3 hours before our flight? Sure! I'll have a chardonnay!
Nancy crams before the final exam...
Welcome to Italy! Here is your balcony.
No comment.
Along the path of tranquility, "walls are in the mind."
Are you sure? This looks like a wall to me.
This begins my facination with Italian door brass.
Not even the dark cloud over Nancy's head can dampen her spirits.
Looking back at Isola San Giulio from our water taxi.
Exploring the streets of Orta San Giulio.
The blessed virgin: IN 3-D!!
Looking back at Lago d'Orta.
Taking a break along the streets of Orta San Giulio.
Looking down on Isola San Giulio from the top of Sacro Monte.
Ahhhh. Nothing says "man in Italy" like eating most of a picnic lunch.
Isola San Giulio at night from our balcony.
Hanging out at Villa Balbianello before our tour.
Here's where we came onto the island.
The grounds at Villa Balbianello are immaculate.
The bell towers for the mission are a facade. It's really the kitchen now.
Villa Balbianello on Lago di Como
The Jazz Caffe in Orta San Giulio was a perfect last dinner there.
One of a bazzillion cheese & salumi carts at a market (poss. in Gozzano).
This was the best fresh seafood we saw in Italy.
Fresh pasta makes us wish we had a place to cook it.
Castello di Sinio's courtyard frames Nancy nicely.
Nicola! Our new friend in La Morra helped us out with food and wine tremendously.
Just a glimpse of the majesty of Barolo.
Hey there's a bar this way? Let's go!!
An impressive display of historical bottles in the commune of Barolo.
Castello di Seralunga and its wildlife. All of it.
We're king and queen of the hill in Seralunga (mostly 'cause there's no one here).
3 of 6 animals in Seralunga. (8, if you count Nancy and I).
Quail at Ristorante Bovio in La Morra.
TRUFFLES!!!! (at a shop in Alba) That beige nugget on the right was 27 Euros
Nancy models the foccacia pizza. Lookin' good!
Chris chows down on some foccacia rustica.
No bra over 70? You might want to think that....
The nebbiolo grape.
One of a few bottles we got.
Carlo Revello. Maybe it's the shirt, but he should be sailing.
Renato and Liliana Corino.
One of 6 or 15 courses at Nonna Genia (depending on how you count)
The unused pool at Castello di Sinio
Karen and Vincent from Florida take a picture with us.
Camogli (before the inclement weather)
Camogli (nearing the end of inclement weather)
Julio Iglesias serves us wine at Cantina della Bossa in Camogli.
Genovese pesto on trofie (a local pasta)
A typical breakfast for us in Italy. This one at Villa Pagoda in Nervi.
11AM: Nancy eyes more snacks as she eats her orange ice cream dipped in chocolate.
What? I didn't order this! *You* wanted it!
Enjoying the seaside at Monterosso
Enjoying the shopping at Monterosso
Colorful contrasts
Manarola from afar
Nancy takes a break from eating & shopping in Manarola
Ah, it's raining. It must be hot chocolate time.
The sun starts to set on Corniglia
We have to walk down how many steps to get to the train?? 382.
Self portrait time at the Corniglia train station.
Nancy admires the view of Villa Pagoda.
Donuts. Is there anything they *can't* do?
Nancy strikes a pose on the path to Castello Brown in Portofino.
Portofino from Castello Brown.
Nancy and her $40 belini. (It was probably worth it).
A casual lunch on the water in Portofino
Ahhh shoes. Nancy enjoys herself at a little piece of heaven in Lucca.
Italian Krispy Kreme.
When it comes to leather, Nancy doesn't discriminate form, only quality.
Happy 150th birthday, Giacomo Puccini!!
The facade of San Michele in Foro in Lucca
Gelato, shopping and cute displays. Lucca is perfection for Nancy!
Piazza dell'Anfiteatro in Lucca. It's mighty large for a small town.
Chris explores the city walls in Lucca
Nancy rides along the city wall in Lucca
Buca di San Antonio in Lucca is older than the US. It's given them time to perfect the spit-roasted goat. Yum!
The inside of the duomo in Firenze (Florence)
The bell tower of the duomo in Firenze.
The side of the duomo. It's rather large (if you can't tell).
Please! Be gentle!
The view of the duomo from the bell tower.
If you rub the boar's nose, you'll get good luck...or return to Florence (that would be lucky).
Perseus holding Medusa's head on high.
The ponte vecchio must smell so much nicer now that it's all jewelry shops.
An impressive gelato display does not persuade us. We're saving ourselves for dinner.
Nancy tries to confirm our "reservation" at Il Latina in Firenze
Good GAWD! Look at this T-bone steak!
I'm so glad we split it. I can't possibly eat another bite...
...oh! There's dessert? ^_^
...and drinks!
You can't write me up, I'm writing you up!
First pizza in Rome.
Fresh produce (zucchini blossoms) in Campo dei Fiori
Sexy, sexy figs.
A bite of Sicilian canoli for breakfast.
The dome and oculus of the Pantheon is incredible
Sexy, sexy figs.
The side of the Pantheon at night.
Piazza della Rotonda at night.
Cooking up our bounty of vegetables from the market for dinner.
Nancy enjoys a homemade bellini
One of the fountains at Piazza Navona
A bridge over the Tiber River
Trevi Fountain at night (I don't think it's ever not crowded)
Some handsome chap inside the vatican. (Looks like medusa got to him first)
Nancy swooning with a god.
Amazing detail on the ceilings of the vatican museums
...and such vibrand color
The Gallery of Maps is impressive (maybe moreso than the Cistine Chapel)
We had to snap a pic of Ancient Lvcca.
Geez... this guy's *everywhere* in this place!
St. Peter gets rescued by an angel
Let this be a reminder about the importance of seatbelts
The marblework is impressive down to the smallest details
I've got two words for you: or-nate
The vatican has the worst food in Italy, but the wine was decent.
Visitors are subject to the coriolis effect upon exiting
A view of the Roman Forum from the top
Nancy takes a moment to enjoy the breeze
These feet have done a lot of walking lately...
Nancy squeezes off a few rounds of digital film at the Coloseum
The Coloseum from the "ground" level. (Imagine everyone cheering for you!)
Best Pizza in Rome: Fiori di zucchi @ Pizzeria Ai Marmi
Guess what size I wear...
Probably the nicest "shop" owners we met in Rome. They were so helpful.
Pumpkin by the slice (if you want it)
Fresh fish (you can just make out the styrofoam on the tip of the sword
Best Gelato (in Italy, if not the world): San Crispino
Our tribute to Italy (shot upside-down)
Part of our last dinner in Rome: Frisee salad with Pancetta, Poached Egg & Balsamic
Last meal in Rome before the train: leftovers!
One of many, many courses in Sorrento: Baked Muscles (excellent!)
Positano on the walk down
All that walking makes a person thristy, ya know...
Chris pauses to reflect on the merits of beer
Glancing back at Positano as we take the ferry back to Sorrento
Self-portrait time!
Nancy chillin' with Vesuvius (Vesvvivs <-- This is probably why we have 'u' instead of 'v' now)
Chris sprouts more horns after his negroni
Hmm... what should I have now?
One of our "appetizers" at Il Bufalito in Sorrento: 5 types of mozzerella de buffa
The island of Capri from the town of Capri
The arco naturale is much better than the nearby grotto
The Mediterranean is amazingly blue and calm
What?! Another picture of me? Come on... you have enough!
Enjoying the sea breeze after a long hike
Smart lady at the end of a long hike
Happy suckers at the end of a long hike
Nothing says "Arrividerci Capri" like a beer on a ferry
Pasta with zucchini from our last meal in Sorrento
I'm not putting butter on anything, if that's what you're thinking...
This guy *rocked* the mandolin
The long flight back
Thanks for looking at our photos!!
