AN EXCELLENT ADVENTURE

I've written about DREAM OF ITALY before. It's a great online magazine with loads of information about Italy, and there are usually special offers for subscribers and tips for saving money or finding hidden treasures. One such special offer was recently published, and because it was in Umbria, and because we knew of this villa, we'd like to share this AMAZING UMBRIAN VILLA RENTAL offer. One click will give you all the info you need to start planning your next visit to Umbria...and save money to boot. I can't say for sure, but I think there might be some really great deals available for the rest of this year, but be sure to tell them Art and Barbara sent you!

Our friend Wendy, who works for BPN IMMOBILIARE (who also have our house listed for sale), worked on the sale of this villa to a couple named Bill and Suzy. Bill and Suzy are an American couple who have a shop in Bethesda MD. They import various Italian ceramics, specialty foods and more. The shop is called BELLA ITALIA, just in case you might want to see what they have. Of course if you're in the Washington DC area you can also stop by and check it out for yourself.

Wendy had looked at the website and told me about it, and she had also told me that MY blog was listed in the "links" section. Wendy asked me if I knew Bill and Suzy, but I told her I didn't. Hmmm, wonder how they ended up with my blog on their site? (Unfortunately the link they have is out-of-date and doesn't work!)

After wandering around the website for BELLA ITALIA I also discovered that Bill and Suzy have a blog! It's called, not surprisingly, BILL AND SUZY’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURES , and in it they write about their trips to Italy, the process of buying the villa, and now they're writing about summer in Italy, Umbria Jazz and more.

Thanks to BLOGLINES NOTIFIER I knew that Bill and Suzy were back in Italy and I asked Wendy if she could introduce us. Never one to deny a friend or to do something half way, Wendy arranged a dinner for a group of twleve last night. Art and I were there, as well as our American expat friends Judith and Shelly. Bill and Suzy brought their friends Frances and Allison who live in Rome, and Wendy invited an Italian couple and of course her boss, Corrado, the listing agent, from whom Bill and Suzy had purchased their villa.

Bill and Suzy, along with Frances and Allison were so friendly and open, and the conversation flowed as freely as the wine. Before we knew it, it was after midnight and we had to call it a night. Bill and Suzy will return to the states next week, but we hope to see them when they return in September. With any luck our paths will cross with Frances and Allison one day too.

If you're looking for a great villa to rent between Assisi and Bevagna, check out this AMAZING UMBRIAN VILLA RENTAL. If you're looking for some treats from Italy, you can check out BELLA ITALIA online or in person. And don't forget about DREAM OF ITALY for information and special deals. It's getting to be a smaller world every day.