Looking Back

“A traveler without observation is a bird without wings.”

Moslih Eddin Saddi

Over the years I have been fortunate to travel to a number of places, and while there have been many to enjoy, Italy remains at the top of my list of favorite destinations.  Here are some of the reasons why.

The countryside which seems so precious to the Italian people.

Artistry that has passed through generations.

Markets with everything from soup to nuts.

Food made with oh so fresh ingredients.

People whose warmth is  welcoming and contagious.

Laundry drying outside windows.

Color and texture.

Gelato.

Wine.

Tell me, what are your favorite places?

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Moving On

“A traveler without observation is a bird without wings.”

Moslih Eddin Saddi

Sadly, the Foodie Adventure has come to an end, and it is time to move on.  Now, we move to the coast of Italy and Cinque Terre, the five small towns on the west coast of the Riviera.  They are connected by walking trails or you can also travel between them by train or car.  The entire area is now designated as a national park and proclaimed as a heritage for mankind by UNESCO.

What a different feel Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Nanarola and Riomaggiore have from Tuscany.  

There is more color.

Houses, with signs of being buffeted by salt sea air, are built close together and climb the cliff face.  

There are beaches and boats

and pasta is replaced by sea delicacies.

The most popular walking path appeared to be the Via dell’Amore between Manarola and Riomaggiore.  It is said to be where young lovers met in secret in days past and now the path is dedicated to lovers.

Locks lined the entire pathway.  What do you suppose they symbolize?

Exploring the Cinque Terre is a pleasurable way to spend a Sunday.  What is giving you pleasure today?

Joining Seasonal Sundays

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Italian Blues

Gondolas being uncovered for the day’s work in Venice

A family’s laundry floating high above the street

Cinque Terre’s coastA working man’s clothes

Twilight’s blue haze

A weathered door

Morning sky

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 Visiting Blue Monday and Outdoor Wednesday

Take A Look

Finding a just right kitchen for 16 people to work in had to be a challenge, but Chef Michael and Mary Jo got it just right when they selected this fabulous villa. Take a look.

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The kitchen is stocked with everything you could possibly want to work with,

and like every other room in the villa it has its own special touches. Don’t you love this antique wire cart that we are using to hold onions, garlic and potatoes?

And if the kitchen is great, just take a look at the dining room with its long table where everyone can sit and not be crowded.

No matter whether you are looking out the kitchen or dining room windows, there’s always a wonderful view, making cooking and dining a special pleasure.

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Can you see why this is a place that will be hard to leave?

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Let the Fun Begin

Here’s how the fun started. Michael Salmon and his wife Mary Jo, owners of the well known and charming Hartstone Inn in Camden,Maine, decided to expand their horizons with a Foodie Adventure in Tuscany that would focus on looking at, preparing and, of course, eating food.

Knowing what an incredible chef Michael is and what fun he and Mary Jo are, it was impossible to resist the temptation to join them and seven other couples for what sounded like a wonderful adventure.
After a beautiful drive through the rolling Tuscan hills, we arrived at the villa. Unimposing from the outside, the interior was a different story, like something from a magazine. What an incredible base for our Tuscany exploits!

Every detail in each room was perfect.

I don’t want to move out of this room with it’s beautiful morning view

and its cozy corner.

But enough about the place. We are here to focus on food. The first night Chef Michael did all the work, preparing a smorgasbord of Tuscan savories to welcome us foodies.

There were sausages and cheese, chicken and bean salads, foccacias with aromatic toppings, roasted veggies and olives and, of course, plenty of local wines.

The tastes of Tuscany…can they be beat?

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On to Florence

Just a quick overnight in Florence, always a special place to visit, but with it being Easter weekend, the crowds were shoulder to shoulder making it difficult to navigate the narrow streets.
If you’ve been to Florence, you will know that the gold bridge is the street of dreams, at least for women. The shop windows glitter with sparkling gold and jewels, irresistibly tempting, and some are probably lucky enough to walk away with a special treasure.

Away from the crowd I stumbled upon a farmers’ market and, of course, had to check it out. Oh how different from ours in the States. There was some produce, but most of the vendors were selling olive oil or cheese or sausage or wine or freshly baked bread or biscotti. I wanted some of everything.

Though I had to pass on the foodstuffs, I did stop for a gelato. Have you ever seen it piled so high? Almost too pretty to mess up.

Time to move on. Got a train to catch that will get me to the promised foodie adventure.

Italian Adventure

Italy started out to be a Foodie Adventure, and we’ll talk more about that later, but first it was a stop in Venice to reconnect with our very first exchange student who we hadn’t seen in 13 years. What a treat!

Venice is an island of canals

that can be explored by gondola

or water taxis.

Can you imagine living where everything from laundry

to plants

to building supplies

to foodstuffs or whatever else is needed has to be transported by boat?
But such is the charm of Venice and once off the water, how nice it it is to wander the narrow cobbled streets without being threatened by anything with wheels!

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