I came back to America.
That doesn’t mean I’m happy about it though! Have you ever gone somewhere and felt like it’s where you were meant to be?
That was Alba, Italy for me.
Over the next few days I’ll recap the many adventures we had over 14 days. For now I’ll just say it was the trip of a lifetime.
We were lucky in so many ways – from navigating train stations to getting private tours of wine cellars to making friends with winemakers.
Let’s start at the beginning: overnight AirFrance flight to Verona (via Paris).
We were well-prepared with out neck supports, magazines, iPods, eReaders, etc. First hint we over-packed: the neck thingys were the only travel items used.
Dinner time!
First wine of the trip
Our airplane feast
Ummmm… let’s just say it’s a little cruel to begin a food and wine trip with such foul food and wine. 😉
Packing snacks was a brilliant idea
The view of the Alps was incredible!
Finally, in the promised land of food and wine.
Most people would take a nap after all that travel. We aren’t most people.
3 quick showers and a chat with the Bed & Breakfast owner. Now we’re on our way to the Verona city center for drinks and an appetizer at recommended stop #1:
One of each, please!
I have died and gone to cheese heaven
My first glass of wine was an Amarone Masi. It was incredible – deep raisin taste, thick, and layered with flavor.
This place proved to be key because we met a new friend – Tim. Tim was there on business, but his family is from the area. Lucky us – he offered to meet up and guide us later!
We also learned the historic Bottega opened a location in NYC. I smell a trip in our future. 🙂
Dinner was at Antico Verona. It apparently had changed names, so we had a fun walk trying to FIND it (at least we burned off the first drink).
Our reward to locating this place:
Valpolicella Superiore is less expensive Amarone – same grapes, different process. It is lighter and the raisin taste is less prevalent. Still delicious – it’s a good “drinking” wine.
Dinner was okay – not the best meal we’d have, but not bad.
Steak, sautéed veggies, pasta with black truffles
Never a dull moment, the old electrical system meant the lights went out in the restaurant periodically. I wish I spoke Italian because every time they went out, the table next to us would sing a song I couldn’t understand. It added to the adventure – especially when the lights went out while in the bathroom.
HUGE thanks to the fabulous guest posters who helped me out while I was gone. In case you missed any, here is a listing:
- Healthy (Meatless) Meal Ideas for Busy People by Lisa @ Healthful Sense
- Martha: My Meatball Muse (gluten-free!) by Jessica (my college friend!)
- Getting Started with Strength Training by Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun
- Falafel on a Waffle by Sarah @ The Smart Kitchen
- Reformed Cardio Junkie by Claire @ Live and Love to Eat
- A Few of My Favorite Things Lee @ In My Tummy
- Northern Indian Menu Vocab by Parita @ My Inner Shakti
- Pumpkin Pie Milkshake by Ari @ Diva Dish
- Remembering Your Passion by Carol @ Lucky Zucca
- Fall Workout Must Haves by Heather @ Girly Ever After
Advice for those of you going on extend trips abroad: beg for recruit guest bloggers. I had very good intentions of blogging while away, but Internet and time is far too unpredictable.
Please check out these rockin’ ladies – you may discover your new favorite blog! 🙂
In other news, this weekend was Atlanta Pride. It is the first year I’ve brought a green beverage to the park.
Butternut Squash-Banana Smoothie
- 1/2 C butternut squash
- 1/2 banana
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 handful spinach
- Ice + milk/water, to taste
As usual, the people watching was rich.
Rawr
I NEED these shoes!
Happy Pride, ATL!
***
I’m shoveling fresh fruits and veggies in my mouth by the handful – they were SO hard to find in Northern Italy.
Did you enjoy the guest posters? Did you discover anyone new?
Have you ever traveled somewhere and felt such a strong connection to it you almost stayed?
You are so cute with packing your own snacks!!! 🙂
That singing table – that so reminds me of the comraderie of older Polish folks back home (well, Sydney is home now, but you get it, right). They lived through war, water and food shortages, electricity being out etc etc – there is a song for everything and that’s how you keep your spirits up! Great story!
Looking forward to every single other detail of your trip!
Welcome home, Laura!
Welcome home!
I have that Piedmont Park coaster too. Glad you had fun, both in Italy and Pride. I thought about going to Pride, but I got too lazy!
Welcome home Laura!! Love that shot of the Alps! Amazing.
Once you feel that connection you’re done. You heard me while I was in the states… I’m ready to go back to Thailand. Though it looks like I may make a detour on my way back there this winter through Vietnam.
I want to go to Thailand!!!
Glad you’re back – missed ya! Glad you had fun..loved the guests posts! I turned 21 in Atlanta during the crazy fun Pride parade and man…what a crazy place to turn 21…fun times! 🙂 Oh that seems so long ago…geez.
xoxo from Trinidad
OMG – I can only imagine… you have to tell me stories at some point!
Has it really been 14 days?? Wow… where did the time go?
Can’t wait to hear more about the trip (aka my dream vacation) =)
And a butternut squash green smoothie… gotta try that one!!
How was the cheese over there? What was your favorite?
The cheese is coming! My favorite was in Piedmonte. Oddly, it’s hard to find anything other than cow’s cheese in Northern Italy.
You were missed! I have wanted to stay in various vaca spots, so I know how much of a bummer it can be to head home. However, we’re glad you’re back.
The guest posters were fabulous but you were definitely missed love!! Glad your back! 🙂 Oh and I feel the way you do about Italy, about NYC… and LA… oh and Paris… there are a few places I feel like I am MEANT to live! But yet here I am in Cyprus! :/ Haha BOO SUCKS!
I’m so glad you’re back! Welcome home! Can’t wait to hear the details :] And I feel you about the connection you can make with a place… for me those places are New Zealand and Florence. <3
wow! just finding your blog but I am an immediate fan. Northern Italy?! oh my ! I just returned from a wine country tour of California- and i thought I was cool. I completely agree with your guest post tips – I totally planned “I will have internet, I will all this vacation time and no stress- of course I will blog”….. and then vacation happened and I am now recapping. Ah well. Live and learn.
Thank you! I love California. Were you in Napa?
Soo glad you are back!!
Welcome back to America Laura! Sounds like you WERE pretty lucky during your trip…making friend with wine makers AND a private tour? That sounds amazing! Too funny about the people singing when the lights went out at the restaurant…wonder if you’ll ever find out what they were saying?
Omg, the Dorothy shoes! Love em!
And now, since I’m home sick from work, I’m going to catch up on some guest posts! 🙂
Wow that is such an amazing picture of the Alps. I feel the same way about Amalfi, Italy. There’s just something so special about that place to me.
Welcome back! And thanks for sharing, my dream is to travel to Italy one day. Amarone is one of my favorite wines, loved that you had a “couple” bottles of those grapes!!
Can you be my official vacation buddy? B/c i’m certain you’d be the most fun travel buddy evahh! <3 Welcome back into my life and the states my love! you've been missed!!! LIKE CRAZY MISSED!
You are to sweet! Of course you can be my vaca buddy! 🙂
Um, okay, I am sooo jealous of your travels, your wine, and your yummy smoothie. The only thing I can copy is your smoothie. I guess that’ll have to do for now. I just loaded up on butternut squash. Can’t wait to hear more about your trip! 🙂
I want to die and go to cheese heaven! … and then I want a sip of your smoothie 😀 Welcome back chica! Can’t wait to hear about your adventures!
I’ve been sad to be a little out of blog commission myself recently, both reading and writing, but after reading this post, I’m pumped to go through your back posts as your guest posts came from many of my very favorite bloggers! What a great group of ladies with such unique and interesting ideas, writing, cooking, and DIY styles!
I am a little slow catching up on my blog reading. I cannot wait to read the rest of your adventures! Trip of a lifetime, indeed!