Lets Talk About Food - Part 3

A quick note about ..... GELATO!

No trip is complete without it, without it DAILY. :-)

We found a great place in Rome with the most fantastic flavors. Pictured, pink grapefruit and Amalfi lemon (cup): strawberry and blackberry (half eaten cone)

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Morning Has Broken

Sunrise in Ravello, looking east from the balcony of our room towards Minori. A beautiful sight, but also an overtone of melancholy as it brings with it our departure to Roma and the end of this segment of our holiday.

The day ends with a view of Michelangelo's dome at St. Peters from the rooftop terrace of our hotel ... It's hard to be gloomy with that as the backdrop for a late evening Italian meal!

 

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Lets Talk About Food - Part 2

This Little Piggy Went To Market ...

The second installment about food has to focus on a major food group - Pork. Cured, grilled, smoked, braised - one can't say enough good things about the pork in Italia! Whether meats and cheeses, meat and fruit, served alone or with a contorni .... antipasta, primi or secondi ... They are all memorable.

Cured salumi on a breakfast buffet

Proscuitto and cheese panini

Proscuitto and melone

Braised suckling pork shank

A Whitman's Sampler of salumis

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Villa Cimbrone - Ravello

The Terrace of infinity

Cast your eyes down the mountains over this sparkling sea along the coast of Amalfi; the passing of time does not matter.  Any adjective to try and describe this place is ineffective

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Hello Ravello

We proceed on our trip with our hearts full of joy and our hearts refreshed. Looking forward to exploring what this adorable town has to offer (enjoy the view of this end of the Amalfi coast).

 

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Goodbye Positano

John Steinbeck: "Positano bites deep. It is a dream place that isn't quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone"

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On This Sunday - A Day of Gratefulness

What better day of the week to express thankfulness than this one. I am grateful for the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate this place. I am grateful for Parents who taught me and encouraged me to grow in knowledge and appreciation of people and things around me (regardless of what part of the world I am in). I am grateful for the people and friends I have made along the way and look forward to the many more I will have in the years to come. I am grateful for the opportunity to visit such beautiful places in the US and here in Europe. I hope you can enjoy this view and if I know you ..... Know that I am grateful for You and the beauty you have personally brought to my life. Giving thanks for all this and more today!    -- Juls

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Capri, It's Not Just a Style of Pants!

Today's adventure took us on a jetfoil (large and fast boat) from the dock in Positano to the beautiful Isle of Capri. We took the funicular (with an emphasis on FUN) to Piazza Piaz in the town of Capri, and then a taxi to Anacapri (the higher, less visted town above Capri). After strolling, shopping and a leisurely lunch, we took the Seggiovia di Monte Solaro (a open air single person chairlift) to the top of Monte Solaro, the highest point of the island. Not a small feat for someone with a fear of heights!!! From there! you can see the entire island as well as Sorrento, Bay of Naples, and even Mt. Vesuvious. The water is unbelievably blue even from that far above.

 

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After the stairs ....

Yes, after all those stairs (no that was not all!!!), the reward is great

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Verticality

One big advantage of staying high up in the town are the spectacular views, but with that beauty also comes with a share of pain. We know that pain as stairs ...

Stairs ...

And more stairs ...

Did I mention the stairs?

But as in most cases the reward out values the pain to get there

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Positano!!!

This morning as the sun was coming up, we packed our bags, had our wonderful cappuccini (thanks to Elena for coming in early), returned the car at the train station (thank you Avis lady for coming in early), and boarded a train south to Rome and then on to Naples. At the Naples train station we were picked up by a very entertaining, informative, and handsome young Italian (Tony) who provided a very enjoyable ride to beautiful, colorful, Positano!

From one type of Italian landscape beauty to another! . . . And oh by the way - YES that is the view from our room!

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A suggestion for Delta - or should it be a demand?

Delta promotes itself as the largest airline in the world. Well, Delta here is a lesson for you from the little train that could (well, the Eurostar train that could). Do you see what is setting a top that food service cart? Look closely .... What would be more perfect to serve with the Biscoff cookie ==>  ESPRESSO!!!!!

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Lets Talk About Food - Part 1

This is labeled "Part 1" because ... Well because we are in Italy!!! We would not have to try very hard to make every post about the truly fantastic food here.

Early on when we started visiting Italy, we made the easy and common mistake of choosing to eat at what we thought was authentic Italian food. We will say, when compared to what many American restaurants call Italian these were better - but not by much.

True Authentic Simple Local and Fresh - is what you need to find here. It will change your view of Italian food into an experience like no other. Quick example; lunch today in Bevagna, located off any main street; don't let that scare you - some of the BEST places are not right in front of you. In fact those right in front of you are usually not the choice you should make. Also this place had no menu. The chef's choice of dishes for the day is based NOT on predetermined business planning, but rather what is fresh, in season and best available. (This means your taste buds will be singing!)

The colors and the flavors of each, so unique and so wonderful together. Here is a peek of what we had; freshly made (still warm) bread served with a small wedge of fresh local pecorino cheese, a half cherry tomato and drizzle of olive oil; chickpea soup (made from higher altitude growing peas - so smaller), with a drizzle of olive oil; chicken liver crostini with fresh local greens; tagliatelli with chianina ragu; spaghetti with guancale (from a particular small black wild pig), tomatoes and local Cannara onions (sweet); a milk pudding with wild fennel flower drizzled with olive oil; and a chocolate torta that melted in your mouth. And;keep in mind we didn't even have one of his main dish options!!>

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Early Morning

Often, the first thing one sees as you wake, sets the mood for the day. This morning's view through the open window did just that ... And certainly didn't disappoint!

The warmth of yesterday's autumn sun gave way to a cool night that left behind the hint of low valley fog as the sun rises. As tranquil as it is breathtaking, the beauty of the valle calls us to rise and join in.

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Road Trip to Tuscany

One of the wonderful advantages of staying in this part of Umbria is that so much of Tuscany is accessible from here for day trips. Such was the decision for today! Off to explore this valley and it's hill towns in Tuscany that we had only visited briefly many years ago. (please excuse the haze in some pics they are from a small point and shoot)

The drive was enchanting with rolling hills some topped with homes bordered by beautiful tall cypress trees. A brief stop around Montepulciano to admire the sprawling valley beneath filled with a patchwork of vineyards or olive groves or fields of sunflowers all drying; but looking like they had all in unison bowed their heads to pray for rain.

A stop in the charming town of Pienza to enjoy what this little hill town had to offer and to find lunch; which happened to provide a table in the shade that we could sit for a while and admire the panoramic view of the valley below (the lunch wasn't too bad either)

On to enjoy the serene hill town of Bagno Vignoni - which provided a welcome retreat from the heat and a beautiful strolling village in which to stretch our legs before heading back toward Umbria.

We took small beautiful tree lined roads back toward the East - an awesome day exploring this area of Tuscany

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The Beginning of Another Unforgettable Italian Holiday

Picture perfect morning on the back porch of Genius Loci over looking one of Umbria's most beautiful valley's. With a true Italian cappuccino, homemade cranberry walnut coffee cake and a fruit cup picked fresh from the trees on the property. With a map of northern Umbria in front of us, what more would we need to plan our day?

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