Vicenza

Vicenza is where my brother met my sister-in-law:) it is also 
the home of Andrea Palladio, the greatest Italian architect of the Italian Renaissance.

There were beautiful works of architecture, my favorite being The Olympic Theatre!

"The Olympic Theatre: Modeled by Palladio, this is a lone surviving Renaissance theatre; its wooden interior is a half circle of steep tiers of seats facing the rectangular proscenium stage. The ceiling is significantly painted in blue suggesting an open sky above the theater." 

The best tour guides (Manuela & Michael Ethridge)
took me for a delicious coffee, then showed me where they got married, the town square, Palladio's  work
and lastly, drove me up a windy hill so I could see a view of the whole city...

The whole trip to Italy from the first day to the last  will be one I will never forget. 
Someone asked me "Was it everything you dreamed it would be?"
My answer was, "It really was and more." 

I love you Michael & Manuela. 
(http://www.cityround.com/italy/vicenza-italy.php)

Beautiful Creations (Satomi Kawakita)

"Satomi Kawakita is a New York City-based jewelry designer and 
professional diamond setter. 

She was born and raised in Japan. " 

http://satomikawakita.com

Satomi Kawakita's work is beautiful and unique.

When I look at her work I see

what beauty can be 

 created  by a person's hands.

Who's coming for dinner?

Last night I had company over. 

They came at 6 o'clock and before I knew

 they were saying goodbye at the door

(where did the time go?).

 I think that's how 

it should always be when you are having 

dinner with friends: stories, laughter, 

food & wine,

 and when you close the door

you think "That was a wonderful way to spend

a Friday evening."

(Photos courtesy of: Me) 

Tuscany (Toscana)

Any picture or movie that has shown Tuscany were real; 

it really is as beautiful as you imagine it to be.

The hills, the vineyards, the food, the cities on the hill...

We stayed at a bed & breakfast for the weekend

which was worth the experience alone. 

We would wake up have bread, eggs, jam and 

hot coffee, then we would get in the car

and drive to a city to explore. 

We would look at the churches, street ways, bakeries, shops, 

and take lots of pictures. 

At the end of the day we would fix dinner then sit and

 play cards. It was perfect.

(Photos courtesy of: Me) 

Venice (Venezia)

I have never been in a city like Venice. 

It was beautiful in a mysterious way. 

There are no cars; all transportation is by boat, 

ferry or walking. 

The streets and alley ways twist and turn. 

It draws thousands of tourists from all over the world, 

and yet there are people that have made 

Venezia there home.

 It felt like a city that you could spend 

years in and still not know all of her secrets. 

(Photos courtesy of:Me)

From Italy, with Love

I just returned from a trip from Italy; yes Italy. 

My wonderful brother and sister-in-law planned 

the while trip and brought me over to spend a week

 there with them. It was one of the most special things I have 

experienced. In the coming days I will post

pictures and certain moments from my trip. 

I hope you will enjoy it and fall a little

 bit in love with Italy like I did.