Recently two wonderful friends came to visit. Neither had been to Italy before. Our days were filled with fun and joy. The joy of just being together, and the joy of making memories together. There is nothing like laughing with girlfriends. I will never forget the night that we were returning home very late and as we walked along the Arno we laughed so hard that, well lets just say I was very glad that I had previously had "that 15 minute operation". Those of you that have had children know the operation that I mean.
As part of our adventure together we bravely rented a car and headed out to the countryside. Brave because Italian drivers can be a little crazy by North American standards, and even braver because I forgot my glasses at home. I drove, only being able to see about 10 feet past the nose of the car, Brenda was in charge of reading the signs that I could not see, and Cathy was in charge of following the little blue dot on her IPhone map application. Blue has become my new favourite colour. Never have I sung the praises of technology as I did on this trip, especially as we were at times going around in circles in a roundabout not quite sure which exit to take. That glorious little blue dot saved us from being "officially" lost on more then one occasion.
First stop on the trip was the beautiful winery Vignamaggio. While the 400 acre estate is spectacularly beautiful with its manicured gardens and views overlooking the hills of Tuscany, it is also fraught with history. Leonardo da Vinci grew up just a few miles from the estate, and Monna Lisa was born at Vignamaggio in 1479.
I was looking forward to returning to this winery as it produces delicious olive oil. When we arrived, we were disappointed to find out that it was closed until the beginning of April. Determined to get my olive oil, Libby and I set out to find someone on the grounds. I figured that with a winery of this size someone had to be around. Leaving my friends in the car, I ventured out on a mission to secure olive oil. Sometimes determination pays off. I did indeed find an employee who warmly greeted me. After informing me that the winery and estate was closed, he told me that we were free to wander the grounds if we wanted. I told him that what I really wanted was some of their magnificent olive oil; of course with a big smile on my face and batting my eyelashes. A girl has to do what a girl has to do to get her olive oil. Oh, how Italian men like to please women. Off to the warehouse he went to get me olive oil.
Mission accomplished, we set out for Cortona for an Under the Tuscan Sun experience. Driving through the hills of Tuscany was a much different experience for me, compared to my last trip three summers ago. This time the air was crisp, the sunflowers had not yet broken ground and the grapevines were still laying dormant. Still with every twist in the road one was greeted with scenery, well that movies are made from.
Cortona was quiet this time of year. The outdoor cafes were not yet set up, and the streets felt as though something was missing without the energy of all the tourists. Many of the shops had not yet opened up for the season, but Snoopy's was open. Snoopy's was where Liz, the kids and I indulged ourselves once, sometimes twice a day, with scrumptiously creamy gelato when we were last in Cortona. On the hot summer days we would enjoy our gelato, while sitting on the steps and watching the people go by. We would call it "our moment". The "moment" didn't quite feel the same without them. I was reminded that some moments are special, and forever treasured, not so much because of the place but because of the people that you shared them with.
I enjoyed showing my friends the buildings that they had become so familiar with from watching Under The Tuscan Sun. I don't know a woman that hasn't watched that movie at least three times. A movie that women have a strong connection with, not because they have delusions of renovating a villa in Tuscany, but because it reminds us that inherent in being a woman is being a survivor, that we are often stronger then we give ourselves credit for, and that we can rebuild our lives after experiencing great turmoil and find happiness again. Women are drawn to this movie because it celebrates the rebirth of a woman's life, after choosing to not stay broken after experiencing heartache.
Our day's journey ended with me driving my friends to Francis Mayes' actual villa. While her life story is actually quite different from the movie, her villa has nevertheless become a symbol of rebirth and happiness to come for the throngs of women that drive by every year. I was having trouble finding it. I knew there was a turn that I had to take, but I just could not remember exactly where it was. As I was driving slowly I pulled over so that the car behind me could pass. It turned out to be a police car and it pulled up beside us. I explained to the very dashing officer that we were three Canadian women lost and looking for the villa of Francis Mayes. Only in Italy would you get a friendly police escort.
When we returned to the apartment after our day in the hills of Tuscany, we savoured a glass of red wine just as we had savoured every moment of our day together. A day that celebrated being a woman, being a survivor, our strength, the power of friendship and the rebuilding of our lives. While it is unlikely that any of us will be renovating a villa in the future, we are certain that our future will bring happiness because we have been brave enough to dream and even braver to take steps to make our dreams a reality.
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