We have just got home from our month away, tired but full of sights, sounds and experiences. And none more spectacular than the lakes of Plitvice National Park in Croatia. They are jaw-droppingly beautiful. We had thought we would do the smallest circuit of a couple of hours walk but ended up doing four and a half hours because we couldn't get enough of the incredible colours and clarity of the waters as well as the simple beauty of the wilderness. But it was only wilderness in the sense that it was pretty much unspoilt except for the paths and the mass of people who come to enjoy the park every day - over one million visit every year. The further away from the starting point we got, the less people there were but at times it was busier than rush hour in a major city as you will see in my video below. The park is on the register of Unesco World Heritage sites and covers 296.85 square kilometres with 16 lakes all interlinked with cascades. Bear, lynx and wolves abound and the … [Read more...] about Plitvice National Park
Travel
An Extraordinary Place to have Your Ashes Scattered
We have been in the Dolomites in Italy for three days now and today we went to see where Adriano's mother's ashes were scattered when she died not long ago. She has been laid to rest in a stunning place called Val Corpassa. There is no way that a soul wouldn't find peace there. Each summer, when the temperatures in Rimini got too unbearable, she would go into the Dolomites for some relief and to return to the place of her upbringing. Now she has gone full circle and returned forever. I have made a little video to show you the place, and you will also get a couple of shots at the end of where we have been resting our heads in Zoldo Alto. Please don't expect too much from the video - I am still learning how to do this type of filming. … [Read more...] about An Extraordinary Place to have Your Ashes Scattered
Our Italian Meals
So far, so good with my meals in Italy. I have had no issues at all but I do make my needs clear in advance and everyone - restaurants and family - have been very accommodating. I am very glad I have no problems with lactose though - all those delicious ice creams. However, I do have to go easy because of the sugar content. I am also able to eat a certain amount of wheat but not every day or the constipation starts to play up. Here are some photos to make you feel you are eating in Italy with me. … [Read more...] about Our Italian Meals
Casa Raia Part 2 – the nooks and crannies
I thought you may like a few more photos of Casa Raia. I have photographed lots of interesting corners and nooks, which give an idea of the atmosphere and amazing detail in this villa. Enjoy! … [Read more...] about Casa Raia Part 2 – the nooks and crannies
Casa Raia – our beautiful Tuscan home for a week
This is the splendid villa we are staying at in Tuscany near Montalcino. It was originally a farmhouse with the animals living in the stalls on the ground floor with the family living above. It is now fully restored and renovated into a 4 bedroom home with all the expected features of stone walls and brick floors. The terrible temperatures of our first day here have disappeared to leave the days balmy and pleasant - thank goodness. Last night we all (me, husband, son, sister, her husband and son) ate out at a good restaurant in the centre of Montalcino. I directly asked the owner/waiter what he could offer me while taking my Fodmap restrictions into a account and he brought me guinea fowl cooked in a lemon sauce with spinach. It was delicious. I have a client who is in Sardinia at the moment and she was struggling so I told her to ask the hotel about gluten-free food and they are now making her special gluten-free bread rolls on demand. It always pays to be direct and to explain … [Read more...] about Casa Raia – our beautiful Tuscan home for a week
An Intensive Road Trip – Amsterdam, Cologne, Luxembourg, Reims, Paris, Bruges
After the cruise, we took a plane to Amsterdam where we picked up a car and set off on a whirlwind road trip. We were told the car had no GPS so we struggled with maps until after Luxembourg when I found by chance that a GPS had indeed been installed. After a few false starts when Adriano thought he knew better than the GPS, we floated along with the horrendous navigation part of the journey taken care of. I had thought that my head was never going to be lifted from a map and the relief was enormous. She did put us wrong a couple of times including having no idea where she was when we got to the airport area of Amsterdam. She took us 20 kilometers to get to the hotel which was a few kilometers away, and even then, we had to disregard her and take over. But apart from that, she made life a breeze, especially in heavily built up areas like Paris. I don't think I could ever have got us to our hotel there without a divorce. Here are a few highlights of the trip. I have been to Paris a … [Read more...] about An Intensive Road Trip – Amsterdam, Cologne, Luxembourg, Reims, Paris, Bruges