The sun soaked region of Tuscany and Umbria captures one's soul.

'The sun soaked region of Tuscany and its hills towns of central Italy  offer the quintessential Italian experience.  Wispy cypress-lined driveways lead to fortified 16h century farmhouses set in rolling fields and atmospheric enoteche serve famous wines alongside homemade pasta.'  (Steves, R, Best of Italy, pg. 222)

This intro sums up our experience here in Palazzo Bello  not far from the hilltop village of Cetona. A glorious part of central Italy, our accommodation is fabulous where each of our small group have their own well appointed and private apartment.  The villa can accommodate a couple up to larger groups up to 20 with the luxury of comfort and personal space. In 2019 and beyond Julie Reece Tours will be able to  organise fully supported holiday stays for groups between 2 -6 people where you can have the option to enjoy the Tuscan and Umbrian experience with your friends and or family. For those who do not want to have the pressure and stress of driving a hire car, I can have a driver pick you up in Rome or Florence and bring you here to the villa. Your driver lives locally and can provide transportation for up to 6 passengers in a new and very comfortable 'people  mover'. The vehicle is spotlessly cleaned every day and being local, the driver knows a lot about the region and can assist you with ideas and advice re your time in Tuscany and Umbria.

You are able to self cater as each of the apartments is very well appointed with kitchen items, crockery, cutlery and glasswear. A cook can provide catered meals as well as cooking classes as requested depending on your group's needs. 

So if you want to travel throughout  this region but don't want to join a tour in a bus of 20+ people you don't know and might have to endure over a two week period, then having your own friends and family with you to share this beautiful location is a great way to travel. Contact me on julie@juliereecetours.com.au  to discuss your ideas and possible options.  I will do all the organizing, bookings and arrangements so all you need to do is sit back and soak up the Tuscan sun.  

Secret Venice : part two......Ristorante Canaletto we love you! !!

One  could be forgiven for thinking that all Italians do is eat!!!! And when you immerse yourself into this wonderful country,  food becomes so much more than just sustaining life...it IS life! The food experiences are as varied as the country itself and one of the greatest pleasures is to stagger back to one's hotel and sit down to enjoy a prosecco or a spritz at your favorite adopted restaurant/cafe/ bar...whatever has won your heart. Our group stayed in the Hotel Canaletto an excellent choice for the budget minded wanting something centrally located. It is a quaint little boutique hotel, maybe  in need of a few repairs here and there BUT...it is great value and its real gem is the Ristorante  Canaletto which is adjacent. Perfect for that end of the day refreshment after a hard day being a tourist.

Jo and I loved this place and its friendly and engaging staff. To Lorenzo , Luigi (the singing waiter) and Michele ...thank you for your kindness and hospitality.  The food was yummy and the spritz ànd prosecco even better. Will miss our down time here along with the occasional singing waiters....ciao baby!!!!! Xx

Looking for 'Secret Venice'...

I was reading a piece the other day from a book by Nicky Pellegrino about her quest to discover the secret Venice. After chatting with a local waiter about her quest for the 'authentic Venice ' she was told in a brusque manner...'But if these places fill up with outsiders they won't be authentic any more! I'm sorry signora but there are some secrets I won't share!'

Therein lies the challenge for the visitor to places like Venice where the reasons that make them such desirable locations to travel to, end up with the dilemma that mass tourism creates. Authenticity disappears amongst the gaggle of tourists as they follow the tour leader's umbrella or teddy bear on a stick! And of course don't forget the tourist tat ...souvenirs of gondolas...opera masks. ..and endless tshirts (made in China) which confront you at very corner.

However. ..there IS a real Venice, a community though not immediately obvious if you remain in the well known hot spots,  of locals who live and work here and love this place. We have had several precious experiences in the last few days through Rosa's contacts where some of Venice's secrets have been revealed.

On Wednesday evening our group had dinner at the home of Umberto and Martha a lovely young couple who shared their home and family with us. We had an 'Eatwith' dinner, an initiative where  you take part in a meal with people you meet in their homes. So along the canal we traveled out of the centre right to the end of the main island to the suburb of Giardini....where 'normal' Venetians live. To greet us were Umberto and Martha along with parents Elizabeth and Thomas,  plus friends one a German anthropologist studying in Venice plus a young lass from Berlin.  Umberto was so excited we were there and out came the most amazing food and wine.  It was a fabulous night and stuffed to the gills with their wonderful food and hospitality we eventually made our way back on one of the local water buses way past midnight.

There is a real Venice. ..you just have to seek it out.

2018 Bella Italia: 'Sublime and the Sacred'

Travel with Rosa Matto chef, writer, teacher and media presenter on the 2018 Bella Italia Tour.

VENICE...FLORENCE...TUSCANY & UMBRIA...ROME

October 1st - 21st, 2018  

Join Rosa Matto for three glorious weeks of all things Italian. Your immersion in history, culture, food, wine and traditions by Rosa will create a travel experience like no other. Always the teacher, Rosa is a wonderful guide and engages her clients with fun, passion and friendship. The Bella Italia tours are small and intimate with groups not exceeding 12 thus guaranteeing an intimate and  personalized experience. 

Contact Julie Reece Tours for the full itinerary, Booking Terms & Conditions and Booking form to reserve your place in this year's tour. 

Payment of a $500 deposit will secure  your place in the tour. 

Julie Reece Tours

Contact : julie@juliereecetours.com.au

0407 711 549

Connecting Spirits 2017 Community Tour: Looking back number 3

Connecting Spirits and Youth Leadership

When reflecting over the last 13 years of Connecting Spirits, one of the many significant outcomes of the project, has been the contribution of the Youth Leaders. The Youth Leadership part of Connecting Spirits has its origins in the actual formation of the project in 2004. This aspect of CS happened almost by accident not design and has evolved over the past decade. Through the passion and dedication of Remembrance 2004 Mt Barker High student, Donna Handke (now Mellors) this young woman carved a path not only for herself but those young leaders who followed in her footsteps. Her role in the formation of Connecting Spirits is well documented in numerous places including the webpage of the project (www.connectingspirits.com.au ) . Donna established the template in one sense by taking part in the 2004 tour then through her ongoing support and passion for researching and commemorating our war dead, worked with me to establish the inaugural CS project of 2006. As a young person working with her peers, she had a unique perspective on all aspects of the project. From that point on, others followed her lead and the contribution of these young Australians can not be underestimated. Each of them initiated fund raising activities, contributed to decision making, assisted and took responsibility for many other areas. By giving that practical support to both Mal Jurgs and myself, they gained a broad range of skills and experiences that produced a CV that most school leavers would only dream of. There are many stories and accounts of their work and CS has been enriched by all their contributions. Thank you…

CONNECTING SPIRITS YOUTH LEADERS FROM  2006- 2017

2006 Donna Handke (now Mellors) – co-project manager

2008 Flo Bourke & Chloe Oborn – Singer /song writer (Flo) and co- author of the CS book (Chloe)

2010 -Hamish Jurgs & Hayden Biddle- peer support on tour

2012 – Molly Flanagan – established the Connecting Spirits project for Willunga region through the local RSL sub-branch

2014 – Ashleigh Martin – co project manager on the St Francis De Sales project

2015-Tamika Williams & Mollie Sandercock – co project managers on the CS Anzac Centenary Tour

2017- Tamika Williams- co-project manager on the CS Community tour supporting Mal Jurgs at Meningie Area School

THE FUTURE…

The Connecting Spirits project continues to evolve and is now a community based project not an exclusive DECD initiative. Continuing with the concept Youth Leadership, Mal and I are working closely with Tamika Williams who is studying to be a teacher specifically in the field of Aboriginal Education. As we begin the planning for the 2019 tour, it is to be hoped that Tamika will continue to have an active role in the decision making and overall project management and to travel with the next group. The skills she is developing will stand her in good stead when she enters the classroom as a fully qualified teacher and thus continue the work of CS. If you, your company or organisation value our young people and can financially assist Tamika in her Youth Leadership role, please contact me on julie@juliereecetours.com.au

                                                         2004-2008: Donna Handke (now Mellors)

Donna Handke at Rufus Rigney's grave 2004- the Connecting Spirits journey begins

Belgian television covered the Harelebeke ceremony with Donna 2004

Through Donna's initiative, the soil from Rufus Rigney's grave in Belgium was returned to his niece the late Dr Doreen Kartinyeri in the Connecting Spirits Anzac event on April 23rd, 2005 on the shores of the Coorong....Ngarrindjeri country. Connecting Spirits was born.

Donna leads the inaugural 2006 CS tour : seen here with Chloe Oborn who returned to the battlefields as a joint Youth Leader with Flo Bourke in 2008

Coverage of the 2008 Connecting Spirits ceremony at the grave of Rufus Rigney.

2008 - Donna with underground WW1 expert Johan Vandewalle. Donna is wearing her Ngarrindjeri shirt with pride.



2008 - 2010 : Flo Bourke and Chloe Oborn

Chloe and Donna share a commemoration in 2008

Flo Bourke

Flo Bourke Youth Leader in 2008, plays the song 'Tired old piano' in Talbot House, the inspiration for one of the songs she wrote and recorded. Flo was mentored by iconic performer Eric Bogle.

2010: Hamish Jurgs

Hamish Jurgs was a wonderful support to his peers while on tour.

2012: Molly Flanagan 

Molly Flanagan was a member of the 2010 CS tour and when her family moved to McLaren Flat and to Willunga High School, Molly made contact with the local RSL sub branch to establish another CS project for that region. Molly initiated the Willlunga project and worked with the RSL members to take CS to a new community.

Molly with future Youth Leader Mollie Sandercock and the President of the Mclaren Vale RSL sub branch, Brian Flavel at Kranji war cemetery in Singapore.

2014: Ashleigh Martin & the St Francis de Sales project

Ashleigh Martin takes the lead from Molly Flanagan and sets up a 3rd CS project ('Anazc Fallen Heroes')  with St Francis De Sales college in Mt Barker. The impact of these youth leaders continues ...


2015 : Mollie Sandercock and Tamika Williams on the Anzac Centenary tour

Add Mollie Sandercok and Tamika Williams departing on the 2015 tour.