FOLLOW YOUR HEART Tours || PhotoTours with Tracey Heppner

As 2011 comes to a close, I’m so excited to announce the next FOLLOW YOUR HEART TOUR!

UMBRIA & TUSCANY - APRIL 28 - MAY 5, 2012

WINE TASTING - FINE CUISINE   

RICH CULTURE - BREATHTAKING SCENERY

And the fun part? It will be held the week of my 40th birthday! Isn’t that fabulous!? :)

 Join us for 8 days & 7 nights in a picturesque 

villa tucked away in the rolling hills of Tuscany. 

Exploring medieval towns in Umbria. 

Wine tasting in some of Italy’s oldest wineries.

World-class shopping, private cooking classes, olive oil tasting.

Regional cuisine, local recipes, degustational meals.

Tour Cost: €1550 or $2050 USD*

*all inclusive except for flight to/from Italy & lunches

For more information CLICK HERE.

VIVA ITALIA!

xotracey

i am writing this the night before thursday - i probably wont get to my computer tomoro am as i’m heading off bright and early for Gentle Hands, where i volunteer several days a week.

if you follow me on facebook, twitter or instagram at ALL, you will see my shameless plugs clogging your feeds regarding my FOLLOW YOUR HEART phototours. :) sorry, ha! :)

since my first visit to italy in 2008, my heart opened up to ITALY with great love. the culture, the people, the way of life was exactly what i needed.

and through many series of events, i met max & cristiana, our italy tour hosts. i was so excited for the first tour in oct 2010 that we started planning dec 2009!

it was an awesome trip…we did the UMBRIA & TUSCANY regions. absolutely wonderful! my phototour site has photos and reviews from the participants. check it!

this year we moved. to another country. across the globe. along with everything that comes with a new move, a new culture, a new school for the kids, etc, was the challenge of reestablishing myself here in the philippines. i’m far from where i’d like to be, but well on my way, let’s just say. :) and keeping up with the photog friends in the USA/Canada on top of that.

i have worked hard to promote this trip…with all the factors in play. and today, the last day to register, my heart is heavy. it appears, unless a miracle occurs, that the trip will be postponed until next  year, for lack of sign-ups. i can blame the economy. or the move across the globe. or having to start all over again here. or a million other things.

regardless, my heart is definitely sad (remember - this is talking from the heart THURSDAY, so you are getting the REAL me!)  :) sad because i wont be able to visit the country i hold dear, visit my italian family, rejuvenate and get inspired for the coming year, and network and lead photographers thru the italian riviera with camera in tow.

i have to choose to believe that there are reasons for everything. and that there is a reason this isn’t pushing through. god knows. and i gotta trust that.

anyhow, this fall’s tour destination was all about LIGURIA..the italian riviera. it would have been amazing.

wait. let me restate that - it WILL be amazing..if not this year…then next. ;)

 thanks for listening. xotracey

photos by the awesoma max brunelli

today is the last day to avail of the early EARLY bird discount of $200CDN off the tour!

and i’m going to give you three reasons why you should come. :)

1) nicole

photo taken in cortona, italy on the FYH to Italy, October 2010

In October 2010 I decided to follow my heart…to Italy with Tracey. Never have I had so much fun, learned so much about photography, and felt so welcomed as i did touring with Tracey.

It was a fantastic experience and a huge chance for me to learn and grow as a photographer which was my goal. 

I am so grateful I went on the tour and got to experience the Italian way of life.  One thing i loved was that we toured small towns & Villages where we could really get to enjoy and learn about  the people & their heritage, the sights and foods without being in a rush.  The accommodations were fantastic with breathtaking views.

I am so happy I went on this tour  and look forward for the tours to come!
Thank you Tracey….  You Rock!!

Nicole LeNouail, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

and reason number two…

2) teresa

photo taken in assisi, italy on the FYH to Italy, October 2010

October 29^th, 2010 I followed my heart to Italy with Tracey Heppner and 5 others. 

I stumbled by accident onto Tracey’s tour and knew that I was meant to go as it had always been a dream of mine.  Without hesitation and without knowing anyone on the tour I registered and I’m so glad that I did. 

I not only had an experience of a lifetime, but I met the most wonderful people  that  I’m proud to call friends. 

Tracey and her team took great care and attention to ensure that we were well looked after and made certain that we saw the best of Tuscany and Umbria and places in between.  Tracey and our Guide Max knew and shared their knowledge and love for Italy passionately.  Our accommodations were outstanding!  We stayed in a Monastery and a Castle - places I know that I wouldn’t have thought to stay if I had travelled on my own!  We were well fed, entertained and as photographers, we were given a visual smorgasbord in which to feast. 

I fell in love with Italy and I can’t wait to join Tracey and her team on another adventure!!

Teresa Corsie, Teresa Corsie Photography, Vancouver, BC

and reason number three…

3) aura

photo taken in spoleto, italy on the FYH to Italy, October 2010

Hi Tracey,

I’m so sorry it’s taken me so long to let you know how AMAZING my experience
with Follow Your Heart to Italy was.  I’ve been waiting until I could put it
into words and have finally realized, words can’t really describe it. :)

You are a gracious, organized and easy going hostess.  From the moment I
inquired about the trip, you thoughtfully provided information and updates,
even packing lists.  The little personal touches and surprise gifts, the
gorgeous model and wedding dress, the locations, pacing, food…..all of
it!…exceeded my expectations.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for making
my first time in Italy totally unforgettable.  Every time I look at my
photographs, I get to experience it all over again!

I would follow you (and my heart) anywhere! :)

Warmest regards,

Aura

Aura McKay, Photographer - BIG GRIN IMAGES

so there you have it. 3 MORE reasons to email me right now and get $200 off your trip! :)

xotracey

one of the best things i brought home with me when i was in ITALY last fall was how to make reallly great italian coffee. i brought home a BIALETTI espresso maker and a new love for coffee and all it brings to a culture.

coffee in ITALY is never put in to-go or take-out cups - having a cup of coffee is an event. you sit down. you order it. you chat. you sip it. you chat some more. you people watch. you drink some more. this is how you drink coffee.

you do not take it to go and be along your merry way. no. this was coupled with the italian way of DOLCE FAR NIENTE - the sweetness of doing nothing. this phrase has stuck with me ever since. do i “do it” as often as i would like? no. but it’s in the forefront of my brain lots to TRY. and i think i try. :)

if you have an iphone you need to get INSTAGRAM. is this a plug for an APP? heck ya! why in the middle of your blog, you ask..well cuz itook these photos for this post with my iphone and posted them to INSTAGRAM this morning. not only is it a fun way to see photos of friends and people from all over the world, it’s a good habit to put the photos we all seem to take and do nothing with, “out there”. :)

back to the blog.. :)

HOW TO BREW THE PERFECT CUP OF CAFFE…

1. choose great italian espresso. i chose ILLY because i heard it was good, along with it was easy to ship here (manila) and has a great sealed container it comes with. :)

2. use an italian stove-top espresso maker. i got mine in italy. the brand, again, is BIATELLI. but you can buy them anywhere italian imported products are sold. i liked this one because it has a place for 2 shots. SWEET.

3. watch the crema, or espresso, begin to pour forth! don’t forget to inhale the lovely steam of the crema..there ain’t NOTHING like it!

4. steam full cream milk for the best froth!

5. serve in an authentic italian artisan-made mug for the full effect. :)

but the BEST way to drink real italian coffee is in italy. join me this fall as we take a week to discover LIGURIA - the ITALIAN RIVIERA on the north west coast! check out the details on FOLLOWYOURHEART.com blog! we not only drink coffee, but eat some amazing food, drink glorious vino, and take as many photos as your memory cards can handle!!

xotracey

our 2011 FOLLOW YOUR HEART tour to Italy will be this fall. and we will be visiting the breath-taking, coastal region of LIGURIA. also known as the ITALIAN RIVIERA, the region of LIGURIA is filled with quaint towns, exotic beaches, picturesque scenery…definitely a tour you wouldn’t want to miss!

OUR ITINERARY

day 1 - we will be meeting in GENOVA. there are trains and flights from rome or any other major city in Italy to GENOVA. from there we will ride the train thru LIGURIA to the heart of the LIGURIAN COAST - SANTA MARGHERITA LIGURE.

 day 2 - we will be walking to PORTOFINO - an hour or so walk from SANTA MARGHERITA..breath-taking scenery and a visit to a castle on the top of PORTOFINO. being one of the most precious jewels in the world, we will be sure to not leave PORTOFINO without taking copious amounts of photos. :)  from here we will make our way to CAMOGLI, where we will dine in a fine local restaurant with a nice terrace…right on the beach.

day 4 - a slow morning in SANTA MARGHERITA and visiting the street market and wandering about. in the afternoon we will go toLAVAGNA, a fishing port in the italian riviera,  to visit one of the oldest ardesia quarries in Italy (black boards are made of slate)..and lots of time for some shopping at some really great shops!

day 7 - this day will be used to visit another jewel of the ITALIAN RIVIERA - SAN FRUTTUOSO, another little coastal village with views and places to wander and photograph to our hearts content!

day 8 - our last morning together in paradise before we head back to GENOVA to say goodbye! 

CONTACT ME AT tracey [at] traceylheppner [dot]com

happy new year! the first month of the year is fast approaching a close. what a whirlwind it has been for us! we just moved from vancouver to manila, philippines! our personal effects should be arriving this week.

it’s been great to get reaquainted with the metropolis..we spent 6 years here - 1996-2001 - both of our kids were born here in fact! we are currently making “home” in makati until summer and then hope to be a little closer to the school and where i am spending lots of my time - Gentle Hands. 

i’m really excited about where FOLLOW YOUR HEART Tours is going! this coming march i have the opportunity of going to NEPAL, one of the FOLLOW YOUR HEART Tours i plan on offering in 2012. on this quick trip in march, we will be visiting kathmandu for 3 days and then off to bangledash for 2 days. it will be good to see and figure out where i want to take our tour in 2012!

this fall will be our 2nd FOLLOW YOUR HEART…to Italy Tour, our first being last October 2010. 

it is going to be an exciting trip…we will be going through the region of LIGURIA! i will be doing up a blog post about that after this one!

i may be able to pull off a FOLLOW YOUR HEART…to Hong Kong & China Tour yet this year…time will tell. :)

the 2012 season looks like it could be full of more adventures: singapore, italy again, philippines, hong kong, nepal, india. it’s going to rock. :)

so stay tuned..check the blog often and also our Facebook page..we post on there lots!

until next time,

tracey 

photo taken nov 2010 in norcia, italy by max brunelli

wow! what an amazing trip we had in italy!! the places we saw..the cities we visited…the photos we took…WOW!

here’s a slide show of some of our trip..i’ll post more later..just about to head to the mall with the loinfruits.. :)

start your ITALY savings today!! our next trip is oct 9-16, 2011 to the Liguria region!!

this trip was so amazing..it was way MORE than what i expected!

and it was an INCREDIBLE inaugural trip! and i know what to expect for NEXT FALL’S TRIP!

in fact i may be doing a 2nd trip to italy next year..the one in the fall in october for photographers..and another, more high end, one for those who want to experience a little more than the ordinary holiday to italy. :)

stay tuned! let me know if you are interested in coming along! email me at: tracey[at] traceylheppner [dot] com

ciao mia amici!! :)

october 27, 2010 was a very special day for me. it was the day i left for italy.

it was 10 months earlier that i first communicated with max brunelli from italy about organizing my own phototour in italy. 

travel has been in my blood since i can remember…and photography..well, you know. :) so when the two started “dating”, well, it was evident this was going to be a wonderful relationship…i have been so blessed to be able to travel with my camera to so many different places in the US and Canada..in Germany, Switzerland, Italy..in Hong Kong & the Philippines. yes..i have been blessed. there are still many places i plan to visit in my life..

but one place in particular that has been incredibly close to my heart has been italy. not because “everyone’s going to italy”…no, i will have to blame my love for italy on my neighbour, iole. when we first met almost 4 years ago, instantly i fell in love with her and her amazing family that not only were conveniently our neighbors, but they also turned into our friends. how blessed we are.

2 years ago was my first visit to italia. i actually went to germany to shoot a wedding and my friend erin lewis, and i “hopped” over to italy and down to venice for 4 days.

it was in those 4 days that have been etched into my heart. and cultivated for the last 2 years by my dear friend, iole…and getting my hands on everything ITALIAN i could.. :)

back to this phototour. :)

max and his wife cristiana have so graciously organized the italy end of my phototour. where we will be going, what will be seeing, the food we will be enjoying. i simply had to invite people to come on my adventure and let them follow their hearts to italy as well.

there are 6 of us, excluding max and cristiana, on my tour.. myself, 3 photographers and my parents, who are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary by coming to italy.

this is the “inaugural” tour of my FOLLOW OUR HEART tours.. it’s very exciting for me. not only do i intend to visit italy and all its different regions every fall now (did you get that hint, max?!) but i also intend to do tours in asia, where we are moving before the new year…first the philippines..then maybe singapore, then perhaps india..and the list will go on.

so thank you..thank you for reading this journey…thank you, max & cristiana, for preparing this journey, and thanks to aura, teresa, nicole, sandy & wayne, for coming along on this journey. 

i hope the next week’s photos inspire you..and more so, awaken your heart to come along with me sometime, and follow your heart. 

xo tracey

a few photos from my first few days before the tour, en route to italy, and in stroncone & terni with max, cristiana and fede. :)

i cannot begin to tell you how excited i am for this tour! i have had a love affair with Italy for the last 3 years really. 2 years ago was my first trip.. throught the mountains in the north, passing through Bressanone, Cortina d’Ampezz, all the way down to Venezia.

this trip is taking us to a totally different region of Italy: Umbria & Tuscany. our 7 days will be going throught the cities of Orvieto, Narni,Spoleto, Assisi, Spello, Cortona, Monteriggioni, Siena, San Gimignano..it indeed will be magical.

i look forward to the italian way of life..the relaxed, slow, taking in everything around you mentality. we westerners are always so RUSH RUSH RUSH! it will be good to make time stand still (or a little more slow than usual!) for some days.

here are a few photos of some of the places max & his lovely cristiana will be taking us on our tour…

excited yet?? :) and it’s not too late to come, if you haven’t signed up! contact me for more details.

arrivederci!!