kristov , stopped by ( Pics added )......
Didn't find you home .
Well , not yet .
Maybe in a few years . Was in Italy a few weeks ago and flew into Malpensa a day early ( other part of our party arrived the following day ) and had some time to kill so we rented a car for the day and did a Lake Como tour . It rained the first day on and off .
.
For others reading Lago di Como is a very pretty lake about a half hour north of Milan with a number of small towns around it's coast . Little info on Lake Como (http://www.initaly.com/regions/lombardy/como.htm ) . My wifes cousin has a summer house near Como and his company ( Omni D?cor ) has been a sponsor of the world champion F1 powerboat racer Guido Cappellini . It's a quite area unless the F1 boats are racing !
The reason for the trip was to help in the planning of a wedding for a friend . She is to marry next year in Ravello and it's looking like she's picked the Villa Cimbrobe for the wedding and reception ( http://www.villacimbrone.com/ ) . Ravello is a very small town that is located up from the coast towns of what's known as the Amalfi coast . Sitting on the top of the cliffs it has fantastic views of the Mediteranean . I miss the days of when the dollar was strong . Now days the dollar is very weak against the Euro . Not so much bang for your buck .
Once the other party arrived we caught the long train ride to Naples where we collected our second rental .
The reason for me being there was to drive .
Had a nice little talk with the two ( mother and daughter ) before we even got in the car that the driving in Italy was rather different than that in the states .And that the driving in the Alps and the coastline was not for the faint-hearted .
I told them that there was one backseat driver that I would listen to and that was my wife . They said they understood and we were off . The car felt good at higher speeds on the autostrada and you could see Mount Vesuvius growing closer . Mt Vesuvius is the active volcano that brought about the end of Pompeii , covering the town and the people that lived and died there .
We arrived on the Amafli Coast after sunset and finding the apartment we had rented proved to be a task . I've driven the coast before and my wife knew what was in store . The other two were in for an eye opener .
Heard a lot of gasps and sighs but the two remembered our talk and held on . Lots of hairpins , switchbacks and never-ending curves and up and down hills it's a drive that people that like to drive love .
We found it , settled in that night with a nice Sangiovese ( red wine ) and got a much needed nights sleep .
Up early and made lemonade from lemons off one of the many lemon trees on the hill side where we were staying.( View from apartmant )
Walked up to the square and met with the priest about making wedding plans . Also found the florist and baker to make the cake and a wine merchant to supply the wine needed . Spent the rest of the time looking at places , hotels for her guests that will be coming next year , local places to eat , so on and so forth .This view is looking from the top of Ravello at other hill towns.
I shot some pics in 35mm format and haven't flipped them to disk yet . I'll post a few pics later . I started to post this one other time but was disconnected and couldn't save the post .
Kristov , once you are settled there will have to have an expresso some time or wine over lunch .
Shoot the caca......
Ciao , SxS
Well , not yet .
Maybe in a few years . Was in Italy a few weeks ago and flew into Malpensa a day early ( other part of our party arrived the following day ) and had some time to kill so we rented a car for the day and did a Lake Como tour . It rained the first day on and off .
.For others reading Lago di Como is a very pretty lake about a half hour north of Milan with a number of small towns around it's coast . Little info on Lake Como (http://www.initaly.com/regions/lombardy/como.htm ) . My wifes cousin has a summer house near Como and his company ( Omni D?cor ) has been a sponsor of the world champion F1 powerboat racer Guido Cappellini .
It's a quite area unless the F1 boats are racing !The reason for the trip was to help in the planning of a wedding for a friend . She is to marry next year in Ravello and it's looking like she's picked the Villa Cimbrobe for the wedding and reception ( http://www.villacimbrone.com/ ) . Ravello is a very small town that is located up from the coast towns of what's known as the Amalfi coast . Sitting on the top of the cliffs it has fantastic views of the Mediteranean .
I miss the days of when the dollar was strong . Now days the dollar is very weak against the Euro . Not so much bang for your buck .Once the other party arrived we caught the long train ride to Naples where we collected our second rental .
The reason for me being there was to drive .
Had a nice little talk with the two ( mother and daughter ) before we even got in the car that the driving in Italy was rather different than that in the states .And that the driving in the Alps and the coastline was not for the faint-hearted .
I told them that there was one backseat driver that I would listen to and that was my wife . They said they understood and we were off . The car felt good at higher speeds on the autostrada and you could see Mount Vesuvius growing closer . Mt Vesuvius is the active volcano that brought about the end of Pompeii , covering the town and the people that lived and died there .
We arrived on the Amafli Coast after sunset and finding the apartment we had rented proved to be a task . I've driven the coast before and my wife knew what was in store . The other two were in for an eye opener .
Heard a lot of gasps and sighs but the two remembered our talk and held on . Lots of hairpins , switchbacks and never-ending curves and up and down hills it's a drive that people that like to drive love .
We found it , settled in that night with a nice Sangiovese ( red wine ) and got a much needed nights sleep .
Up early and made lemonade from lemons off one of the many lemon trees on the hill side where we were staying.( View from apartmant )
Walked up to the square and met with the priest about making wedding plans . Also found the florist and baker to make the cake and a wine merchant to supply the wine needed . Spent the rest of the time looking at places , hotels for her guests that will be coming next year , local places to eat , so on and so forth .This view is looking from the top of Ravello at other hill towns.
I shot some pics in 35mm format and haven't flipped them to disk yet . I'll post a few pics later . I started to post this one other time but was disconnected and couldn't save the post .
Kristov , once you are settled there will have to have an expresso some time or wine over lunch
.Shoot the caca......
Ciao , SxS
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SXS, you are one lucky man. What a beautiful trip. Good for you! 0 -
Good reading and looking. Thanks for posting. 0 -
Great pics. 0 -
Pic of SxS basking in the Mediteranean sun sipping fresh lemonade .
Even on rocky stairways there is beauty around the next corner .
I or should I say we prefer the small towns with few tourists .
Rather looking foward to the wedding next year .
Wine
Great stinky cheese
Great food
The views
And I get to drive again
Shouldn't suck .
SxS0 -
Nice read, and great pics. thanks. 0 -
Give me about five more years, after both the girls are finished with grad achool, and Mrs K and I will be enjoying such a view on a daily basis. A long drive along the lake is an experience which should not be missed by anyone who visits Italy and is any where near Milano. Italy was once a bargan in Europe but as you mentioned, the Dollar is nearly worthless now and a even a short stay on lake is is going to be a splurge for your budget...But well worth it. It seems doubtful that Mrs K and I will make it to Europe this year so I envy you. 0 -
Thanks for the post! Beautiful pictures! Italy is wonderful! Its on my list of places to see. We spent 10K on Tahaiti and need to cool it for a while.
I'll bet you had some of the best food and wine you will ever experience. I have heard that from most of the folks I know that have traveled to Italy.0 -
I may be back in Italy for a little while sometime this year .
Her cousin has a yacht that he wants to move to Greece sometime this year and has asked for help to pilot it there . Now that America West has bought US Airways and they've merged flight possibilities have really opened up . Flying stand-by we pay around $35 in taxes to fly internationally and this last trip we paid around $100 for the first class upgrade . Fly into Italy and out of Greece . Doesn't suck .
Wife would like to run an agriturismo when we retire .( These are small to large farms with rooms for rent ) She loves to ski and am thinking a more nothern area . Me.........even though I've skied in the alps I would more likely say the alps skied me . ( Skied why over my head and broke my thumb/hand [:D] )
Have you already purchased your house there in Como ?
If not what area of the lake are you looking at ?
( I'm sure you want to be close to George Clooney so it will be easier to play Bocce Ball with him )
This was about my 6th time to Italy and must say I'll never grow tired of it . Only wish my Italian was better .
sig232 , the food is unbelievable ! You can eat like a king at almost any small cafe . Find I drop weight when I'm over there but that may be do also to all the walking . When you go I'd recommend getting a car and staying off the beaten path . The small towns are more rewarding than the larger ones . Do a search for agriturismo . These are small to large farms with rooms for rent . Like a B&B . Very relaxing and the food can be outofthisworld ! Also cheaper than most hotels . One agriturismo we stayed at was at Caprasse Michael Angelo .
Small hill town in Tuscany which was the birth place of Michael Angelo . The house he was born in and a small museum about him . Another place was Il Vecchio Frantoio or in english the Old Olive Press . This place is in Sicily .
http://www.highonadventure.com/Hoa03apr/Sicily/Sicily.htm
Worth a look and a stay . My wifes father and her uncle own a small village on a mountain that would be great to make into an agriturismo , only question would be what farm product to make .
Any ways , anyone thinking of visiting Italy should just make plans and just go . Friendly people and sights and food and wine that are simply wonderful .
Ciao for now , SxS0 -
And if you haven't figured out my signature yet after this thread , send me $1 to buy-a-clue .
( )
SxS0 -
Very nice pics there!!! Show some hotties next time..Wire Paladin, San Francisco,,,nambu 0 -
must be nice to live the american dreamers dream! [:)]
thanx for the pix.0
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