Home is where my bed is

I apologize for being the worst blogger ever lately! I gave you a teaser a few weeks ago, along with some excuses, but now it is time!! (Although I have one more excuse up my sleeve: The comma key is pretty much stuck, making it hard to write commas...)

Two weeks before leaving, I got a cold. I remember thinking that I was glad I got it in time to get well before I was going to leave… Well, I got to eat my words because my cold turned into a flu and a particularly painful cough. I tried resting as much as I could and drinking lots of water, since there wasn’t much I could do. When I had been sick for ten days, the Tuesday before my Saturday departure, I went to the clinic. I didn’t think I had anything that I needed medicine for but I figured I should check it out. The doctor said my cough sounded like croup but that I didn’t have pneumonia or anything like that, but she gave me an antibiotic anyway, along with some cough pills and cough syrup. (I was not happy about taking an antibiotic when she wasn't sure it was necessary, but at the same time I felt I had to do what she told me!)

Unfortunately, I didn’t get any better and Wednesday, Thursday and Friday was a feverish blur. On Friday I was really worried that I had to postpone the trip, but there was really no way to do that without spending a lot of money. Friday night I was able to get out of bed for a little bit and that made me hopeful that I could actually do it. Good thing I had written a detailed packing list weeks in advance, which made packing very easy! I had also decided to go with a carry on size suitcase which meant I just couldn’t take a lot of stuff.

Continue reading "Italy 1: Getting to Lecce" »

Sandra and Nancy asked about spritz in the comments to the last post, so I wanted to write a quick note about spritz. Spritz is an aperitivo that is common in the Veneto and surrounding regions. (On this trip I had them in regions that border the Veneto, such as the Trentino and Emilia-Romagna, but I also had it in Lecce so although it comes from the Veneto, it seems to be available in a lot of places.)

Spritz can be made several ways, but the most common version is spritz made with Aperol. Aperol is an Italian aperitivo made by the Campari company. It is a beautiful orange color (and in my opinion tastes nothing like Campari.) Aperol only has 11% alcohol. Spritz is made with either prosecco or white wine, Aperol, and some sparkling water. I think the ones I had were most often made with white wine, although the prosecco ones are delicious! You can also make spritz with Campari but I didn't see that much.

Spritz is a wonderful pre-dinner drink because it is not too alcoholic (important when drinking on an empty stomach!) and because it is refreshing and delicious, of course. I can't think of a better end of a day, beginning of an evening than to sip a spritz in a beautiful town square, while munching on some chips or other aperitivo type snacks. Yum!

To order it, simply ask for "uno spritz". Some places that automatically meant with Aperol, other places they asked - you can add "con Aperol" to make sure.

Aperol is sold in the US and many European countries so it is easy to make at home. We are experimenting with the best ways to mix it - opening a bottle of prosecco when you only need a little bit seems silly so we have been using mostly white wine - but for a party, I want to use the prosecco!

There seems to be many differing opinions on the proportions of a spritz - some say equal parts Aperol and wine, others say one third to two thirds, then a dash of sparkling water.

Spritz and snacks in Bolzano:

I am so sorry I have been missing in action! First it was work, then I had visitors from the homeland - and then the visitor broke an arm in Boston! So I just got back from Boston and am trying to catch up on work and everything else.

Before I start writing more detailed about the trip, here are some highlights! It really was the best and most awesomest trip ever.

• The hospitality in Puglia. It was not my first time in Puglia but once again I was floored by the warmth of the people. Loved it!
• Hanging out with friends in Bologna. All those wonderful people, so many great memories. Meeting my friends' baby!
• Trento (in the Trentino). We spent an evening there en route to Bolzano, and it is such a lovely place! The town is beautiful, surrounded by mountains and with the most gorgeous square. We had a fabulous spritz on the piazza before the biggest dinner I had in Italy. I couldn't finish half of it! Trento is called the painted town because of the beautifully decorated buildings there. I want to go back!
• My BB in Lecce: Casa dei Mercanti. Well priced, central, super clean, spacious, gorgeous!
• Carciofi alla giudia in Rome...
• Hiking and horseback riding above Bolzano. SO beautiful! Hiking in Norway will never be the same - in Italy they do it right: when you get tired, you find a little mountain restaurant that serves good food and delicious drink. And the weather was beyond belief!
• Spritz (with Aperol.) It gets its own line. It's that good. I'll add aperitivo in general to this.
• Lunch in Mantova: Great food, cheap sparkling white wine, a gorgeous sunny day. A perfect stop between Bologna and Trentino-Alto Adige (although a little off the highway.)
• Having J. with me in Italy! I think we should move there. :)

The piazza in Trento:


Tags:

• Bologna
• Bolzano
• Lecce
• Trento

I am back! Sorry I didn't blog at all while I was gone, but there was so much fun stuff to do! Work is a little crazy now but here are two photos, the first from Otranto (Puglia), in the very south of Italy, and one from San Genesio (Alto Adige), in the very north. It was all marvelous; Puglia, Alto Adige, and everything in between!!

A few weeks back I was discussing whether to stay at the Hotel Commercianti or the Hotel Orologio, two of the Bologna Art Hotels. The discussion was very much leaning to the Orologio. One of the outcomes of this discussion was that my blog friend Sandra, of A Journey of a Thousand Miles, decided to switch her summer reservation to the Orologio. She was originally going to stay at the Hotel Porta San Mamolo, which comes warmly recommended by many Slow Travelers. I felt slightly guilty that she had switched hotels, especially because she wanted a quiet hotel, but I could live with it.

Now, however, another blog friend, Girasoli (of Shaved Ice and Gelato fame, has switched over as well!! And she loves the Porta San Mamolo! Now I feel responsible for the decisions of two other people... They both got great deals, and I love a good deal myself, but I sure hope they are happy with the switch!

Therefore, I wanted to post this public disclaimer - I have not stayed at the Hotel Orologio and my recommendation is solely based on other people's comments. Please do not sue me if you don't like it. :)

(To make matters worse, my friend is now staying at the Commercianti and I am thinking about switching back...)