I’ve always been one who reads my horoscope in magazines and newspapers. I even flip through the books at the bookstore about the year ahead. So a few years ago when I was on a 10 day solo sabbatical (after my divorce) to New Mexico for some soul searching I included Taos on my journey. I had heard wonderful things about Taos and how its a very zen place. One article said its a great place to find lots of spiritual and progressive advisors… just look at community boards in local coffee shops or bookstores. I found a couple on the boards & made appointment and tried a chakra healer but my best experience wasn’t on the boards…I actually found her on the web … astrologer Erin Sullivan.

She was in the process of moving when I called but invited me over to her place outside of town for what was an incredible session. I never knew how powerful astrology can be in providing insight. Erin did my natal chart which I’d never had done before… she needs your date, time and place of birth. This info tells you so much about the imprint placed on you when you enter the world. Some may call it a bit mumbo jumbo but I think its great to help in self discovery – who you are, why you are, where you are and where you might want to go.

It was an incredible 90-minute session… so much so that I went to visit her the following summer on a return trip to Santa Fe. And I’ve done a phone session with her since via skype from her current base in Victoria, BC. She records the session and gives you a CD so you can relisten as much as you want… there’s a lot to take in so its helpful to go back and listen. As Erin says she’s not a fortune teller… she really considers herself a type of life coach. I’d highly recommend it!

Visit her website at www.erinsullivan.com.

Two years after discovering this remarkable winery and its delicious wines, Siepi from Castello di Fonterutoli still reigns as my favorite red.

It was a chance stop on our Autumn 2006 trip to Tuscany … we were exploring Chianti for several days and still hadn’t picked up any olive oil to take home. Thomas Cook’s Drive Around Tuscany & Umbria claimed the Mazzei family wine estate in the village of Fonterutoli has some of the best. So per the book we drove past Castellina in Chianti looking for the village. Before we knew it we drove right through it… blink and you’ll miss it…its that tiny. We wound up driving through a field trying to follow the map back.

What a pleasant surprise… not for olive oil but for a full wine experience. As we pulled out of the field and re-entered the village, we saw the Enoteca de Fonterutoli sign on the right so we parked across the street. There were no other cars in the gravel lot but there was a tour bus… a potential red flag …we ventured past their new restaurant and across the street to the Enoteca (wine bar).

Leonardo, one of the hosts, was closing the Enoteca as we approached. He was about to take the bus tour group on an English tour of the winery and invited us to go along. What timing!!

This was our 3rd winery tour of the trip and by far the most authentic. This cute little town is 80% occupied by the Fonterutoli winery which explains why were walking into what looked like old houses that were actually cellars for barrels of wines.

After Leonardo’s interesting tour including a view of the new facilities (which are now open) we were back in the Enoteca with Leonardo and the tour group was boarding their bus. We had the tasting bar to ourselves and tasted a full flight of wine in their incredible new tasting bar for only 8 Euro.


My favorite… Siepi! Siepi is an award winning wine 50% Merlot and 50% Sangiovese … elegant, cherry, smooth.. perfect for a special occasion or splurge (as it is the most expensive wine I’ve ever purchased other than the 3 bottles of Dom I’ve bought in my life). This wine really makes you understand the great things that can be done with grapes!


Visit their site for all the winery details including the restaurants and even accommodations…

Definitely worth a stop when you’re in Tuscany the Mazzei family has owned the winery since 1435!

We’ve lived in Europe for two years now and have been lucky enough to travel all over the countries but Italy is one we keep going back too. We just made our 5th trip to this beautiful and diverse country. Here’s our itinerary from Tuscany Autumn 2006 that includes my DON’T MISS highlights…

• Lucca, Radda in Chianti,
• Villa Vignamaggio,
• Castello di Fonterutoli and a fabulous restaurant in Florence,
• Ristorante Acqua Al Due (make reservations… its worth it!).

Download Tuscany Trip Sept/Oct 2006 (Word Document).

Tuscany also has great beaches… we visited the cute old art deco town of Viareggio (straight out from Pisa) and spent 2 wonderful days at Beach Club Irene across the street from the Hotel President soaking up the sun & enjoying delicious italian lunches on their patio.

Enjoy!