The Gift of Time in Southwest France

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Labastide, d'Armagnac Arch, France

Last year time slowed down to a standstill. Most people hovered in an existential realm, somewhere between hope and despair. We are just now beginning to find our footing again, thanks to biomedical scientists, doctors, nurses, and essential workers. There is light at the end of the pandemic tunnel. The return of international travel has already begun with many countries taking small steps forward. This compulsory pause has given us the gift of time to consider how we can travel more intentionally, wherever we choose to go.

Slow travel consecrates time, the most precious commodity we have. The slow traveler dips into another culture, out of ordinary time, and into extraordinary time, a time that does not break the day into rushed hours, fast food lunch breaks, or the last tour bus back to the hotel.. When you travel slowly you pass into another dimension where time is neither saved nor wasted, but spent mindfully.

Panjas Church, Gers, France

The enjoyment of slow travel is the wellspring of all that makes life livable, reminding us about what’s truly important. Though it’s a cliché, when we slow down to smell the roses, we are happier and appreciate more fully, the good things in life.

Eauze Roses, Gers, France

I’ve learned that whether we travel across the world or walk from one side of the street to the other, we all seek refreshment and connection. My slow travel philosophy is simple: do less, experience more. When you take the time to experience the local history, culture and cuisine of a country, you discover more than just the sights – you discover that travel can be enriching and transformative in subtle and unimagined ways.

Bienvenue à French Country Adventures

Sue Aran Sue Aran lives in the Gers department of southwest France. She is the owner of French Country Adventures, which provides private, personally-guided, small-group, slow travel tours into Gascony, the Pays Basque, Provence and beyond. She writes a monthly blog about her life in France and is a contributor to Bonjour Paris and France Today magazines.

Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France, England and other European countries.

Il Grande Progetto “The Big Project”

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There is something exciting about seeing La Chiusa come back to life. This year we are seeing amazing things happen all over the property. Who knew we had rose bushes in crazy places, wild rosemary bushes the size of cars, wild life, olive trees that are over 200 years old, secret rooms and we even have a resident ghost (maybe 2)!  It amazes us that once we started showing love for the land and caring for the property things came to life!

This new life started us thinking about ways to continue to bring La Chiusa back to its former self. We wanted everyone to experience the same excitement and feelings we were having as we watched the old olive oil farm come back to its former glory.

There are too many tasks to name them all, but we are starting with these in the hope that La Chiusa will continue to show us the way.

Olive Tree Adoption Program, renewal of fruit trees, enlarging the gardens (in its original site), restoring the old stone walls and terraces, increasing our bee population and restoring the building bit by bit.

This is not a small project but we are up to the task and we hope you can join us on this journey!

Our mission:

A place with good wine, delicious olive oil and a community kitchen full of good food to share with great friends.

Olive Tree Restoration and Adoption

The olive groves at La Chiusa have not been cared for in over 40 years and are slowly deteriorating from vines, pests and no love! The first year we were here we trimmed and care for over 100 trees (this is a very slow process) and we are slowly working towards bringing these beautiful fruit baring trees back to life and production. Some of these trees are over 200 years old!

Be a Tuscan Olive Farmer

Adopt an olive tree from the La Chiusa grove for one year. In return, we will send you some of the purest, most delicious Olive Oil produced in Italy.

And while your adoption does not mean you are purchasing (or owning) a physical tree, your contribution will be immediately put to use to restore and care for your tree.

Words to Live By:

“Essere buono come il pane”

“Be as good as Bread”

Where we have been & where we are headed

Its nice to be in Montefollonico and are waiting on the summer arrivals of family and friends.

Cook in Sicily is at the top on the list as soon as we get a minute!  While Covid has slowed us down a bit, we are still planning on visiting Sicily, France, Greece and Malta this summer! Fingers are crossed.

italy_tuscany_george_linda_meyers

George and Linda Meyers own and operate Cook in Tuscany, a cooking school in Tuscany, Italy.

Cook in Tuscany is a six-night all-inclusive Tuscan experience based in the village of Montefioralle that includes daily cooking lessons with local women, daily excursions, winery tours, cheese making, gourmet dinners, and tours of local and historic sites. Cook in Tuscany is a luxury culinary vacation for the traveler who wants to be a local and not a tourist.

Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France, England and other European countries.

 

A Spring Walk in the Cotswolds

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With the gradual easing of restrictions in England, following a roadmap back to life as we knew it, we are excited to say that we will be back, with a spring in our step, on the 17th of May.

We have been blessed with some excellent walking weather in the Cotswolds in recent weeks whilst we have been busy preparing for welcoming back our clients for longer self-guided and guided tours on the 17th of May (with bed and breakfasts, inns, and hotels finally reopening for overnight stays). I have made the most of the good weather to get out and about and showcase just how beautiful the Cotswold countryside really is.

With the first bluebells peeking through and the promise of even brighter days to come, what more could we ask for?

I hope you enjoy this video of my recent rambles in the Cotswolds.

 

Spring collage of the Cotswolds, flowers and sheep

Spring is well and truly here, with bluebells, daffodils, trees in bloom, and fields of bright yellow and green

 

Andrew and Elizabeth GuppyHusband and wife team Andrew and Elizabeth Guppy lead Cotswold Walks, specialising in customised self-guided and guided walking holidays in the Cotswolds. Living and working in the Cotswolds is an essential part of what makes their company special. As avid walkers, they can often be found walking the routes with their dog Indie.

Andrew and Elizabeth are passionate about what they do. They strive to take you on a tour that showcases the best of the Cotswolds, from iconic gardens and fabulous local food, to sweeping vistas over the emerald green countryside dotted with honey-coloured cottages. Through careful planning and attention to detail, the mission of Cotswold Walks is to ensure you have complete peace of mind, so you can immerse yourself in the beauty of the Cotswolds and create lasting memories.

Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France, England and other European countries.