Beautiful trip! And what a hilarious experience being hand-delivered over the gate by burly German tourists! Italy never fails to surprise a traveller with some bizarre snafu, and then an equally bizarre work-around!!
Terrifying! Tooooo much water AAACK! Pictures are more than enough. Breathing heavily.
Give me corn fields and oaks and maples, and no loose water for a good 10 miles down the hill to the Kankakee river. Dry is good. Not falling into the wet is good. NOT a good tourist.
I think I had the same pocket-size language book you were using. "The one most familiar with my lower anatomy" - That's just funny, Sharron! I remember Rapallo and the whole coast along there as one of the most beautiful sights of my trip. Would that I had had more time, my view was from the train window.
I am so glad you got that train trip in your travel experience! That Italian coast is magnificent. Here is a link to the short view of Rapallo and the Ligurian coast. You may enjoy the reminder... https://sharronbassano.substack.com/p/the-ligurian-riviera-73e
Enchanting travelogue, entertaining and with interludes of humor. 😂 Do you happen to know if they use Round-up (glyphosate) on their vineyards? I’ve heard European countries have banned it but we haven’t. Somehow European countries are wiser than we are. Is that because they’re older with ancient traditions…
No, Karen, I don't know anything about agricultural practices in Italy, but I DO know that when I lived in Milan ( in the 90s) we were clearly advised not to drink wines from certain area as they were "poisoned" or "polluted". Especially the less expensive wines. I switched to Scotch , you know, just to be safe....
Ahhh Scotch! 😂😂😂 A very good choice 🤗 My dad used to love Scotch 😘 That’s so interesting that you were warned the wines were poisoned or polluted!!??!! I’m so curious what they meant?! I’ve been paranoid living in Virginia wine country, I know they use tons of glyphosate. If you know anyone who lives in the wider D.C. area, if if interest there’s a film about glyphosate being shown at Busboys and Poets bookstore at 14th and V Streets NW on April 11th, by a wonderful filmmaker who lives in Napa. Brian Lilla. His film is “Children of the Vine”.
Thank you, Sharron, for this lovely stroll along a strip of Italy I would love to walk, if only in my dreams. This is the Golden Age kind of Italy that fascinates me. The vineyards close enough to pluck a grape or two from the vine. The fresh olives and their oil soaked into a hunk of bread. The fragrant breeze rising from the waves. Dreams! Thank you.
So inspiring to read this especially since Cinque Terra is on our agenda for our Italy trip in May. Also, you wrote a wonderful piece on Lucca which we will also visit. I tried to find it for Erin the other night but I couldn’t remember the name of it. Can you help me with that? Thanks for all you do, Sharron!
Beautiful trip! And what a hilarious experience being hand-delivered over the gate by burly German tourists! Italy never fails to surprise a traveller with some bizarre snafu, and then an equally bizarre work-around!!
Yes! That is it, exactly, Jim. Thank you!
Delightful! And how fortunate to have those young men come along and see your plight!
Was the locked gate because of landslides?
Who knows? Things happen... Plans are foiled. The inveterate traveler always expects to have to work-around whatever happens. Thanks Heather!
Terrifying! Tooooo much water AAACK! Pictures are more than enough. Breathing heavily.
Give me corn fields and oaks and maples, and no loose water for a good 10 miles down the hill to the Kankakee river. Dry is good. Not falling into the wet is good. NOT a good tourist.
I will send a warning to you before posting anything else about the sea or solo travel, Kate! ha ha ha! truly.
I think I had the same pocket-size language book you were using. "The one most familiar with my lower anatomy" - That's just funny, Sharron! I remember Rapallo and the whole coast along there as one of the most beautiful sights of my trip. Would that I had had more time, my view was from the train window.
I am so glad you got that train trip in your travel experience! That Italian coast is magnificent. Here is a link to the short view of Rapallo and the Ligurian coast. You may enjoy the reminder... https://sharronbassano.substack.com/p/the-ligurian-riviera-73e
Enchanting travelogue, entertaining and with interludes of humor. 😂 Do you happen to know if they use Round-up (glyphosate) on their vineyards? I’ve heard European countries have banned it but we haven’t. Somehow European countries are wiser than we are. Is that because they’re older with ancient traditions…
No, Karen, I don't know anything about agricultural practices in Italy, but I DO know that when I lived in Milan ( in the 90s) we were clearly advised not to drink wines from certain area as they were "poisoned" or "polluted". Especially the less expensive wines. I switched to Scotch , you know, just to be safe....
Ahhh Scotch! 😂😂😂 A very good choice 🤗 My dad used to love Scotch 😘 That’s so interesting that you were warned the wines were poisoned or polluted!!??!! I’m so curious what they meant?! I’ve been paranoid living in Virginia wine country, I know they use tons of glyphosate. If you know anyone who lives in the wider D.C. area, if if interest there’s a film about glyphosate being shown at Busboys and Poets bookstore at 14th and V Streets NW on April 11th, by a wonderful filmmaker who lives in Napa. Brian Lilla. His film is “Children of the Vine”.
Wow, so beautiful!! I really wish to go there. 🥹
Well, it is not too late, Elle! I hope you can go sometime and take the train. It is a lovely landscape. Thank you for your comment.
I love how your writing takes me there for the experience. And the twists you throw in.
Thank you Wade -- and are you ever tempted to just throw a change of clothes in a pack , grab your passport and go?
Thank you, Sharron, for this lovely stroll along a strip of Italy I would love to walk, if only in my dreams. This is the Golden Age kind of Italy that fascinates me. The vineyards close enough to pluck a grape or two from the vine. The fresh olives and their oil soaked into a hunk of bread. The fragrant breeze rising from the waves. Dreams! Thank you.
Sounds like you HAVE been there... if only in dreams. It is not too late, Sue.
Our second grandson whom you know will be in Italy this June visiting with a friend!
Oh joy! What an adventure he will have!
So inspiring to read this especially since Cinque Terra is on our agenda for our Italy trip in May. Also, you wrote a wonderful piece on Lucca which we will also visit. I tried to find it for Erin the other night but I couldn’t remember the name of it. Can you help me with that? Thanks for all you do, Sharron!
Thank you, Jim. Here is the little post on Lucca
https://sharronbassano.substack.com/p/copy-the-black-christ-of-the-lucchesi
Thank you!
I loved the pictures and the story. Such adventures you’ve had.
.. these are truly delicious reportage .. ! 🦎🏴☠️
Spectacular words and pictures, Sharron - your travel insights and humour and real-life real life are exactly what I love to read. 😊
As for what passes for 'essential vocabulary' in your Italian phrasebook - I nearly spat out my tea for laughing! 😆
Oh, good! Tea-spray is what I hope for - or even better, or snorting it out the nose. Hee hee
Oh Sharron - LOL!!!!!!!!!!! 🤣