As seen on a Bella Vita Vacations Trip...

Some images of what you'll see on a BVV trip to Tuscany. Next trip is planned for Oct 2010!

Memories of Warmer Days

Ahhh, the beach. It's thawed out here in KC, but I'm still wishing I was back here...on the Adriatic coast in Italy. The warm sun, waves tumbling the rocks, sand, salt water breezes are characteristics of this coastline. Follow it farther north and you'll find expansive sandy beaches with cabanas and palm frawn umbrellas dotting the shoreline. Abruzzo really does have the best of all worlds...mountains, vineyards and beaches. I miss all of it. I wonder if my sculpture is still standing? I like to think it's still there awaiting my return.

Andiamo!

It's been a while since I have posted about Italy, so I thought I'd share one of the highlights from our trip. Our last day in Tuscany, Mark and I went to Arezzo. Arezzo is home to one of my favorite markets in the world. The last Saturday of every month they have the most amazing antique fair. Alas, our timing was off on this trip and there wouldn't be a fair, but I wanted to go check out Arezzo anyway.

It was a Sunday and most of the shops and cafes were closed, and I was starting to get a little bummed when I realized that our last day in Tuscany would be spent walking around a rather empty town. Arezzo has more than one piazza, so we strolled through one...empty...kept walking, enjoying the old architecture and history on our way to the next when...as we turned the corner...we hear pumping music (how did we not hear it before??? acoustical secrets of etruscan builders I suppose) and what sounded like cars racing...we turn another corner to the grand piazza and there they were... parata di Fiat dell'annata...a parade of old vintage fiats!

In a word, WOW! It was amazing...all these shiny candy colored Cinquecentos against a backdrop of weathered neutral-colored ancient walls. It was just about the coolest surprise and made for a great finale to the Tuscany portion of our trip.

We checked out a few of the cars, then, the grand master blew his whistle, waved a flag and...they were off! Engines revving, horns honking (I might add the horns were just as colorful as the cars - some played the musical score from The Godfather, others played La Cucaracha, others a whimsical little 'beep,beep') they lined up and drove out of the piazza. In ten minutes they were gone and the piazza was dead silent again. We couldn't believe our fortune of just stumbling on such a cool event. I guess that's the best way to experience Italy...just let Italy come to you.




Andiamo!

Bel Far Niente

One of the best parts of our trip to Italy was learning the art of bel far niente. I think if I was there another week I could have mastered it like a true Italian. Bel far niente, the beauty of doing nothing, is not only an art form, it's one of the fundamentals of life in Italy. Italians take great pride in the ability to 'do nothing'. To 'do nothing' the Italian way is actually quite difficult for an American that is used to being plugged into work, computers, cell phones and generally moving at the speed of light.

'Doing nothing' the Italian way doesn't mean to sit around and literally do nothing...it's the ability to enjoy doing nothing imparticular. It's mastering the passeggiata (evening stroll in the piazza), people watching with a gelato in hand, sipping a glass of chianti classico watching the sunset...and so on. Italians will do this for hours...much longer than is comfortable for an antsy American. More importantly, doing these things is expected in Italy. It's unnatural not to take significant time out of your day to 'do nothing'.

I love the entire concept of bel far niente and I'm trying to find beauty in doing a little 'nothing' each day. So far, I'm finding it's a lot easier to do in Italy...sipping wine watching the sun set over the vineyards & olive groves with the scent of rosemary wafting in the breeze. Lucky for me, all I have to do is look at this photo, close my eyes and just like that...I'm back in Italy practicing the fine art of 'bel far niente' like a true Italian.

Roma! Roma! Roma!

Ciao from Rome! We got here safely albeit very tired from the flight. Tomorrow we leave for Toscana and take our lives in our hands (driving in Italy). We did most of Rome in 2 days...everything but the Vatican. Next time.

Have Paws will Travel

Ever the resourceful terrier, Louise the Westie, decides it's time to take the travel arrangements into her own hands...uh, paws. Personally, I think she's irritated that we are going without her so she's actually making her own travel plans. She's crafty that little white dog! I fully expect to board the plane to Italy and see her already sitting on the plane, tiara and all...