by Krista | Sep 29, 2011 | Plucky Thursday
It emerged out of the haze above us like a mystical castle, its tower etched against the skyline beckoning us to brave the steep, twisting road to find out what it was.
There wasn’t a soul around as Margo, Kathy and I crept tentatively up the unmarked gravel road somewhere high above the wineries of Barolo, Italy. We kept our eyes peeled for ferocious dogs that might be lurking behind a crumbling stone wall ready to pounce on unwanted interlopers.
Thankfully no such beasts appeared so we breathed sighs of relief and continued on our way up to this clearly abandoned and oh-so-enchanting castle, villa, or manor house.
We crossed the ivy-covered and rosemary bordered bridge to the locked metal doors and I peered in a rusty hole to see what I could see.
How I longed to unbolt that door and walk down that tunnel to the courtyard beyond. I wanted to adopt this place, restore the missing windows, tidy up the overgrown gardens, and soften the brick rooms with cozy rugs and overstuffed, comfy furniture.
At last I tore myself away from such dreams and stood on the bridge in awe of the stunning view. A few moments earlier we’d been down in the valley watching folks fill a bright yellow hot air balloon, and there it was! Soaring cheerily over hillsides lined with vineyards.
The building was fronted by wildly prolific brambles and massive fig trees, as well as a tiny vegetable and flower garden tended carefully by someone. Perhaps little Italian elves. 🙂
I wouldn’t mind picking weeds so much if I had this view to look up at. 🙂
All too soon we tore ourselves away from our discovery and headed back down the hill, wondering what this place had been, who had lived there, and what stories those walls held.
What do you think this place was? 🙂
by Krista | Sep 22, 2011 | Plucky Thursday
After a lovely amble through a Tuscan farm in the early morning light, my family and I headed over to my brother and sis-in-law’s villa at San Gallo for breakfast and a visit.
How beautiful it looked, the bricks golden and russet in the warm light of mid-morning, .
There were hugs all around and then we tucked into delicious cold sausages from our Tuscan-style BBQ the night before, and a plate of fresh peaches and warm figs picked from the yard.
It was so nice just being together, everyone in comfy summer clothes seated on couch, creaky wooden chairs, and the cool tile floor, visiting happily and discussing wedding details as we noshed.
After breakfast the others had some work to finish up, so I went off for a ramble around the property.
The countryside may have been baked brown by the intense August sun, but it was still beautiful, the sky a stunning blue.
The pool looked so inviting, especially the next day when temperatures soared and we all eagerly plunged into the icy water.
I loved this shady arbor next to the pool, perfect for snoozing and reading and catching up with friends and family.
I wandered further and found this solitary bench with splendid views of hillsides to the front and gorgeous Montepulciano to the left.
At last everyone’s projects were completed and we headed out the gates for an afternoon exploring the wonderful city of Sienna.
What is your favorite summer breakfast?
(For more information about San Gallo Agritourismo, visit their website here.)
by Krista | Sep 15, 2011 | Plucky Thursday
Hello luvs! How are you this beautiful Thursday?
This morning I woke to glorious sunshine in Amsterdam, so instead of taking a taxi to my doctor’s appointment on the other side of town, I decided to walk.
This is what I saw. It made even going to the doctor a delight. 🙂
by Krista | Sep 1, 2011 | Plucky Thursday
I adore Germany in the summer. Hot, sunny days punctuated by cool, rainy ones, over and over again. It’s like getting the best of every season, sometimes all in one day.
I love the cold rainy days because they give the best excuse to stay indoors and watch old movies and eat homemade cream cake, or play games whilst devouring far too much German chocolate.
But I also love the sunshiny days, for that’s when the colors of Germany come out to play.
Nearly every home is festooned with bright red and pink geraniums, spilling over from window boxes and along balconies.
This time of year the orchards are in full glory, the tree limbs laden with apples, pears and walnuts almost ready to be picked and turned into preserves, liqueurs, and all manner of scrumptious desserts like strudel with vanilla sauce. Mmm, I’m hungry just thinking about it!
Once upon a time these hills were covered in dense woods, hence the name Black Forest. But nowadays there are great open swathes of lush mountain meadow, almost lime green in the summer sun.
I love wandering through villages like Bühlertal, admiring their flourishing vegetable patches and tidy stacks of firewood ready for the long, cold winter ahead.
Looking out over the valley I’m delighted by the many red-tiled roofs looking so striking against the backdrop of vibrant green hills and bright blue sky.
Hoofing it up and down these steep hills can be exhausting, but I think the views are well worth it.
What is your favorite time of year where you live?
by Krista | Aug 18, 2011 | Plucky Thursday
One of my favorite sights in Malta are the beautiful and brilliantly colored boats that dot the harbors, bobbing on the waves as the sun glints off their glossy coats of vivid yellow, green, and blue.
I captured a few shots of their cheery features and hope you like them too. 🙂
by Krista | Aug 11, 2011 | Plucky Thursday
The sun is shining in Prague and it is beautiful!! I’ve been having such a lovely time with my friends – strolling amiably along cobbled streets, visiting for hours in cozy coffee shops, staying up late talking over glasses of Czech wine. It’s been marvelous.
Yesterday we spent a beautiful evening exploring Old Town Prague and found a marvy open-air market. Here are a few photos of what we saw. 🙂
