Duvet Day in Vreeland Netherlands

While in Como Italy I met an English woman, Scottish by birth. We chatted and enjoyed a refreshment while sitting at the Cafe of Villa Carlotta. Discussing the need for down time, even on vacation, those days where you just stay in bed and read a fluffy novel or watch the last 15 minutes of the BBC's North and South over and over again, she said, "we call those duvet days".

Here I am in the Netherlands about 30 minutes outside Amsterdam and I'm proclaiming today a Duvet Day! Just a glance at these photos from our houseboat and you'll understand why.

A look out the back door to the left

A look to the right

Another houseboat in the area

I planted myself right here today. Enjoying my new favorite cookie. It's buttery and soft on the outside with a mild almond paste on the inside.

And indulged in one of my favorite pass-times flipping through home decor magazines. I was giddy when I saw the stacks on the shelf in the living area.

So the views from the houseboat are from the back looking toward a bird sanctuary. The only sounds are of the water lapping against the house, wind blowing through the brush and trees, squabbling geese, ducks and storks, an occasional boat and neighborly chatter. But, if you're looking for a change in scenery just go out the front door and across the lane. Can't go wrong either way.

Happy Duvet Day!

Positively Perfect in Portovenere

First of all I got to take a boat. But not one of these.

And the port is charming.

Sitting at a boardwalk cafe you are just 20 yards from the water.

My airbnb.com host recommended I visit. He likes Portovenere better than Cinque Terre and within 30 minutes I completely agree.

Church of San Petro

Shopping in windy little streets.

My new favorite shop for a tasty apple and piece of bread to go with

Pesto from this shop (the one on the left with the tray of basil in the window). One taste and it was all over. I've never had pesto his good. Really! (I'm beginning to wonder if all of the flavors are just enhanced by the scenery or if everything really is that much better)

It's official: Portovenere is on my "I will return here someday" list.

The Hills are Alive...

Announcing the world premier of

Look forward to their new single inspired by the sights, sounds and tastes of the Rhine.

Including hilltop performances...

storming the castle and gnomes on phones.

Recorded live on location in St. Goar, Bacharach and Oberwessel Germany.

The Gelato Awards

Taking a tour of the gelato museum in Bologna at Carpigiani University I learned that sorbetto is Arab in origin and was used for medicinal purposes. Or as our tour guide said for "eating therapy"!

So let the eating therapy awards begin

CATEGORIES 1 &2

Most Aesthetically Pleasing and The place I most dream of returning to 

WINNER: CREMIA in Parma

FLAVORS: Amarena and something creamy and caramelly 
These girls have turned gelato serving into an art. Perfectly swirled. 

CATEGORY 3

The Best 2 Gelato Day (yes, this happened more than once)

WINNER 1: LA SORBETTERIA in Bologna
Flavors: Michaelangelo and grapefruit

WINNER 2: IL GELATAURO in Bologna

Flavors: Almond and Kiwi

2 gelaterias, 2 friends (having a fabulous time with my new friend Rebeca, she's an exchange student from Canada studying at Bologna University).

CATEGORY 4

Favorite Overall Flavor

WINNER: GELATERIA GIANNI in Bologna
Flavor: 2 Febbraio (chocolate hazelnut gelato with Nutella sauce and hazelnut sauce and cookie pieces)

Closeup of 2 Febbraio (see lower flavor)

 

CATEGORY 5

Best View while Eating Gelato

WINNER: near Basilica di Santa Maria Novella in Firenze

Insert giant round of applause for all the gelato in Italy

My judging qualifications: much experience eating gelato and recent GELATO CLASS attendance. Which I probably should have failed because I put too much water in our Strawberry Sorbetto. 

By the way...pretty pans of gelato should look like this 

As opposed to this 

Team Fraugula left to right:Francois, Celine, me and Marcato our instructor.

Lake Como in Bloom

Today I caught a ride with my B&B hostess and 2 of her friends as they were on their way to a B&B convention. They spoke primarily in Italian and my hostess would give me updates on each new topic in English. They chatted primarily about flowers. I heard tuber, magnolia, rossa, bianca. At one point they all laughed heartily and then Annamaria explained. When her girlfriend--in the backseat--goes to the market, her husband reminds her, "we are going to the market for groceries not for flowers" to which Annamaria shared "my husband says the same thing to me!"

So this post is dedicated to all the flower lovers out there and those that support them.

A hedge of yellow Blooms on the hike up to my B&B in Mandello del Lario.

No flowers yet, but I think that will be wisteria when it blooms. Who wouldn't want to work on their jump shot?

Villa decorated with flowers Mandello del Lario.

A gigantic magnolia tree and a rhododendron at Villa Carlotta.

Oranges, camellias and snapdragons (I think) at Villa Carlotta. Bellagio is to the left across the lake and to the right is Villa Melzi.

Magnolia close up in Varenna.

Looking at the Pansies makes my missoltini a bit more palatable.

Flowers cascade out of drainage holes along the walkway by the water in Varenna, I promise.

 More camellias during a walk along the lake in Como.

Window boxes in Bellagio.

Postcards Wanted?

My dear friend Rachel has given me her own list of "adventure to dos" and if you know Rachel or read her blog rachelsaysso.blogspot.com you know the list is a winner, sure to inspire laughter.

On the list I'm supposed to ring a cow's bell in Switzerland, ask old couples holding hands their secret to love and send her a postcard from the first city I visit in Italy. Having recently conquered the Italian post office, which was hilarious, she should be getting her postcard soon.

And I thought: what a great idea Rachel (she's full of them)...

So if YOU would like a postcard from Europe email me your address and I will do my best to send one your way. Just a little "thank you" for reading along in my journey.

Cinque Terre

Yesterday was my designated Cinque Terre day, those 5 little cliff hugging towns along the northwest coast of Italy. But the weather and a train/bus strike tried to thwart my plans for some sightseeing. No boats were running due to the rough sea. So sad. All the buses stopped running just when I thought "well ok I'll go visit another town". A train worker was totally unhelpful.

The highlight of the morning: walking by a little Tabbacceri, a convenience store of sorts, just as my umbrella lost 3 more corners. I looked down to see umbrellas for sale. I must have had quite the look on my face because the shop owner laughed and then helped me pick out a new one. I'm calling this one The Silver Bullet. Because I think if I name it it will stick with me. You see, I'm on my 4th umbrella in 2 weeks. #1 lost #2 stolen #3 a lemon #4 The Silver Bullet.

So after a little regroup session I jumped on the train to Cinque Terre, or for me Due Terre because I was perfectly happy to hit 2 of the towns after the soggy events of the morning.

Riomaggiore

This is the second time in 2 days I have seen a full set of Snow White and the seven dwarves statues displayed outside a home. Someone please explain.

I really am quite speechless as I climb the stairs and get lost in the labyrinth of paths through this town. It seemed I was completely alone here at times and then WHAM I would hit a german tour group.

 

Vernazza

Check out the super secret boat passage. Argh!

That red flag means dangerous sea today.

I really did stand and gawk, weather permitting, quite a bit.