Mantova in the Lombardy region of Italy. Three years ago our family played host to a delightful young lady from this area so a trip to Italy would not have been complete with paying a visit to her and her beautiful family. Mantova is an amazing medieval town which is unspoilt by tourism. Wandering through the…
Travel
Bagna Càuda in the countryside of Piedmont
It was misty and foggy the day we arrived in Camagna Monferrato, Piedmont, Italy. At midday the mist still hadn’t lifted but this made for a beautiful vista across the countryside. Camagna Monferrato is a little village in the heart of Piedmont from where my husband’s family originates and it was with great emotion that…
Discovering Piedmont and Bunèt for dessert
Desserts are my guilty pleasure. If it’s chocolate, even more so. This Bunèt dessert from Piedmont is a family recipe. If you’ve never heard of Bunèt, well you are not alone. Bunèt is not common outside Italy or for that matter outside Piedmont. Family is a treasure. Even more so when they live half way…
Italian Dream – Part 3 and the end!
Our dream holiday in Italy finished up in the south visiting relatives in Reggio di Calabria and Scilla with a brief visit to Sicily. The contrasts in one country which is very small compared to Australia, is absolutely amazing! In the places that we visited in the south it was all about the beach, the sea…
Italian Dream Part 2
Our Italian Dream continued in Venice. The Mouth of Truth – the political history of Venice is intriguing. As we cross the Bridge of Sighs we glimpse the canal below and imagine the heavy heart of the prisoner of days gone by. Yes, we had to do the gondola trip! Florence welcomes us with a…
Italian Dream holiday in Northern Italy
Do you believe that dreams do come true? Is it possible to turn dreams into reality? I wasn’t so sure until just recently when we made the decision to visit Italy. Travelling to Italy from where I live in Australia is a 23 hour flight plus time at airport stopovers. This was all made longer when…
Fig Tarte Tatin?
I purchased the most wonderful farm, fresh figs on the way home from our holiday – some for myself and some for my sister. So thrilled I was with my purchase that I sat smugly in the car all the way home with a silly grin on my face. You see, living the hot, tropical…
My “Spanakopita”
Recently my family and I spent a relaxing week in the tropical northern city of Cairns. As we often do, we took the long way home, which means a drive up to the Atherton Tablelands. It is a beautiful area reminicent of the rolling hills of Tasmania, New Zealand or some have said England. It…
