TURIN

The last 2 days have been spent in Piedmont in the city of Turin as my son Sean is here working this week.  He is one of those hard working, hard living people who put up the stages and rigging for huge, outdoor concerts, this one is taking place in the big Stadio Olympic.  It has been a most interesting few days eating, drinking  and spending time with the crew.  The food is great, the hotel is lovely and I feel spoiled riding around in their cars and buses with Sean taking care of everything.  I'm most unused to having people taking care of things for me so am enjoying it.
The centre of Turin has the lovliest architecture all built when the House of Savoy was ruling the area and there's still a large Roman district that was discovered during excavations and is now left uncovered.  We enjoyed exploring it during a free day.

Sean in Turin

Dominik and Sumi happy crew

Aileen with Sean Turin

CINQUE TERRA, LIGURIA

The 5 villages of Cinque Terra are among my favourite Italian places.  I just never tire of their houses in all shades of Terracotta, faded Pink, Tan, old Red and Brown all topsy turvy on top of each other built in to the rocky terrain.  There are very frequent trains running between them and a ticket is good for 6 hours so it is easy to visit all of them and have a stroll around.  They are tiny, just one main street and winding passages with terrific views of that kind of turquoise sea that is usually seen only in travel brochures.

 The town below right is Vernazza and it was almost destroyed in a huge mud slide a few years ago but has been rebuilt almost as it was before.  There's a pic above of the mud running through the main street.

Vernazza today

I have to tell you about a great restaurant in Levanto with the kindest of hosts.  The name is L'Articiocca and the owners are very concerned that their Bio food is good and the producers are local.  It is a beautiful place with excellent choice of wine and when I was there Aronne del Oro was singing in his Mediterranean style and playing guitar with his talented friend Alberto as if they were having a musical conversation with each other.  If any of you go to that area be sure to go there.

Aronne and Alberto

owners of L'Articiocca Clara and Hermano

Camoglia

SERMIONE, LAKE GARDA

Driving along from Soave towards Liguria it seemed a shame not to visit more of Lake Garda so I found a really good camping place named San Francisco near the lovely town of Sermione at the south of the large lake.  Luck was with me as I got a site right beside the water although I don't reserve anything since I never know how long I will stay anywhere.

The flowers are in full bloom and the smell of Jasmine is everywhere.  Of course this area is so very popular so there are lots of visitors about enjoying their Gelato.  It is so easy here to fall in to the habit of a daily ice cream and a relaxing hour when it is time for an Aperitivo.  For the last 2 years the main drink before dinner seems to be an Aperol Spritz or a Venizianer.  It's a lovely custom especially when it is so warm and sunny.

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 I went to visit the town of course and below is the main entrance

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Medieval Wine Festival in Soave

Soave is the town famous for its wines and it is surrounded by lovely vineyards.  It is not very far from Verona.  I camped here for a few days to enjoy the festivities and thought you all might like to see a few pictures of the medieval costumes.  There was a "Fountain of Wine" where one could buy a glass of Soave White Wine for only 50 cents and then could return with the glass as many times as desired all day.  Can you imagine how that would go over in Kenmare or anywhere in Ireland?  Here the people are so used to wine that most of them just didn't bother participating and there weren't many strangers about except myself of course and I needn't tell you I enjoyed it.

Castlecerino above Soave

Even the prisoner can get a glass from the Fountain of Wine

BURANO

In Venice on a perfect day with Rose, Graham and Tess Brown over from Scotland.  I haven't met her in years and we had a grand time.  A convenient way of not getting too hot and tired in Venice is to buy a 12 hour card that allows rides on all the vaparettos and buses and costs only 18 euros.  We made full use of it by taking a long ride out to Burano - that is the island not too far from Murano where there are many glass blowing factories, most tourists go there.  I've always preferred the colourful little houses of Burano centre of lace making indeed women are sitting outside their houses and in little groups working with their nimble fingers

 

Rose, Graham and Tess

 We finished off a great day at a local tiny restaurant Al Ponte with good wine and a large platter of antipasto

 

SUNSET OVER LAKE GARDA

sunset on a cloudy evening over Lake Garda

 

BASSANO DEL GRAPPA

a drink overlooking the Brenta river

We all went up to visit the grand little town of Bassano del Grappa with it's famous Ponte Vecchio and memories of the brave Italian Alpini troops.  It was originally built by Andrea Palladio in the 1500s based on the site of a 12 century wooden bridge.  It was destroyed during the war so had to be rebuilt.
Hemmingway wrote of the fierce action that took place in the area just north of here.  Now it is the most peaceful, beautiful town.

taken from above this does not show the bridge at its best