[caption id="attachment_7729" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea!"]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/P9150062.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-7729 " title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/P9150062-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>[/caption]

One year ago from Day 354, I took off the training wheels and <strong><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2010/09/15/day-1-look-mom-im-a-big-girl-blogger-now/" target="_blank">started a big girl blog</a></strong>.  Stuck in a funk, I dreamed up an idea of Living Curiously each day for 365 days.  On September 15th, 2010, I never imagined that I would be celebrating my 42nd birthday by cycling through the hills of Tuscany with my cousins.  This Late Bloomer had never been to Europe, although I had always hoped for "someday".  Living Curiously magically transformed "someday" into "now".

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(If you're wondering why September 15th, 2011 was not Day 365, good catch!  My grandfather passed away last October, and I needed to pause for 10 days to grieve and spend time with my family.  You can find a small tribute to him <strong><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2010/10/11/to-be-continued/" target="_blank">here</a></strong>.)

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On Day 354, our group met on the veranda of the Hotel Elisabetta at 8 a.m. for a delicious and nutritious breakfast.  (Correction:  the group met for breakfast each day at 8 a.m. while Michelle swept in circa 8:11 wondering how this early start-time fit into vacation parameters.)  My breakfast of choice each morning was a thick slice of hearty, whole-grain artisan bread slathered with protein-rich ricotta and a drizzle of honey.  And a cappuccino, of course.  The first of many throughout the day.

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Fabio 1 and Fabio 2 -- always "on", organized, and funny -- showed up at 8:30 for a debrief of the day's itinerary.  All of the other 16 tour members had their directions handy and ready to mark up for the journey ahead.

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Baby M opted to continue to sip her cappuccino and munch on her newfound favorite breakfast because why on <em>earth</em> would I a) tax my brain with directions while I'M ON VACATION and b) mess with directions when I had Fabio 1 as my personal tour guide???  (If you have no idea what I'm referring to, please read <strong><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/10/02/day-353-its-just-like-getting-back-on-a-bike-riiiggghhhht/" target="_blank">Day 353</a></strong>.)

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[caption id="attachment_7726" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="Following directions is a drag. Personal coaching is much preferred."]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/P9150060.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-7726" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/P9150060-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>[/caption]

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