Yes, it's true, we had a mini GTG today at Genius Loci in Umbria! Jane, Ken and Casey are staying at Mary's inn so we decided to have lunch. What a gorgeous day it was! Hot enough in the sun for a swim, but cool breezes in the shade. We also had Michael, Mary's son who runs the inn, AND her husband Maurizio. Judith drove down from Citta di Castello, and surprise surprise! Rita and Lino are back in Tuscany and drove to Umbria just for the afternoon.

Ah, how very nice indeed - I could almost reach out and be sitting there with you. Thanks for sharing.

It was a very, very fun day! A great way to spend our last real day in Italy this year (tomorrow we drive to FCO). Barb, couldn't you have found a better picture? I didn't approve of that one. This is Judith preparing some of her delicacies.

And...this is Mary and Maurizio, Rita and Lino, Barb and Art. Don't know where Ken was.

I was thinking of all of you together in that lovely spot, and wishing we were there with you!

What a wonderful way to spend your last day in Italy Jane. You look so relaxed and tan. I can just imagine how perfect it was to have all the slowtrav friends together. What a fun gtg! Safe travels home Jane, Ken and Casey. Barb Cabot

How we would have treasured the opportunity to have the rest of you with us. It WAS an extremely pleasant encounter/get-together. THANKS to those who came and brought such wonderful food and wine. For more photos, see my blog entry.

www.slowtrav.com/blog/maryt

It was one of those delightful, sunny, Sunday afternoons in Umbria where we were invited to put our feet up, gaze at the vineyards and share the fresh foods of an Umbrian summer at Mary, Maurizio and Michael's Genius Loci.

What a refined, country life style they have created for their international guests. (I noticed the NL license plates, as I was mentally measuring the gated entrance to see if I might get a small van through. I can.)

It was the perfect place from which to send off dear Jane, Ken and Casey at the end of their Italian holiday. We bid them a fond farewell and are making plans to meet again on another lazy, summer's day in 2009.

We thank you, Mary, Maurizio and Michael for making us feel so welcome.

A presto,

Rita, you forgot to mention all the wonderful food from Tuscany and your garden that you and Lino contributed!! I am sitting at home now trying to remembering last week and that it really was. Did you see the slide show or can you do that with your connection?

Yes, I did have a look at your pretty pictures. And it only took 9 minutes to load them on my dial-up connection.