Many of you know that I retired from Delta Airlines almost two years ago. The airlines are all over the news these days with soaring fuel prices hammering Delta and all the others back into the very red zone.

I rarely follow the airlines or Delta anymore. It seems like that was a past life and my present incarnation is full of interesting work and people. Also, as I tell everyone, I don’t miss those three snowblowers I left in Park City, UT at all.

It’s not just the Internet that keeps dragging me back to my airline past (I rarely read newspapers or watch news on TV). Paul Mees used to work for KLM, and it’s impossible to get two former airline employees together without talking about the airline industry.

But, life also has an interesting way of bringing your past into the present.

A few night’s ago, we were down at the Buckhorn Grill in Walnut Creek CA for our usual (me – Roadhouse Salad with Chicken. Jane – Tri-tip small plate) and a bottle of wine. We’ve started buying the bottle because two glasses has you most of the way to the bottle price.

Anyway, there we are sitting outside enjoying the warm night, food and wine and I notice the guy at the other table has an empty glass. Well, I think it is better to share than drag a glass of wine home. So, I tell Jane to offer the guy a glass of ours.

We strike up a conversation and because of the food, wine, warm weather and sidewalk cafe ambiance – Italy comes up. And then the price of travel – which is where I mention I’m retired from Delta Airlines and can still fly for free.

At which point – Captain Mike Hatfield (retired Delta) breaks into a big grin, stands up shakes my hand, introduces himself and his lovely wife, Nancy. We then discover we both wound up at Delta Airlines via the Western Airlines merger.

Turns out Mike is a Realtor also! Small world…

The term "shaken not stirred" has taken on a new meaning on the set of the latest James Bond movie "Quantum of Solace". A stunt driver crashed 007's Aston Martin into Lake Garda in northern Italy. The driver was delivering the Aston Martin to the film set in heavy rain when he lost control around one of the lake's narrow curves: he wasn't hurt but the $300 000 car was a write off.

My wife Ginny happened to be in Riva del Garda (visual tour here) where the crew is filming; she and a couple of our friends are staying at our house ‘Villa Teggiole’ to get the house ready for the rental season; if you are interested in renting a villa overlooking the largest and most beautiful lake in Italy than check out our website www.VillaTeggiole.com where you can read all the details and see the pictures.

Ginny told me that my Italian cousin, Mauro Morandi, who is an ambulance driver, is present at the film set in case somebody would get hurt. Yesterday, they were filming in Limone; a quaint little town right on the lake. I have always loved this part of Italy. Ginny saw the ambulance go by with sirens on and and Mauro driving. Most likely he was taking the injured driver from the second crash in two days to the hospital.

In my previous life when I worked for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, I used to travel all over the world but every time when I came back to Lake Garda I thought this is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. For Ginny’s friends, Rebecca and Michelle, it is their first time at our house and they are both blown away by the beauty of the area. The last couple of days they have visited: Malcesine, Limone, Torbole and Riva del Garda. Tomorrow they will be in Venice which is only 2 hours away and on Friday they will visit Verona, the town of Romeo and Juliette, at the south part of Lake Garda.

Ginny and I are Realtors in the Bay Area. Together, with our partners, we form the real estate team Harper Mees and Associates. In addition to being experts on local residential real estate, we specialize in international real estate and foreign investors, people that are relocating for work or people that are looking for properties abroad. Since we are opening our first European office in The Hague in The Netherlands later this year, we have decided to sell the villa; a great opportunity for anybody who is looking for a brand new villa on a private location, with a pool and overlooking vineyards and amazing views of the Dolomites and Lake Garda  - details here.

When we decided to build a house in Italy just above Riva del Garda people often asked me why we picked that specific location and how we found this unique piece of land.

When I was a child in Holland, I went to visit family in Torbole, the village next to Riva. It is one of those typical spots that you usually only see on postcards. I have always loved going there and every time I go back it feels like coming home.

During the 18 years that I worked for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines I traveled all over the world for business and pleasure. For three years I was based in Milan for work and since it is only a two hour drive I used every free moment to visit the lake.

When you get off the freeway you take a small road that ends at the top of the mountain before you drive down to the lake – the view is breath taking. One of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.

When Ginny and I were looking for a home in Europe we checked out several countries in Southern Europe but no place could beat the vila site above Lake Garda.

Many families have spent time at our villa and everybody agrees with us that the location, the home and the views are spectacular.

Check it out at www.VillaTeggiole.com

At the end of the show below, you will see a link to an additional show.