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Welcome to BET

Last Revision: January 21, 2012
Barker’s European Tours is a small operation. I organize three to four group tours a year while living in Sarnano, Italy, and Sara Lewis serves as Administrative Assistant in Seattle. At the core of BET is the loyal customer base. Twenty-two people have been on ten or more tours, with nine of those having participated in more than twenty. The tours are Eurocentric for the most part, though in recent years we have explored parts of the old Roman empire that extended into North Africa and Asia Minor. In 2008, we traveled twice to China and included SE Asia and South Africa in 2010. Depending on the nature of the tour, the enrollments vary from 12 to 30, with an average size of 20. I’m along on every tour to help solve any problems that might arise. When you arrive on your first BET tour, it will seem that everybody knows everybody else. Not to worry--they will take you in and by the end of the tour you will be a true BETVet!

What's new

Sicily and Southern Italy is now closed.
If one more couple were to sign up for Southern France with Nina Seffusati, I would very happily drop the price down another $200. All of the people currently signed up would be very happy too!
Sign up for Russia & the Ukraine to visit the folks who caused you to "duck and cover" in grade school. I should never say never, but this is probably the only time BET will visit this vast and complicated country.
Finally, come see my part of Italy, Le Marche. Like the better known region of Toscana, Le Marche has rolling hills dotted with olive groves, vineyards, checkerboard farmland and great food. However, it does lack the hoards of tourists. I guarantee you will be the first kid on your block to visit this beautiful area.

Greetings from Sarnano. . .

A collection of musings about ex-pat life in Sarnano.
The latest: August 15, 2011 It is August in Italy and the Romans have again invaded Sarnano. Some are visiting family, having left Sarnano for better paying jobs in the capital. Others are just seeking a bit of relief from the heat, since Sarnano runs about 3ºC cooler than Rome at this time of year. The affitasi (for rent) signs that adorn many windows throughout the year have all disappeared--everything has been taken. There are over 20 camper-vans in the community parking lot. Hotels are filled to capacity, Sarnano is brimming. I haven’t driven my car for over a week since I wouldn’t be able to find a parking place close to my apartment after I returned.{more}

Tour Lineup

• Sicily & Southern Italy, March 4 - 18 or 22-23.
• Southern France with Nina Seffusati, April 9 - 23; Look for a lower price if we go over 20 people.
• Russia & the Ukraine (St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kiev, & Yalta) August 27September 11
  
• Le Marche October 4 - 15
  In the works:
• Barcelona CityWeek, March or April 2013
• Up North - from the Beatles to Hadrian's Wall, with Dr. Thomson, July
• South Africa, Victoria Falls, & Botswana, August
  
• CityWeeks:--Berlin-Prague-Vienna, October