View of the vineyard
Bridal party at the end of the day............still partying LOL
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Tuscany
On the way to Tuscany we spent the day and night in Florence. Wandering the streets, looking at the Duomo and sights and sounds of the market. Coffee and pastries in a cute little cafe outside the markets, people watching. Italians love their dogs, they take them everywhere, even on the trains.
After a delicious dinner in our hotel we spent the night in our suite, rose early the next morning, met Amanda and Theo at Florence train station, had a stroll and a bite to eat, picked up our BMW at the airport and headed for our villa in Tuscany about half an hours drive away. But it seemed to be in another part of the world, out of the bustling city and into the beautiful rolling hills of the countryside.
The four of us had a villa on the hillside all to ourselves. Up a long driveway lined with pencil pines, just like a postcard.........
Everything was green and lush, flowers blooming, all set amongst grapevines and olive groves with the most breathtaking views all around the villa.
What a setting for our wedding!!!!!!
All the preparations were perfect, flowers, food, ceremony, music, all organised by the women running the villa. We had nothing to do except enjoy the day.
The weather was absolutely gorgeous, clear blues skies and a cool breeze.
The ceremony was on the lawn in front of the villa with a backdrop of the vineyard and rolling hills.
Lunch was a six course banquet cooked on site by our own personal chef "Anna" and served by our waiter,"Tommy". They even made us a wedding cake, Italian style.
The ceremony was at 11, lunch at 12 and we all enjoyed the day so much nobody wanted it to end. Finally about midnight we decided to reluctantly end the day with one more toast to the bride and groom................
After a couple of days rest we all decided to venture into the little villages around the area, much to our surprise we came upon a local market where we bought our supplies for the rest of the week, had lunch and did a bit of shopping other than food and wine LOL.
We spent a day in Siena, a walled medieval city. Very hilly with amazing buildings.
Next we went to Todi, to meet the people we are house sitting for in September. They made us a lovely lunch, which we weren't expecting. We thought we would be there for about an hour.....Four hours later we left......It was a lovely day, they have two miniature Sardinian donkeys, seven cashmere goats, three cute dogs and five cats that you don't really see much.
They live on 35 acres of olive groves, on a hillside with amazing views into the valley and woods. Apparently around 11.30 at night, porcupines come into the yard and eat up their garden............
Part of their stone home was built in the 16th century and the other part was built in the 1800's. Can't wait to come back for the house sit.
Hope you enjoy the photos. Amanda has more and when we get a copies I will post some more.
After a delicious dinner in our hotel we spent the night in our suite, rose early the next morning, met Amanda and Theo at Florence train station, had a stroll and a bite to eat, picked up our BMW at the airport and headed for our villa in Tuscany about half an hours drive away. But it seemed to be in another part of the world, out of the bustling city and into the beautiful rolling hills of the countryside.
The four of us had a villa on the hillside all to ourselves. Up a long driveway lined with pencil pines, just like a postcard.........
Everything was green and lush, flowers blooming, all set amongst grapevines and olive groves with the most breathtaking views all around the villa.
What a setting for our wedding!!!!!!
All the preparations were perfect, flowers, food, ceremony, music, all organised by the women running the villa. We had nothing to do except enjoy the day.
The weather was absolutely gorgeous, clear blues skies and a cool breeze.
The ceremony was on the lawn in front of the villa with a backdrop of the vineyard and rolling hills.
Lunch was a six course banquet cooked on site by our own personal chef "Anna" and served by our waiter,"Tommy". They even made us a wedding cake, Italian style.
The ceremony was at 11, lunch at 12 and we all enjoyed the day so much nobody wanted it to end. Finally about midnight we decided to reluctantly end the day with one more toast to the bride and groom................
After a couple of days rest we all decided to venture into the little villages around the area, much to our surprise we came upon a local market where we bought our supplies for the rest of the week, had lunch and did a bit of shopping other than food and wine LOL.
We spent a day in Siena, a walled medieval city. Very hilly with amazing buildings.
Next we went to Todi, to meet the people we are house sitting for in September. They made us a lovely lunch, which we weren't expecting. We thought we would be there for about an hour.....Four hours later we left......It was a lovely day, they have two miniature Sardinian donkeys, seven cashmere goats, three cute dogs and five cats that you don't really see much.
They live on 35 acres of olive groves, on a hillside with amazing views into the valley and woods. Apparently around 11.30 at night, porcupines come into the yard and eat up their garden............
Part of their stone home was built in the 16th century and the other part was built in the 1800's. Can't wait to come back for the house sit.
Hope you enjoy the photos. Amanda has more and when we get a copies I will post some more.
Monday, June 6, 2011
"The Wedding"
After Venice we make our way by train to Tuscany............for our wedding.
Photos and blog shortly....................
Photos and blog shortly....................
Venice
Hi Everyone,
Sorry it's been a while but it has been difficult to get access to the net over the past couple of weeks. Venice was beautiful.....................not quite what we were expecting............so much larger than we thought.
AND sooo busy. Shops and tourists everywhere. Everything is done via the waterways, deliveries to shops and fruit and veg markets, fire department. police and ambulance services are all done on the water. While we were walking over the Rialto bridge we saw a water ambulance and fire brigade rushing to help someone. There were towers leaning due to the sinking again, tiny alleyways and canalways everywhere. Again the structures were massive, and I have been photographing doors all around Italy, they are so ornate and beautiful.
We had a gondola ride on the Grand Canal, had a tour of the Murano glass factory and saw some amazing glass blowing, toured thru the Golden Bascilica, which was absolutely mind blowing. The floor was photographed in 1979 and removed in sections and repaired and replaced due to the sinking of the building. The floor is all mosaic and is supported by over one million !!! chestnut tree supports............Everywhere you looked there was gold, hence the name. It was great not having to dodge cars all the time, even though it was busy it was quieter due to the lack of cars, such a relaxed way of life.
St Mark's Square is huge and surrounded by restaurants and the internal area has three, four and five piece bands playing music to the public all evening. Some people were even dancing!!!! It was soooo beautiful :)
But I did get shopped out, so we ventured out of the tourist area to where the locals live. So much quieter, found a great fresh food market with the strangest looking fish!!!!!
Hope you like the photos.
leaning tower and not the one in Pisa LOL
cute window displays :)
weird fish, never found out what it was !!!!
beautiful blue glass horse at the Murano glass factory
emergency service, fire department
some gondolas lined up ready for a hard days work
Steve in front of the Bell Tower in San Marco Square ( St Mark's Square )
one (of ten ) cute handles on the door of the basilica
Sorry it's been a while but it has been difficult to get access to the net over the past couple of weeks. Venice was beautiful.....................not quite what we were expecting............so much larger than we thought.
AND sooo busy. Shops and tourists everywhere. Everything is done via the waterways, deliveries to shops and fruit and veg markets, fire department. police and ambulance services are all done on the water. While we were walking over the Rialto bridge we saw a water ambulance and fire brigade rushing to help someone. There were towers leaning due to the sinking again, tiny alleyways and canalways everywhere. Again the structures were massive, and I have been photographing doors all around Italy, they are so ornate and beautiful.
We had a gondola ride on the Grand Canal, had a tour of the Murano glass factory and saw some amazing glass blowing, toured thru the Golden Bascilica, which was absolutely mind blowing. The floor was photographed in 1979 and removed in sections and repaired and replaced due to the sinking of the building. The floor is all mosaic and is supported by over one million !!! chestnut tree supports............Everywhere you looked there was gold, hence the name. It was great not having to dodge cars all the time, even though it was busy it was quieter due to the lack of cars, such a relaxed way of life.
St Mark's Square is huge and surrounded by restaurants and the internal area has three, four and five piece bands playing music to the public all evening. Some people were even dancing!!!! It was soooo beautiful :)
But I did get shopped out, so we ventured out of the tourist area to where the locals live. So much quieter, found a great fresh food market with the strangest looking fish!!!!!
Hope you like the photos.
one of the many canals with connecting bridges
a view from the Rialto Bridge of the grand canal
a shop of animal masks
a delivery van !!!!
delivery men going up and down one of the many stairways !!!!!!!!
fresh food market in the locals shopping area
the winged lion, a prominent emblem on many of the buildings and tapestries of Venice
Monday, May 16, 2011
Perugia
Hi There,
Well we spent about six hours this morning wandering around the old medieval walled town of Perugia.
There are seven levels of the town and some have to be reached via a system of escalators around the town, great idea saves the knees a bit. Other levels are up and down steps.
There is a different feeling to this town, a kind of calm comes over you as you wander about. Maybe it is because of the fact that the town has a wall around it and has a sense of security left over from ancient times.............
The buildings are not as ornate as other cities but the Griffin which is the symbol of Perugia is everywhere. The rooftops are covered with hand made terracotta tiles as you will see from our photos.
We walked under the palace Rocca Paolina, which has several levels under the city, it was so interesting........................there were tiny cells and dungeons, one of which Steve is in behind bars. Very dark and cold. Hope you enjoy the photos. Off to Venice tomorrow............
Griffin, the symbol of Perugia, this can been seen as statues, frescos and bas reliefs.
Fontana (fountain) Maggiore was built in 1277, it is connected to a 5 kilometre ancient acqueduct that bought water to the main town square
Steve in front of the fountain
Tiny apartments.....bedsits we wonder?
The Palace, Rocca Paolina
With the fortress underneath consisting of 5 floors, with towers and foreparts, loopholes and emplacements to house cannons.
Under the Palace
Steve in one of the cells
And afternoon tea on the rooftop balcony of our hotel
Well we spent about six hours this morning wandering around the old medieval walled town of Perugia.
There are seven levels of the town and some have to be reached via a system of escalators around the town, great idea saves the knees a bit. Other levels are up and down steps.
There is a different feeling to this town, a kind of calm comes over you as you wander about. Maybe it is because of the fact that the town has a wall around it and has a sense of security left over from ancient times.............
The buildings are not as ornate as other cities but the Griffin which is the symbol of Perugia is everywhere. The rooftops are covered with hand made terracotta tiles as you will see from our photos.
We walked under the palace Rocca Paolina, which has several levels under the city, it was so interesting........................there were tiny cells and dungeons, one of which Steve is in behind bars. Very dark and cold. Hope you enjoy the photos. Off to Venice tomorrow............
Griffin, the symbol of Perugia, this can been seen as statues, frescos and bas reliefs.
Steve in front of the fountain
Fresco on ceiling in a cafe
Tiny apartments.....bedsits we wonder?
Tiny doorways too........
The Palace, Rocca Paolina
With the fortress underneath consisting of 5 floors, with towers and foreparts, loopholes and emplacements to house cannons.
Under the Palace
Steve in one of the cells
Views from our room over the rooftops
And afternoon tea on the rooftop balcony of our hotel
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Roma still :)
Sunday 15th May
I'm sure one would have to spend a year or more to see everything Roma has to offer. Just going thru all the Vatican Museums would take at least a week.
I always assumed Trevi Fountain was in a large piazza but we followed some little laneways and heard a crowd and suddenly it was in front of us. Tucked away behind these beautiful ancient buildings in a little piazza.
We have experienced quaint little fishing villages such as Cefalu, hill towns such as Positano and Amalfi, island life in Capri, bustling cities, Milano, Roma and Palermo. Can't wait to spend time in the city on the water, Venice and countryside in Tuscany.
We are now in Perugia, a 2 &1/2 hour train ride from Roma,( btw Roma train station is like an airport!!!)
We are staying in a 13th century building ancient frescos on the walls. Perugia is a medieval walled city and its symbol is the Griffin and they make amazing chocolate!!!!
It is raining, first rain we have had since leaving Oz. Apparently it is snowing in the Alps further north from us and this weather is coming down from England. We will be up north in a couple of days so I hope it clears before we get there.
Perugia is gorgeous, can't wait to go exploring this medieval town. Great photo opportunities to be had!! We have a balcony room on the fourth floor, the fifth floor is the garden balcony, and we are overlooking these incredible ancient buildings with hand made terracotta tiles on the rooftops. All the buildings we have seen in Italy have been multi storied. They make use of every bit of space.
The Italians certainly love flowers, every street and balcony is ablaze with colour.
Most corners have flower stalls both cut flowers and pot plants.
typical corner flower stall
I'm sure one would have to spend a year or more to see everything Roma has to offer. Just going thru all the Vatican Museums would take at least a week.
I always assumed Trevi Fountain was in a large piazza but we followed some little laneways and heard a crowd and suddenly it was in front of us. Tucked away behind these beautiful ancient buildings in a little piazza.
We have experienced quaint little fishing villages such as Cefalu, hill towns such as Positano and Amalfi, island life in Capri, bustling cities, Milano, Roma and Palermo. Can't wait to spend time in the city on the water, Venice and countryside in Tuscany.
We are now in Perugia, a 2 &1/2 hour train ride from Roma,( btw Roma train station is like an airport!!!)
We are staying in a 13th century building ancient frescos on the walls. Perugia is a medieval walled city and its symbol is the Griffin and they make amazing chocolate!!!!
It is raining, first rain we have had since leaving Oz. Apparently it is snowing in the Alps further north from us and this weather is coming down from England. We will be up north in a couple of days so I hope it clears before we get there.
Perugia is gorgeous, can't wait to go exploring this medieval town. Great photo opportunities to be had!! We have a balcony room on the fourth floor, the fifth floor is the garden balcony, and we are overlooking these incredible ancient buildings with hand made terracotta tiles on the rooftops. All the buildings we have seen in Italy have been multi storied. They make use of every bit of space.
The Italians certainly love flowers, every street and balcony is ablaze with colour.
Most corners have flower stalls both cut flowers and pot plants.
a little restaurant in Taormina with flowers everywhere, Steve is posing up on the balcony............
and just a couple of my favourite photos :)
just wandering up some steps to get a better vantage point for photos and we found this little hand made ceramics shop
Well, it's 5.45pm here and I'm getting hungry :) so will sign off now and go and have dinner shortly at this cute little restaurant we found just around the corner.
'Til next time......................
ciao xxxx
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