If you read my blog post of last Friday, I started the story as follows:

“It was May of 2004 when I came across a newsletter article about a very special town in Italy called Matera. The moment I read the headline, “Matera May Be Italy’s Best-Kept Secret,” I was hooked! I committed the article to memory and knew that one day I would get there.” 

I went on to describe this incredible town where people still live in cave dwellings as their ancestors did 9,000 years ago – many even in the same homes!

For 10 years I had saved that newsletter about Matera, and the subsequent publication about the neighboring region of Puglia. I brought both issues with me to Italy to reference for my blog posting and – hopefully – inspire me to write something equally compelling.

Well, you will not believe what happened next . . . (or, maybe you will . . .)

This past Sunday, I was spending one more night in Lecce and, being the frugal creature I am, had decided to check out of the beautiful Risorgimento Hotel and move to the Hilton Garden Inn for the night. Michael, the local agent, would drive me there. He had just arrived at Risorgimento with two women who were checking in at the front desk. Michael introduced me to one of the women, Kathy I-didn’t-catch-her-last-name, mentioning that she was a writer and a blogger.

I got chills. I intuitively knew – JUST KNEW – she was the author who had published the 10-year-old newsletters about places that fired my imagination and inspired me to create a WOW! Travel Club journey that had just concluded yesterday!

SHE was the reason I was standing in that spot at that moment!!

And so I dedicate this post to promoting her ever-excellent, award-winning subscription newsletter, Dream of Italy, the Insider’s Guide to Undiscovered Italy. I respect experts, especially people who excel at one thing and don’t try to be an expert at everything. That’s what I try to do as a group travel specialist, and Kathy does as a writer of all things Italy. Click here to subscribe to Kathy’s newsletter – and tell her that I sent you!

Kathy has an avid Twitter following, too. To the best of my knowledge, it’s the first time anyone ever tweeted about meeting me!

with Kathy McCabe (center) and our mutual friend and “PPP” (passionate Puglia promoter), Ylenia Sambati

the “creative queen” has become a “PPP” (passionate Puglia promoter)!