Return to Normalcy

So, I had a talk with "this man." As it turns out, Brian has been here all along. He still thinks the taste of coffee is bitter and he does NOT like it. I was rather shaken by the apparent radical shift of my reality, but life has returned to normal. Just wanted you all to know!

We are wrapping up our time in Europe. It's been a glorious trip without a doubt. Madrid has some amazing sites, buildings and lots of people! Although, now is the time for us to return - perhaps to normalcy, but I question if we ever were really in that state! In any case we're homeward bound.

Just in Case

For those of you who might need an updated photo to recognize Brian, I've included a couple to help you out. I'm still not sure where he is and perhaps you'll understand why after looking at the pictures! So thanks for keeping an eye out for him.

one of my favorites!

What Happened?!

I think somehow there must have been a switch at the Basel airport. I'm not sure who I'm traveling with anymore! Or, in other words, who is this man and what have you done with my husband?!

For the last 2 mornings "this man" has been taking sips off my morning coffee!! If you know Brian then you know this person can't be my husband! The one who can't even stand the smell of coffee, let alone drink it. (I married him anyway!) So if Brian arrives home before me because he got on a different plane, let him know I'm OK and looking forward to seeing him again! :)

Time is Flying!

Switzerland has come and gone. :( It was a very full time, filled with wonderful people, conversations and more delectable food. There was no time to write, or maybe I should say there was no room to write! My head and heart were too full to get anything down on paper. It was a great time of introducing Brian and getting caught up on the lives of my friends there. It had been 4 years since I was last there and we all just seemed to pick up where we left off! I love that!! I'm still processing much of our time in that gorgeous country and enjoying the 'flashbacks' of sites, sounds, faces and snippets of conversations.

We arrived in Madrid at 12:30 AM last night. Neither Brian or I have been to Madrid before so it held a different kind of excitement than all the other places. As we were driving in to town, in the dark, I remember thinking that it was difficult to have any first impressions – couldn't see much!! Like most cities, the airport is a bit out of town. However, there was no mistaking it when we truly arrived in the city. And oh my gosh, all the people! It was one o'clock in the morning and EVERYBODY (so it seemed) was still out and about. I thought Rome had a nightlife!! Madrid is something else! It will be fun and interesting to explore this city and see what it holds. Already I've had a great pastry treat! :) Yes, it appears I'm eating my way through Europe! :)

So Many Things

So many days of sunshine, wearing my sunglasses, enjoying a breeze when it comes. Where do we go today? Or do we just enjoy our spacious terrace, being apart of this small village? Naturally, there were excursions! We visited 3 different port cities of various sizes, each with their own unique flair. It's amazing to see how they have built these cities. The houses are all on top of each other, stacked up the hillside clinging to the rock. Great photo opts but no shot really does it justice. Due to the weather and a lust for more, we were compelled to try the gelato in each place! Comparison 'shopping' is important. Actually, Rome wins, the place on the Pantheon square. :)

Then, there was the day on the boat, a wonderful day. So many sites to drink in, caves to swim in and, of course, photos to take! This fine day stretched on not because it was something to be endured but rather because it was so glorious in fun, food, laughter, sun and warm water. Did I mention food? The day culminated in a grand feast. It was described as a 3 course meal with local wine. Well, in all honesty I think it was closer to 8 courses. (My heart and stomach want to say it was 16 courses so I've consciously cut that in half to be realistic!) The clean plates for the next course just kept coming (and our wine glasses were not allowed to be empty)! For at LEAST 3 of those clean plates I figured it had to be dessert – but NO!! Something else delectable was placed before us. I don't remember eating so much for a VERY long time. This was like being in the house of an Italian that loves to cook. It was a full-body experience in many ways!! (Sigh)

WOW

Not much time left on our internet connection but... I had to say what a wonderful day on the Mediterranean we had yesterday!! So fine and what food as well. More later!! :)

A Pizza a Day...

...helps keep the waistline away!!

It's all very tasty but...enough said! :)

Not the Typical

As I find myself on the terrace content just to soak up the sites and sounds around me while reading occasionally from my book, I feel compelled to believe I'm not a typical tourist. I don't enjoy tours, visiting museum after museum, or a planned schedule of events that maximizes the tourist sites. Now, for example, I did go to the Vatican museum in Rome and St. Peter's – wouldn't have missed it for the world, even though it was my second time! But it was on my terms and at my pace. On the other hand, I also feel that relaxing at a cafe in the afternoon with an iced coffee (in Europe that usually means with ice cream! Yummy!) is as much about the culture as visiting sites. I love people watching and drinking in the pace of life.

We are on the Amalfi coast now for 2 weeks. So far we've done only one excursion to Sorrento. We took a boat there, making a stop at the island of Capri, and rode the bus back over the mountains. Each mode of transportation giving a unique experience and showing us different views. Sorrento is probably the biggest city on this piece of land that juts out into the Mediterranean. We enjoyed the shopping and energy of the bigger city.

Otherwise we have just explored on foot our little village of Praiano and enjoyed our wonderful terrace. While lounging on the terrace, about mid hill from the sea, I overlook the Mediterranean, watch some windsurfers and see the fishing boats and transportation boats come and go. I look at the houses around and see how they've decorated their patios, marvel at the vast differences in construction techniques and listen to scooters (the preferred mode of travel – easier to park!), delivery trucks (miniscule in comparison to ours) and the foreshortened buses as they go by periodically. Of course, I can't forget the church bells that peel their happy song (in my opinion) at indeterminate times! Even with the occasional rumblings and/or clanging bells it is peaceful and relaxing.

There are a few more places we will venture out to but there is no rush. Pompeii, water caves by Amalfi and Positano are on the list of possibilities and maybe some others. This is an awesome trip and as my mother would say, “Whatever you do, it's all gravy!” Praiano, I think, is designed to slow the pace down. So I'm embracing that! I'm even letting go in regard to the vanity I have about my hair!! :) I'm on vacation, after all!  

A Glimpse of Praiano

From our Terrace

Also from our Terrace

Twists and Turns

The title says it all when it comes to life on the Amalfi Coast. There are a few places along the coast that allow for a traditional beach setting, but by and large cliffs rise out of the sea. Streets and houses alike cling to the the rocky surfaces providing magnificent views.

Atrani - just one example, more to come!

We had a very full and exhausting travel day on Saturday. Exiting our apartment in Rome we found a taxi right at our doorstep even though we hadn't called for one! Piling in, we headed for the train station eager for our 2.5 hour ride to Salerno. I love train travel in Europe. You can see so much from a relatively comfortable seat – parts you'd never see otherwise, catching glimpses into the lives of those along the way. After arriving in Salerno we easily found the port and the boat we would take to Amalfi. All was going without a hitch! The boat ride was cool and satisfying just knowing I was on the Mediterranean Sea, plus the picturesque towns along the way, nestled between cliffs.

Once in Amalfi we were unable to catch the first bus because it was too crowded. Oh well – sit down and have a gelato!! Those are just the burdens to bear due to travel. :) We caught the next bus, told the bus driver the name of the stop we wanted and settled in for the ride. Certainly a lot of twists and turns on this bus route. The driver was less than helpful. He never called out any stop names, and when we finally pressed the stop button, ran to the front and made him open the door to talk to him, we find out our bus stop was 5 minutes ago!! Well, our hosts found us (no car) and we had a LONG way to walk (UPHILL) to get to our place. We're not sure that any stop we would have gotten off at would have provided an easy way. As I said before the houses cling to the cliffs, streets zig-zag up the hills or stairs are available which constitute 6 stories or so before reaching a street to cross and then more steps!

Traveling is an adventure. This is one of those stories to tell and as time goes by the temperature will be hotter, the way even longer and the uphill road will basically be like rock climbing with our suitcases strapped to our backs. (Actually Brian had both of the suitcases strapped to his back – my hero!!) After resting, we are enjoying the place thoroughly!

Further South

Well, tomorrow I go further south than I've ever been before. In Italy that is! We are off to the Amalfi coast. My posting could be a bit more sporadic as we will have no internet at our place. But please stay tuned, I will find a way!!

Chalk up another one!

Oh, the culinary pleasures of traveling! It is quite warm in Rome; so what is called for in the afternoon? A very simple but delightful cup of frozen coffee. It's not ice cream but scoopable - 2 scoops even, with a portion of whipped cream on the bottom and the top, served with a spoon. Yummy, refreshing and rejuvenating!! :) The many delectable forms of coffee just keep coming!

Rome has a delight and/or surprise around every corner, it seems, and sooo much history! Naturally, I revel in the architecture both grande and vernacular. My camera is drawn to the magnificent structures and street scenes. (Just a few pics!)

Street scenes above

Interior of the Pantheon

Pantheon at night

Last night we went out for a walk to enjoy the sites all lit up in their finest! At night the city and it's monuments have a very different atmosphere. Rome is warm, inviting and decidedly social! The city starts to come alive at about eight. After dinner one night, around 9:00 we were treated to a shot of Limoncello. A delicious lemon liquor originating from Italy. Again yummy! Also, it was very warm and inviting of them!! So we've had tequila in Mexico, plum vodka in Poland and now Limoncello in Italy - all freebies even! Do we look like lushes? :P
At any rate, we are enjoying the "flavor" of Italy in so many ways.