Tuscany is sunshine and grape vines and tasty Chianti. Medieval villages on mountaintops and cobblestone streets. Men are strutting peacocks like David by Michelangelo. And the women are fiery and beauty possessed.

Italy is my kind of country. From the moment I land, an odd sense of calm and being at home fills my being. My first visit was with my family during our French Riviera days. In 1996, we took a fancy sailboat trip to Portofino, where I was told to stand at the docks and shout for "Rocchi," the famous sculptor who lived there. And sure enough, out he came onto the balcony and gave us a tour of his studio. We stayed at the Splendido, which was very splendid. My mother met a "fabulous gal" poolside. Draped in caftans and a turban, we mentioned to mom that she was in fact, not a gal, but a guy, just so she knew. He quickly became her new best friend!

Over the years, I have returned to Italy to explore museums of Rome and Florence, hold up the Tower of Pisa, wander the canals of Venice, wine-taste throughout Tuscany, and celebrate my best friend's wedding in San Gimignano. My last visit was for my mother's 62nd birthday. The entire family gathered at a Tuscan villa for a treasure hunt and pasta cooking classes that we will never forget.

Sometimes you see the world through a close-up lens and sometimes it is a wide angle view that you are after. My long lens is a trademark shot I use to focus my attention on tiny details that my eye spies. But maybe because I mostly traveled with my large family throughout Italy, I stepped back and opened my vision to a wider world.

"You can really gain a whole new appreciation for wine and simple fresh food
from being in Italy and experiencing their authentic way of life."