abee

We had such a great time in vermont. Our B&B was wonderful (The Inn on Water’s Edge, if you’re interested), and we just had such a relaxing, fun and loving anniversary. Vermont in the summer is da bomb!

Was this april and it rained every day. It was still so beautiful that I feel I need to go back and see it in the warmth and the sun. We stayed with friends that lived there, but still had the opportunity to see all the tourist things too- it was really a best of both worlds experience.

My trip to Barcelona is coming up in April! I can not wait to see my friend again, see Spain for the first time, eat delicious seafood and get a really authentic experience! I’m so excited to be staying with someone who lives there, and who can recommend good restaurants and walks and things to see. As a sort-term tourist I often feel that I could be doing a better job- that I’m missing out on something that I just don’t know about. When I’m with someone who’s knowledgeable about a place I’m more comfortable with the idea that I’m really getting a taste of what this place is like.

My new husband and I rented a car and took a leisurely drive through Chianti down the ss.222 (i think). We stopped in Grave en Chianti for some lunch and took a picture with the statue of Verrizano. We ate the most amazing simple sandwich- fennel salami (YUM) and cheese and it was somehow the most wonderful and decadant meal ever.

Then we arrived at our temporary home: Agriturismo Malafrasca. A beautiful place with wonderful people, just a stone’s throw from Siena- www.malafrasca.com

We had two days of getting lost on italian roads, getting plesantly drunk on wine made from grapes outside of our window while watching for shooting stars, and wandering the hilly streets of the brick city of siena. Next time we’re going to stay there for longer, and stop at some of the wineries in Chianti.

The Druid’s Den: Via S. Martino ai Monti, 28- fun, small Irish expat bar in an old catacomb.

Spaghetterie L’archetto: Ate there at least twice. YUM. Such amazing variety, and almost everything is so delicious.

Pizzeria da Buffetto: a poem on the door described the experience of this pizza place perfectly: “We got here at seven were seated at eight- the pizza was delicious, it was worth the wait!” my apologies to the poet for my poor paraphrasing…

I spent a semester in Bath in college, and it is one of my favorite places in the world. It is small, so it’s accessible. But at the same time, it’s filled with things to do- affordable theater, clubs, movies and museums. Not to mention chips and a pita!