Tuesday, May 29, 2012

The Islands of Italy

Italy Island style...


So I hope you aren't tired of Italy yet...
I'm still squeezing in Nutella every other day or so...

I think my favorite part of being in Italy 
were the trips we took to the 
two islands of
Capri and Positano...
Being on an island was pure magic.
I told Heidi that at some point  if I started crying
it would probably be when I saw that amazing blue water, 
she agreed she'd probably do the same.
This was the first time I had taken a trip of this magnitude and it was for her too.

Something about being somewhere you have only
dreamed of 
and then stepping into it as a reality
is just so surreal.

 Our first island adventure was Capri...
you can take a boat there in about 30 min.

 Absolutely love that they can cram churches that are gorgeous
just about anywhere....
Lots of beautiful restaurants and cafes everywhere....
I don't think I sat at one cafe that did not have a great view or
was not a good place to people watch.
I really like the wash on these bricks, 
such a great shade ...
I had done a little research on Trip Advisor
for shopping on Capri...
lots of people recommended the Carthusia
perfumery on the island...
all excellent remarks...
SO I had to find it.
I was on a quest....
Ta-Daa
it was right on the way to the gardens we were headed to...
They make all the perfume there on the island from
native flowers...
Heaven...
part of the distillery is on display...
beautiful store...
and of course the smell...
"Recipie Book"
for scents...
I thought my purchases there were a very good deal 
considering how expensive perfume and bath products can be here
in the U.S.
I purchased one full size bottle of perfume for
my mother
a gift box with 3 different 4 oz bottles of perfume
a pot of lip balm and two soaps for about 60 Euros
which is about 75.00
My favorite Jo Malone costs $110  for just the one perfume bottle...
At the top of the gardens is the most amazing view
of the famous rock formations
where the Blue Grotto is...
Check out the middle right of this pic...
that is a walkway that goes all the way down to the coast...
No way I went down that..
they'd never get me back up!
We got used to a midmorning stop for
snacks and espresso...
I love how they display everything in the walk up cafes...
I think of it as their version of fast food...
took an open air taxi ride
to our next stop of AnaCapri a little further up in elevation..
I skipped a restaurant lunch to shop and find this
man...
Antonio Viva...
I sought him out because I heard so many good things
again on Trip Advisor
I'll share with you my experience with him tomorrow....


When I was done shopping I stopped in a grocery
for a sandwich...
Bruno said they were cheap and really good there...
I ended up with this monster of salami and sharp provolone...
of which I only managed to eat half...
I don't usually eat salami..
but this was paper thin and so yummy!
As I sat down on a bench to wait for the girls..
This landed at my feet
like a scene out of a movie...
this beautiful white dove...
There were pigeons everywhere in Italy
grey, spotted , black,
but I never once saw anything white.
If you believe in signs...
I took this as someones way of saying to me
that I was meant to be here.
That maybe I should be at peace with my life
and my decisions
that everything was going to be o.k.
and someone wanted me to know they
were looking out for me.
 And maybe he just flew in from a wedding?
I like the first option better.
After lunch we took a Gondola ride to the very top of Capri...
When they said Gondola I envisioned one of those enclosed car type things...
not a chair...
but the views were absolutely breathtaking...

At the top are ruins of an old Roman fortress....
That is all water, not sky...
Back to the bottom for
swimming, sketching, more wine, and a bit of shelling....
Bruno on the rocks...
lots of sea glass and tiny shells...
 
A beach shrine....
fun snack stands...
Lots and lots of Limoncello...
and the coolest pink boat to sketch ever!
Capri was such an amazing little island.
I definitely want to return one day.
Hope you enjoyed this sampling of  Capri
and had a great Memorial Day Weekend!

Friday, May 25, 2012

Insta Friday...Food, men, and coffee ....

Insta Friday
featuring

Food,Men, and Coffee
of Italy
Edition....
Hold on There are quite a few!
 daily breakfast of these fresh brick oven baked rolls
covered in
 Nutella like spread...
some folk don't care for it and I never really ate it
until Italy...
It only takes a tiny schmere but I love it now!
 Fresh coffee and frothed milk every morning..
the coffee here reminded me of chicory coffee from New Orleans ...
which equals=
 yum...
 Antipasta...
The best most flavorful Italian green beans with tomatoes
and more rolls...
 Amazing Roasted tomato stuffed with rice,peppers and I don't know what else
but it was soooo delicious...
 Spaghetti Bolognese...

 Fried Artichoke
in the Jewish Quarter...
crispy and so yummy...
(not breaded)
 Bruschetta...
 Pork cutlet pounded thin and fried
w/ lemon to sprinkle on top...
My mouth is starting to water !
fried ravioli...

making pasta....
 Using pasta to make Spinach ravioli
 all kinds of yummy desserts...
 strawberry and lemon Gelato
to die for!
I can still taste it...
 Pesto Gnocchi'
 Espresso...
and for dessert...
 One of our favorite waiters...
 Menu advice from Luca
(although we usually had no idea what he was saying)
but it sounded sooo good...
 a little help from Mahnolo...
(I must admit I would have stuffed him in my suitcase if I could!)
and of course the most
handsome Priest you could ever meet
Bruno!
(stole this from Heidi's Instagrams)

I'll have to let you in on what I think make Italian men
so likeable and loveable
in another post.
Hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.
Are you hungry now?