My Fab 50...Galavant Travels

What is my Fab 50? It’s a series of People, Places and Things that have inspired or enabled me to thrive in this life I am navigating.

Why would a boutique travel business be in my Fab 50?

because Travel changed my life and took me out of my head to far far away…

I pivoted from obsessing over my situation, to experiencing how wonderful the wide world is! It took me to beautiful places and helped me see that there is a lot more going on in the world, than what I saw in my daily environment. “Gray, your head is very small and the world is very big. It’s not all about you.” 🤔

Galavant Travels is the brainchild of my friend Nolie Barnes, who suffers from a severe case of wanderlust. And upon retirement, she decided to turn her passion into a custom travel business. She started with a ladies’ trip or two, and has branched out to couples’ excursions to Europe, Italian honeymoons, family trips to Burgundy and African safaris. She now has clients all over the country. ✨ Full Disclosure - I help her with the bookkeeping and I designed and manage her website. But I would be posting this regardless.

Group picture at the coliseum - Arles - 2019

Possibly the best meal I ever had - lunch in Avignon - 2019

She does a fabulous job. From the minute you land wherever you are going, and pick up your bags, she has it covered. She handles all the details, she only books first-class properties, and finds the most amazing restaurants, and culinary experiences. She schedules meals with wine pairings, wine tastings, cooking classes, foodie walking tours and private museum tours. Private boat tours, dinner cruises, and guided hiking up the side of a mountain. Walking tours of the city, to the best shopping on winding cobblestone streets and in bountiful markets. All your transportation is arranged. No detail is overlooked.

Me and my roomie Kris at the villa - Provence - 2019

Lunch cruise on the Seine - Paris - 2019

Patio at the villa - our dinner view - Provence - 2019

My perfume workshop scent - “Whitten Skies” - Paris - 2019

On the train to the Paris after a week in Provence - 2019

Whatever you want to do, she will make it happen for you. Because of Nolie, I have seen a room full of Caravaggios and met a white peacock on an island in Lake Maggiore. I have joined in an Italian dance party and seen the Blue Grotto. I have seen Cézanne’s atelier and had an Aperol Spritz under the plane trees in Provence. I have had sandals made for me by a cobbler in Capri and seen the sunset in Tuscany. (Thanks to Chip for these opportunities too…) Because of Nolie, I have had the chance to make my own perfume, “Whitten Skies” in Paris.

The group at the Borgese Museum - Rome - 2018

Getting a cannoli at the Testaccio market - Rome - 2018

The ladies on Peppe’s boat - from Capri to Sorrento - 2018

Cocktails on Minervetta patio - Sorrento - 2018

My first travel experience with this group was to Amalfi and what a trip! It was excellent therapy for me and I consider myself very lucky to be able to travel with this band of ladies! I made dear new friends, who were so interested in my story and so helpful to my psyche.

It’s not always the same group - people pop in and out, depending on their lives. But there is a core group that tries to go together whenever we can. And there are always newcomers to the group, in addition or to fill spots when some can’t go and they bring their own spark to it!

Le Creuset Tent - Charleston Wine + Food Festival - 2019

Dinner at Twenty Six Divine - CW+FF - 2019

Charleston Wine + Food Festival - Culinary Village - 2019

Maker’s Mark Tent - Charleston Wine + Food Festival - 2019

Nolie does several guided tours a year, usually a ladies’ trip or two and a couples’ trip, most recently to France. Then she does domestic trips here and there as well. She really has a knack for putting together great groups of ladies. But she can book trips for you, with your family or friends, domestically or internationally. Her specialty is Europe, and France and Italy are what she is super knowledgable about. Her itineraries are wonderful.

Bluegrass & Oysters - Charleston Wine + Food Festival - 2020

Crawfish Boil - Charleston Wine+ Food Festival - 2020

Oysters in the low country - Charleston Wine+ Food Festival - 2020

My upcoming trip is with Galavant Travels, and we are going to Burgundy and Champagne, and then the Loire Valley ending up in Paris for a few days.

The ladies land in Milan - first stop? Gelato! - 2021

The pool at our hotel in Tuscany - a castle. - 2021

The stairway to our room at the Castello. It was amazing. - 2021

Sunset at the Castello Delle Serre - Tuscany - 2021

She also has a ladies’ trip to Santa Fe & Taos coming up in August, a trip to the European Christmas Markets in early December, and trips to Portugal and Paris & Provence in 2023.

You can sign up for her bi-monthly newsletter to see what she’s got coming up!

View from the other window at the Castello - 2021

I have known Nolie for years, she lives a block away from me. In fact, the shop that I talk about, Posh, was originally partially her business. I bought her interest in it. But I really got to know her after Whitten died. She was one of those people that just stepped up and was there. She was always checking on me and she still does. She remembers my touch points and my triggers. She introduced me to my roomie, Kris who is now a good friend.

…And she’s got a fabulous travel business with wonderful clientele. ✈️

Preparing dinner at the villa - Provence - 2019

“I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” ……Mary Anne Radmacher

Walking home from dinner on the left bank - Paris

Fab 50, TravelGray MaherMay 23, 2022Series, Worldly Pursuits28 Comments