Headed to the Motherland of Luxury Linens

I thought someone was playing a cruel joke on me.

Last week I received an email asking if I would like an all-expense paid trip to Florence, Italy to attend an industry trade show.

After months of gloom and doom, I shouted "yes" to myself, while at the same time preparing myself for something that sounded better than it actually would be.

But a fine offer it has turned out to be!

My friends at Signoria Firenze graciously submitted my name to the folks at Immagine Italia & Co who are sponsoring the trip and making all the arrangements. For those of you in the know, the trade show is Pitti Casa and for years I've heard how chic and glamorous it is.

My hotel for four nights is the Grand Hotel Baglioni and I even get picked up at the airport!

I'm extending my trip by nearly a week in order to visit the factory and showroom of Signoria which is south of Florence and then I'll trek north of Florence to visit the factory of Bagni Volpi Noemi which creates all the product for N.C. Souther Fine Linens, which is based in Seattle.

Then, because I've never been and it's a top-ranked on my to-do-before-I-die list, I'm heading to Venice for a few days. And hopefully I won't have to buy rubber boots!

I'll be eating and photographing my way through the Linen Motherland.

Stay tuned!