Wer'e back

from Europe.

More later.

Have a wonderful week and weekend.  

Gina

Chateaus and Villas II

Driving in Italy and France

Part II

adapted from Villa Toscana website

La Locanda di Villa Toscana is located in the small town of Bibbona, Tuscany, Italy, just south of Livorno.  

The Villa is located in the middle of town.  A note was attached to the front door when we arrived. We were to call the number listed on the note.  The only problem; we didn't have a telephone.  Our rental car had a phone but we didn't know how to use it.  

I found a group of young workers taking a lunch break, who were only too happy to dial the number for me.  

The housekeeper arrived a few minutes later.  

We didn't see anyone until the next morning when a beautiful breakfast was waiting for us.  

The big surprise was the upper part of Bibbona.  An Etruscian Stronghold.  

We almost missed it.  

These two charming ladies meet every evening, and have done so for the past 30 years, and sit on this very bench.  

We had been occupying the same bench earlier.  I noticed that several people were dropped off near a very steep street.  They would walk up and disappear.

I had to see what was up there.  Gene wanted to stay put. 

Not only did I discover a beautiful Etruscan village but also a fine looking restaurant, which turned out to be well known in the area.   

Restaurant Osteria De Messeri

When I came back with the exciting news, the ladies and Gene were having a spirited conversation.  He had given up his seat on the bench. 

 By now Gene knew all about the restaurant and the rest of their story.  How, I don't know.  They didn't speak English and Gene doesn't speak Italian.   They all had big smiles on their faces. 

There is another Bibbona about a 15 minute drive to the west and by the sea.  

Marina Bibbona looks promising, We will save it for next time. 

This Bibbona also deserves another visit.

 While in the area, Relais-Sant-Elena is nearby. 

If you want to spend a few days relaxing and enjoying the peaceful country side, then this is the place.

Next stop Montelupo Fiorentino and Villa Vannucci.

Have a great remainder of the week my dear 

Blogging Friends.

Gina

http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com.au/

So, you close your eyes

Your finger is on the button
and you click where it says Finish.

It's a done deal.  You've just spent thousands of Dollars for a First Class Ticket to Europe. 

But this year is different.

We had amassed a few frequent flyer points. 
I tried different agents, some were grumpy, some were non committal, some were new and then, one agent was absolutely perfect.

She made it happen.  Only 100,000.00 points for a round trip, nonstop, first class flight to Paris and on to Frankfurt.

We've been there many times. 
This year is special.

We are celebrating  our 50th Wedding Anniversary in December.

We remember:

Christmas and New Year celebrations at the
Geyerhof, Soprabolzano, Italy. 

Christkindlemarkt in Nuernberg,  

A little Christmas tree remembered in our room at the
Goldener Hirsch in Salzburg.

The Adler Hotel in Niederdorf, beautiful fabrics made by an old gentleman French weaver and sitting by the hand painted Kachelofen warming us,
while enjoying fine cuisine. 

So many ski trails discovered and re-discovered so many years thereafter,

 until we just couldn't find a new trail. 

Everything is set.  We have all year to think about the magic of Christmas in Europe.

This Austrian Farmer is letting his horse pull a Christmas tree sideways across this large field.   Why?  It disperses fertilizer which was left behind from earlier occupants (cows).

Before we go on our trip there will be planting and harvesting the garden.  There will also be lots of time to celebrate with good friends and neighbors. 


Have a wonderful week my dear
Blogging Friends.

Thank you so much for the lovely comments you have left for me. 
You are the very Best.

Gina   
  

Have you been to Kientzheim?

What about Ora, Italy?

 Kientzheim, where the streets are lined with half-timbered houses and Storks build their nests on top of chimneys.

When traveling by car in Europe, you sometimes end up in the most unexpected places.  Kientzheim, south of Strasbourg, in the Haut-Rhin region of the Alsace, is such a place.

Something happened with our rental car. 

It  needed to be hoisted onto a flatbed and taken in for repairs. 

The Hostellerie Schwendi, in Kientzmeim, was recommended for an overnight stay.  It turned out to be a fine Hotel with an award winning Restaurant. 
http://schwendi.pagesperso-orange.fr/


This was not the only incident with our rental car.  (I'll save that for another time)

Now on to Ora, Italy

Ora (Italian)  Auer (German)

See those stripes on the wooden shutters.  I used to know their meaning.  I think that red and white striped shutters designate a Hotel.  Green and white or blue and white  stripes mean something else.  Very convenient when you're out in the country side. Maybe my readers know the real scoop.

Ora, Italy with an incredible restaurant with an impossible name,

Tschurtsch.

Ora is a tiny village in the northern Italian region of the Trento Adige, not far from Bolzano.  Often, we travel to Europe in September and October.  We rent a car and set out with no particular plans except we usually make a round trip from Paris to Umbria, Italy,  and back to Paris. 

That is how we found Ora.  Our  modus operandi is always to start looking for a place by about 3 or 4 in the afternoon.  We head for a very small village and locate the village church tower.  That is where you find the best lodgings.  Lodgings which have provided a good meal and bed for many travelers through the centuries.

Strolling through Ora we came upon this intriguing looking Restaurant. 

Would you have gone inside?

If you had, you would have been served one of the finest meals in all of Europe.  

http://www.tschurtsch.it/de/essen.htm

Have a look at their very unusual Menu.

Have a great week my dear Blogging Friends!

Gina

Addendum Please note: Ownership of Tschurtsch Restaurant has changed.  For now, I can not recommend it. January 5, 2014. 
1/4/2018 Not recommended.