Converse in Tuscany
Written by traveler Agnes Reed Martin '61

**See photos from the Tuscany trip***

If you have not traveled with a Converse group, then you have missed a real treat. These ladies know how to travel. Some had never been out of the US, some had traveled to many foreign countries, and some had made only one trip out.

I had reservations about the detailed activities of each day, concerned about the inability to get out on my own. My husband and I have traveled many times to areas out of the US, always having a car to go places. There was no need for a car on this trip. We did not have to struggle with the luggage in and out of the boot of the car. A guide met us at the airport; and a bus driver, who would be with us all week.

Six of us arrived in Florence without our checked luggage. The Converse ladies were not shaken by the adventure in the least. We solved the situation by using the little Italian we knew to discover the next flight’s arrival time. I was a bit disappointed that my luggage finally arrived, as I had great hopes of borrowing one outfit from every lady my size.

What a way to travel! Our bags were taken to a room with a great view over a valley of olive trees, sunflowers, wheat and an ancient church on the hillside; asking you to visit, and to reach back into the history of Italy as well as the architecture of the time. This view is there every morning to greet you and welcome you to the start of another day. The night view is as fascinating; but different, with the lights of the busy travelers’ cars flowing as smoothly as the visitors in the cities. Cars and walkers flow together, no one rushes.

The room with the wonderful view is one that I did not have to leave until the trip was over. Wonderful ladies came each morning to make the room beautiful, clean and ready for us to return to in the late afternoon. Fabulous meals were served in the wine cellar or on the terrace of this same hotel. Each meal was a surprise and a delightful experience in the Italian cuisine. There were deserts after each lunch and dinner, and red and white wines each evening. These meals were times of getting to know each other and to get to know the folks in the companion college group, the College of William and Mary. There were many hours of laughter, many stories of travel and families, and once the Converse ladies ended the evening meal by singing the Alma Mater, swaying with the rhythm.

The guides, whom Converse had engaged, flowed with the traffic of cars and people easily, leading us in and out of the cities swiftly and to the main attractions. Special features of the trip were the lectures given by the tour guides about the areas before we took the walks into the cities. The lectures included political history, architectural changes, art history, and economics of times past and current. Beautiful slides accompanied the lectures. The guides were well educated about the areas; each one had a special interest area, thus very knowledgeable and able to answer all our questions. Onsite explanations were very informative and timed to keep our interest. We were given free time to continue the visitation of the cities and to shop. The guides had made arrangements for the groups to get into the museums and churches, another feature of ease that we did not have to deal with as individuals.

Each night as we retired to our rooms, we checked the information board which told us the time of the meals, lectures, and departures to excursions; and the daily menus. This board was the answer to most of our questions and very helpful to those of us who had trouble remembering what had been told to us at least three times. It was also the deciding factor if there was a difference of opinion among the travelers as to the location or time of a lecture.

Traveling with Converse ladies whose graduation dates ranged from 1956 to 2004 was an experience of fun and growth. We had many discussions of the differences of the Converse curriculum, dress codes and traditions represented. My decision to take this trip with Converse was made within ten minutes after receiving the brochure, just enough time to call a friend and suggest we go together. Thank you, Converse, for sponsoring this trip with AHI International.