MAPS

A Tuscan State Of Mind

Sometimes traveling isn’t just about going to a destination; it’s a state of mind. Physically, I’ve been trapped in South Carolina for seven months now while mentally I try and put myself back in my favorite European places. One of my very favorites is the Tuscany region of Italy. While the city in South Carolina is a blistering desert of concrete, Tuscany radiates a rejuvenating warmth that washes over you like the rolling green of the hills.

Since I’m currently unable to experience the area in person, I can only do what I can to substitute the experience. CDs full of pictures taken during my travels bring back stifled laughs and fond memories. The coffee table books I’ve collected over the years are so full of intense color and vivid landscape scenes that it makes my ache even worse. I even read “Under the Tuscan Sun” this week (which isn’t done justice by the movie). Mayes is such a descriptive writer. She does such a perfect job bringing the area to life and I believe, deserves much credit for putting Cortona on the map. Her book stirs memories of my one day in this little town – hot chocolate and pastries at a little café in the morning, gelato under a patio umbrella in the pouring rain, and linen shopping after the sun triumphed over the stubborn clouds. It almost makes me forget that my ‘gelato’ is now Eddy’s or something from Dairy Queen.

I also try to substitute with cooking – of course, I’m far from the authentic cuisine I once savored in the local family-owned restaurants. Tortellini al forno, penne al’arabiatta, even plain old spaghetti marinara is a work of art in Tuscany. I throw basil around like it’s going out of style, get all giddy when I find a sweet gorgonzola or pecorino cheese at the grocery store, and keep Verdi on full volume while I create my own personal Italy in the kitchen. Fortunately, I’ve been able to bring back the very best extra virgin olive oil in the entire country – La Macchia.

The green, aromatic oil tastes so fresh and so light that you taste what you are meant to taste – the fruit of the olive tree – and not something reminiscent to wheel bearing grease. So even if my bruschetta is made from imported North Carolina tomatoes, South Carolina french bread, parmesan from Kraft, and dried basil from a lousy little plastic jar (out of fresh basil again…), I still have my beautiful drizzling Tuscan olive oil.

Italians also understand and appreciate the concept of ‘breaks’ (and not the 15 minute kind). Time doesn’t rule a Tuscan’s day, rather it revolves around life at the moment. I rush from one end of my current hometown to the other, running errands and trying to make it to appointments on time – in Italy, being late is ‘normale.’ And when it gets to lunchtime, there’s no rushing through the meal and then jumping back into a schedule. Between the shining sun at its zenith and a full stomach that’s pulling you into a food coma, the day calls for a siesta. This ingenious concept not only refreshes the body but it literally pulls your mind into another world. Why fret about the next two hours when everyone else’s life has also come to a relaxing standstill?

Daydream, watch the tall grasses blow in the wind, or drink a cappuccino among friends with a vineyard as a backdrop. Until the notion of a daily siesta takes hold in America, I attempt to create my own with plastic patio furniture and a Coca-Cola …that is, until the phone starts to ring with endless telemarketers anxious to sell me siding or refinance my mortgage.

There are just some places that feed your soul and remain in your heart no matter where you go. The rise and fall of the graceful hills, the glittery silver-green leaves of the olive trees, the way the aged bricks glow in the last rays of the evening sun all call me back for more. In the meantime, though, I’ll remain in a Tuscan state of mind.

About the Author

Vicki Landes is the author and photographer of Europe for the Senses, a Photographic Journal. She has been soaking up Europe for the last six years and has visited 42 countries. Learn more at
Europe for the Senses

Interactive wall map for whiteboards

FRANCE PHYSICAL MINERALOGICAL MALTE BRUN MAP 1846 $22.11

MAP ~ RUSSIA IN EUROPE ~ PHYSICAL AND POLITICAL ~ SANDHURST ATLAS 1924 $21.93

1876 Drioux Antique Map of Scandinavia & Russia, Physical Geography $35.00

1918 physical map ~ EUROPE $5.99

1911 RARE POLISH PHYSICAL MAP OF ALPS / NORTHERN ITALY $12.00

1906 PHYSICAL MAP OF EUROPE $8.00

1906 PHYSICAL MAP OF SPAIN AND PORTUGAL BALEARIC ISLANDS MAJORCA $8.00

1906 PHYSICAL MAP OF FRANCE $8.00

Map – Europe Physical Map * 1991 #830 $8.00

Johnston Antique Map 1898 Physical Europe England Wales Isle Man $25.52

Mid Century Pull Down School Canvas Wall Map Europe Advanced Physical $65.00

1937 ANTIQUE PHYSICAL FRENCH MAP OF FRANCE / RIVERS MOUNTAINS $15.00

England Wales Physical Europe Vintage Map R W Forsyth $39.99

Philip’s Europe Desk Map: Political / Physical $10.76

Antique Map 1906 – The Alps – Physical – Harmsworth Atlas $15.79

Pre 1945 Cram’s Physical-Political Map of Europe – Classroom Pull Down – NICE!! $29.99

1880 Stieler Map Physical Europe Germany Austria Alps $13.99

Physical map of Prussia Germany Austria 1851 Heck engraved iconography map $27.96

1849 Map – Physical Europe France Spain Italy Germany $11.19

1892 PHYSICAL MAP OF FRANCE $12.00

1892 RELIEF PHYSICAL MAP OF FRANCE / MOUNTAINS $16.00

ANTIQUE STIELER PHYSICAL MAP OF CENTRAL EUROPE. 1880 $26.50

1855 Berghaus Map – Central Europe Physical Alps $17.49

UKRAINE General Geographical Map In English 2010 Geography Physical Ukrainian $11.00

1858 Colton Map of Europe (Physical) $132.00

1862 Physical Map of Central Europe or Deutschland $110.00

1862 Stieler Physical Map of Europe $110.00

Map – Europe a Physical Map 1991 d407 $12.00

1864 PHYSICAL MAP OF GERMANY LARGE MAP BY STIELER $34.99

1877 Migeon Map Physical France French Alps Pyrenees $17.49

Universal Map Advanced Physical Map -Europe 27936 $162.99

1873 PHYSICAL MAP OF SOUTHERN GERMANY AUSTRIA ITALY ALPS LOMBARDY PIEDMONT $10.00

1888 MALTE-BRUN PHYSICAL MAP OF BAVARIA BAYERN GERMANY $16.00

Map – Physical Features of Europe – Lot #201 $16.00

1888 MALTE-BRUN PHYSICAL MAP OF BADEN GERMANY $15.50

1873 PHYSICAL MAP OF NORTHERN GERMANY CZECH REP. POLAND SILESIA PRUSSIA $11.00

1879 PHYSICAL MAP OF EUROPE / MOUNTAINS RIVERS VER $9.00

Map – Europe Vegetation Population Physical Tem1991d578 $12.00

1897 VICTORIAN MAP ~ EUROPE PHYSICAL THE MOUNTAINS TABLE LANDS PLAINS & VALLEYS $29.05

1930 PHYSICAL MAP OF ALPS / ITALY LOMBARDY PIEDMONT AUSTRIA SWITZERLAND $8.00

1930 PHYSICAL MAP OF EUROPE GEOLOGICAL WEATHER CLIMATE $8.00

1882 Stieler Map – Physical Germany Austria Alps Europe $13.99

Europe Advanced Physical Deskpad Map The Europe Advanced physical deskpad map highlights shaded physical relief, an elevation cross-section with color bar, and includes four thematic maps. Side B is unlabeled and perfect for classroom assignments and testing purposes. Corresponds with Advanced physical Classroom wall maps. These heavy-duty, child friendly maps are laminated with a 5 mm thick durable surface that is markable with a dr…

Europe Advanced Physical Deskpad Map Set (30 pack) The Europe Advanced physical deskpad map set highlights shaded physical relief, an elevation cross-section with color bar, and includes four thematic maps. Side B is unlabeled and perfect for classroom assignments and testing purposes. Corresponds with Advanced physical Classroom wall maps.These heavy-duty, child friendly maps are laminated with a 5 mm thick durable surface that is markable with a…

Quality value Physical Deskpad Maps Europe Single By Universal Map Group Llc Top quality The Europe Physical Deskpad Map highlights shaded physical relief, an elevation cross-section with color bar and ludes four thematic maps.Side B is unlabeled and perfect for classroom assignments and testing purposes. Corresponds with Advanced Physical Classroom wall Maps.These heavy-duty, child friendly maps are laminated with a 5 mm thick durable surface that is markable with a dry e…

The Saboteur [Download] $14.85 …

The Saboteur $3.99 Electronic Arts Inc. The Saboteur 19098 299…

Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway Limited Edition $0.97 Brothers In Arms Hell’s Highway brings the critically acclaimed squad-based WWII shooter into the next generation of gaming with amazing graphics and sound, new cutting-edge gameplay features, and a totally redesigned online component. Delivering on the franchise’s compelling story, unrivaled authenticity and intense squad-based action, Brothers In Arms Hell’s Highway drops you into Operation Mark…

Garmin nuvi 465/465T 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Trucking GPS Navigator $599.99 Ease your way down the highway with the nüvi 465T–Garmin’s first nüvi designed specifically for the over-the-road trucking industry. Featuring a preloaded NTTS Breakdown Directory, specialized routing options throughout the lower 48 states, and truck-friendly points of interest, this full-featured navigator was made for life on the road. The nüvi 465T also lets you create custom vehicle profil…

Universal Map 28791 Europe Advanced Physical Deskpad Map Set $209.57 The Europe Advanced Physical Deskpad Map Set (Set = 30) highlights shaded physical relief an elevation crosssection with color bar and includes four thematic maps. Side B is unlabeled and perfect for classroom assignments and testing purposes. Corresponds with Advanced Physical Classroom Wall Maps. These heavyduty child friendly maps are laminated with a 5 mm thick durable surface that is markable with a dry erase marker or watersoluble pen. Ideal for public private parochial and home schools. Dimensions: 13 x 18 .

Universal Map 27936 Europe Advanced Physical Wall Map Backboard $181.35 The Advanced Physical Classroom Wall Map features innovative shaded relief detail of the world continents and the United States. This high quality series is appropriate for grades six through twelve and includes content that meets national and state curriculum standards. Four thematic inset maps enhance the value of the main map. Thematic inset content includes: annual rainfall elevation profile natural vegetation areas plus areas of acid rain population density per square mile and ethnic diversity and energy resources and manufacturing areas. All classroom wall maps are made from heavy duty paper and are laminated with a washable surface and mounted on pulldown spring rollers for convenient classroom storage. These maps are a great way to further students comprehensive view of the world. The Europe map is perfect for school or home and comes on your choice of rails roller or roller with backboard. Choice of rails roller or roller with backboard. Laminated. Markable with a dry erase or water soluble marker. Detailed labeling of bodies of water and land mass. Detailed legend and color coding. Made especially for sixth to twelfth grade. Content meets national and state curriculum standards. Four thematic inset maps. Perfect for any wall. Size: 54 x 64 .

Universal Map 24401 Europe Primary Wall MapRoller $163.12 Europe Primary continent wall map clearly identifies political country boundaries with shaded relief. Highlights physical features of the land. Shows major cities waterways plus longitude/ latitude lines are also included. Each continent map includes a World inset map locator showing the continents location. Durable laminated surface is markable and washable. Measures: 54 wide x 69 long.

Universal Map 28533 Europe Essential Wall MapRoller $163.12 Europepolitical map; pulldown system mounted on heavy duty spring roller andincludes metal backboard for easy wall mounting.This map includes physical features and political boundaries national capitals cities major waterways and longitude/latitude lines. Shaded relief onthe maphighlights physical features and landforms. Inset highlights location of the continent to World location. Size: 54 x 69 . Language: English.

Universal Map 28534 Europe Essential Wall Map Backboard $181.35 The Essential Wall Maps are clear and concise with an enhanced legend and pictorial landform illustrations for intermediate level use. It also shows deserts and wetlands. The inset map locator illustrates the location of each continent in the world. Ideal for fourth though eighth grade the Continent Essential Map Series feature physical features and political boundaries national capitals cities major waterways and latitude / longitude lines. Shaded relief highlights physical features. A world inset map shows the location of each continent. All classroom wall maps are made from heavy duty paper and are laminated with a washable surface and mounted on pulldown spring rollers for convenient classroom storage. These maps are a great way to further students comprehensive view of the world. The Europe Continent Map has choice of convenient rails for easy hanging and grip roller for storage and backboard for support. Choice of rails roller or roller with backboard. Laminated. Markable with a dry erase or water soluble marker. Detailed labeling of bodies of water and land mass. Detailed legend and color coding. Made especially for fourth to eighth grade. Perfect for any wall. Dimensions: 69 x 54 .

Lorenz Corporation MP4755 Map Skills Europe Grade 79 $29.35 Color overheads included Explore the varied features of the European continent while reinforcing basic map reading skills. Sixteen student pages and accompanying blackline and fullcolor maps coordinate to provide a relational study of the elevation vegetation products population and peoples of Europe. Student pages challenge students to combine maps and additional resources in order to answer questions and make judgments. Question topics follow the Five Themes of Geography as outlined by the National Geographic Society: finding absolute and relative locations on a map relating physical and human characteristics to an area understanding human relationships to the environment tracing movement of peoples and goods throughout an area and organizing countries and continents into regions for detailed study. (36 pages plus 16 transparency sets). Author: House R Scott and House Patti M

Evan Moor Educational Publishers 3735 Europe $28.34 Develop geography literacy while learning about the unique characteristics of Europe. The 7 Continents: Europe helps students learn about Europe through engaging reading and writing activities. Five geography units cover the following standardsbased topics:. Section 1: Europe in the World. Introduces students to the location of Europe in the world. Europe’s Relative Location. Europe’s Hemispheres. Europe’s Absolute Location. Using a Projection Map. Section 2: Political Divisions of Europe. Introduces students to the four regions and 45 countries of Europe. Population of Europe. Countries of Europe. Largest Countries by Area. Largest Countries by Population. Western Europe. Eastern Europe. Southern Europe. Northern Europe. Capital Cities of Europe. Communism in Europe. European Union. Section 3: Physical Features of Europe. Students learn about the landforms and bodies of water of Europe. Europe’s Landscape. European Peninsulas. European Islands. Mountains of Europe. Volcanoes of Europe. Europe’s Forests. Northern Tundra. Europe’s Bodies of Water. Seas of Europe. Rhine River. Norway’s Fjords. Section 4: Valuable Resources of Europe. Students learn about the various natural resources of Europe. Oil Production in Europe. Fishing in Europe. Europe’s Grains and Potatoes. Olives of the Mediterranean. Wine Production in Europe. Europe’s Livestock. Europe’s Forests. Wildlife of Europe. Section 5: European Culture. Introduces students to the architecture’ arts’ beliefs’ and traditions of Europe. Tourist Attractions. Fine Art. Influential Music. Popular Sports in Europe. Major Religions of Europe. European Cuisine. Celebrations. .

National Geographic RE00620040 United States Physical Map $22.75 See the magnificence of the US landscape with National Geographics US Physical map. The map depicts the great variety of natural vegetation from tundra in Alaska to desert in Arizona. Notes describe the major physical regions from the Coastal Plain in the east to the Pacific Coast Mountains in the west and beautiful handpainted relief reveals topography and major features to create a visually stunning reference map. Perfect as a geographic education guide for family road train and plane trips. Features: Shows natural vegetation Notes describe major physical regions Map Scale 1in equals 89 miles Overall Dimensions 25in H x 36in W

Ectaco SD Central Europe Card with Map Central Europe $70.2 Card with Map Central Europe. Manufactured to the Highest Quality Available. Satisfaction Ensured. Huge selection to choose from.

Ectaco SD Nothern Europe Card with Map Nothern Europe $70.2 Card with Map Nothern Europe. Manufactured to the Highest Quality Available. Satisfaction Ensured. Huge selection to choose from.

Ectaco SD Southern Europe Card with Map $70.2 Card with Map Southers Europe. Manufactured to the Highest Quality Available. Satisfaction Ensured. Huge selection to choose from.