans

2021 is upon us! We longed for it, we waited for it, seemingly endlessly, and here it is! Uncertainties still abound, but new hope is in the air. Time to PLAN!!!! What new adventures would you like to undertake this year? Where would you like to travel…first? …second? Are you ready to think about traveling in the fall of 2021?

Planning is a more active pursuit than dreaming. We all did that in 2020. It’s such a therapeutic activity. But planning, if you want to travel in 2021, is more essential than ever. Venues will open slowly, perhaps limited in capacity. Forethought, reservations, calculations, leaving room for improvisation and regrouping are imperative to be sure that your journey is as memorable as you envision.

We’re here. We are eager to help you realize your dreams. It’s what we do. Well.

Happy, healthy, joyous new year to all!!! We deserve to realize the hope it brings. And to venture forth on the promised adventures!!

May kindness and peace be yours this holiday season!

annefzimmerman (Anne Zimmerman) — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 14:12:05 GMT

... and may the new year bring you joyous reunions and adventure!

December, 2020

Dear Friends,
        The year 2020 is not one many of us wish to remember in detail. We have struggled individually and collectively with many issues, some urgently life-threatening or emotionally devastating. So to adopt a cheery, devil-may-care attitude looking back over this unprecedented time seems utterly inappropriate.
         But we have individually and collectively accomplished things in this period that are worth remembering. Here at Cornucopia Journeys we launched our new web site last March — exquisite timing, to be sure! The new site includes a Journal that gives us time and space to reflect on journeys we have planned or taken or might take, experiences awaiting us, and reflections on moments and people that are worth remembering.
         So instead of highlighting the journeys people took in 2020 — and of course, there were none this year — we are offering this year’s Journal stories for your perusal, to visit or revisit as your time and inclination may allow. Just click on one below and enjoy.

And please note, we are always looking for new topics that might interest you, so please let us know your suggestions for future posts. You know how to reach us!

We look forward to "seeing" you in the new year and to helping some of you create new adventures. Remember, it's never too early to start planning! And it's never too late to ask for a helping hand. As we all begin to look forward to a future without Covid, we are eager to help you expand your horizons! It's what we do. Well.

Our very best, from our hearts to your homes,

Barbara & Anne

The Joy of the Olive Harvest

annefzimmerman (Anne Zimmerman) — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 12:54:01 GMT

Camaraderie in the open air

I look forward to the olive harvest in my beloved Tuscany every year! I will never forget my first harvest in the early 90’s. I began gingerly removing each olive, one at a time. This lasted about two minutes, until I observed my companions stripping olives from each branch with abandon. And then I just clocked into the rhythm and the oneness with the trees and the sky and the liberating movement. It became my autumnal therapy, and those years when I could not manage to get to the groves, I deeply felt the loss.

November is the time for the olive harvest in Tuscany. On the appointed first day of the harvest I presented myself dressed in multiple layers so I could adjust to the cool early mornings, the sun-filled midday, and the cooling afternoons as the sun disappears behind the hill. My teammates Luca and Bea were already at work, having spread the nets under several trees in the row of trees assigned to us. They had begun stripping olives quickly off the branches. Luca spent a great deal of his time on a ladder or climbing into the trees themselves to reach the top branches that were heavy with fruit. I stuck firmly to the ground and harvested the lower branches, the inside tangles of branches, and up as far as I could reach. Bea, with a little rake that looks like a plastic hand on a pole, reached up above me to strip the branches just beyond my reach. Other teams were working nearby, chattering, singing, generally light-hearted. It is the nature of the work, being outside in the clean air and far from the busy-ness of the modern-day world, that produces the free-spirited atmosphere and camaraderie.

We worked companionably, mostly in silence, occasionally bursting into song. The weather was perfect, sunny, with a light breeze. The olives ranged from still pretty green fruit reluctant to be harvested to dark mature olives that popped off the branches. The cases filled quickly, and we went from one tree to the next, stripping, then gathering the harvested olives, picking out the branches and excess leaves that came flying off the branches in the process, and pouring them into cases before moving on. The cleaning is necessary to do as the cases are filled so that when they are taken to the frantoio (where the olives harvested that day are immediately processed), they require a minimum amount of cleaning as they are fed down into the crusher.

I, unfortunately, was hampered by Covid from re-joining them at Campestri after the first week. I did manage to help friends in my hometown of Barberino di Mugello for a day. Their process is a little different as they only have a few hundred trees, do not have their own mill, and use a powered battering fork to get to the top of the trees. (No ladders!) As you can see, our overseer worked hard with us, luxuriating in the warm fall sun!

It is, wherever you are able to participate, a convivial effort, my very own brand of occupational therapy that I do my best not to miss every year.

All over Tuscany this year the yield is down but the quality of the oil is exceptional. Evviva olio nuovo!!! Hooray for the new olive oil!! And may next year’s harvest be unimpeded by pandemic or any other crisis that threatens one of Tuscany’s most important and iconic products!

If you are interested in participating in the olive harvest, please GET IN TOUCH!!! Although Campestri closes for the season before the harvest begins, I am sure we can figure something out!!! It’s what we do. Well.

Vermont, more than its spectacular fall foliage!

annefzimmerman (Anne Zimmerman) — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 12:27:25 GMT

Resilient Vermonters, attached to the land

When most flatlanders (that is, non-native visitors) think of Vermont, they picture its spectacular fall foliage, its iconic maple syrup, and its ski resorts. All good cornerstones to the Vermont image and its economy. But there is way more to Vermont than its traditional icons.

Vermonters have always been attached to the land from whence they have sprung. From the time I was a kid, and surely before, Vermont was known as the state where there were more cows than people. Small family farms have been the bedrock of Vermont industry for generations and have over the past 40 years successfully turned their creative energies to making cheese, reinvigorating the farm-stand tradition, and catering to the growing local demand for top quality products sourced in the neighborhood.

This growing demand includes a wide range of products, from locally-made bread to organic essential oils, farm-to-table produce including both summer and winter vegetables, apples, pumpkins, and blueberries, soap, jams, kale chips, ice cream, Vermont wood products, coffee…the list goes on! And don’t forget maple syrup in all of its guises.

Vermont’s emergence as a provider of a wide variety of cheeses has invigorated Vermont agriculture. Small artisans produce an astonishing variety, branching out from the traditional cheddar to blue cheeses, brie, fromage blanc, Swiss, Dorset, Rupert, Pawlet, feta, camembert, Romano, pecorino, mozzarella, burrata, ricotta, scamorza, soft cheeses, fresh cheeses and aged, cow milk and goat milk cheeses. Each reflects the quality of the milk produced, the care of the animals on each farm, the caves where cheeses are aged, and the care in curing and developing cheeses that reflect the nature of the farms and their producers.

Each year in August the Vermont Cheese Makers Festival celebrates the extraordinary quality and variety of Vermont-made cheeses, gathering more than 50 producers at Shelburne Farms in Shelburne VT, on the banks of Lake Champlain. Vermont is a world class cheese state with the highest number of cheese makers per capita and their creativity and devotion to artisanal cheese of top quality is on display here and in various cheese stands around the state. They produce for local consumption as well as sending cheeses around the world. And in the time of Covid, when demand for cheese diminished (with restaurants closed and tourism reduced), they turned their creativity to online sales to keep their farms going.

The state is also amply dotted with ceramicists and potters, sculptors, painters, a wide variety of craftspeople, glass blowers, jewelry makers, hand-knit clothing from homegrown wool, and basket weavers. B&B's have sprung up all over the state, including farm stays where you can experience the working farm’s daily routine. Farm-to-table restaurants abound. And various workshops, from the long-established Writers’ Workshop in Middlebury to photography, painting, organic farming, bookbinding, jewelry making, wood working, quilting, sugar-house workshops, granite workshops. All of these grow out of a connection to the land and its bounty.

One of the oldest and most honored institutions is the Frog Hollow Craft Center. Started in Middlebury in 1971 by Allen Johnson and friends, the main purpose was to give local children a chance to work with their hands and interact with professional craft artists. As the institution grew, galleries were set up in Burlington and Manchester to display the work of all kinds of craftsmen. Now relocated to Burlington, the center continues to exhibit the work of over 200 Vermont artisans on a rotating basis. It has grown into one of Vermont's largest nonprofit arts institutions. None of it would have been possible without the vision of people like Allen Johnson or the support of Vermonters and visitors to the state. Things have changed a lot in 40 years, but the common thread between then and now is a love of fine, handmade craft.

Vermonters are a hardy sort. They are true to the land that supports and nurtures them. And they offer their bounty to Vermonters and flatlanders alike, proud of their produce, products, and creations, their quality, and the innate reflection of their Vermont origins.

Sustainable Travel

annefzimmerman (Anne Zimmerman) — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 13:00:11 GMT

Mindful travel in a time of renewed awareness

This approach to travel flows naturally from our personal relationships with travel over the years. It is why we do what we do: because we want our clients to be in love with the places they visit, to understand them on a deeper level, and to appreciate the differences and similarities of local life to their own lives. It is a very personal broadening of horizons.

We had a pizza night in the lovely B&B we took over completely for their stay. They enjoyed a full Tuscan dinner at a local restaurant lovingly curated by husband and wife, Simone and Simona. They visited an alabaster master artisan in Volterra who demonstrated an art that is slowly fading away, and (of course!) they visited a winery. Their meals together were full of laughter and the stuff of long-lasting memories.

This was the beginning of our Cornucopia adventures. We have learned a great deal since 2013. We have become increasingly more attentive to sustainability issues as we guide clients in building their special journey. It is clear that this leads to an ever more meaningful experience. And it is exceedingly satisfying when clients return home with their cornucopias full of memories. I love it when, years later, someone writes to say they were remembering with joy their visit to the Volpaia winery as they sipped a recently purchased bottle of that precious wine.

Can we all do better to limit harm to the local environments and cultures, support local economies, and encourage more sustainable travel? We certainly can. At Cornucopia Journeys we do so by building on our corporate culture, one that grew out of an instinctual understanding of the need to support and preserve these cultures. And these environments.

We are ready and eager to meet this future. May it come soon!

Living Abroad: Thirty Years in Italy

annefzimmerman (Anne Zimmerman) — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 16:59:18 GMT

Observations from a distance of 30 years

Your primary job in your new home will be to integrate yourself into the local culture. I have never understood why anyone would move to a foreign country and seek out the company of ex-pats. Do I know some Americans here in Italy? Of course, whom I met after some years living here. But you learn about your new home through the eyes of its people, through local customs, through local cuisine, through local celebrations, through lively discussions with your neighbors of the latest local news. There is of course room for friends of every nationality and persuasion. But don’t handicap yourself immediately by sticking to what you know. Be open to your new home, to new people, and to new experiences.

When you go shopping, do not expect to find the same articles in stores that you found “back home.” In Italy it used to be impossible to find liquid vanilla extract (I make my own with vanilla beans and rum), peanut butter (now available but in limited variety), sweet corn, brown sugar, or bagels (now findable in Florence, but…). It’s still impossible, or nearly so, to find baking powder as sold in the US (it’s sold in little packets and isn’t exactly the same) or corn syrup or fresh cilantro. Instead of those ingredients you will find ways to adapt your recipes. Or better yet, you will learn to cook local recipes, adapting to the local palate and culinary customs. Until recently it was also impossible to find pre-prepared foods here. They have begun to spring up around Italy, but no self-respecting housewife uses them. They cook from scratch, every day.

One of my favorite memories of my early time in Italy was cooking with a local farmer’s wife Ada who taught me how to make tortelli mugellane -- tortelli with potato filling and served usually with a ragu sauce, a local specialty in Mugello. With me struggling with the language, we made the potato stuffing, rolled out the pasta, and cut and patted the little packets together happily, then made the ragu , all done in gales of laughter and many missteps in Italian that made the gales of laughter even more uproarious. It was an insight into a way of life that was invaluable. It was also an introduction to “Tuscan contadino (farmer) humor” as her husband Turello chimed in from time to time. Ada was always my source for Tuscan recipes—like ribollita and pollo alla cacciatore —and their home was both a refuge for laughter and companionship.

You will find that everyone wants you to explain this or that news coming out of the US. I usually deflect the conversation as it is impossible to “translate” American culture in a brief discussion, in the same way that it is to translate Italian culture when I visit the States. I also learned to listen and not hold forth on local issues too quickly. There is much to be learned and understood in a culture before you pass judgment or criticize.

A further word on expectations: In Italy, at the very least, do not expect either logic or organization. You will be constantly frustrated. But what you will find is a level of amazing, astonishing creativity that you could never have believed could invade every aspect of your life. It (usually) more than makes up for the long lines, the chaos, the lack of easily understood directions, or the complete absence of logic.

Integrating yourself into a culture and a community requires active participation. And curiosity. And a willingness to put yourself out there. Otherwise you may find yourself on the outside looking in and constantly comparing your today with your yesterdays. You need to accept your new location as home. It is counterproductive to constantly think of “back home.”

There are plenty of trade-offs for choosing any new location, but on the whole, I have found that life abroad, and particularly here in Italy, is good. And the perspective you gain on your nation of origin is healthy and often quite astonishing. The experience certainly broadens your horizons. And keeping in touch is no longer an issue as it was for me 30 years ago. Furthermore, with the onset of COVID-19, remote working has become the rule everywhere, so you can not only keep in touch with friends and family via Internet but also work from home. I have been doing so since 2013.

Do I miss my life in the US? I miss people. Absolutely. But my life in Italy is full and satisfying. I wouldn’t trade the last 30 years for anything on earth. I am here. This is my home.

... Look Up!!!

annefzimmerman (Anne Zimmerman) — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 14:56:59 GMT

Look Up! and widen your horizons

The East Wing corridor ceiling was painted in 1580 by Florentine painter Alessandro Allori and his students. He took his cue for the ceiling paintings from the “grotesque ” style that was sweeping Europe at the time. This art form had just been rediscovered in the remains of an ancient grotto underneath the Golden House of Nero in Rome. It was a fanciful, decorative type of painting that had been used in the Roman Empire. Nero (AD 37-68) was a big fan of it.

The grotesque East Corridor scenes depict an enormous range of endeavors, including political philosophy, financial success, and Renaissance doctors dissecting cadavers to study anatomy. They show men debating, artists with easels, and musicians playing instruments. One can examine figures representing “Politica” (Politics), “Legge” (Law), “Teologica” (Theology), “Medicina,” “Agricultura,” and “Militaria” as well as “Ospitalità” (Hospitality), “Amore delle Letteratura” (Love of Literature), and “Amor di Patria” (Love of Country). There is even “Fortuna” (Fortune) gazing down upon us.

But you have to look up! In fact, you can sit or lie on one of the many benches along the corridor to better admire these marvels. And yes, it’s worth the neck massage you may opt for after spending time immersed in this fantastical world.

The Uffizi is not the only place where you will be rewarded by looking up. Between 1550 and 1800, mural painting on walls and ceilings flourished throughout Europe. Perhaps the most famous example is Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. But you can find them all over the world.

Library of Congress in Washington DC: On the ceiling in the Main Reading Room , in the highest part of the dome, is a painting by noted American muralist Edwin Blashfield. Its central figure is a beautiful female figure representing Human Understanding, in the act of lifting the veil of ignorance and looking forward to intellectual progress. She is attended by two cherubs: One is holding the book of wisdom and knowledge and the other seems, by his gesture, to be encouraging viewers beneath to persist in their struggle toward perfection. Figured around the central figures are twelve seated figures, male and female, arranged against a wall of mosaic patterning. They represent countries, or epochs, which in 1897, when the building was constructed, were thought to have contributed the most to the evolution of western civilization: Egypt represents Written Records; Judea represents Religion; Greece represents Philosophy; Rome represents Administration; Islam represents Physics; The Middle Ages represent Modern Languages; Italy represents the Fine Arts; Germany represents the Art of Printing; Spain represents Discovery; England represents Literature; France represents Emancipation; America represents Science. Unfortunately I was unable to find a close-up picture of the figure Human Understanding. Next trip to Washington!

In the Residence in Würzburg Germany , once home to prince-bishops, you will find the largest fresco in the world, painted by Venetian painter Giovanni Battista Tiepolo with help from his son Giandomenico. Created between 1750-53 it shows paintings of the four continents: Europe, America, Asia and Africa, each represented by a typical landscape and animals (or the painter's vision of these animals) and a female allegorical figure. Europe holds a sceptre, is symbolized by a bull, and has a boy playing with a cannon. America has natives with feathers, who practice cannibalism of prisoners, and a crocodile. Asia has a tiger and an elephant, with the crosses of Golgotha visible in the background. Africans have a camel and a caravan of turbaned Magi. The fresco also shows Tiepolo himself (in the southwest corner) and Court architect Balthsar Neumann in the center of the southern front, leaning on a cannon.

Chicago Cultural Center, Tiffany art-glass dome: Chicago’s Tiffany glass dome is unquestionably one of the most spectacular ceilings in the Windy City and perhaps the world. At 38 feet (11.58 meters) in diameter and 1,000 square feet (92.9 square meters) total, the colorful dome is a prominent feature of Preston Bradley Hall in the city’s Cultural Center located downtown. Jacob A. Holzer, the leading mosaicist at Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company of New York in the late 1800s, designed the ceiling using roughly 30,000 individual pieces of glass. Each piece is shaped like a fish scale.

Strahov Monastery (Theology Hall), Prague: The library of the Premonstratensian monastery at Strahov in Prague is one of the most valuable and best-preserved historical libraries – its collection consists of approximately 200,000 volumes. The oldest part of the library, the Baroque Theological Hall, was established between 1671 and 1674; the main Classicist vaults of the Philosophical Hall date from 1794 and are two stories tall. Both halls are dominated by Baroque ceiling frescoes by Siard Nosecký and Anton Maulbertsch, each framed by elaborate stucco work.

Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood, St Petersburg, Russia : This is one of the city's most beautiful and memorable landmarks. It got its name because it was built on the spot where Emperor Alexander II was murdered in 1881. Locals call it "the mosaic church" because the interior is covered with magnificent mosaics, each wall featuring a particular Biblical theme.

Paris: The Arc de Triomphe , like many architectural pieces all over Europe, invites you to look up to enjoy its architectural detail that enhances its overall presentation and effect. Napoleon ordered its construction in 1806 to glorify the Grand Army. Construction commenced in August 1806, was finally was completed in 1830, but it was not opened until 1836. It honors those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, with the names of all French victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I.

So much to see…

There are so many more examples of art hiding in plain sight. Look up, look around, explore niches, examine exteriors and interiors, parks, churches, museums, cemeteries, private homes, government buildings as you wander in cities everywhere. It will enrich your experience and broaden your knowledge of the culture you are exploring.

And hopefully we will all be able to wander as we will in 2021….

The Ancient Craft of Knife-Making

annefzimmerman (Anne Zimmerman) — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 09:02:53 GMT

An intrinsic part of the history of Mugello

Nestled at the foot of the Apennines in Mugello in northern Tuscany lies the town of Scarperia, with its impressive Palazzo dei Vicari castle sitting in its heart and its main street lined with botteghe selling knives. Knife-making is the soul of Scarperia. Founded in 1306 on a major route between Florence and the northern part of the Italian peninsula, its castle was a military fortress. Its soldiers needed armaments—armor, swords, spears, etc—and the art of ferri taglienti (cutting tools is the best that I can do on that one!) became synonymous with Scarperia.

The craft had its origins in arms but quickly grew to include agricultural tools and knives. Every sort of knife imaginable--knives made for hunting, for weaponry, for gutting the kill, for butchering the meat, for use in the kitchen, for personal hygiene. Scarperia’s many craftsmen were proud and jealous of their art. For generations the town rang out from early morning to evening with the sound –the music!--of hammers hitting metal and the scent of burnt antler (one of the materials still used to fashion the knife handles) filling the air. Just after WWII, there were 48 to 50 botteghe selling locally crafted ferri taglienti lining the main street of Scaperia. At the time they all had storefronts where you could watch the artisans creating the knives they sold. (Laboratories are now moved off the main street.)

Today the tradition of centuries continues, albeit conditioned by modern technology, commercialization, and market pressures. Scarperia keeps its tradition alive by maintaining a centuries old Antica Bottega del Coltellinaio and a museum located in the Palazzo dei Vicari dedicted to the art and history of knife-making. and through show-casing the art to visitors.

I wanted, however, to get a more personal side to this story, so I approached Piero Bartolini, Fabio Gasparrini, Alessandro Corti, and Silvia Bartolini, Piero’s daughter, to get a deeper understanding of this art that is so intrinsic to Scarperia.

Piero’s family traces knife-making back at least 4 generations, to his great-great-grandfather. When he was a boy, about 8 years old, he would attend school in the morning and work in the bottega in the afternoon. He was assigned tasks by his father and uncle, and then in his free time he designed and created table knives. These knives were later given away in charity. He learned a great deal from his father and his uncle by observation and then by trial and error. But the work of musi neri (literally black faces, from the dust and ash created in production) was not highly valued after WWII, and through family connections he got work in Florence, ending up in a place where his artisan skills were put to great use repairing scales. He found this work very satisfying, with ample room for his creativity.

In the end, however, he came back to Scarperia, to his first passion, knives, and to raise his family. He worked with various fellow artisans, founding the bottega L’Artigiano Scarperia . As Piero says, “ Every knife is different. Each has its own story, its own characteristics, its own needs. To bring that out you need to possess an affinity with knives, a passion for them.” Piero’s wife Luana and daughter Silvia ran the storefront where their products were sold while Piero was in the lab designing and creating knives from scratch, following the old traditions. That storefront is still there, and Silvia is still at work selling. Even now, although he is retired, Piero keeps his hand in making knives from scratch. It is an essential part of his being.

Fabio and then Alessandro joined him in the laboratory in 2007/2008 and are keeping the ancient traditions of Piero's laboratory alive, making knives by hand, and expanding their product line and branding. Fabio and Alessandro both spoke of the deep satisfaction of bringing into existence a knife from raw materials to the finished product. They acknowledge the mentoring of Piero who is, as they said, the quintessential “coltellaio” (knife craftsman). Together they keep the tradition of knives made by hand alive, using the same ancient materials, and following antique traditions to produce their wares, including, among many others, the Zuava , a traditional pocketknife, symbol of Scarperia’s knife-making tradition.

They are dedicated to the quality of their products and find great satisfaction in bringing their products to market, meeting clients, adapting products to specific client needs, and making their art better known beyond the streets of Scarperia. Product lines have expanded beyond knives to kitchen utensils and accessories, tableware, personal care utensils (like razors), smoking accessories, steak knives (for bistecca fiorentina!) , decorative household items. Wherever they can put their artisan skills to work, in the ancient tradition of ferri taglienti .

Silvia

annefzimmerman (Anne Zimmerman) — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 17:23:15 GMT

Silvia Bonacini In Memoriam
Interpreter of the history of the stones

Silvia was our very first guide when we launched Cornucopia Journeys in 2013. She guided every one of our clients around Florence who visited here between 2013 and 2017, with only one or two exceptions when she was overbooked and had to pass the tour to one of her colleagues. Everyone was enthralled and awed by her passion for Florence and Italy, for art, and for history. She made it all come alive as she introduced you to places and people, works of art and monuments, Tuscan traditions and crafts, its cuisine and wines. Her incredibly in-depth knowledge and joy shone through as she imparted to her guests “the history of the stones,” as she liked to describe her mission.

In return she demanded your attention. She didn’t linger but made sure you saw, appreciated, and remembered the treasures she unveiled. She loved questions and took inspiration from her guests, following their interests. She loved kids and had a special talent in making all of this “adult stuff” come alive for them.

And she put it all in context — in its era, in the political and cultural environment of the times, in the societal realities, in its historical relevance—connecting the dots so that you came away with a deepened understanding of the culture of the times and how that impacts on the culture of today.

She loved it. And she loved life. And she was taken from us way too early.

Silvia had a profound knowledge of the richness, of the multiple facets and principal artifices of the art of the 1800’s as exhibited in Pitti Palace in Florence. Demonstrating her particular attachment to this period of art, she requested that people make donations in her memory to restore one of the works of this collection. Many people generously gave to realize Silvia’s dying wish. Her husband Erik collected enough funds to restore two works of art in the collection.

The first, the sculpted head of Francesco Forti done by Pietro Tenerani in 1842, was unveiled in its restored glory in February 2019, a year following Silvia’s death, and is located in the first room of the Galleria d’Arte Moderna in Pitti Palace, next to Tenerani's famous Psiche . This work was chosen particularly in memory of Silvia for its inscription on the pedestal of the sculpture:

“P. Tenerani, 1842. Moved by sentiments of friendship, this portrait was sculpted of the

auditor Francesco Forti, a true light of civic wisdom, gone from us at the age of 32,

February 17th, 1838”

The second piece, Giuditta e Oloferne by Jacopo Ligozzi, part of the collection in Pitti’s Galleria Palantina, is currently under restoration and will be unveiled soon. Initially executed for Duke Vincenzo Gonzaga, the Grand Duke Fernando I of Tuscany, who was an ardent patron of Ligozzi, acquired it and had a duplicate sent to Gonzaga in Mantova. It will soon be restored to its proper glory in Silvia’s honor and memory.

In addition, her guide colleagues in Florence have, every first Sunday of February since her death, offered free guided tours of the Galleria d'Arte Moderna, honoring her passion for the period, her contribution to bringing alive the culture of Florence, and her inestimable friendship.

On a personal note, Silvia was also my daughter-in-law and a close friend whom I miss every day. I have never known anyone so cultured, so curious, so engaged in life and all of its gifts, so willing to share her knowledge and impart her passions. Simpatica, vivace, una forza della natura. We are all poorer without her in our midst.

A Journey to Wineries in Tuscany

annefzimmerman (Anne Zimmerman) — Sat, 30 May 2020 15:00:13 GMT

Creating memories of a lifetime!

When our client and her son finished their month-long Grand Tour of Europe in celebration of his university graduation, they rented a villa in Tuscany for two weeks and invited family and friends to come visit. Among those who accepted was our client’s brother who is a wine connoisseur and was eager to explore Tuscany’s wineries and deepen his already extensive knowledge of wines and wine production. We planned a series of day trips for them, including two trips to wineries — a Day in Chianti and a Visit to Bolgheri Country . Our favorite Tuscan driver Vieri drove them so they would not have to worry about wine consumption and navigating twisting country roads. He added immensely to their appreciation of the day with his extensive knowledge of the region, its history and its wineries.

The Day in Chianti included a tour of Antinori ’s new wine making facility in Bargino that is first and foremost an astonishing example of the marriage of function, architecture, history and respect of nature. Antinori is the granddaddy of wine producers, having started to produce wine in 1385. Throughout the succeeding 26 generations they have become revered masters of wine-making. Theirs is more than wine production. It is a way of life, a philosophy, including respect for the land, for its traditions, and for innovation using modern research and technology that stays true to that tradition. The description of their process, developed over centuries, will bring you closer to the Tuscan culture that is closely tied to its land and its products. Nobody knows it or does it better. Touring their cellars gives one a deeper understanding of this way of life that has endured for centuries and what it takes to sustain the way of life, not to mention a greater appreciation of the wine that they produce. The picture above is of the Antinori cellar in Bargino.

They then visited Osteria di Passignano for lunch and a tour, another glimpse into the history and culture of Tuscany where monks and monasteries have been guarding local traditions for centuries. And Tuscany’s food culture is as integral to the Tuscan character as the cultivation of grapes and making of wine. At Passignano they had some of the very best Tuscany has to offer—countryside, food, wine, atmosphere. It’s a step back in time. And a trip into the heart of Tuscan culture.

After lunch they drove to Volpaia , past quintessential Chianti countryside, with its Etruscan hilltop towns like Panzano and past Radda in Chianti that feels tucked away into the woods. Volpaia is another piece of the history of wine making that is so central to the Tuscan way of life. And seeing another producer whose end objective is the same – wine and agricultural products –added a dimension to their understanding of an activity that is essential to the Tuscan economy. Each establishment has its secrets, its own production, and its pride of place in a now ancient way of life.

The road back to their villa in Chianti took them on the renowned Chiantigiana , a road remarkable for its quintessential Chianti countryside of vineyards, olive groves, cultivated fields, Cyprus trees, case coloniche or old farmhouses, little forests, and occasional grazing sheep and goats.

A Visit to Bolgheri Country

Their visit to Bolgheri Country was a special occasion, whether or not one is particularly interested in wine making. Open very selectively to visitors, Ornellaia itself is worth the trip. And the route they took through Maremma introduced them to a completely different landscape, along the Tyrrhenian coast, past Livorno and Vada and Cecina and a little on the coast road to Ornellaia. Different traditions. Different vegetation. Different Tuscan character. Different way of life, although also tied to wine making and agriculture. And a history tied more to the sea than the wars between Florence and Siena, although not disconnected to that history.

On the way home they made a quick little side trip to the charming little port of San Vicenzo , just down the road from Ornellaia, where they could dip their toes in the Tyrrhenian sea and enjoy a superb gelato in the picturesque little seaport town before returning to their villa.

Everyone was very pleased with the visits, even those who would not identify themselves as wine enthusiasts. But what delighted us is that four years later, our client’s brother still remembers those visits and recently commented: “Volpaia tops “Highly Recommended” and Antinori’s Solaia (of which I brought home a bottle from an earlier vintage) tops the “Collectibles”. Pretty Amazing! You have to hand it to Barbara, Anne, and Vieri for bringing us to such absolutely top wineries for such great experiences!”

His sister added “Given how many of the top vineyards my brother has visited, it thrills me that our trip was able to introduce him to some of these spectacular wines and vineyards. Many thanks to you all.”

That those memories live on is our greatest reward and greatest satisfaction!

Let us help you build memories of a lifetime!

It’s what we do. Well.

Reflections in the Time of COVID-19

annefzimmerman (Anne Zimmerman) — Tue, 19 May 2020 13:19:53 GMT

...on emerging into a new normal

This world on pause has forced us to sit still. It’s not a state to which we are habituated, this stillness. Hopefully however we are benefiting from the reflection and inner journey that it has brought us, and we will emerge into the new normal with more humanity and kindness and the curiosity to view a world that we have traveled virtually over the past few months. We long to travel, to see and embrace each other, and to deepen our understanding of a world grown somehow smaller and more intimate through this shared disaster.

We are all ready to let our spirits fly! Whenever we can travel again safely, come together again in joy, and follow our desire to explore new horizons, we will be ready to help you imagine, plan and go!

Very best from Barbara & Anne

Matteo, Laura, Anita & Giorgia explore Panama from the Caribbean to the Pacific Ocean

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 17:42:18 GMT

Matteo and Laura and their two small children Anita and Giorgia from Barberino di Mugello in Tuscany had a magical journey in Panama! They started out with an incomparable journey to the San Blas islands where they snorkeled, toured the islands in a private boat, visited the native Kuna people whose autonomous territory the San Blas Archipelgo is and whose dignity and hospitality and pride in their homeland is astonishing, and gloried in a spotless tropical paradise.

Next stop was the Gamboa Rain Forest where they took both day and night trips into the rain forest, seeing flora and fauna that captivated them and particularly caught the imagination of the children. They also visited the Panama Canal and were astonished by this engineering feat and its history.

Bocas Del Toro, an island also off the Caribbean side of Panama, was another opportunity to explore the marine life of this tropical paradise, while their trip to the Pacific side of the country granted them days of pure relaxation on the beach and poolside overlooking the vast ocean.

They finished their journey in Casco Viejo, Panama City’s Old Town, where they explored the streets and the port, admired the city’s amazing skyline from across the bay, and absorbed the atmosphere of this vital and vibrant neighborhood.

It was Anne’s particular pleasure to cross paths with Matteo, Laura, Anita and Giorgia in Panama City. They toured around downtown Panama City by car, visited the splendid ecological museum designed by Frank Ghery that is particularly kid-friendly, and feasted on fish in one of the many places overlooking both the city across the bay and the entrance to the Canal on the other side.

Laura happily summed up their 10-day adventure: “It was a beautiful trip that my family will hold dear in their hearts forever.” We were proud to have been able to help them realize their dream!

Betsy seeks out her genealogical roots in the Czech Republic

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 18:39:22 GMT

Betsy’s ancestors originally came from the Czech Republic back in the 1800’s.  She really wanted our help finding a genealogy expert so she could create her trip around the regions where her family had lived. She was interested not only in seeing the locations they came from but also in learning about the historical context, such as what was happening in the region economically, socially, politically, etc., that might have played a role in her family’s decision to emigrate. 

We found her an amazing genealogical expert located outside of Prague who did extensive research for Betsy prior to her trip and then was both her guide and driver while she was in the area. He was a remarkable resource. Betsy and her traveling companion Marianne (who was Cornucopia Journey’s very first client in 2013!) visited the towns and actual buildings where Betsy’s ancestors had lived. She shared a picture of herself standing in front of her great-great-great grandfather’s house and one of the church in which her ancestors who emigrated to the US were married.

Betsy and Marianne were also able, following their guide’s recommendation and favored by his connections, to take a private tour of a glass factory in the Czech countryside in the off-season that is rarely visited by tourists.  They told us that they were the only ones there, that the crew had waited for their arrival and guided their glass blowing experience. They proudly brought home the fruits of their labors!

Betsy’s trip was enriched by our ability to listen to her story, to locate the right person to help guide their journey, and to create a seamless experience so all they had to do was arrive in Prague and GO!  It is, after all, what we do!

How we help clients with emergencies

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 18:39:22 GMT

When clients are “in country,” Anne & Barbara are vigilant, ready to step in and help in any emergency or with any request.

Steve and JJ were driving in Veneto and Anne got a call on WhatsApp, so she returned it, no answer, and got the following text: “Car died at the top of a one-way lane. Not getting cell reception but will call soon. Major *#!@%!” She advised them to immediately call the emergency number on their rental. Fortunately, they were within walking distance of their hotel, were able to call from there, and the mechanic met them the next morning and resolved the situation. But just having Anne at the other end of the phone and in a country where she knows the language and the protocols helped them relax and “enjoy” their predicament rather than fretting. Stress-free adventure is our aim!

Clients also run into problems getting access to money from ATMs, and Anne has been successful in finding a way to help them out. A client in Siena had her bank card eaten by an ATM outside the bank. Fortunately, the bank was still open, and Anne was able to help her retrieve her card and get her funds. Clients in Venice had trouble accessing funds, and Anne arranged for the hotel to help them out.

Barbara helped a client resolve a payment issue at a New York hotel where Cornucopia Journeys had already paid the charges. And Anne helped clients in Panama resolve a payment issue with a hotel (not always easy in Panama, by the way….).

What else have we been able to help with? A client got lost in Venice and Anne was able, with the help of the host at her hotel in Venice, to locate her and get her on a train to Florence to rejoin her traveling companions. Clients in Paris missed a train connection in Paris, and Barbara was able to help calm the waters and find resolution.

We’re here to help, wherever you are and whatever the challenge! That is part of our personalized service. And we are proud of it.

An Unforgettable Evening of Fado Music in Lisbon

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 18:39:22 GMT

One of the best ways to immerse yourself in a new culture, besides tasting the cuisine, is to listen to their music. Fado music, known as the soul of Portuguese music, has its origins somewhere in the distant past, although it officially originated around the 1820’s. Deeply felt and profoundly melancholic, the musician sings about the hard realities of daily life, balancing both resignation and hopefulness that a resolution to its torments can still occur. It can be described by using the Portuguese word “saudade,” which means “longing” and stands for a feeling of loss. This loss is generally permanent and of long-term consequence. Singers of fado are often accompanied by one or two 12-string guitars, one or two violas, and sometimes a small 8-string bass.

There are two styles of fado. Lisbon fado has roots in social contexts that are set in marginality and transgression. It was often found in locations frequented by sailors and prostitutes. In the early 1900s, it found a popular following that continues today. Its heart is in the Alfama district of Lisbon.

Coimbra fado has ties to the academic traditions of the University of Coimbra. The singers and other musicians wear the traditional academic wardrobe that consists of dark robe, cape, and leggings. They sing at night on the streets or in the city square. While Lisbon often appeals to the working-class, Coimbra appeals to the more privileged classes.

We had the privilege, while visiting Sintra and Lisbon with our group of life-long friends, to spend an unforgettable evening listening to three different fado singers, two women and one man, accompanied by a twelve-string guitar and traditional acoustic guitar...and a wonderful dinner. The music spoke to our hearts, carrying us along its melancholy journey, and leaving an indelible mark. It makes you long to speak Portuguese so that you too can sing these marvelous songs from the heart.

A few nights later, we were surprised at another wonderful dinner, this time in Sintra, by the waitress singing fado a capella at the end of the evening. Such emotion!

No trip to Portugal is complete without enjoying at least one an evening of fado. We will be happy to take you there!

THE JOURNAL OF CORNUCOPIA JOURNEYS

2024 in Review

From Anne & Barbara

Looking back...Moving forward! 2023 in review

The Great Return to Travel in 2022 and Forging Forward in 2023 & 2024!

Across America & Back by Rail

Celebrating a 50th wedding anniversary

Travel in 2022 is booming!!!

It's been a long two years of not going anywhere...time to get going!

Ahead with 2022, Remebering 2021

The urge to travel again is upon us!!

Time to begin to make our dreams into reality!

Displaying The Artists Among Us

Displaying The Artists Among Us Artworks created by our clients on their journeys

It's here...2021!

Time to put dreams into plans

May kindness and peace be yours this holiday season!

... and may the new year bring you joyous reunions and adventure!

The Joy of the Olive Harvest

Camaraderie in the open air

Vermont, more than its spectacular fall foliage!

Resilient Vermonters, attached to the land

Sustainable Travel

Mindful travel in a time of renewed awareness

Living Abroad: Thirty Years in Italy

Observations from a distance of 30 years

... Look Up!!!

Look Up! and widen your horizons

The Ancient Craft of Knife-Making

An intrinsic part of the history of Mugello

Silvia

Silvia Bonacini In Memoriam Interpreter of the history of the stones

A Journey to Wineries in Tuscany

Creating memories of a lifetime!

A Visit to Bolgheri Country

Reflections in the Time of COVID-19

...on emerging into a new normal

Matteo, Laura, Anita & Giorgia explore Panama from the Caribbean to the Pacific Ocean

Betsy seeks out her genealogical roots in the Czech Republic

How we help clients with emergencies

An Unforgettable Evening of Fado Music in Lisbon

Silvia Bonacini In Memoriam
Interpreter of the history of the stones