Outside Rome, we drive through an avenue of trees and find the villa we will be staying at for a few days. We are welcomed by the hosts and shown through to our wing. I feel at home in the historic, gracious building and while we freshen up, Francesca books our tickets to the Vatican.
Inside the home is cool in the midday sun, as the shutters are closed and its thick walls keep the heat at bay. Later we sit outside in the cool of the evening while Francesca brings brings out a beautifully set tray with glasses, her home picked olives, grapes while we feast on our freshly bought cheeses, tomato, chicken and bread. Marcello promises to cook us his famous Roman pasta tomorrow night and I am struck by their generosity.
After a frenetic train trip to Rome, we quickly tour the Vatican, St Peters, Sistine Chapel and museum because we keep getting caught behind tour groups of tourists. The Pantheon and Trevi fountain become my favourite spots.
The next day we walk around the ruins of Hadrians Villa in the hot midday sun before going 'home' early to have a siesta. I will miss this wonderful place.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
Next stop Lake Garda and beyond
Just as well we have booked all the way. I am getting used to asking for 'Coffee to go' which are the only English words these Italians seem to understand. I have tried Italian but I get these weird looks and having an expressive face, sign language and big smile seems to get me out of any misunderstandings.(don't want a repeat of the red face man in Fussen!)
We drive through the Brennar Pass, where pass massive trucks carrying their goods. I love the shops on the autostrada where one can buy anything from fresh food, alcohol to non perishables. I get very tired of eating out and this gives us a chance to stock up on supplies easily. There are also decent fast food restaurants which stock plenty of healthy substitutes such as salads, pastas, filled rolls, seafood, vegetarian and meat dishes.
At Peschiara, we sit on a bench eating Gelato and watching beautiful boats slice through the bright blue water. No hope of starving on this trip, unfortunately! Our bed/breakfast is perfect for us to meet Italians as we are the only English speaking people. If ever I set up a bed plus breakfast at the Bavarian Hut, I hope to be as hospitable as these people. The side table is piled high with breakfast including different rolls, crousants, cheese, ham, boiled eggs, salami, yoghurt, fresh fruit, tea/coffee ...and chocolate cake!
We drive into Verona and we love Juliette's balcony, the cathedrals, arena, Piazza's...A few days later when we leave we are given beautifully wrapped home made cookies for our car trip. We drive to the outskirts of Florence where we stay another B&B. Luckily the Italian version of this is very different and we are shown a suite which has two bedrooms, and bathrooms, lounge, diningroom and kitchen which leads on to a courtyard on an extensive property. We were booked into the Uffinzii Gallery and given bus tickets to get us into town. What amazed us was how our bus driver manoevred his way through the narrow streets of Florence without running into something! Once again our breakfast were stunning, with pastries, yoghurts, smoked salmon, cold meats, fresh fruits, pate',cheese, juice and the usual tea and coffee.
We saw the Duoma, different Piazzas and the Gallery and walked through the Roman gates. How wonderful it all was!
We drive through the Brennar Pass, where pass massive trucks carrying their goods. I love the shops on the autostrada where one can buy anything from fresh food, alcohol to non perishables. I get very tired of eating out and this gives us a chance to stock up on supplies easily. There are also decent fast food restaurants which stock plenty of healthy substitutes such as salads, pastas, filled rolls, seafood, vegetarian and meat dishes.
At Peschiara, we sit on a bench eating Gelato and watching beautiful boats slice through the bright blue water. No hope of starving on this trip, unfortunately! Our bed/breakfast is perfect for us to meet Italians as we are the only English speaking people. If ever I set up a bed plus breakfast at the Bavarian Hut, I hope to be as hospitable as these people. The side table is piled high with breakfast including different rolls, crousants, cheese, ham, boiled eggs, salami, yoghurt, fresh fruit, tea/coffee ...and chocolate cake!
We drive into Verona and we love Juliette's balcony, the cathedrals, arena, Piazza's...A few days later when we leave we are given beautifully wrapped home made cookies for our car trip. We drive to the outskirts of Florence where we stay another B&B. Luckily the Italian version of this is very different and we are shown a suite which has two bedrooms, and bathrooms, lounge, diningroom and kitchen which leads on to a courtyard on an extensive property. We were booked into the Uffinzii Gallery and given bus tickets to get us into town. What amazed us was how our bus driver manoevred his way through the narrow streets of Florence without running into something! Once again our breakfast were stunning, with pastries, yoghurts, smoked salmon, cold meats, fresh fruits, pate',cheese, juice and the usual tea and coffee.
We saw the Duoma, different Piazzas and the Gallery and walked through the Roman gates. How wonderful it all was!
Meeting up with my girls
I cannot wait to get to Innsbruck to see Genevieve and Natalie. I haven't seen Natalie for eight long months and it will be good to catch up with news of their travels around Europe.
I am so pleased to see them I do the embarrassing 'mom' thing by throwing my arms around them. Fortunately I don't cry visibly and manage to hold it together, just...There is so much to talk about including their Busabout adventure together. After going up the funicular and seeing to beautiful view of Innsbruck surrounded by mountains, we go to a typical Tyrolean restaurant and have the huge Tyrolean special (roasted casserole of bacon,chicken, potatoes and parsley) before having an early night. Genevieve leaves tomorrow for her long flight back to Brisbane. Bruce, Natalie and I will continue our journey around Europe. We see Gen off, comfortable in her fisherman's pants and set off to the markets to buy freshly cut proscutta, buffalo mossarella cheese, tomatoes and rolls.
In our leased car, I am soon tired of the sat/nav because it feels like every time I speak, I am rudely interrupted by the voice of a woman! (ok I know I am a bit of a chatterbox but I now have competition)lol
I am so pleased to see them I do the embarrassing 'mom' thing by throwing my arms around them. Fortunately I don't cry visibly and manage to hold it together, just...There is so much to talk about including their Busabout adventure together. After going up the funicular and seeing to beautiful view of Innsbruck surrounded by mountains, we go to a typical Tyrolean restaurant and have the huge Tyrolean special (roasted casserole of bacon,chicken, potatoes and parsley) before having an early night. Genevieve leaves tomorrow for her long flight back to Brisbane. Bruce, Natalie and I will continue our journey around Europe. We see Gen off, comfortable in her fisherman's pants and set off to the markets to buy freshly cut proscutta, buffalo mossarella cheese, tomatoes and rolls.
In our leased car, I am soon tired of the sat/nav because it feels like every time I speak, I am rudely interrupted by the voice of a woman! (ok I know I am a bit of a chatterbox but I now have competition)lol
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Visiting Bavaria
We are off to Europe to see Natalie. First stop Frankfurt and then on to Rottenburg and Fussen where we will meet the girls in Innsbruck. I am so elated we are going on the Romantic Road through parts of Germany. The car we lease works out well while we zip down the autobahn.
The heavily painted furniture in the small hotel we are staying at reminds me of Bavarian Hut. I am reminded that we are owners back home of two cuckoo clocks, five sideboard tables, five dining room tables, many paintings all included when we bought the Bavarian Hut.
The beautiful town hall clock strikes and the music starts up as statues move gracefully in a timeless tradition. We stand gawking along with the other tourists on the cobbled roads and tiny side walks. Flowers spill out everywhere in a vast array of colours.
Next day we leave for Fussen where we are staying at a small hotel with verandas lined with geraniums. We see majestic castles and the pretty town before having an early night. The next morning a spectacular breakfast is waiting for us. A three tiered plate with various types of cold fish, meats and cheeses along with yoghurt and rolls. The German speaking owner hands us what looks like fish rolled in cornflakes. I think that it is a rather solid piece of fish and when our empty plates are taken away, I remark how delicious the fish was. I then realise my mistake when the chap goes red in the face and spits out in rudimentary English that it is not fish but chicken!!! He goes on to swear in German to all the other guests about the stupid Frau and I am not too pleased that I can understand what he is saying! I nearly say that I am used to my cornflakes done in a different way and chicken is hard for an English person to have for breakfast. ...So I try to keep what little dignity is left and check out quickly..LOL
The heavily painted furniture in the small hotel we are staying at reminds me of Bavarian Hut. I am reminded that we are owners back home of two cuckoo clocks, five sideboard tables, five dining room tables, many paintings all included when we bought the Bavarian Hut.
The beautiful town hall clock strikes and the music starts up as statues move gracefully in a timeless tradition. We stand gawking along with the other tourists on the cobbled roads and tiny side walks. Flowers spill out everywhere in a vast array of colours.
Next day we leave for Fussen where we are staying at a small hotel with verandas lined with geraniums. We see majestic castles and the pretty town before having an early night. The next morning a spectacular breakfast is waiting for us. A three tiered plate with various types of cold fish, meats and cheeses along with yoghurt and rolls. The German speaking owner hands us what looks like fish rolled in cornflakes. I think that it is a rather solid piece of fish and when our empty plates are taken away, I remark how delicious the fish was. I then realise my mistake when the chap goes red in the face and spits out in rudimentary English that it is not fish but chicken!!! He goes on to swear in German to all the other guests about the stupid Frau and I am not too pleased that I can understand what he is saying! I nearly say that I am used to my cornflakes done in a different way and chicken is hard for an English person to have for breakfast. ...So I try to keep what little dignity is left and check out quickly..LOL
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Crazy Teacozies
Sitting in our Brisbane home, I am surrounded by teapots of all sizes which I found lined up in the original tea house before the Bavarian Hut became a restaurant. There are at least twenty five teapots with countless sugar basins and jugs.
I wonder what I am going to do with them? Then it strikes me that they need covering - I need another project to do while Nat is away. Finding a book of knitting patterns, I start on my quest to cover my pots. Before long I have knitted fifty teacozies and have collected a mound of vibrant colour wools, ribbons and buttons to decorate.
Amused Bruce watches while I purl and plain my creative little articles. I am dreaming up my business plan! But first I start giving them to family and friends trying to match up the teacozy with the character of the person I am knitting for. I also find a shop who will sell the articles and am delighted when they actually sell.
I wonder what I am going to do with them? Then it strikes me that they need covering - I need another project to do while Nat is away. Finding a book of knitting patterns, I start on my quest to cover my pots. Before long I have knitted fifty teacozies and have collected a mound of vibrant colour wools, ribbons and buttons to decorate.
Amused Bruce watches while I purl and plain my creative little articles. I am dreaming up my business plan! But first I start giving them to family and friends trying to match up the teacozy with the character of the person I am knitting for. I also find a shop who will sell the articles and am delighted when they actually sell.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
