This was the first time in my life I won a prize, so it felt even more special and to add to the pleasure, the whole family could take part. The prize was a two nights stay at B&B La Torretta in Casperia, Northern Lazio. Even if the prize was for two persons, Maureen very kindly allowed us to go with our 5 years old.
Even though we are used to the atmosphere and landscapes of Central Italy hill towns, we loved every minute of our too brief stay. The B&B is adorable, Maureen and her husband perfect guests and Casperia is a picture perfect place.
The area was totally unknow to me and well worth a visit. Thank you so much!
Pauline asked me to post some pictures of my prize week a while ago, so as of right now I think mine are the only ones there, except a few shots of the actual contest.
I just wanted to note that when I go into that photo album, it sorts alphabetically, which doesn't make much sense. To see them in the correct order, you should choose to sort them by date posted.
This picture should be the first of 4 I uploaded. And here is my review of the villa. Unfortunately, I have not yet had time to do a full trip report, but if you click on my travel page link under my name, you will see a link to my personal photo albums, including a lot more pictures of the beautiful Villa Ortensia!
I was very fortunate to get a $200 gift certificate to Amazon.com that Martin donated. I don't have a picture of anything, but imagine me sitting here next to a big pile o'books! Actually, most of them are texts I'm using for my graduate degree but, unlike most textbooks, they are sources that I'll use for a long time to come. Even better yet, most of them were purchased from Amazon resellers at some amazing prices. So the $200 went a long, long way. Thanks!
Well, I took my trip to Umbria in April this year, and gratefully received my prize, which was a week's stay in heaven: Le Case Gialle. I repeat. Le Case Gialle = heaven.
I wrote a trip report about my time in Umbria and Rome, and I uploaded my photos to a special photo gallery.
Duh. I never took a picture of our lovely little apartment, Il Portico. I did take lots of pictures from the porch, however. And of the funny animals that Mauro and Silvana have. But I can say that the photos on their website are entirely accurate.
I also won a car rental from Auto Europe, and used it to get an Alfa Romeo 147, which was a pretty awesome little vehicle. We didn't take a picture of the car either. Duh, again. What were we thinking?
That prize was one of the best things that ever happened to me. I still cannot believe that I actually won it.
I had the most amazing luck in that my name was chosen in the number 8 spot and I was able to pick my #1 choice for my prize! My prize was a week stay at Sant'Antonio,a monastery converted into apartments outside of Montepulciano (and a Slow Travel favorite) with the most wonderful and generous host Nico. We took the trip mid-October so that we could attend the Sagra del Tordo festival in Montalcino the last weekend in October. My prize also including a lunch at his restaurant Osteria del Leone in Bagno Vignoni where we had a risotto to die for. Also included in the prize was a private wine tour of the prestigious Avignonesi vineyards. Yes, I thought we had died and gone to heaven!
Here is a thread describing some of the highlights of the trip. Nico would NOT let us pay for anything, including the wonderful Avignonesi wine we had AND he had flowers and Prosecco waiting for us on our arrival. I have uploaded some photos in the prize category but as Roz said they are not grouped together the way they are currently sorted. I also have more pictures of the festival and the trip here that I will post on the ST community album when I learn how to zip them.
My review of Sant'Antonio is in the pending list and I am slowly working on my trip report. Here is Sant'Antonio's web page. I echo Stella in saying that this was one of the nicest things that has ever happened to me and truely one of the best trips to Italy I have ever had. Thank you so much Pauline and moderators.
I was lucky enough to win two prizes: a week at Brigolante and a private tour with Tony da Roma.
Brigolante was everything you could want in an agriturismo and was a great first experience in such a setting for both me and my father. Rebecca was great and watching her interact with her kids was at times hilarious. She had another couple staying there who were fun to hang out with, and we enjoyed a few nights just sipping wine and eating chocolate outside our apartment. The apartments are beautiful stone buildings and her dogs are really sweet.
Our private tour with Tony was also great. We did the off the beaten track tour, which was a welcome respite from the busy busy main tourist roads and sites. We were pretty undemanding customers, our only request was that we finish the tour at a good place to watch the Ukraine v Italy match. He gave a great tour and put us at an excellent place for the game.
A wonderful pair of prizes, really enhancing my trip with my father
----------------------------------- Pekorino, my food blog On The Road, Again [travel stories from 2005-2006]
Well, I had a different experience: for health reasons I had to cancel the trip to Italy in May 2006. Sandra from Romaround was very gracious and stressed that the prize ( a private guided tour and pasta cooking lesson) will always be available. So we hope to take advantage of this offer next September.
I won a week at Gaeta for which I wrote what was decided should be a trip report, but it hasn't been published. There are no photos of me, but lots of the apartment and the trip. Photos of me are not permitted. I also reviewed the apartment and I think that has been published. It is Chicca's House. And then I won two books about Pistoia. One is a history and I shall take it with me next time I go there. The other is a cookbook full of Pistoiese recipes, many using offal, so I am getting a slow start with those! No Photos, although photos of the books are possible.
You're going to have to wait to see photos of my GRAND prize--a week at Villa Rosy, near Assisi-we are going in July '07 and I can't wait!! What a fabulous prize, I'm so excited!!
But to tide me (and all of you) over, I can show you some pictures of my other prizes.
First, courtesy of Sally Watkins, we had a wonderful and delicious $100 spending extravaganza at Murray's Cheese shop in Greenwich Village; this is just from the first outing (and we've still got some cash left on the certificate so we can look forward to another shopping trip soon!) We were on a Spanish cheese kick having recently returned from Spain, so what you see here includes Machengo, Grazalema, Cabrales, oh and some others they recommended. Also some great imported pasta from Italy, truffle butter, marmelade, and of course Serrano Jamon from Spain.
My final prize, courtesy of Dean Gold, was a fabulous dinner for four at Dino's in Washington D.C. We went down over Columbus Day weekend and invited Kim and her husband Chris to join us. The meal and wines were wonderful, Dean and Kaye were gracious hosts and it was great to finally meet them!
Here's a shot of me, Alan, Kaye, Dean, Chris, and Kim...this was post-dinner and we were slightly blitzed on Prosecco, wine,moscato, grappa, you name it! We were too busy eating and drinking to remember to take shots of the food!
We won a stay at Villa Rosa Villa Rosa in Umbria. We loved every minute there! Fantastic place, fantastic location and fantastic owners. Megan and Lino were just perfect!
Just got back a week ago from the trip to Europe during which I was able to enjoy our prize from the 2006 Slowtrav Contest.
Claire and I had 22nd pick of the wonderful prizes. After much agonizing and deliberation, we chose the prize offered by Bruce Marcucci of a week in Paris at his fabulous apartment in the 2nd arrondissement (see it at www.experienceparis.com) You can see our rental review 2423.
The last time I was in Paris was in 1967 so it was like starting all over again!
Claire and I walked what felt like every inch of Paris, falling more and more in love with it with every step we took. The company was great, the apartment divine, the city magical, the food a delight - and the weather just perfect.
Without the generosity of the prize giver (thanks again, Bruce!) and all the hard work of the organisers and judges of Slowtrav I would not have had the vast pleasure of this trip with my daughter to Paris.
It won't be 43 years till I go again to savour the delights of this elegant and spell-binding city.
Claire and I will write our trip report when she finally decides to come home after her year long adventures in Europe.
[URL link fixed]
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Colleen,
I won the Razr Phone donated by Ken at Telestial. I htink I mentioend it a few times in my trip report, but I don't thin kI have a photo of me with it. What I do have is video footage on my phone of a cellist warming up at La Fenice, church bells ringing in Campiello San Toma and rowers passing our window and singing a spirited song in some mysterious langauge. They were changing languages as they went and neiher of us recognized this one. I also have footage of David, our now 1 year old grandson, "reading" to Martin, beating a drum and riding his horse that comes complete with sound effects. I will be able to see those when I am in Venice and missing David. The phone also works really well for phone calls, and I can use it in many areas in which we had previously had trouble using Martin's older phone. There are even more features which I have not used yet, but am hoping my cell phone savvy kids will introduce htem ot me. I am one very happy prize winner. Thanks, Paulijne and thanks again to Ken. Ruth
For my prize I selected the two books written by Isabella Dusi, "Vanilla Beans and Brodo", and "Bel Vino". Isabella's story is fascinating; she left her native Australia to begin a new life in the Tuscan mountain town of Montalcino. At first I expected another "Under the Tuscan Sun", but I tell you honestly I think these books are far, far superior to "Under...." Isabella's writing is so full of her love for her new home and she brings it to life so beautifully. I had already been to Montalcino but I learned so much more from her books. And serendipitiously, the books arrived on my birthday, when I had already planned to drink my bottle of Banfi Brunello di Montalcino! Perfetto.... Isabella was also so kind as to include a silk scarf with the traditional designs of Montalcino on it. I am very happy with my prize. The whole Slow Travel Contest was a wonderful experience as it allowed me to relive a wonderful trip and it has brought me new gifts and knowledge as well from my prize. Thank you all; I look forward to the next contest.....I have been traveling... :-)
We had an early pick (#25) for our ST prize, but who needs a romantic week in a Tuscan Villa (yawn) when you can experience a tour of Manhattan with Slow Travel dignitary David Ronis and 10 high school students? David showed us the best of the Upper West Side with an emphasis on "a day in the life" of a New Yorker, including a visit to his beautiful apartment where he treated us to a New York style Deli lunch with lox, bagels, cream cheese and pickled herring. Even his cute little dog Hilda was happy to see us, and our students loved meeting her!
David was gracious enough to let our students rehearse for their upcoming poetry slam performance at the Nuyorican Cafe, and offered his expert advice and generous support. Should David choose to offer another tour as an ST prize, don't hesitate to take advantage of his genuine northern hospitality.
Sorry, I've never tried to sign up for the photo albums, I'm going to keep my contrary Flickr ways. 
My prize was a week stay at Sant'Antonio,a monastery converted into apartments outside of Montepulciano (and a Slow Travel favorite) with the most wonderful and generous host Nico. We took the trip mid-October so that we could attend the Sagra del Tordo festival in Montalcino the last weekend in October. My prize also including a lunch at his restaurant 
We were too busy eating and drinking to remember to take shots of the food!
did you also get a year's supply of Slowtrav dog food? 
