Viva Roma!

Rome. Roma. The Eternal City. Capital of the World. Threshold of the Apostles. The center of Western civilization. The seat of the Catholic Church. It is modern and cosmopolitan, it is Renaissance and Baroque, and it is very, very ancient. It is a city where men look as if they were born in an Armani suit and women in 4 inch heels. Rome.

We had 2 days in Rome. Two exhausting days that started at sunrise to capture the morning light and ended late at night with a belly full of Rome's best cuisine. Zipping around the cobblestone streets on vespas during the day, I had all the Palazzos, Piazzas, Parcos and pizza I could handle. Rome was a city of images and sounds, and all were vivid and all very, very unforgettable.

Tuscany = Best Wine in the World!

The Tuscan landscape looks just like a Renaissance painting with rolling hills of grass, walled castle villages, cypress trees, olive groves, and the famous vineyards of chianti and brunello.The area around Montalcino and Montepulciano is especially appealing, and, as much as I shy away from tourist scenes, I have to admit that I was drawn to this one. Ask me again in high tourist season next month and I may have a different opinion!

Le Camicie is perched on the side of a Tuscan hill amidst the rows of lush vines thriving in the red soil. A restored farmhouse, Le Camicie was renovated with all the modern conveniences. The bathrooms are exquisite, the tall, rafted ceilings thoughout give it a bright, open feeling. I only wish we had more windows to see the incredible 180 degree views of the valley!

Wandering around the property, we met Fosco, a man of 82 years, still working the vines as if he were a 40 year old. He shared with us his life, one that consisted of days spent working the vines, eating lots of olive oil, a little wine and the love of a good woman. This must be the secret to youth!

Pisa DOES Lean!

The tower really is leaning. So much so that it catches you off guard and you find yourself checking from all angles. I don't think it fits into our small box of what we find comfortable... I mean, the tower is leaning! No building should be leaning. So as much as we enjoy marveling over it, we also enjoying leaving it, so we can get back to our comfort zone of regular, straight buildings that don't look as if they are about to tip over.

Cabbiavoli Castle, Chianti

Situated prominently on a Tuscan hilltop amidst the rolling, vine and olive tree strewn hills around the town of Castelfiorentino lies the astonishingly beautiful Cabbiavoli Castle. This typically grand, Florentine-style residential complex comprises a main building with a Baroque façade where the living quarters are located, flanked by a tall medieval brick tower on one side and a little chapel dating to the 13th century on the other. There is an air of mystery and intriguing history with secret passages and crypts where several owners of Cabbiavoli are buried. Changing hands of Counts, Lords and Marquis, over 10 renowned families have inhabited the villa. Used as a summer home for the Puccini family, Ginevra, now the current owner, decided to undertake major renovations in 1996, making the villa more grandiose than ever, yet maintaining its Tuscan charm. Since then, many of the rich and famous have made it their favorite holiday home, including the likes of Julia Roberts who flew in her favorite photographer and relocated her ‘In Style’ photo shoot to the Cabbiavoli Castle.

Ginevra Puccioni Pepere continues to restore additional farm buildings on the property, all built on a hillock overlooking the picturesque Tuscan countryside. ‘Agriturismo’, or farm holidays, in Tuscany is a booming business. The idea of staying in a villa surrounded by olive groves and vineyards sounds like the perfect holiday to me!

It's a New Year!

It’s the beginning of a new year, and what does that mean? Well, in my book, a new year signifies a new beginning. A friend of mine has a tradition where he writes down things from the previous year that they want to let go of: bad experiences, relationships, negative emotions, and then they fold the paper into a boat, light the tip on fire, and sail it in the ocean. Not only is it a symbolic release, but in letting go of the past, it helps us to look forward. I’ve always thought goal setting is so important. How else can this universe conspire to give you what you want if you don’t ask for it? And…. a little hard work helps, too! So, if you haven’t already, take 5 minutes to sit and write down (yes, write it down!) your goals for the year, relating to career and finances, health, love and relationships, spirituality and whatever else you desire. Be honest, be realistic and aim high!
I was recently in Sydney, Melbourne and the best part... a road trip along the Great Ocean Road. Wow! The landscape was spectacular! Rugged, red cliffs, pasture that went on forever, and historic villages on the shores carved by wild seas and fierce winds. It was a photographer’s dream...

These are bathing boxes in Brighton Beach, Melbourne, that were built in the 40's for people spending the day at the beach. They are now heritage listed and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to own one.

The Opera House cost $102 million to build. It was 10 years behind schedule and $95 million over-budget.

The Great Ocean Road stretches over 300km with some of the most spectacular coastal regions with huge cliffs, raging surf, tranquil bays, lush rainforests and fascinating wildlife.

Formed over thousands of years by the action of the sea, only eight of the original 12 Apostles remain.