Our first stop was the Cannes Film Festival, where Bob, who owns a production company, was reviewing movies for possible investment and where we attended the star-studded event benefiting the American Foundation for AIDS Research (AmfAR). We shared a table with Naples’ Penny and Lee Anderson and friends. Sharon Stone, dressed in a slithering Robert Cavalli dress, chaired the event, and at the table next to us sat the stars of Ocean’s 13. When a trip on the Andersons’ yacht, My Katharine, was up for auction, Stone called actor George Clooney up to the stage to help the bidding process. She asked Clooney if he knew the Andersons, to which he deadpanned, "Yeah, I lived with them for a year." The yacht, which auctioned twice, brought in more than $700,000.

Our next stop would be in Rome to see a friend and revisit the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, where we had the opportunity to see, well below the sanctuary, the crypts of the entire noble Italian family, the Borghese, dating back to the 15th century.

We also had the opportunity to visit with the very charming Nicola Bulgari of the famous house of Bulgari jewelry. He invited us to a private concert, which he was underwriting at the Montecassino Abbey, located about 90 minutes south of Rome and miles up the mountain above the city of Cassino. The Montecassino Abbey is home to the Montecassino Monastery, founded around 529 by St. Benedict. It has overcome several attacks, including an accidental bombing by American forces during WWII. It was once again reconstructed to its original glory, and today is considered a place of holiness and fortitude.

Mr. Bulgari prefers American-made automobiles and drove us around in a few of his vintage Buicks. He escorted us to dinner in a small Italian village, where he took over the restaurant for our party of six.

Next we were invited by Dwight Opperman to attend the dedication ceremonies at the Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative Institute (CEELI), located in Prague. CEELI’s mission is to help establish democratic law in countries where governments are in transition. We traveled with retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, an active supporter of CEELI who spoke during the organization’s dedication of its recently renovated villa. In attendance were the American Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Richard W. Graber; the president of the American Bar Association, Karen Mathis; and the former president of the Czech Republic, Václav Havel, among others.

After a few days in Mykonos, Greece, we were ready for the most exciting leg of our European journey—a benefit for the restoration of the Pavillon Frais at the gardens of Versailles. The Pavillon, built under the reign of Louis XV in 1751, was demolished under Napoleon in 1810. The American Friends of Versailles, who hosted this weeklong benefit, have taken on the challenge of restoring this enclosed garden.

Throughout the week, approximately 300 Americans, 200 French and dozens of others from around the world were involved in these private events, including honorary chairs First Lady Laura Bush and former First Lady of the French Republic, Madame Bernadette Chirac.

The days were packed with elegant events at private venues. In a typical day, we enjoyed a luncheon in a private hotel, a champagne reception at the residence of Baron and Baroness Gérard de Waldner, and cocktails with Ambassadeurs de Holland. Then we attended receptions and dinners, such as those hosted at the residence of the American Ambassador Craig Roberts Stapleton and Mrs. Dorothy Stapleton (where AFV founder and president Catharine Hamilton and her husband, David, were honored), an Italian feast at the Italian Ambassador’s residence and a luncheon at the country residence of Monsieur and Madame Pinault (owners of the Vineyands, which produces Chatour Latour), a grand reception at the Chateau de Fleury en Biere and dinner at Chateau de Courance, the residence of Marquis and Marquise de Ganay, owners of both 16th century castles. I was entranced by the architecture during a reception at the Palais de la Legion d’Honneur, a favorite of Thomas Jefferson who traveled to France in 1784.

The crowning moment was the official dedication of the Trois Fontaines Bouquet (grove of three fountains) restored with funds raised from 1999 to 2004 by the AFV. The fountains have been returned to their original splendor after being buried since the early 19th century. When you see something so beautiful and so carefully restored, it really broadens your view and appreciation of architecture.

During our week at Versailles, we traveled with good friends, Patti and George Wagner of Naples, and made many new ones and met amazing people. We plan to attend AFV events in the near future.

After this whirlwind tour through Europe, we enjoyed a Venetian-themed garden party in Minneapolis, an activity-filled week in Jackson Hole, Wy., and a trip to Great Britain. And while I’ll admit that I enjoy traveling, seeing the world and exploring the many cultures, no matter how many nice people we meet or how swank the hotels, there’s still no place like home.

--Suzanne Chute