Sicily, the Beautiful

 So strange to come home to snow

I came from Blue Waters, Sun and Sand, the Island  of Sicily.

Sicily is about Ceramics, a very original type of ceramics.

Sicily is about great food.

Sicily is about Sunshine, the  Ocean and boats.

She stood watch by my villa door

Every building in Syracuse looks like it belongs on top of a wedding cake. 

And Sicily is about History.  

Giina

A New Year

 

There were sad times 

Leaving sadness behind

Making new plans

Plan a  Garden.

Read a good book.

Plan a trip.

Catch up with friends.

Wishing you, my dear friends,  a 

 New Year filled with happiness and good health.

Gina

Not really a Christmas Story

Tucked away in the most northeastern corner of Italy

A special place called Südtirol

Where the cows go to green pastures and come home every evening to be in their cozy barn, where each cow has a hand painted name plate and her own window to look out from.

This is also the place where I buy my hand knit sweaters.
(The black sweater on the left is my newest acquisition).

From a special shop by the name of Trachten Stueberle

Where every balcony is  adorned with the most impossible and

luxurious flowers.

And where an elderly gentleman, of nobility, lives behind these towering walls.

He lives there, by himself, hidden.

In this enormous castle.

And every year I ask the locals: 'what do you hear from the old Gentleman' ? 

And always, a shrug of the shoulders follows.

And every year, I am hoping, that the elderly Gentleman will see me from his window, and send his manservant to invite me to have tea with him. 

And then I will sit quietly and listen.

Where is this magic place, you ask?

It is called Toblach/Dobbiaco in the Südtirol, where both Italian and German is spoken.

Each year I discover a little more and one day I will know everything.

Gina  

Repost 2011

I had to do it.

Traveling these days is not easy.

But Italy was calling.

Innocently, I was checking air fares.

Important tip:

When booking flights check  the "Flexible Dates" box and 
"First/Business Z" category (Delta Airlines) 
You will find days when prices are $500 to $1000
lower.

The destination?  Italy, of course. 

Relais Sant Elena in Bibbona has room for us. 

I need one more pasta making lesson.

And another visit with my favorite friend Mario in his studio in Montelupo, Fiorentino.   

I just had to do it.  

Click, and it was done.  

 It was only 3 months ago, we said that we wouldn't get on another long flight. 

How soon one forgets. 

We will take care of our garden before we go.

and harvest our garden, preserve fruits and vegetables. 
Then in September, we are off. 

Have a great week ahead, dear friends.  

Gina 

I have the Wanderlust

Leaving Home

Leaving my mountains to the East

And leaving my mountains to the West.

The Squash and Potato patch will have to wait. 

The kitchen garden in front of the barn is lying fallow.

The flower beds will also have to wait. 

Blue skies and a promise of blossoms, left behind.

Leaving my pond and all the critters that call it home.  

All for a small corner of Italy. 

Back Soon

Be well. 

Gina 

Zell. the picture perfect Mosel Valley town.

The picturesque Mosel River is one of the Rhine River tributaries.

You will find many historic sites along the way, you can even drive right through an old castle near Zell.

One of the nicest places to stay is in the small town of Zell where you will find the lovely
"Hotel Schloss Zell".

We were given an unsolicited upgrade. 

In fact, while traveling throughout Europe this time (and we have been there more than forty times) in all cases we were given "the best room in the house" and at no additional cost. 

 I am so glad that when they renovated this old Schloss that they left these beautiful ceilings intact.  

Lovely sites at every turn. 

An abundant breakfast was served in lovely surroundings. 

These hand made, from fine fabrics, bride bouquets always make me sad.  I want to know the rest of the story.  Who is the bride who wore this bouquet more than a hundred years ago? 

More wonderful windows.  I may have to paint these charming characters.  

It rained the day we left.  We will visit again.

Have a great week dear friends.  

Thank you for your visit.  It is so appreciated.  

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

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