Italy with Help from a travel planner

 

When traveling not all trips are  vacations, some are adventures, some for business or just the activity of getting from one place to another.

Planning an adventure/vacation/trip yourself often gives you as much satisfaction as taking the trip. 

However, when you want something special or beyond the basic you often need a professional to share the hidden places and people of the part of the world you are visiting.     This is when I call YLE  who creates dream adventures/vacations for travelers who wish to see Italy from the inside out.    www.yltourcongressi.com

 

In 2011 I found Yle on FB and she immediately saw that I had an Italian 'dream' to find una nonna (a grandmother) who would show me how to make pasta.

 

Before I even confirmed my flight Home to Italy Yle had scheduled a day with Nonna Vata.   I spent several hours learning to make 6 types of pasta.  Our conversation included living on a farm in Italy to current politics.  Her lovely granddaughter Debora translated for me but it was amazing that Nonna and I could communicate in many other ways.

 

So this year I again turned to Yle and Yltour to organize an extensive adventure in Puglia.

The towns I still wish to visit are:     Ostuni, Cisternino,  Locorotondo,  Alberobello  (I spent a day there last year look forward to a second visit,   Monopoli, Martina Franca,  Gallipoli  and

 Otranto .
 

This is an extensive list for someone who does NOT WANT TO TAKE THE BUS will be a challenge and I know it will take several more visits to Puglia to accomplish this goal.

As it turned out my adventure was even BETTER than what I planned and I have been writing out it at http://www.Hometoitaly.com for the past 6 weeks!

 

But the MOST important reasons for going back to Lecce was to visit Yle and learn about her tours for 2013.  In 2012 she did a wonderful language event,  cooking events and a yoga retreat. 

But her list of offerings is endless:  photography, classic cars, cooking with locals, wine tastings, sports events, photography, art classes, language classes......   I could spend a month with her and never try it all!

The hidden treasure this year was to finally meet MAMMA ANNA.

I have written about her before on www.hometoitaly.com.  But nothing prepared me for this wonderful encounter.  Within an hour I felt as if I had know here forever.  See our video (amateur) on our visit to the food market.     There should be many more stories on Mamma A so stay tuned.