Everyone who attended the Gathering received a welcome bag-- actually a really nice, re-usable Slow Travel Gathering "green bag." (Though actually ours was a brown bag!)

We'd also like to thank our advertisers and members who contributed these items for the bags:

- Slow Travel luggage tags, magnets, mousepads and stickers (donated by member Pauline)

- Rome Mugs (donated by Institute of Design + Culture in Rome - Susan Sanders and Laura Flusche)

- Soaps and Venice postcard (donated by Palazzetto da Schio in Venice - Contessa Anna da Schio)

- "A Primer of Wine Tasting" booklets (donated by Rent our Home in Provence - Towney Manfull)

- Savannah pralines-- yum!! (donated by members MoJen, Wendy & Rob, and Sharon L)

- Gourmet chocolates-- more yum!! (donated by member SuzanneF)

- Mardi Gras beads (donated by member Anneo123)

- Pens and tote bags (donated by www.booking.com

- Magnets (donated by member Leslie Erickson www.leslieerickson.com

- Magnets (donated by member Palma www.palmabellasitaly.com

- Soaps (donated by Chianti Cashmere

- Special gift bags for Slow Travel children (donated by member chiaro di luna)

I need to say a special word about the gift bags chiaro di luna put together for our three Slow Travel kids (Kelly, Riley and Casey). This was such a special surprise for each of them, and included a gift certificate to a wonderful bookstore in Savannah, some cash for spending money, some fun things to do on the trip, and some great things from Canada. June, thanks again on behalf of all three families for this very thoughtful idea.

Thanks again to everyone who contributed to the Welcome Bags! And we hope everyone will use these in their daily grocery shopping!

Kathy

This message has been edited. Last edited by: kaydee,

I have actually already used mine today for my food shopping - it's great!

I used mine Sat. morning to take my bands and tennis balls to the Pilates class. I will be using it all of this trip and beyond. Thank you. We haven't gotten into the food goodies ... yet.

Thanks to all who contributed to the welcome bags. We will be using our goodies too.

Love those luggage tags! It's something we always need. J.

Bags in the car ready for groceries, magnets on the fridge, luggage tags stored for further use, bumper sticker on car, beads hanging from rear view mirror of car, business cards filed, Savannah guide in book case, praline being enjoyed as I type this and I have hidden my chocolate shells.

THANKS EVERYONE!!!

Ginger
xxoox

The chocolate shells and the little oval soaps embellished with herbs were especially wonderful and everything was so thoughtful!

I have to tell you the little soaps are really very effective removing travel dust and grime and leaving the face feeling great. I believe the ones we received in our bags were the Palazzetto ones? They were oval and one was creme colored and the other pale pink. I'd like to order some more!

We're off to Milan May 5 ... up to the Lake Region and Milan and counting down the days!

I used my bags today at Publix and got a high five from a bag boy. I haven't opened my soap yet, I've been enjoying the pretty package it came in.

Ginger

We love our bags, we used them to board the ship filled with all sorts of things we needed.

I will be using them when we get home.

I am using my canvas ST bag daily for my book, glasses, water....

Thank you for two new bags plus all the goodies inside.

Wendy and Rob - out to sea nearing the Panama Canal

quote:

The chocolate shells

I loved those too, Nancy! They were donated by member Suzanne, I think???

Have a great trip! It was so nice seeing you in Savannah.

jan

I have been cat sitting at a cottage on a lake and just this week used the wonderful olive oil soap from the ST Gathering welcome bag.

This is wonderful soap! It feels so luxurious on my skin. Thank you so much to the Venetian donors. If they supply this kind of soap in their establishment, I think I need to book a trip to stay with them in Venice. I have been thanking them every morning in the shower.

The ST bag has been put to good use. It has been ideal for moving paper back and forth to the "cottage" (actually a full-time home beautifully decorated by a perfectionist).

This soap is so good that I don't want this small bar to end. If there some way of ordering more of this heavenly soap? Or must I put another trip to Venice on my list?

Thom and I are in charming Varenna, Lake Como with sparking waters dancing in the sun. I used the wonderful soap this morning as it is so nice I brought it back to Italy for a little outing! (smile)

quote:

Originally posted by joywriter:
Thom and I are in charming Varenna, Lake Como with sparking waters dancing in the sun. I used the wonderful soap this morning as it is so nice I brought it back to Italy for a little outing! (smile)

Go ahead, rub-it-in!! (forgive the pun!)

Have a wonderful time. Looking forward to hearing all about your fabulous trip when you return.

All the best,

Leslie

Hey,

Are there any bags left? I love mine to take to the grocery store but I could use two more. I would be happy to pay for them and also postage.

Ginger

I am pretty sure they were all used.

Maybe IB would like to get some to sell but as for us--they're all gone.

sorry, Ginger.

I use mine all the time, too.

jan

Ginger, a lot of stores sell these bags now.

Is there a whole Foods near you?

quote:

Ginger, a lot of stores sell these bags now.

Ah! But do they proclaim in proud letters: Slow Travel?

I have mine in the back seat of my car and I forget to take them in to the store with me about 90% of the time. But I'm working on it.

When I came to this country after living for 15 years in Japan and Australia where everybody used their own bags, I tried to use my bags and the storekeepers were downright snarly. "They don't fit on our plastic bag racks. It's more trouble for our packers to use." blah blah blah. Now that they are finally in style in this country, I'm out of the habit and forget to take them.

But I'm working on it!

quote:

Ginger, a lot of stores sell these bags now.

Is there a whole Foods near you?

ginger, Publix has some in black and in green.
Fresh Market has some cute ones with carrots on them, too.

jan

We don't have a Whole Foods yet, maybe next year.

As for the "snarly" baggers. I just politely say that I want to bag my own. We've been bagging our own for years because nobody knows how to bag anymore. They just throw stuff in plastic bags, one item per bag usually, and that's all they know. If, God forbid, you ask for paper everything's crushed. They put cans on top of bread, bug spray in with the produce, they never put the wet leaky things in plastic. It drives me crazy so I just bag my own.

Ginger