Cotati resident Andrea Vincent was one of the lucky 'Oprah Winfrey' audience members who in September won an Australian vacation to celebrate the talk show's final season.
Vincent, traveling with her longtime friend Rene Cattaneo, of Novato, took time out of her 10-day trip to describe her experience thus far in an e-mail:
"Our three-day destination... Hamilton Island, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. First day... ferried out to the Coral Sea by Fantasea boat charters to one of the world's 'Top Ten' beaches where white sand draped WhitSunday's premiere island. TV chef Curtis Stone escorted us off the boats tiptoeing through turquoise waters onto the softest sand where we experienced a Fantasy Island-type reception with cocktails, champagne, lobster and shellfish. The topper was a helicopter landing from Oprah and her best friend, Gayle King. I can't wait to tell Sonoma County about our lovely 20 minute girl chat with Oprah. Amongst the 100-plus there at this destination, we felt lucky to have experienced the longest conversation as real people with Oprah... oh and sipping Vueve Cliquot champagne."
Vincent returns Dec. 18.
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