Feb 19, 2010

WRITER'S CHALLENGE #4 - WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO TO VISIT?

Another Writer's Challenge is upon us. This is number four. First let me thank all of your who participate and comment and visit our posts for the challenge. Secondly let me invite you to join in. This is just for fun and no expertise is needed. Even if you don't have a blog you can join in. You can email me your post and I will put it up on my blog.

The challenge for the fourth event is: WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO FOR A VISIT? I didn't even have to stop for a nanosecond to come up with my answer.
 I have wanted to go to Italy for years now. It is number one on my list. I even know what week I want to get there for.Of course one week is not enough but I know where I want to start.
When the movie Under The Tuscan Sun came out it just reinforced my resolve to go there one day but my wish started before I ever saw the movie. There truly is something about the Tuscan sun. The color of the sky is different than anywhere else I am sure. When I see a photo of the area I quite literaly lose my breath.
To be on a hillside overlooking the valleys filled with grapes. To stay at a farm that grows what it eats. One that makes their own wine and cheese and perhaps even proscuitto. One that has goats and hens.


To walk into the piazza for fresh food right from the farms. To sit in at a table outside of the coffee house with a cappuccino. To sip a wonderful chianti watching the world go by and the sun go down with a plate full of antipasta. Maybe artichokes, tomatoes and slices of cured salumi with a crusty bread and salty olives. The enjoyment of good food and wine here is so obvious. When you see how they shop and cook and eat you just want to absorb it all like a sponge. They do it with gusto.

I plan on going to a little town called Greve. My trip will take place in the first week of September when they celebrate with a Chianti festival. The evenings cool down a bit by then after the hot summer nights and the children are back in school.
We also plan on seeing the coast. My BB guy loves seafood and he will certainly get his fill by the ocean. I don't eat shellfish or anything exotic like squid or eel so I will have to be satisfied with the other offerings in the area. I know there will be no shortage of foods to enjoy.

Some time ago I had a friend do a guest post on here about her trip to Italy. She imports a lovely wine by the case that they had tasted at a small vineyard and was kind enough to share a bottle with me one evening. You can read the story here.
 
 Apoteosi Wine photos by Linda
I am so looking forward to the day when we finally go to Italy. It may be a while yet but I am determined. The grapes will be ripe and juicy. The sky will be that special shade of blue, the food will be sublime. Truly the dolce vita.
You should take a look at Lola's two blogs to appreciate what I am talking about. Aglio, Olio & Peperoncino and Roma Every Day will open your eyes to the beauty of Italy and when I go I hope she can meet me for dinner and wine. Until then I will just look at her photos and read her descriptions and just sigh.



If you need any help with Mr. Linky let me know. Please leave a comment before you head out to visit the rest of the participants. If you link up and you don't have a Writer's Challenge post I will delete your link. Use your link for that direct post and not you whole site or else when you post again this entry will get moved and the people looking for it may not find it. Thanks for joining in.


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8 comments:

  1. Oh, Italy! I'm trying to talk someone -- anyone! -- into going to Italy with me. My daughter Alida, who has been to pretty much every country in Europe and Eastern Europe, says Italy is her favorite. An Italian friend of hers stayed with us for two weeks summer before last; her family has a vacation home on a lake and she has offered us the use of it whenever we can come -- they live year-round in Verona. But I tell Claudia I am waiting for her wedding -- I'll definitely fly over for that, but in the meantime ... Italy is on my list for sure.
    But this year I'll be lucky if I get to Brooklyn. :-)
    Cass

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  2. Can I come too?! Cass and you and me...ahh, and we don't even know eachother IRL but I think it would be fun anyway! :)

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  3. I am rather shocked at myself that I am empty on this one. There is no place I have researched and want to go to like you have done with this beautiful essay about Italy.

    Thanks for sharing - I must say its definitely on my list.

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  4. Let me know when you're going. I'll go on a strict diet and make sure that I can fit in your suitcase! Italy has always been one of my dream destinations. DH wants to go to Germany (so he can drive the Nurburgring - nothing to do with the culture lol) We used to work for an Italian gentleman who was a violin maker. He offered to take the entire group to Italy. And of course, we were young and stupid and told him we didn't feel right about taking the trip because we were planning on moving to Texas the next month. Your pictures are making me regret that decision! Great post. Kathy

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  5. I saw that film,in fact I watched it twice and now you have mentioned it I am going to dig it out and watch it again this evening.I loved it,the romance and the location,I can see why you want to visit.I hope you make the trip and send us lots of photo's.
    All those lovely pictures are making me yearn for summer,I will not be going to Italy,but to Portugal.

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  6. I e-mailed you Lori. Thank-you so very much! I am sorry I am late, it's been a crazy week. Italy would be at the top of my list too. It's such a gorgeous place and your pics really make me want to go. Cindy

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  7. Thanks for all the wonderful pics!!
    I'm with ya on seeing the Tuscan sun... my grandparents are from a little town close to there, and it has always been my dream to visit ;)

    I hope you get a chance.
    If i win the lottery, i'll take you with me ;)

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  8. I think we all fell in love with Italy when that movie came out! Folks who had never before thought of it suddenly wanted to move, lock stock and barrel! In my mind then, the movie was so successful because of that and I was just thrilled with it because I escaped for a couple of hours watching!

    ReplyDelete

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