I have just returned from a month long trip to Europe and I have had a fabulous time! I didn’t get a chance to write my blog the whole time I was away, so here goes! Time to reflect back and share as much as I can about my fun trip away. I feel like my travel cup is overflowing in goodness of joy, happiness and excitement. Travel really is something I love to do and have been travelling the world since I was 18. I look forward to sharing my travel stories with you. And if you have any stories you would like to share with me, please do so in the comment section. 

I landed in Roma, on the direct Qantas Perth to Rome flight, brilliant way to cut down on the travel time. Direct flights take about 16.5 hours, which is much faster than taking a stop in the Middle East or Asia. Alas, I arrived early one hot humid morning and made my way directly to the Amalfi coast. A good friend of mine was down there with her family, and kindly invited me to join her. It was a fabulous way to begin my Euro adventure. Amalfi is epic, sheer cliffs, houses nestled deep and high on the cracks and crevices, beautiful coastal views, windy roads, and cute cobblestone alleyways, with ofcourse many bustling sweaty tourists. July is peak season, not for the faint hearted, however I have a ‘get amongst it’ attitude so off I went, hustling and shoving my way through the hoards. 

We had one very memorable dinner which is worth mentioning, because quite honestly, I did not alway get a good meal. Surprising right? And super frustrating as a tourist, sometimes you fall deep into the tourist trap and get screwed over. Hate that! Not this night. We had the most delicious seafood platter, lightly battered and fried, but perfect and yummy and tasty and not a stupid price. Great house wine too, one thing in Italy, you alway get good wine. There really is no such thing as a bad wine I think. There is bad coffee though, I know I am so controversial. I can hear the collective gasp of all Italians reading this right now! Espressos are annoying. It’s all over too quick! Cafe Americano was my go to, a long black otherwise known. Anyhow, once I got my head around the right order it was better. Another point to note, coffee in Latvia was probably better in my opinion, I know, GASP!!!!

We took a day trip to Positano from Amalfi which was also great, more winding streets, cute shops, billions of tourists, but lovely beach for a swim and cute alley ways to wander. It was incredibly hot and scorching at the time so took a little joy out of too much time at the beach, too hot, we were cooked! We did eat a great continental roll there however, fresh ingredients, and so yummy! 

Amalfi was a great way to start my time in Italy, after waving goodbye and running at pace I made my sweaty way to the train to head north to Perugia. I had been to this area before and was taken by the sunflowers and lovely wide landscapes. I booked a farmhouse hostel by a giant lake, and turned out I had the whole place to myself! There were cute rabbits running around, loads of birds, and a rusty old bike ready for me to spin around the lake as much as I wanted. I took advantage of that and burned around as much of the lake that I could. The next day I also found a large outdoor pool by the lake to relax in and take in all the vibes. I decided two nights was enough in my peaceful but isolated sanctuary, I was in Europe to make the most of everything, and I like to move fast. Stop relaxing Anita! Jeeze!  There are places to see! So I changed tracks and went to Florence for two nights. 

Florence was fab. I had been there before, but still very impressed by all the buildings in the old town. Giant green and white marble buildings, wow, Italians really know how to build some amazing places! I took a bike riding tour there which is always informative, taking in more around the city and learning about things I would otherwise have no idea about. 

Another major highlight was enjoying a pasta making course with unlimited wine! Wow! I am now gathering all the things I need here in Perth to start making my own pasta, super motivated! That day we made tortellini, ravioli, and parpadelle. We made a lemony ricotta type filling which was divine. Simple and effective, the key to quality Italian food. After preparing all the different pastas with cutting tools and new folding techniques, and ofcourse copious quantities of wine, we enjoyed all our spoils together as a 3 course pasta meal, so delicious. Home made pasta really tastes so good, far superior to the packet kind. It really doesn’t take that long either, and such a better pasta experience. Ofcourse getting the sauce right is also very important, but that is for another cooking course another trip. 

After Florence I headed north towards the mountains, Calliano, just south of Bolzano. Nestled between towering mountains on both sides, the town sits pretty among many ferrari grape vines ready for all the ample wine drinking! I booked a super cute hotel, alpine ski style, with a perfectly placed pool, ready for relaxing and sweeping mountain views. I met a really fun German couple there and we had a really fun night together, drinking, eating, and talking honestly from the heart about life and everything in between, a real joy! Sometimes we can be so honest with complete strangers, and I find this very refreshing. They also had an excellent buffet breakfast which was quite the highlight. 

I had a fun day out in Bolzano and took a cable car ride up a giant mountain, and then a small train ride deeper in the forest area. I went for some big walks and took loads of photos of the beautiful flowers and lakes. Such a pretty spot. I love a good day trip! Surprisingly people were speaking German in Bolzano, apparently lines are a little blurred on the ethnicity of the place, but to me it felt like I was already in Germany! 

After Calliano I headed north to Munich Germany. I will next write about my time in Germany. At the end of my trip I ended in Rome, I think I will write about that one at the end of my Latvia blog. It feels too premature to write about the end of the trip right now when I am only at the very end of the first country!! 

I hope you are enjoying my stories so far. Any questions? Life is grand! Make the most of everyday, life really is a treasure to be uncovered and enjoyed. 

Ahlora! 

Anita xx