June 16, 2013 - Grand Manan, NB

Today's post is from home....Grand Manan Island, NB.  A group of friends took a 2.5 mile hike along a rough trail at the northern end of the island from near Swallowtail Lighthouse along the cliffs to the Hole in the Wall and Whale Cove Beach.  We started out in the fog, but soon the skies cleared and it became a beautiful, sunny, warm day.  The bugs weren't bad, and the pace was perfect for me....most all of us are beyond 60, and so it was not a race.  The hike took us about 3.5 hours, including a stop for a picnic lunch at the Hole in the Wall, a natural formation between Fish Head and Whale Cove.  We are so lucky to live in this beautiful part of the world!

Bob giving advice to some of our hikers

   

The Hole in the Wall

My sister and I near the Hole in the Wall

Swallowtail in the fog

                                                                    View from the trail

Cortona again....and farewell to Italy

We returned to Cortona to celebrate B's birthday at Trattoria Taccone, and to do some quick shopping.  Saw Frances Mayes' home from her book Under the Tuscan Sun and visited La Celle, a monastery where St. Francis spent some time.  Then it was off to Florence and our hotel where we spent our last night in Italy.  We hated to leave, after another wonderful tour with Linda of LetsGoItaly.  Thanks for everything.....except the weather!  It was great to see Gianni, Marisa, Noemi, Francesco, and all our other friends from our trip in 2010.....and the Donini wine (Umbertide) was better than ever!

Trattoria Tacone kitchen

Face on Cortona building

  La Celle Monastery