Springtime In Florence...With Lunch!

Last week, we made a quick trip to Florence to get some more canvas and art supplies for Johnny. It was an early train, we spent several hours there, then back home before dark.

All I can say is...why can't we do this in California? We'd love to hop a train and be in San Fransisco in an hour and a half! Without a car to hassle with! Ok. Done griping....hehehehe. For now.

Thankfully, it was a beautiful day, and the Spring blooms were well on their way!

I'll let the photos do most of the talking...

Passed by this private garden on our way to a public garden!

Near the Arno River.

We always enjoy a visit to the Giardino Bardini, especially during springtime. Best views ever, and loads of loveliness. A good hike up, up, up...with the reward of Prosecco at the top! What's not to like?

I can never get over the Cercis (Redbud trees) here! They get huge.

We were about a week early for the full blown wisteria display, but it was still impressive.

More wisteria.

Please...is there anything more beautiful?

It was a very nice day...actually warm!

Mr. J looking a bit knackered. 
Lunch is just around the corner, thankfully!

We'd bought the art supplies to pick up later on the way to the train, so all that was left was a late lunch, thank you.

We keep returning to a favorite vegetarian place we discovered way back when. It's still the same, still good and we adore the owners. 5eCinque, for vegetarian and vegan delights. There is no meat, no fish.

This time, we started with a Ligurian focaccia, stuffed with melting cheese. I mean, why not?

Thin, crispy crust that's almost not there, with gooey warm cheese.

I chose corzetti with an almond and marjoram pesto.
It was so great. I want to recreate this pesto. I love marjoram, and you 
don't see it used here much. The pasta itself was perfect, too.

Johnny loves risotto, and this was a classic with saffron.
No chicken broth, though, so maybe not "classic".

Though it was almost too much, we split this artichoke and potato
"polpettone"... hard to describe, but really good!

A scrumptious vegetarian take on meatloaf!
No dessert...just espresso to finish our day.

 I don't think we'll be back to Florence on this trip, but you never know....

Easter Walk

 

Easter Sunday was last weekend. 

Easter is a tough time for me these days, as it was one of my Mom's favorite holidays. We lost Mom last May, and it's been a few years since we've really celebrated Easter in any fashion, really.

When I was young, Mom would always make me an outfit for the Sunday service, and it was a major family day, with grandparents, good food, colored eggs being hidden and found...Easter baskets filled with treats...I think I'll miss Mom the most on Easter.

Anyway, we decided to get out and take in the beauty of the countryside on Easter day. A drive on the backroads to Montepulciano filled the bill. It was a pretty day, though windy, but I didn't want that to stop us.

I made a nice picnic lunch(open faced egg salad on grilled bread!), and we were on our way.

I'm nuts for a good hike up a hill, so we parked down below town, near the big cathedral.

Thanks for putting up with my walks, Johnny!

There were some nice details along the way. 

This is my favorite variety of iris.

I love the iron work. And the texture...

Just a couple of massive stone lions hanging out in someone's garden!

An old, out of control wisteria frames a gorgeous view.

Our only real plan was to get in a good walk, and enjoy a glass of Prosecco.

The old walls around the bottom of town.

We made it to the top of the town.

On our very first visit to Italy,  almost 20 years ago now, we stayed for a week in a wonderful farmhouse just outside of Montepulciano. It featured vegetarian meals and delightful company. 

We will always make a visit back to this hill town, every trip. We've seen it change, for sure, but it's still a special place in our hearts.

Johnny looking very....Johnny!

Our reward for the hike up to town!
I love pretzel letters...

We strolled a bit around town, then headed back to the car. 

The heavy winds we've had make for really clear days, with good views, all around. I'm ready for some warm weather, though...

The car is way down there somewhere.

A sweet chapel along the walk.

Mosaic detail inside the chapel.

Back down to the bottom of that particular hill.

I had a good cry or three, thinking about my Mom. I miss her terribly. Everyday. Knowing how much she loved visiting Italy with Dad makes me happy, though. I can send her some Italian vibes when I'm here, and chat to her about our adventures.

It was a nice day.

Here is a post from 2011 I wrote about Easter, Mom and my thoughts...

Isola Polvese Walkabout

The temperature was nice last week, so we decided to take the boat out to our favorite local island for a walkabout. Always a treat!

Warm and beautiful...

Johnny loves a boat ride.

Leaving the mainland behind! Well, just for a few hours, anyway.

Wheeeeeee!

We have been to this island many times over the years, but not in the past trip. It's a lovely place for a walk, a sip of wine and just a general "shutdown" for an afternoon.

There weren't many folks around, and we felt like we had the place to ourselves.

If there is a castle, we shall visit it. Johnny loves a good castle...and he knows the entire history of most of the local ones!

Me, I love the views...

There has been a lot of work done on restoration here since we last visited. It's great to see this.

The Monastery of San Secondo has really had a facelift. You can walk all around it now. Before, it had fencing all around, as it was in bad shape.

 

Now, you can really explore a bit!

We had to get up close and really check it out. There is a cool underground chamber you can see now.

What's inside?!?

A pretty sweet surprise!

It's a nice hike up to enjoy this, and the views are nice, too.

They've installed a little art installation, too. A nice surprise.

We aren't sure what the story is with this mirror globe, but it's cool.

One of the many views to enjoy along the hike.

I hope we go back again next month when these beauties are in leaf.

Day Trip: Assisi

I'm behind in my bloggy posts, dang it. 

We've been busy enjoying some days of gorgeous weather after a couple of really cold weeks, so it's a big lift to come inside and write! I just want to be outside in the warm Umbrian sunshine.

So, anyway....

Back on April 8, we took a drive to Assisi. We haven't been there in several years. 

The day was super windy, but there were blue skies, so we just went for it.

I'm so glad we did. It was a wonderful day of walking and experiencing amazing views!

We'd never visited the Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli, which is just below Assisi. It houses the original tiny little church that St. Francis of Assisi started his Franciscan Movement, way back when.

It's a massive structure!

This golden angel on top must be at least twenty feet high.

 

We parked down the hill from town, and enjoyed the views as we hiked up.

Of course, we stopped into the main church of St. Francis. the walls and ceilings are covered in beautiful frescoes by several artists, including Giotto, one of Johnny's favorites.

We've been here before a couple of times, but it still thrills the eyes!

I love this statue/sculpture...

Another first for us was to climb up, up, up the hill to stand in front of the Rocca Maggiore...a huge castle keep way at the top of the world!

We sure got a work out climbing the stairs.

Again, the views were outstanding as we trudged uphill.

We came across some lovely sights along the way...

Wallflowers in their natural element!

We were disappointed that we weren't able to go inside, but it was still a great hike, and at least there was a small bar at the top. We had a little break, and enjoyed the views.

It was wicked windy!! 

We walked all around the Rocca, then headed back down the hill for a rest and a small bite to eat. It was a really fun day.

Exhausted, but content.