Rome, Italy Week Two

Week two started off nice and slow with three nights on the Adriatic at Torre Maizza. 

Taking Mr. Porter to the Sea!

Breakfast!

AHHH The Beach!

Lunch at the Beach Club

Madelaine's Bday... Had to get GELATO!!!

Fasano for dinner at the Pizzeria for Maddy's Bday... Her choice!

Walking around Fasano

Our Wood fired Pizza! Happy Birthday Madelaine! <3

Off to Rome!!! The last three nights of our trip were spent at the Portrait Suites... WOW!

Roberto showing us around the Rooftop Terrace overlooking Rome

A visit to the Vatican

Kids re-filling their waters

The Spanish Steps at Night... right at the end of our street!

Trevi Fountain

A little shopping.......  HA!!!

View from our balcony looking up to the Spanish Steps

This one man band... playing Beatles songs... he was awesome!!!

Maddy and Horses.... :)

The Vatican Museum

The Vatican

St Peters Square

Took way too many pictures here!

The Pope's Balcony is in the middle there...

Rome Sunset view from our Terrace

Roman Forum

The Forum

The Colleseum

The Tiber

Maddy throwing in a penny and tasting the fountain water :)

 Ciao Roma!! Can't wait to come back! Hopefully it won't be too long!

Italy Puglia... Week One Backroads

      I consider myself one of the luckiest people on the PLANET!!! I had the opportunity to be taken on a family trip to Italy specifically the Puglia Region for the last two weeks of the summer.  It's funny every time I go to another country there are always the worries... will I understand the menu's?? the street signs?? (notice the food came first) :D I can honestly say I would LOVE to go back!!!!

Puglia is a region where the "commercial" side has not taken over.  It is rather rural and quiet. We spent the first three nights at a Masseria called Borgo Bianco.  I think the other "spa" guests were shocked by the noisy Canadians!  Yes, we always like to have fun! Here we are the first night meeting our guides at our big family dinner. Yes, the chef came out and talked with us about the meal he was preparing for us...... This was probably my favorite night of the trip! Great times with family, lots of laughs and wine :)    Below that a pic of the resort.

a little pre-dinner snack!

Above, all of us just before our first ride.   We were signed up for a bicycling trip the first week through a company called Backroads.  They take you through the back roads of a particular region where you get to meet many locals and taste some great local cuisine!

Fresh figs right off the tree! 

Below: Lisa chatting with a local at one of our bike stops.

Paolo picking almonds.

Here we are learning how to make Mozarella!

this is an olive wheel... 1st step in making olive oil! MMMMM :D

Bobby and his Mom on the tandem... even Grandma rode!!

Caterina talking with a local :)

Town stop, got some Gelato and went down to the Adriatic to get wet before riding on!

taking a peek in the "old town" centre

Literally water fountains everywhere... you need a drink, they are all fresh water! 

down through the corridors to the lookout.

me and my Bobby

a group of Italian boys blocking the sidewalk playing soccer!

Madelaine.... or just her arms...  ;)

Some neat Trulo

Visiting the Truli Village

our AmAzing lunch inside a Trulo prepared by Caterina!

Stopping for a Frappe!

The "Cups" song while waiting in line with a girl from England... apparently it's International!

Heading down into the Grotte

Yes Bob... that is the road... see all of us going UP that hill!!

Made it!

Little Monkies in the van spraying us as they drove past!!

Me and my son, quick stop to look at the view... yes, that town in the background is where we are headed!

It's ALWAYS time for a PROSECO!!!

Another Masseria for dinner.

Some crazy HUGE Olive trees!

Our three WONDERFUL Guides!!! 

Making Gnocchi and Orechette in a cave under the Masseria with a Nonna directing us!! 

The Boyz... all cool in their aprons!

MMM Potatoes... Me and Caterina.... my partner in crime!! :D

our dinner

Masseria Courtyard under the stars!

Locals signing their traditional music!

and we DANCED!!!

And the Bicycle portion was done... What a great first week!! <3