Thursday 21 June 2012

Szabadság

the entrance hall of the Jókai Mór summer villa, Lake Balaton, Hungary

With the delightful prospect of the imminent arrival of friends from England, to be followed by planned trips to Krakow in Poland and Lucca in Italy, we find ourselves with such pleasurable demands on our time over the next few weeks that, as such, there will be little opportunity over for posting, responding to comments and, of course, visiting the many blogs which we so enjoy and which have become so much a part of our lives.

We trust that you will excuse our absence. We shall, however, much look forward to our return when we very much hope that you will be able to join us for our next post on Monday, 23rd. July. Until then, we send you all our warmest wishes. 

106 comments:

  1. This has to be the best reason for a blogging break!
    I look forward to hearing about your trips, and trust they will be full of the eccentric, eclectic and esoteric!
    Thank you for all of the support and encouragement you've given me.

    Lucy x

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  2. I cannot believe how well organised you and your activities in the world of blogging are. You already know the date of your next post!

    Very well, if you insist, you must be excused from making your customary stylish appearance in these pages and I must preserve my soul in patience until your looked-for return. Should Krakow and Lucca be warned of your imminent arrival? Should bunting be prepared to greet your entry into these Hochburgen of European culture? Maybe not, I cannot see the two of you submitting to such vulgar spectacle with your proverbial grace.

    Sincere wishes for much excitement on your travels and a wonderful sojourn with your friends, dear Jane and Lance, come all the way from a damp and miserable Valley's End.

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  3. Reluctant as we are to lose you for a while.....do enjoy yourselves and tell us all about it in July.

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  4. Dear Jane and Lance,
    wishing you a wonderful time with your friends.. Enjoy Poland and Italy.
    lots of excitement and good times.
    val

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  5. Have a great time and love that painted shade, what a pleasure to look at with the sun and light coming through.

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  6. How wonderful to have such a satisfyingly busy summer ahead. Give my love to Kracow, such a splendid city.

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  7. Enjoy and have a great time. We will all be here when you come back but we will miss you. I love that blind in the window, it is gorgeous. Keep well Diane.

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  8. Ooh la la, I will be a bit lost without you but it is selfish of me to admit it because hoooraaay for such happy times! And Lucca! Well, frankly, I am a bit jealous there. Honestly. I am not showing myself to best advantage before your departure now am I? ;) My very first trip to Europe was in order to participate in a theatre festival in Bagni di Lucca or the Baths of Lucca, about a twenty minute drive up the hill. It was a beloved spa town of Byron and his gang who had villas there. There is also the most beautiful bijou of a theatre--all gilt and red velvet! The festival was amazing--I was a member of the American team, there was also a British and Russian team beyond the Italian home team. We worked collectively on Checkov's The Seagull. We would rehearse in the empty villas and often your partner in a scene would be speaking an other language! To say it was an amazing experience would not do it justice. How we ate! How we drank! I organized a party the final night in a descralized church--the Brits were the DJs and the Russians brought the vodka! If you happen to make it up there, please give the town my fine regards...And please travel safely!!! But have a fantastic adventure!

    With much love,
    H.

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  9. Please have a wonderful time. We will look forward to your return and tales of your adventures. Bonnie

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  10. Have a wonderful month! Henny and I will miss you :(
    Btw, best shade, ever! xo

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  11. Have THE most wonderful of holidays. Methinks that blind is going to bring in a lot of comments........

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  12. Goodness! You are so very graciously organized.... I get behind, start to panic, feel guilty, don't know what to say.... but, know for certain that I always miss you!

    Have fun!!! =]

    xxo

    (I'm lost in the garden, anyway.... how does one type a cross eyed smiley?)

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  13. Dear Jane and Lance, Have the best of times!

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  14. Have a wonderful time and safe travels to you.
    ox!

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  15. Have a wonderful time Jane and Lance, and return refreshed.

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  16. Hello Jane and Lance, that's quite an exciting piece of news. Poland and Italy, both?! Your presence in the blogsphere will be dearly missed and in the meanwhile I, at this end of the globe, shall wait for the charming treasure trove (as always) that you'll bring along with you.

    Have a wonderful time and a very happy journey.

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  17. Wail, everyone is leaving me! I am joking of course, have a wonderful time. You will be sorely missed, return safe and sound and full of new stories to tell us.

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  18. oh do have fun on your travels and adventures. be safe, love each moment and breath in the pura vida!

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  19. Dear Jane & Lance,

    I will miss your posts and comments. Wish you lots of fun with your English friends, the two boys and have a good time in Italy!! Come back safe!

    Much love,

    Madelief x

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  20. Enjoy the time with your friends....so sad you miss my birthday 21 July...hahahahaha!!...love love Ria....xxx..

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  21. Sounds like fun and much better than reading blog posts. Stay out of trouble. I look forward to your return.

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  22. Live life, Jane and Lance, and enjoy every minute of it!

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  23. Warmest Wishes back, and do Enjoy your time! xx

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  24. One month??? You are too cruel Jane and Lance :(. I shall be deprived of my favorite virtual friends and it will be mighty sad for me but I do wish you a lovely time and please take lots of photos to share them with us. Love you so, kisses.

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  25. I wish το you a wonderful month. I can not wait to return with many wonderful photos !
    Olympia

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  26. Dearest Jane and Lane

    I am delighted to hear of your imminent trips to Krakow and Lucca. I have not been to the former and shall look forward to hearing all about it. We have a great fondness for Lucca and have spent a week at La Luna Hotel (inside the walls).Think of me as you walk by! Should you get the opportunity to visit Volterra famous for alabaster do so. You will be stunned by the display and I am regretting not purchasing a lamp which had a shade made from alabastro (I love the Italian word) and when lighted the glow, light and ambiance was just what one would want to come to.

    Bon voyage and I shall be thinking of you.

    Helen xx

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  27. Have a wonderful holiday. You will be missed. Axxx

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  28. And a very Szabadság to you too :)

    I add my comments to the above in that I love the blind on the window, and that you will be missed by us all.

    However, to go travelling is the best thing ever so have fun on your journeys, eat & drink well, relax, laugh & be merry...but please, please take lots of notes to share your adventures with us on 23rd July!

    God Bless X

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  29. Life before art? As it should be. Have a nice time.

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  30. Dear Jane and Lance,
    I know you will have a splendid time.

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  31. Have an awesome trip... by the way July 23rd is my birthday, I will look forward to your post :)

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  32. Take very good care and as Mrs. Bennett told Lydia, 'take every opportunity to enjoy yourselves!'

    We await your return.

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  33. Enjoy, enjoy! Krakow is one of our most beloved destinations, my husband, being Polish, growing up in Wroclaw and being in Krakow many times. I had the chance to be there more then once, it is a wonderful city filled with historic treasures and an enormous youthful appearance nevertheless.
    I have not been to Lucca, only passing by onto other destinations in Italy, but please, do share all of your fun later!
    Many hugs and bon voyage!

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  34. Safe and happy travels! Look forward to hearing about your adventures on your return x

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  35. Have a wonderful time. We look forward to hearing about all the things you see and do. You never fail to inspire me... in fact your talk of travels has me longing to go to Paris... Kentucky (that's where they invented bourbon, I think I owe them a pilgrimage, don't you?)

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  36. Have a fantastic time, looking forward to hearing about your travels! Take care!

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  37. Just as I'd started to look for your posts each day - here I am to say Bon Voyage and Have a Great Trip! What a fine first comment!

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  38. Enjoy your wonderful holiday!!!! :D

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  39. Ah Jane and Lance,
    Indeed, my imminent arrival is an adventure I'm looking forward to. Okay, not me, but the delightful prospect of your other friends from England.
    Enjoy your break and your absence is excused.

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  40. Enjoy every minute Jane and Lance ...... we were in Lucca last year ........ really beautiful.
    See you on the 23rd .... same time,same place !! Have fun. XXXX

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  41. You will be missed! Have a lovely and thoroughly enjoyable time with your friends, and say hello to Poland and Italy for us...it will be wonderful to meet them upon your return and 'hear' tales of your adventurous intrigues!
    Happy traveling...
    xoxo J~

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  42. Oh my goodness! You guys have fun! Krakow is stunning, I hope you get the best experience and tell us all about it! :D Sending lots of love!

    Hugs,

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  43. Have a wonderful time. I will be here, figuring out how to pronounce, Szabadsag :)
    besitos, C

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  44. I don't have any doubts that you are going to have a great time and give the blogosphere new wonderful posts :)

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  45. Happy travels! Like Friko, I am also amazed that you know the date on which you will next post! We shall miss you and look forward to your return.

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  46. Have lovely visits with friends and great trips!

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  47. Have a fantastic time Jane and Lance. Am looking forward to hearing all your news about your travels and adventures xxx

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  48. Hello Jane and Lance, You will be sorely missed, but how can we begrudge such a glorious itinerary?!! I will look forward to seeing Krakow and Lucca through your discerning eyes later this summer. Happy travels!

    Carol

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  49. Have fun! I cannot wait to hear about Krakow and Lucca.

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  50. I`m shure you will have a great time, Jane and Lance! We all will miss you and waiting for your post about Krakow and Lucca :o)
    Buon viaggio!
    love
    Natasha

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  51. A well deserved holiday from your extraordinary blog.

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  52. Enjoy your time dear friends : )

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  53. Hope you have a wonderful time! We'll be looking forward to hearing all about Krakow and Lucca with, no doubt, lovely photographs of beautiful things that have caught your eye.
    Safe travels! :-)

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  54. *sigh* you chaps are regular jet setters, and so are your house guests. I am soooo envious.

    I am delighted that spouse and I will be in Spain and Portugal this winter (ours), but it has taken six months of careful planning. You can do it by grabbing your passport, grabbing your tooth brushes and you are gone! Whooooosh.

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  55. Lucca is one of my favourite places in the world! Have some wonderful happy family memories of time spent there! I wonder if you'll be seeing some Puccini!?

    Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy -- but we will miss you! Bon voyage!

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  56. Have a wonderful time! We will miss you.

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  57. Enjoy your time together, and selfishly bring back some wonderful memories!!!

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  58. Dear Jane and Lance - Krakow is another of my favorite cities; please take time to enjoy a beverage, in the square, and think of me.
    Also, I've a book to send you and will just have to wish and pray the postal system goes the distance. When it's convenient, please send me a PM with your address. It's not the giveaway book of last week, rather a different book and I feel you both might enjoy it.
    Have a lovely holiday; be safe and know you're tucked into prayer.

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  59. Enjoy your break. We look forward to future posts.

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  60. I've given you a blog award on my post today.

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  61. Dear Jane and Lance, have a wonderful time!! I'll be thinking of you.
    I envy your visit to such great places....enjoy, well all be here on your return, safe passage!

    Hugs to you both,
    Jane xx

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  62. Have a lovely summer break - I can't wait to hear all about it! xxx

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  63. My dear Jane and Lance, Hope you have a wonderful time. We all deserve to have a break every now and then to refresh our spirit and nurture our soul. I just read your previous fantastic post about a private member club - what a sublime building!! It is a beautiful and fairy tale like building. I hope that you both will have a lovely time in the company of your delightful friends and I'm sure that you will have some wonderful stories to share upon your return. I'm very much looking forward to hearing all your new adventures. With best wishes, ASD x

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  64. Have a splendid time, dear Jane and Lance!
    I have not visited either place...I hope we may see some photos when you return...
    We will most certainly miss you!!
    Bon Voyage!
    Sending love your way,
    - Irina

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  65. Have a lovely time, and choose the best looking baristas to whip you up a nice frothy one...cappuccino!

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  66. I am impressed that you are able to be so precise about the exact date of your next blog post Jane and Lance - how very disciplined of you! I have been very bad on the blogging front but hope to get around to writing a post during your 'enforced blogout'.

    Not that I was waiting for this precise moment you understand!

    Enjoy! BB

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  67. oooh sounds utterly wondeful...... I went to Lucca about 20 years ago fabulous.....where has the time gone? Have a woonderful trip!!

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  68. Have a most wonderful time dear Jane and Lance!

    Hugs, Stephie x

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  69. Enjoy your travels in the real world an opportunity to gather more material for the blog. I am of course delighted you will be coming to Italy, you will love Lucca.

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  70. Im sure you'll have lots of interesting bits and pieces to tell us. Really like the painted blind.

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  71. Wishing you lots of good times with your friends and happy travels in Poland and Italy - all sounds wonderful!

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  72. Dear Jane and Lance, I hope you have a purely delightful break. Happy Travels! Hugs, Carol

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  73. It sounds like your absolute idea of heaven : travelling about with good friends. Life doesn't get much better, really! Hope it is going swimmingly well.

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  74. Have a great time! know you'll have lots to tell us. I love the picture on that blind.

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  75. Enjoy your guests AND your travels - it sounds as though you will have an absolutely marvellous few weeks!
    Best wishes from England,
    Paula x

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  76. Hello my lovelies! Gosh I really love the blind in your photo. Have great fun with your friends from England and all your fabulous sounding trips. We are off to Portugal for some r&r, and some sunshine. I shall look forward to your safe return, with much love, Linda xx

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  77. I look forward to seeing you on this blog on Monday, 23rd July. Enjoy your travels to your hearts’ content, Jane and Lance.

    Yoko

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  78. Krakow and Lucca are two of my favourite European cities and hold dear memories. I look forward to reading more on your retun ...

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  79. I spent five days in Krakow in June and loved it. I hope you'll both enjoy your visit too.

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  80. Enjoy the time with your guests and have a lovely time in Poland and Italy! xx

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  81. Have a wonderful time, and we will look forward to your return, and also to your always-interesting comments.

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  82. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment on my blog, I really appreciate it. I hope you are having a wonderful break and I can't wait to hear about your travels! I have been to Italy a lot but never to Lucca, so am especially looking forward to hearing all about that!

    Melusine

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  83. Enjoy!
    There are times that I get depressed that I don't get to go out with my friends anymore, I mean the night outs we do when I was not yet married and a mother... Oh someday!

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  84. You are missed. Hope you are having an absolutely gorgeous time.

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  85. I have awarded you the On Lovely Blog Award on my blog in tonight's post.

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  86. Me too...we are missing you, hope you having a lovely holiday!

    Hugs Jane

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  87. Dear Jane and lance, I hope you are having a wonderful time in your varied destinations. I'd love to visit both of them and look forward to your illustrations and impressions of them on your return. I too am awed at your blogging organisation, being one of those who never knows when inspiration will strike.

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  88. Dear Jane and Lance, have a wonderful time. What am I saying - of course you will!

    We visited Lucca last year when on holiday near Viareggio. A gem of a city.

    Look forward to your return!

    Jeanne
    xx

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  89. Dear Jane and Lance,
    I hope you are having the best of times in the company of your friends and I'm looking forward for a new exciting post from you.

    Hugs from Stockholm

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  90. Your post, it reminds me of Jane Austen and your old posts, they make me feel like I've come home. I've never been anywhere outside of my country but the pictures you've posted remind me of a cherished past in a library full of books :)

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  91. We're heading towards Hungary this summer and looking forward to see Budapest, it looks amazing! We hear the food is great, especially hot Hungarian paprikash.
    Hope you having a great holiday.
    Jazzy

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  92. I am so glad I re-read this post... I was wondering maybe a little worried when I didn't see your blog pop up. So wonderful to know your with friends out and about

    cheers, parsnip

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  93. Jane and Lance - a holiday to savour no doubt about that, it looks a slice of heaven to me. I think Italy has to be one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and your images are wonderful. If I ever meet you do I have to bow now that you are mixing with royalty, or will a short nod of the head suffice. NB not sure what has happened, this should be attached to your latest post which I read this morning, it seems to have disappeared! Good to have you back x

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    1. It was, as you may imagine, the most wonderful break and Paul and Gil are the most generous of hosts. We have fallen in love with Italy all over again, not least on account of the truly spectacular setting of the Villa Massei. Meeting the Queen of Norway was very exciting and she proved to be an exceptionally warm and very gracious person, as one of course would have expected, with absolutely no 'side' whatsoever.

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  94. I agree with Susan...Italy is a beautiful country. You seem to know more about the country than I do, I have never even heard of this Villa. It is beautiful, I really enjoyed the pictures, more than a virtual tour, it seemed like a real tour.

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    1. We do so agree about the beauty of Italy which is a country which we much admire. Both of the villas in our post are privately owned, the Villa Massei being the property of our friends.

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