ITALY ------ YIIPEEEE

I started the idea and then the plan began by the end of 2012 for this trip to Italy. We were last there in 2011. You know I have to have my Italian Fix.... so the planning had to fill in the time til Sept 16 2013. For the first time, we rented a Villa in Umbria, well sort of on the line of Tuscany. We, and three other couples that had traveled Italy before and the Kingery's, who had come over every year while we lived there, made it fun to plan. Since we wanted to be in one place and do some day trips made it easy. We were near Cortona (we went there a couple times) so we could do Siena, Montepulciano, Deruta, Assisi, and visit the local wineries. Fabulous......mmmm good. The visit to Castiglione del Lago, on Lago Trasimeno was a highlight cuz our friends (Americans) live there and we could visit them and I wanted to introduce the group to the locals, including a couple of our favorite restaurants and the perfect place to buy cheese, truffles, oiive wood items, and wine, of course. Oh, and special Balsamico with truffles, cheese with truffles, and honey with truffles......just a hint of the flavor.... oh, just talking about makes my mouth water. The Villa was up on the hillside, via an awful rocky and bumpy road......however, it was worth it. The rustic Villa and the view of the lake was very nice.

 

 We stayed in Formia, where we used to live for few days before heading north to the Villa. Below is our favorite beach restaurant where we eat 'cozzi' (Muscles). With the owner, Signore Rocco.

 

 Sperlonga there on the cliff, the background from our restaurant.

 

 This is the beach in front of where we lived. Gaeta in the view across the bay.

 Bob and friend and neighbor there, Joe. Below is the main street of Formia and one of our favorite cappuccino bars.