The skies are blue, the sun hot, the shadows cold and the nights crisp. The Cinque Terre is settling down for the winter. Shops and restaurants are beginning to shut down. We, and our American visitors, are amongst the last …
Italy
Tuscan Bugs
At home with wasps, bugs and the spice of life Whiney Bastard Stripey Bastard Bitey Bastard Blood sucking Bastard I now have a monumental lump on my thigh, matched only by the collection of savage bites inflicted by horse-flies. This …
Ferragosto, starlit wine tasting and Segrettos
The scent of burnt lavender, the itch of the cicada song and the gurgles of the pool.
Underwater wine-discovering a mysterious wine in Secret Tuscany
Dreams, underwater wines inspired by shipwrecks and poetry.
Fireflies and Nightingales in Tuscany
Ours was a warm, still spring night with ‘no breezes from heaven blown.’ We stood instead in the dark, amongst the roses and their perfumed air, looking up into the olive grove with its shaggy grass and wild flowers hidden in the dark.
Coffee, cornetti, Tuscan artists and sculptors
Bumping into world class Tuscan artists and the visceral sculpture of Paolo Pelosini
Rainy days, operatic owls and the most romantic Cafe in Lucca
There is something lascivious about a Lucchese hot chocolate.
Tuscan Secrets off the beaten track
I love seaside resorts out of season. Glistening seas, bright sunshine and rows of umbrellas all have the energy youth and summer love but it is out of season that you see the bones, the face of resorts without makeup, …
Pisa – Cinderella City
Beloved Pisa
Lost youth and the November rains
Pigs might fly
Villa Proserpina, returning to the light
In 2009, in the months before we met in person GS and I messaged by text. Somehow in that text environment we quickly became close, so close that I wasn’t sure if and when we actually met in person, the …
Mysteries of the Universe. Why? Why?
I cannot speak for successful writers nor published authors as I am neither. I am though a committed amateur. Nothing makes me happier that wafting around vacantly, doodling and looking for the perfect word whilst eroding a track to the …
Via Elisa, Lucca
After few lazy mornings enjoying the last of the sunshine and swatting mosquitos with The Bat of Death, we needed a mooch around Lucca.We usually park near the station and go in the Renaissance Porto San Pietro and are quickly …
Last swim of summer; Tellaro and Fosdinovo
It is still hot during the day, the sun bright and the skies blue. But the dews are becoming heavier, the forecast is for thunderstorms to roll in. It is time for The Last Swim of Summer. I feel cheated, …
The battle of the Clams
Truth and lies
Breakfast in Rome
When pixels were tesserae
Tuscany-Puglia Road Trip Termoli-Tuscany (10)
We set off and crossed back over the border into Puglia, driving for hours until we crossed over into Molise. This was the stack of giant marshmallows and baby bottles which someone who shall remain nameless (GS) totally demolished. …
Tuscany-Puglia Road Trip Nardo-Alberobello-Matera (9)
Trulli scrumptuous
Tuscany- Puglia Road Trip Nardo Starburst (8)
Palm fan skies
Tuscany-Puglia Road Trip Gagliano del capo to Nardo via Otranto (7)
Fighi d’india and watermelon fields
Tuscany-Puglia Road Trip Rabatana -Santa Maria di Leuca (6)
Taranto door knob
Tuscany-Puglia Road Trip Basilicata, Rabatana (5)
Fiat 500 up a staircase
Tuscany-Puglia Road Trip Fondi to Rabatana (4)
The Bergamot, Rabatana, Tursi
Tuscany-Puglia Road Trip Folly and Ostia (3)
Reception theatre The ‘Don’t Blink’ reception The Homage to Stephen King Our suite was every bit as quirky as we hoped it would be with antique furniture and unique touches. The signage outside seemed to indicate that it was part …
Tuscany-Puglia Road Trip Roma! (2)
Wonderful Roma
Tuscany-Puglia Road Trip Orbetello (1)
Road trip! Woohoo!
Wild Sausages
May in the Tuscan hills
First dip of Summer (almost)
But for one mermaid it was baptism, time to dance with the high strong churning waves again. The first swim of summer.