Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

If you like this fantasy world, you feel like a teen ager even if you are not anymore, you could feel like a child, entering the game you play, living it as a reality for some hours or days…

Maybe it is what we all need. And  Lucca is the perfect place to do that: the old city centre, with the medioeval streets and towers, the circle of walls surrounding it, a fantastic set for any kind of cosplaying and gaming, and for the artists meeting to show their drawings and books to the audience of fans attending the event.

Difficult to say more, you just need to live this experience! See you at Lucca Comics&Games 2012!

It would be a pleasure to share with you everything we did in the last week-end during the first Costa d’Argento Fam Trip which I organized for tour operators, journalists, and buyers of the wine and food industry…….but as usual, I invite you to come here and experience personally!

So first of all, where is Costa d’Argento? It’s the Southern coast of Tuscany, including Giglio Island, Monte Argentario, Orbetello, Capalbio and Magliano in Toscana: a variety of landscapes, colours, atmospheres.

Gigio Island was our first stop, and it was a stunning surprise for everybody.

The island is still so wild, protected by National Park of Tuscany Archipelago, with a variety of rocky and sandy beaches….a pearl of Mediterranean beauty at just one hour ferryboat ride from Porto S. Stefano harbour.

Giglio Island is also a “gourmet” place to be: starting from the DOC wines, produced on terraces overlooking the sea,  Giglio local productions are tasteful, reminding old flavours in cakes, biscuits, and savoury products.  Not to talk about the fish…just to mention one of the things we tasted: “tonnina”. “Tonnina” is made with tuna fish,  sliced in small strips, and given special flavour and taste by herbs and spices…..never tasted it anywhere else in Italy and in the world!

Business meetings were held on the terrace and the lounge of the Arenella Hotel, just overlooking the Arenella beach. 

After Giglio Island, we came back to mainland, and travelled along the panoramic road of Monte Argentario, the promontory famous as VIP destination, but also for being a divers paradise!

Porto S. Stefano and Orbetello bear the signs of Spanish ruling,  when that area was the kingdom called “PRESIDIOS”,  a place where only soldiers lived in order to control the coast. Fortresses and watchtowers spread along the coast are beautiful evidences of the Spanish years, still very charming today. 

After the panoramic route of Monte Argentario, we drove to the Argentario Golf Resort&Spa. An oasis of green, with outstanding views of the hills and the sea, a fine design, a top quality venue for golf lovers.

We then headed to the village of Capalbio, on the hills from where you can enjoy a beautiful view on the coast and on the local vineyards.

Capalbio historical city centre is wrapped into a small cosy hamlet still enchanting travellers from all over the world,  famous for its wines, VIP places, an international short film festival and much more.

We joined the local “Wild boar Festival” eating outdoor under the stars, in the very traditional atmosphere of Italian typical food&wine feasts: everybody was happy to eat “polenta with wild boar sauce”, “wild boar alla cacciatora” and so on…..good wine and good company made the rest of the evening!

Day 2 started with the visit of Talamone historical city centre: another beautiful fortified village, with a cosy harbour, a kite surfers beach, an ethernal glomour feeling……I have been always in love with Talamone, and this recent visit of the village and the view from Capoduomo Hotel (which we showed to our guests) just confirmed that “everlasting” love!

After Talamone, we enjoed a bus ride along the camping area running along the coast, followed by the visit of Antica Fattoria La Parrina, to get deeply into the finest world of local wines.

The experience at La Parrina deserve its own story, and I think I will post it later: the beautiful estate, the old farmhouses, the wine cellars and the barriques, the elegant style of the interiors, the quality of wines, and last but really not least the passion and love for wine and for welcoming people shown by the owner Franca Spinola.

After this visit we moved to St. Bruzio Abbey ruins, in the middle of a typical Tuscan landscape, on the hills with lines of cypresses,  in a surreal image given also by the heat of the day and by the history of the Abbey itself. 

A quick drive under Magliano in Toscana walls, and then back towards the coast, passing through magnificent landscapes made of vineyards, olive groves and farmhouses. We arrived at Torre dell’Osa Hotel, where the second part of the day would have started after a very nice buffet lunch.

                                                                                The afternoon was again dedicated to workshops of tourism and food and wine: our hosted buyers had the unusual, I would say unique!, chance to do the workshop sitting outside, along the swimming pool…….a very nice way to do business meetings!

The day was long, we ended at around 18:30, and then everybody was driven back to his hotel, to relax before enjoying our last dinner together…..

A terrace overlooking Argentario, a warm night, the lights shining on the sea, the fantastic food, a nice live music…..Argentario Osa Village welcomed us at its best, and that was a night we will keep in our memories for a very long time!

On the last day everybody had a different program, also according to flights departures, but still people were able to do extra visits.

We are very satisfied with this first experience, a milestone in Costa d’Argento marketing and promotional activity! We are now ready to think about the future, and think about it with a very positive attitude!

text and photos by Rosanna Capitani – all rights reserved

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And moreover, those luxury motor boats are the top expression of Made in Italy: Design, Engineering, Fashion……. a perfect combination of a dream available just for few people…but still providing jobs to many, so a boating industry which must be supported in any possible way.

I was there assisting a group of international journalists, coming from all over the world, to try these fantastic new boats in Viareggio harbour, and to attend the convention of the most important Italian boating industry association (UCINA).

I met interesting people, I worked hard, but the chance to be on the coast with a fantastic weather and to try boats too, has been the perfect reward to my effort!

Images say more than words, I tried to shoot vdeos while sailing, I will just show 2, we were running up to 48 knots….. very hard to keep a camera in my hands, but still I want to share my emotions with you.

Tuscany from another point of view,  the most beautiful frame for our Made in Italy yachts and motor boats in general… (sailing boats always in the pictures, anyway that’s my passion!)

As if nature granted us a pleasure, a fast blossom, an explosion of colours to light up your lives…….

Tuscany was and of course still is, at her top: enjoying countryside or seaside now, when the tourist season is not started yet, is really a privilege……and everybody’s wish is that it doesn’t stop……

but we all know this is not normal for April, so we prepare for Easter time knowing that it might be colder, and even rainy….but it doesn’t matter!

Why are we troubling about weather when there is so much to do and see anyway?

Of course the sun is THE SUN, but what I think is that no matter what the weather could be, now the beat has started, and nobody can’t stop it. Despite world situation, the wish for travelling, for freedom and nice experiences is too strong, maybe this is what many people (included me) keep as their special emotion, hope, dream…something that can make life worth for…anyway and always…

The beat goes on, with extraordinary art exhibitions in Florence and all over Tuscany, natural parks and protected area Walking festival , and so much more…..

the most important BEAT is anyway that of our hearts, when admiring nature, relaxing, enjoying life on the Tuscan side…….

Can we find a new sense of travelling? A view on the world as travellers meeting with nature and people, which is actually not new at all. It is what travelling has always meant. And maybe the problem is that we just forgot about it.

Spring 2011 is a milestone. At least for me.  What is the sense of your traveling now? Mine, is to keep my eyes wide open.

Mi ha subito attratto il significato di “je rêve”, io sogno. E io è tanto che sogno Parigi, ho voglia di staccare e andare anche per pochi giorni nella Ville Lumière.

E la mostra è solo l’input per partire prima possibile, perché chiude a fine marzo e non me la vorrei perdere. Date un’occhiata al programma, secondo me ne vale la pena! Tessuto, carta, metalli, tutti i materiali più innovativi per una serie di istallazioni straordinarie…scoprirle sarà la scusa per girare tutta la città.

Ce la godremo, con ritmi rilassati, con il nostro passo personale.

Io parto il 23 e rientro il 26 marzo: chi vuole venire con me? Sono giorni infrasettimanali, per risparmiare sul volo ma anche per partecipare ad uno degli incontri con gli artisti previsto di giovedì (24 marzo).

Le tariffe aeree sono bassissime, ognuna si prenota comunque il suo volo in via autonoma, quindi valuterete voi quanto spendere: naturalmente vi supporterò io nella scelta, vi manderò le selezioni dei collegamenti possibili in base alla vostra città di partenza. Chi vuole può trattenersi anche il sabato notte, naturalmente!

Per l’hotel idem: io vi suggerisco un po’ di strutture, se stiamo tutte insieme è meglio, ma nella  logica 2.0 preferisco che ci sia la possibilità di scegliere insieme e allo stesso tempo autonomamente.

Insieme potremo anche decidere gli eventuali servizi aggiuntivi e un programma di massima, certamente in base ai miei suggerimenti.

Se volete unirvi a me, per condividere questa esperienza ed avere il mio supporto organizzativo sia nella preparazione sia durante il viaggio,  il costo è di Euro 50+iva (tot. Euro 60) a persona.

Che ne dite? Cominciamo a spargere la voce? Io il biglietto aereo lo comprerò entro la prossima settimana, come sapete più ci avviciniamo alla data di partenza, più i voli costano.

Per informazioni: info@eliotropica.it

A simple decision: just to drive from Lucca to Florence, knowing that I would be driving back late at night, enjoying a nice evening in Florence. Very simple, in fact, but sometimes there might be unjustified or justified limitations to do even the easiest things. This time there weren’t, luckly.

And the destination is one of my usual ones, but lately just in daily and working hours. Never have time to get to Florence for anything else. This time I took the time.

And I was totally rewarded by a fantastic evening, mild temperature, almost a spring one, unusual for a January in Florence, Christmas holidays on their ending, but still there were special lights and decorations. Fantastic athmosphere! 

And SALES season has already started, so …………….I couldn’t resist in doing some shopping…..waiting to meet friends for a drink and then go to dinner!

Do  you think women travel just to do shopping? Well I think there is much more…..but when the shopping centre is so beautiful how could you resist?

In my case the feeling is different: whereever I go, I try to understand and discover people and places. Even if I’ve been here a thousands times, I still try to understand something different about its soul. And normally I succeed!

The shadow of Perseus at Loggia dei Lanzi, with that surreal light, was something Florence left me as a gift last Saturday.

And also the nice dinner with new friends. I felt as if I was in a movie, meeting with interesting people, in such a different set from my daily life. A movie set telling the story of people who love culture, art, literature and poetry. Enjoing life, doing their job with passion, sharing their culture with people. In a florentine apartment, in one of the most interesting areas of the city…S.Ambrogio! Well, I could tell more about the movie…but as far as I don’t know if I will ever shoot it, I am saving details for my next masterpiece!

Is this the good time to shoot a new movie with a woman  as main character set in Florence?

text and photos by Rosanna Capitani – All Rights Reserved

Filed under: Tuscan life, tuscany ]]> http://thesenseoftravelling.wordpress.com/2011/01/10/women-solo-travelling-a-night-in-florence/feed/ 0 eliotropica DSC04973 DSC04975 DSC04977 DSC04974 DSC04980 http://thesenseoftravelling.wordpress.com/2010/12/31/end-of-the-year-what-i-leave-what-i-find-what-i-dream/ http://thesenseoftravelling.wordpress.com/2010/12/31/end-of-the-year-what-i-leave-what-i-find-what-i-dream/#comments Fri, 31 Dec 2010 20:42:29 +0000 eliotropica http://thesenseoftravelling.wordpress.com/?p=551 Continue reading →]]> For sure I leave an year full of beautiful images, memories of places I visited, I re-discovered, I made mine.

I leave an hard year for most of the people on Earth, an year opening a discussion on the future, on the kind of future we will be able to build for our children, and the future is now. What we do now is the challenge and the basis for the future.

Travelling has been, as always, part of the dream, part of the beautiful moments, as I think for everybody.

So what I find here, now, is the strenght of my memories, the power of dreams came true, the hope of dreams coming out now.  

What I find is also the beautiful land I live in, the magic Tuscany still keeping its original features, its beauty and its life style. And for sure, this is what I will have in the future. Too much love for this land by its people to allow any deep change in landscapes and mentality. And I think at this point this is very good.

As a traveller, I had the chance to go abroad in the last year, but not as much as I wanted: so my dream is to start travelling more again, and to share my experiences with you.

As a woman, my dream is to see  changes in women lives in the places where human rights are not respected, not to talk about women’s rights.

My dreams are really a lot, so 2011 won’t be enough. It will be just another step forward…….Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

text and photos by Rosanna Capitani

Londra è un appuntamento fisso per chi lavora nel settore turistico, in quanto proprio a novembre si svolge il WTM, World Travel Market.

E ogni anno si corre verso Londra, si corre dentro Londra e ci si chiude in fiera, metropolitana, hotel.

Quest’anno oltre alla fiera ho voluto organizzare anche un evento esterno, per completare la mia missione dedicata a presentare il progetto regionale “Benvenute in Toscana”. Quest’anno il mio pay off era “Tuscany is What Women Want”. E dovevo dimostrarlo in vari modi!

Londra quindi come momento di sviluppo del mio lavoro. Ma anche come una tappa rigeneratrice di cui devo cogliere ogni volta i piccoli frammenti di energia e farli miei.

E quest’anno ho avuto la fortuna di poterla vivere, nonostante gli impegni lavorativi, in modo diverso: ho deciso di andare in fiera utilizzando per la maggior parte del percorso il battello sul Tamigi. Che bello essere fuori dal Tube, specialmente con le giornate di sole. Spazio, immagini del passato della città, proiezioni futuristiche, acqua, vetro, ponti, con il fiume come stream of knowledge della vera essenza della Londra di oggi.

Non scrivo di luoghi, nomi, indirizzi: scrivo di emozioni, suggestioni, da cui si rimane inevitabilmente affascinati. Da cui si trae energia, creatività, voglia di fare, conoscere, scoprire.

Questo è per me il fascino delle grandi città, e questa Londra sembra avere trovato uno splendido equilibrio tra il suo passato glorioso e il suo presente straordinario, con grande apertura per tutto quello che verrà.  

Anche se per lavoro, anche se per soli pochi giorni, si possono cogliere immagini e luoghi  che ci portiamo dentro come parte del nostro viaggio, come piccoli tasselli di memoria che riconduciamo ad un sogno più ampio, ad una visione che abbiamo dentro di noi, ognuno a modo nostro.

Il grande sforzo per mettere insieme questi tasselli preziosi viene ampiamente ricompensato. E si ha voglia di continuare a viaggiare, non importa perché e dove: sicuramente una città come Londra, con i suoi incroci di vite e di viaggi, di culture e di storie, di colori e suoni, è una delle testimonianze più evidenti del senso del viaggio. Londra vi farà sognare, non solo ricordare di sé, ma aspirare ad altro, all’India, all’Africa, alle Americhe…è la magia di una città aperta sul mondo.

p.s. le foto pubblicate le ho fatte tutte dal battello o dal taxi, nei momenti di trasferimento tra un impegno e l’altro di lavoro, ad esclusione ovviamente di quando ho utilizzato la metropolitana