Walking up and down the main street is just beautiful….
Images along the Corso…
06 Jun 2013 Leave a comment
Arrival in Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy…
01 Jun 2013 2 Comments
Used a private transfer by car to drive through the countryside ,which was green and lush,to my next abode for 4 weeks, Politian Apartments. Montepulciano is a medieval town and Tuscany’s ‘loftiest’ hilltop town with remarkable views of the surrounds and its vineyards, olive groves and little villages. The apartment is located in the highest and oldest part of Montepulciano near the 12th Century Fortress and monastery of Santa Maria die Servi. My bedroon is huge and there is a spare! The original features of the building are preserved but all modern amenities are here. The paintings, furniture and decorative objects all belonged to the family of the owners and the original palazzo (house). The sheets, bedspreads and tapestries all belonged to a wedding trousseaux from the late 1800’s…when the owners found them they were new and never used! My photos don’t do it justice…
5 Nights in Florence…
30 May 2013 Leave a comment
Left Vencie on a high speed train bound for Florence and checked into my gorgeous ‘florentine’ apartment “Trebbio”. Being very domestic..shopping, washing, cooking, ironing and generally relaxing with lots of cups of tea and big cups of hot illy coffee! 
Lago di Como…
29 May 2013 Leave a comment
in Culture, Environment, Uncategorized
Train to Como and nasty bus trip to our hotel at Cadenabbia on the shores of Lake Como. Unfortunately it was getting dark and raining so couldn’t see much. Freshwater fish for dinner of course. The next day was freezing and it was snowing on the mountains surrounding the lake which is absolutely spectacular and enormous. There are so many villages along the edges and higher up the slopes. Visited Villa Carlotta with its sublime gardens then ferried across to the village of Bellagio. Crossed the lake to Varenna and then Menaggio where we walked along the edge of the lake back to the hotel. Settled in at the bar to drink our wine purchased in Asti!
Milan…
28 May 2013 Leave a comment
Leaving Asti by train we arrived in Milan, stored the baggage, and used the Metro to reach the city centre. We climbed the majestic Duomo (Cathedral) and explored the central square and shops before returning to Centrale Station for a train to Como.
Asti…
28 May 2013 Leave a comment
in Culture, People, Uncategorized
Arrived in Asti..yes, where they make the infamous ‘spumante’…and headed for a bar and dinner where the ‘tasting’ started…Grappa at the end of the meal. I managed to get through it but my face says it all!
Santa Margherita and Portofino…
28 May 2013 Leave a comment
in Culture, Environment, Uncategorized
Caught the train along the Cinque Terre coast to Santa Margherita which is a lovely port town. Walked the 7km following the coastal path around a bay to Portofino which was truly gorgeous and definitely very much a part of the lifestyles of the rich and famous ( and heaps of day tripping tourists!) Of course we had to indulge in an Aperitivo (although a little early!) of Aperol Spritz and soak up the harbourside atmosphere before catching a ferry back to Santa Margherita and continuing our journey by train inland to Asti in the Piemonte region of Italy.
Lucca and Pisa….
18 May 2013 1 Comment
Travelled by regional train through very productive countryside to the walled city of Lucca. The group has 2 apartments here and I’m sharing with our leader Catharina. Lots of space and can do a bit of self catering, although on our arrival we had the most beautiful pasta made from chestnut flour with porcini mushrooms, ricotta and the sweetest little tomatoes ever. Due to rainy weather we had a free morning to explore before a 20 minute train ride down to Pisa for the leaning Tower and Duomo of course. We had a group dinner party in our apartment with salamis and proscuittos and other meats plus cheeses, breads, tomatoes and olives, not to mention vino rosso and Lucca’s own version of limoncello called “limoncino”. Lucca panforte for dessert!.
Florence…
15 May 2013 1 Comment
Took a train from Rome to Florence through beautiful , green countryside with amazing hilltop villages, for an hour and a half. Had an ‘orientation’ and a great dinner at an Osteria with lots of italian food and red wine. Our group Leader Catharina is at the end of the table, then paula, Fiona, Natalie, Cameron and Calum.
pinkbirdflies 