SHOWING UP in Italy Was a Great Experience!Category: It's All About Showing Up Stories Published: Thursday, April 16, 2009 36 dynamic women recently showed up in the Tuscany Valley of Italy staying at a fantastic villa in Lucca Italy. The villa is called Villa Fattoria Mansi Bernardini and is owned by Marchello and his family, below is a photo of one of my friends June Davidson and the owner Marchello.  The weather everyday was perfect, the grounds of the Villa were magnificent and one could have a great view of the Tuscany Valley from there. Our trip started from LAX on Air France and the flight was wonderful and boy did they feed us, including champagne and wine. We landed in Rome and changed planes and then landed in Florence where we were picked up in a van by a wonderful and informative driver, there were 17 of us on the Air France flight and the others came via other airlines and directions. The food at the Villa and the staff were great they really know how to make their visitors happy.The grounds had about 6 or 7 Villa's plus the main mansion which Marchello and his mother live. While we were there he took us on a tour of his home that has been around for centuries. At night all the women got together and had a great fun time in SHOWING UP at the different Villa's I even played a FUN game in one of the Villa's that I had never heard of but it sure made us all crack up laughing, the food and wine flowed the whole trip. The grounds also had magnificent grape and olive orchards and it was amazing to hear the story about them and how they make oil from the Olives. Some of the gals brought the Oil back to the states. Each day vans came and took various groups it averaged about 7 in each group going somewhere, and it covered all the places we wanted to visit as one day some went to Florence and some went to Rome and others went to other places and the next day it was reversed so that we all got to go everywhere we wanted and met and saw such great sights and learned about such wonderful history. I know I could learn to love living in Italy. One of my favorite places was PISA and the leaning tower, my partner and friend June loved Florence and came back with a beautiful Italian hat. The drivers were great as they gave us much history about all the areas we visited and most of the places we went into had people there to also share the history of the buildings or town with us. Each night when we came home we got to visit with each other and build some strong and wonderful bonds as we learned about who everyone was and believe me they are all dynamic women making a difference to so many lives. I thought it would be great in the blog to share a few statements from some of the gals on the trip which I believe can give you that SHOWING UP in Italy was really a great thing. "Well, I expected to go to Italy with a great group of ladies, lounge around and work on my book, maybe do a little site seeing and rest. Instead I found myself smack dab in the middle of 35 other lively, smart, sophisticated, excited women from all over the states and from all walks of life. I was in awe of the knowledge, experience, strength and hope in the room. Against the backdrop of the Tuscan mountains we sat in a glass enclosed room eating a fabulous breakfast of fresh orange juice, the freshest eggs and milk I have ever tasted and imagine CAKE! That's right, we ate cake for breakfast and I actually lost weight on this trip. I created friends with women I don't think I would ever have had the opportunity to meet had it not been for this trip. As a result of these new friendships, I am going to Ghana in November to help one of the ladies, (Qarlah) set up a manufacturing company to manufacture and export cosmetics. I have also been blessed to create an incredible relationship with Sarah and we began writing a book while sitting in the airport on the way back. I had the opportunity to really spend time with Robbie and June and create more on my new book, "Look Mom, my food is killing me". The contacts and deals that were created on this trip would normally have taken months to solidify and here we were doing it over vegetarian lasagna! Of course there were challenges while there but I gotta tell you, I wouldn't have traded this trip for anything in the world. I met people who quickly became part of my heart and with whom I expect to have long lasting relationships with. I found a gem in the middle of the Tuscan Mountains that I am certain I will share with my friends and family for years to come. Thank you to all of my For You and NAFE sisters! You are incredible and my life is expanded as a result of having met with, cooked with, eaten with and even cried with you." ~ Dr. Hanan Islam, CEO American Health and Education clinics Founding Board Member, International Health Care Trainers Association "As the days drew closer to my departure to Lucca my excitement to travel to Europe for the first time was almost too much to bear. The beauty and the serenity of our mountain top villas was so much more than the postcard internet pictures tried to convey. One week in Tuscany gave me the opportunity to taste the flavors of local cuisine, feast my eyes on exquisite countrysides and architecture and get to know first hand the warm nature of the Italian people. Of course I loved visiting Lucca, Venice, Florence, Pisa and other points of interest, but the highlight was something even the best tour guide could never put together in a package. I knew I would be traveling with many women, most of whom I did not know, and was looking forward to making some new friends along the way. What I did not anticipate was how each of us would came together to unite as a powerful strength of love and devotion in a time of need. My memories of Italy are not only of cities, wine and food, but of the sisterhood on our mountain top." ~ Linda Reyna "I always look for the beauty in all of life's experiences and I certainly found them in the beautiful friendships formed out of our Italy trip. I am overwhelmed by the powerful presence that each of the ladies, I had the honor to spend some time with. The trip was all that I could have asked for by the simple fact that I was blessed by the words of wisdom, the warm embraces, the unconditional love, the beautiful surroundings, the great food and flowing wine. I have many memories to cherish, but none will top that of new friendships that blossomed out of our Italy trip. Thank you and I hope that all of the Birthday Girls had a FABULOUS time. Live FABULOUS & Free! " ~ Myra Wallace "The Friday night dinner. When we all got together and pitched in to help and fellowship. That was the best time of networking and fellowship among the ladies and the best meals in Italy served with love. The best day was the day I spent in Rome. I learned tons about Pope Benedict and his works but when I entered the tomb. God really touched my heart while I stood at the tomb. The likeness of the crest of the Pope and my logo was almost exact. Dr. Hanan and I felt a spiritual connection while standing there together. It was beautiful. That was the most memorable and most exciting part of the trip. I received many of the questions about my personal life regarding the "why" I like and dislike certain things. And have for many years. Why I view things a bit differently. While I was in Rome I got those answers. God showed me that I was born to be an eagle not a chicken. I had been Trying to be like one of them but God said, not so. I was designed, built and hand crafted by Him to be an eagle. Rome had so much power and meaning. Every Pope and or Apostle or King or Emperors lived and died for the love of what they believed. It was electrifying. I have that type of blood running through my veins. I have a tenacity that I cannot explain but now I see that I am not as strange as I was told, others just didn't know my purpose. But, thanks to this trip, I have closure in this area as it relates to my purpose. It was discovered in Rome. Venice was great, the shopping was a lot of fun with my sisters. Bargaining and getting turned down gave new meaning to being rejected. Go figure. Nonetheless, getting lost on the streets in Venice was also a wonderful experience. I also enjoyed the rain. How blessed was that to have God wet it up a bit for us. It was right on time. I had a cozy night to snuggle in bed while I listened t the rain and wind hit the shutters. Very nice and romantic. I have tons of ideas for my new book that I have already begun writing about our trip. I will be finished with it in a few weeks. I would really love to have some of the stories told by some of you. Lets add them to the book. "Divas in Italy, what goes on in Italy, stays in Italy". Much love to you all. Italy, relationships that were built, laughter shared, joy felt, hurt rendered, pain expressed, sadness endured, anger unleashed and lots of love received and shared, itched in my heart forever. My remembrance of Italy 2009." ~ Thank you my sisters, Qarlah Prince--QP Enterprises ... "Words to describe the Italy trip: dramatic, suspenseful, hopeful, crazy, and just plain wonderful! Touring the towns and cities of Lucca, Siena, Pisa, Firenze, Roma and then ending up in Paris---how can you top all of that? You can if shared by wonderful women (and my daughters). Thanks for the opportunity of giving me special memories to last a lifetime. Best wishes and thanks to all of you." ~ Ingrid Anthony, Editor/Publisher Inland Empire Business Journal These are just a few of the many comments and all 36 who went on the trip said so many glowing things about Italy, they all said it was a magical trip of people SHOWING UP, many who did know each other but after one week together have formed a friendship for a lifetime. Until my next Blog keep SHOWING UP as SHOWING UP is like a treasure map you never know what Treasure you will find, we certainly found lots of Treasures in Italy Robbie Motter
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