Italia - Part 2....

The rest of the Italy trip was of course as phenomenal as the first part :) After Florence, we got on the bus to San Gimingnano - a gorgeous hilltop town not too far from Siena. The views from there are incredible! We really wanted to take a Brunello de Montalcino wine tour, but unfortunately they are only on certain days and not while we were there, so we took the chianti tour instead. At first we were a little unsure about our guide, but it turned out to be a great day and the region was just beautiful. Think Napa, but on a huge scale with bigger hills. They grow all of their grapes on the hillside so the water will run off. So pretty! I really enjoyed the last winery - a small family run place and the wine was excellent...I will definitely be shipping some home! We met a really nice couple from Australia (we're not sure what's up with us and all of the Australians?!) and ended up continuing the wine tour and having dinner with them - so much fun! The next day we got up and decided to go to Siena for the night since we were so close. The weather was so crappy and we were pretty tired so we just walked around a bit and then went and took much needed naps. We did manage to drag ourselves out of the hotel to grab dinner and watch the Italia game. The next day it was off to Sorrento - the longest bus-train-metro adventure of the trip. I'd been before which made it much easier to manage. So after about 6 long hours, we arrived. The hotel was a little further away from the town than advertised, but it was really nice - right on the water with gorgeous views. The weather was perfect there too so we got to enjoy the beach and the sun! We managed to find the Irish bar in town that has the most hysterical owners - this little Italian couple...the man is absolutely nuts (you can tell from the photos) and his wife we liked to call "Mama" b/c any boys that came near us, she would try to scare away...if they weren't from her town, they were automatically bad news in Mama's eyes...so funny. Since we were in Sorrento, we decided to take a day trip to Capri - it was gorgeous...the water colors are crazy! We took a nice boat ride around the island and went into the infamous blue grotto - it was gorgeous, but it's only this one little area and it totally chaotic. Oh well, at least I can say I've seen it now! After Sorrento, we were planning on going to Rome but hadn't booked any hotels. Since we were enjoying the beach and small towns so much, we decided to take one more night and go to Positano. I went for Jenny's 30th 5 years ago and it was an absolute blast, so I was very happy to go back - especially when it was sunny and not raining everyday. It was of course just as beautiful as I remembered! The hotel was right on the side of the mountain and had a perfect view of the water and the mountains...I could have stayed there forever! Of course the first thing I did was ask the hotel to make us a reservation at La Tagliata - it's a restaurant high above the town that I have been to before and had one of my most favorite nights ever! I was a little afraid to go back b/c I didn't want anything to tarnish my memories...well, it did not disappoint!!! It was hysterical - there was a band and the whole place starts singing and dancing...so hard to explain (better stories in person) but it is really one of the greatest places on earth and worth the trip to Positano just to go there. I kept telling Lisa all of the fun stories from the last time we were there and it turned out to be just about the same...the waiter, Pepino (some of you know him from the stories Jenny and I tell :)) as usual started coming over with the huge bottle of limoncello and taking shots with us and his best friend...after many many shots and the restaurant being closed down with us being the only two people left, we sat outside with them, took more limoncello and grappe (aka death!!!) shots and they ended up driving us home on scooters through the hills....it was crazy and so much fun. Definitely one of the best moments of the trip and one of my most favorite nights ever!! There are so many more stories that I can't wait to tell you all in person, it's just hard to type them all :) I tried to condense the pics (we had over 600!!!), and just put the highlights of each place in there. I can't believe I'm over halfway...just about 6 weeks left! While I don't really want this adventure to ever end, I am really looking forward to seeing all of you and telling lots of stories over lots of wine. Miss you all!! xo

Italia....

Italy is as amazing as I remembered - the food, the wine, the people...we are having an absolute blast and still have two more weeks to take in this gorgeous country! We kicked off the trip in Milan which isn't too exciting, but from there went up to Lake Como for a day which is incredible. It was of course raining, but we still got to enjoy a boat ride down the lake taking in all of the adorable towns and incredible villas. From there it was off to Venice for a night...it is definitely a unique place and very beautiful. We enjoyed $17 belinins (obscene - i thought he had charged us for 11 instead of 2?!...always check the price!) and many rides on the bus boats. We eventually decided to go on the Venice bar crawl recommended by our tour book and met up with a super nice couple from North Carolina that was doing the same thing so we all crawled together and had a blast! Needless to say, I was very happy that all we had to do the next day was sit on a train to Cinque Terre. After a couple trains and naps, we arrived in Monterosso...I don't think I can even do justice to this place...I think it moved up to my favorite place on earth...just amazing. The first night we had an incredible dinner and wine and caught some of the soccer games. The Euro is going on right now, so the whole continent is crazy over their teams...it is so much fun. The next day we did the hike from Monterosso to Riamaggorie (sp?)...or attempted to. The first part was amazing - the weather was great and the view over those ridges coming into to the towns is one of the most incredible things I've ever seen (and the hike is not easy!!). On the second to last leg from Corniglia to Manarola we got caught in a downpour...and I mean downpour!! I have never seen rain like that...so we ended up cutting off the hike there and taking the train back to our town to dry off. Thankfully the weather cleared the rest of the time we were there and we were able to relax and lay on the beach and swim in the clear blue water. We made lots of friends in the town as there aren't too many people there and became regulars at the local bar along with our new friends from Australia...it was a blast - we were sad to leave, but I knew that our next stop was Florence - my other favorite place in the world! Got here yesterday and of course it rained...for those who might remember, when Jenny and I were here for her 30th it rained the entire time...ugh. But I can't complain - this is such a great city. We actually ran into one of our friends from Australia on the street, so the three of us decided to avoid the rain by watching some soccer and having lots of wine and cheese. Then I took them to Il Latini - one of my favorites from last time I was here. I was hoping it would live up to the hype since I was talking it up so much, and it did....we ended up closing it down and drinking limoncello with the waiters and all of the staff and then went to another local bar with one of the waiters for one more drink...so much fun! We are a little slow today, but managed to get up early and hit the Piazza Michelangelo for the views and then of course eat a pizza and some gelato! The sun is actually out, so I'm off to enjoy my first Florence sun. Next up San Gimingano for wine tasting and then onto Sorrento and Rome. Miss you all - will try to send more updates from here and lots of pics to come when we get back to Estoril! xo

Rock in Rio!

Everything is great here - the weather has finally gotten much better and I've spent about the last 4 days at the beach. Love it! Last weekend was an absolute blast! Lisa and I went to Rock in Rio - a massive concert they have over 5 days every 2 years in Lisbon. We saw Alanis Morrisette and Bon Jovi!! So much fun - the Portuguese knew every single word to all of the Bon Jovi songs...it was hysterical. The concert was great - I've never seen so many people! It went from 5:00 and didn't finish until 2:00am. Sunday we recovered with some beach time and have spent the last few days getting ready for Italy! Taking off tomorrow morning and just finished packing. We will be flying into Milan and going to Venice, Cinque Terre, Florence, Tuscany, Sorrento and Rome. I will try to send updates from the trip and will have plenty of pictures when I get back :) I'm almost to my halfway point...it seems like it's gone slowly, but when I think about only having a couple months left, I can't believe it! I am still enjoying every minute and looking forward to all of the fun and travel the next couple months. Hope everyone is doing well - miss you all! xo