summer 2014 snapshots | the big 3

Florence

Naples (Pompeii)

Rome

Whew! It makes me tired just thinking about how much ground we covered. I hoped to give them a glimpse of places that we love, as well as some "must see's" of Italy. Next time, which I am hoping is sooner rather than later, we can be a bit more focused in our exploration and resort back to the way we like to travel ... slowly. However, we didn't even visit Sicily or Abruzzo or Umbria or Tuscany or Puglia! Mamma Mia.

And then there is France. All of it.

They just need to move here, obviously. 

........

PS. No gladiators (blond-headed cousins) were harmed in the Colloseum.

PPS. The camera ban has been lifted at the Accademia in Florence.

PPPS. Hire a guide at Pompeii. 

summer 2014 snapshots | 5 Terre

We took them to the Cinque Terre, an area of Italy none of us had ever visited previously. I think it is safe to say that neither Richard nor I will be visiting that area of Italy again. If you want the details, send me an email.
The End.
PS. We were not robbed or treated poorly.

summer 2014 snapshots | cliff jumping

We went down to the river.

The ice-cold river.

The ice-cold river that formed a deep gorge.

There were cliffs.

Some jumped, some did not jump.

It was equally frigid for all.

I am not a jumper.

More details about the river:
That time we went and the sun was shining, and it was still frigid

summer 2014 snapshots | wine tasting with kids!

The count let us taste his wines and see his cellar.

When was the last time you chatted with someone with that title?

Piovene Porto Godi

(He'll chat with you, too!)

summer 2014 snapshots | festa time

Festa del Pescegatto in Mossano

One of those times that was prettier than a postcard or a Hollywood version on film.

Yes. We sat under the vines.

Yes. We were among mostly Italians, with no tourists.

Yes. It was pretty cool.

Yes. We ate catfish.

No. It was nothing like the catfish we all grew up eating in Louisiana.

It didn't matter.

Italy, in the middle of a vineyard, & vino and laughter with friends & family.

That mattered.

What a lovely night!

pescegatto = catfish

summer 2014 snapshots | mountain time

Which way should we go next?

Of course we spent a couple of nights in the mountains. These Cajun folks all grew up in the Mississippi River Delta, where the only bumps in the landscape are Cypress knees in the swamp and the levee restraining the mighty Mississippi. They HAD to experience the Dolomites. 

And it's one of my favorite places in Italy: the vast expanse of mountains that covers much of the north of the country. All of it. Favorite. Both the German part & the Italian part.

Here I am!

And just in case you think that Young One is completely cooperative all the time...here she is imitating a cow in the pasture...or refusing to walk another step.  Moooooooooo!

We rented an apartment in Siusi all Scilar for a couple of nights, and we were able to fit in two great hikes for the short time we were in the mountains: from Siusi to Laghetto di Fiè and the Giro del Bullaccia, which begins in the alpine meadow & requires the cable car.

The weather was perfect, the scenery unmatched and the company divine. I am certain that we could have spent the rest of the time together in the mountains. Instead we headed South.

More Mountains

The first time we visited these mountains

Gorgeous Alpe di Siusi

Hiking some different mountains, Madonna di Campigilio

summer 2014 snapshots | in the kitchen

Memories of that time the husbands made dinner. 

summer 2014 snapshots | cousins in Verona

Verona, another jewel in the Veneto region, is easily reachable via car or train (and likely bus) from Vicenza in less than an hour. Every single time I visit this beloved city, I walk away with the same question: "Why is that we don't spend more time in Verona?" This visit was the same.  I'm serious: Every. Single. Time. 

More of Verona:

That time we went to the opera in the Arena (with a great osteria recommendation)

That time we completed a 10K in the province of Verona (in the name of vino)

Just some photos of another visit to Verona

summer 2014 snapshots | rock climbing

The reason we did the "Grand Giro of Italy" is because we had some visitors, some long-anticipated, first-time visitors.  Imagine packing everything you love about your adopted country into ten days. Impossible. Yet, I tried.

I planned the trip with the needs and desires of everyone in mind, a bit of adventure here, a taste of culture there. I did make a few mistakes (that I'll share later), but I think most went well.

We live in a village that draws hundreds of rock climbers each year. We can sit on our little patio in the paese and watch as they scale the walls and we sip Prosecco. Of course, this activity had to be included in the bit of adventure.

We contacted a guide who was recommended by the local rock climbing association, who suggested he take our little group to another area to climb. Apparently the rock faces in our village are primarily for advanced climbers with only one small section for novice climbers. 

He shuttled us to Castelvecchio in his great van, and after a near-death experience for a couple of us on the trail leading to the climbing area, he suited everyone up in the gear and then expertly led the experience. (The rocky trail down to the climbing area was very wet and slippery, VERY slippery.)

Everyone suited up except Richard, that is, who insisted on a bit of free-style climbing. 

I, of course, chose to forgo any climbing in favor of photography. Or something like that.

Drop me a line if you are interested in contact information for our guide: Andrea Basso. He is well-qualified to lead you on any number of adventurous expeditions in the Dolomites and beyond, wether it's a few hours of rock climbing or a week-long hiking expedition.


And, oh, this is one of the few times I brought my DSLR along. I'm trying to get back into the habit...I think.