As you can guess, with the

in Italy coming up soon, my mind is filled with images of "il bel paese". Tickets were booked this past week, and the details have been coming together.

I'll be in the boot for a month, and will be able to spend some time in the city I like to consider my second home, the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence, Italy. I love the familiarity that immediately hits me when I set foot on the cobblestone streets. Then they'll be plenty of exploring in the countryside of Tuscany and Umbria. Hiking, admiring the fields of wildflowers, eating, drinking, enjoying.

Lately I've been watching Anthony Bourdain's No Reservation episodes from Venice, Rome, and Tuscany, as well as rewatching some of my favorite films (The Talented Mr. Ripley, La Dolce Vita, 8 1/2). Last week I even checked out an older film which I'd never seen, Summertime, starring Katherine Hepburn in Venice!

Besides getting to experience all the places we'll take guests during the retreats, I'll also have a bit of time between the yoga weeks to scout out some new locations for future

retreats! I have my eye on a few places...want to guess where they are?

Or better yet - let me know some of the places you'd love to visit for a week of yoga!