Now would be the point where we share pictures of pasta on vibrant ceramic plates, or paella bursting with weird looking seafood, with one of us sitting at the cafe, with the city scene behind us, holding a glass of wine or espresso. If you expect that, you have not been paying attention. Instead, itContinue reading “Obligatory Food Blog, Rehashed”
Tag Archives: Italy
Letting Our Garda Down
In Venice, limited to narrow, canal-lined paths broken up by sudden bridges, we felt like game pieces trying to navigated a board game like Chutes & Ladders (Canals & Bridges?). We needed open space. Our upcoming Milan dog-sit owners recommended Lake Garda, a local, Northern Italy favorite, although they had never been, which forContinue reading “Letting Our Garda Down”
A couple of Dumbos in Venezia
In 697 AD, the twelve founding families of Venezia (Venice), refugees from wars (sound familiar?) chose it’s location as a safe harbor. Eventually, this strategic location led Venice to become a major financial and political powerhouse in the area; a staging site for wars and trade. Based on our experience, they still are a powerhouseContinue reading “A couple of Dumbos in Venezia”
My Bologna
Wrapping up our six weeks in Italy was kind of like cleaning out the fridge, what looks good? Venice was to follow Florence but we needed a palate cleanser in between these two major cities. Bologna it was (although traditionally Bologna is not a classic palate cleanser). Once we started reading about Bologna, it was obvious we shouldContinue reading “My Bologna”
Frenzied Firenze
We popped off the train in Firenze aka Florence at a rather nondescript train station and followed the multitude of American college students down the cobblestone road passing the obligatory Italian shoe, perfume chain stores, jewelry stores and souvenir stands. Then, around the corner, there it was…. THE RENAISSANCE! The massive and spectacular Florence Cathedral, Continue reading “Frenzied Firenze”
Ravenna Pieces
Ravenna wasn’t initially on our map, but should have been considering that for almost 70 years (408-476 AD) it was the capital city of the Western Roman Empire. We have been to Benicia, the capital of California (from 1853-54), so we were obligated to go to Ravenna plus Patricia’s sister recommended it (hat tip toContinue reading “Ravenna Pieces”
Coast to Coast
Not ready to leave the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius, and wanting to stay south to stay warm, we took a short Flix bus ride from Napoli, just past Angri,( the town, not the mood) to Salerno which is wedged between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Dolomites of Campania mountains, at the edge of the famousContinue reading “Coast to Coast”
Blast From the Past
Like Pisa, Pompeii was a “sure why not” stop It’s close, so okay. And, like Pisa, Pompei was a whim that was a Wow! Unexpected, it was truly moving. We arrived in Pompeii 20 minutes from Central Naples on the aptly named Circumvesuviana commuter rail. Mt. Vesuvius looming out one window and the Bay of NaplesContinue reading “Blast From the Past”
Naples, there’s a darkness in this edgy town
Since we had just left Rome, it was hard not to compare Rome and Naples, two cities whose present is so imbued with their past. Naples (Napoli in Italian) had a gritty underdog feel to it. Southern Italy, poorer and less cosmpolitan, has always been in the shadow of the more prosperous northern part ofContinue reading “Naples, there’s a darkness in this edgy town”
Rome, if you want to
Between travel internet sites, advertisements, every old Italian movie (except spaghetti westerns), how could you not come to Rome with some idea of what you will be seeing. What you see is not surprising, but you are surprised when you see them. Pretty much everything in Rome defies expectations. The massive scale of centuries oldContinue reading “Rome, if you want to”
Chosen Fugue 