Showing posts with label tours. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tours. Show all posts

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Tuscany...cook eat discover tour.

I was going to publish a post about our visit to The Vatican 
but when I looked over my photos I realized that there were only a couple.
I was in awe of the place and paid full attention to what we were seeing...
BTW there are NO photos permitted in The Sistine Chapel.

We took an early morning tour with a small group of about 20 people to avoid the crowds that gather during regular visiting hours.

We stopped for a coffee in the cafe across the street from the Vatican and made the mistake of sitting while we drank it...
Let's just say it was the most expensive cup of coffee I have ever had.
(8 Euros)

And now on to Tuscany...


We arrived in the Maremma area of Tuscany by train and were met at the station.
We were driven to a hilltop medieval village called Roccatederighi.


Emily a guest from the UK and Ollie the chef and owner of Cook Eat Discover.
We got settled into our rooms and then were picked up for a welcome dinner.


My view from the terrace to the pool and valley beyond.
The week long tour includes daily excursions as well as cooking instruction.


Lush groves and cypress trees.
Quiet except for the cacophony of birdsong.


We met Martin the owner of Valdonica Vineyards in the village of Sassofortino.
He is a former doctor who fell in love with the area and purchased several hectares of forested land.
He cleared some of the land and planted grapevines.
Martin grows his vines using organic healthy practises.

 We tasted a variety of his wine...
as well as some of the olive oil that he produces.
His rose wine won a 98 point award a few years ago.
Martin runs a rural "hotel" which is attached to the property.


Martin loves the colour orange...
It features prominently in his tasting room and patio.


Another lovely pool!



Beautiful orange sunset...


Tom McGovern was a guest on the tour.
He's a professional and very talented food photographer 
you can follow him on Instagram "Food Photographer."

Tom is the nicest fellow you could ever meet.

It turns out that he took the photos for Jane Green's cookbook "Good Taste."
(I have the book!)


Water Buffalo
we visited a farm where they make buffalo mozzarella and other assorted cheeses.


We then drove to an Organic Tuscan Rice Farm
Tenuta San Carlo
 where we purchased the risotto for our cooking lesson.





Agritourismo is an important part of farming life in Italy.
Visitors can stay on the farms and participate in farm related activities.
These guests help to subsidize the farmer's income.


We explored the picturesque lanes in the village of Roccatederighi.









Loved the pots and charm of this stone home and garden.


The Village "community kitchen" 
we made our risotto here.


Flo served us bubbly and appetizers atop the rocky outcropping 
in the setting sunlight before we ate the risotto.

In the next post I will share some of the pastas that we made.

~ Be well and Be Kind ~

Saturday, June 24, 2017

Salt Spring Island visit and a Rose Garden Tour

It's been a whirlwind week and one of the highlights was a trip across to Salt Spring Island to visit a friend. I did not go empty handed and I took her a wee gift and a bouquet of our Humble Bungalow garden roses.


My friend lives on a lush acreage where she has created a beautiful Mediterranean style garden.  She and her husband travel to Provence every year and spend a couple of idyllic months exploring the villages. I think she has been inspired by the lovely gardens in France.




The garden plants are selected with an artists eye...
and then one needs to be mindful of 
the deer who have voracious appetites!

Ali took me on a garden tour with the local rose group.


First we stopped off at Ali's friend Anna's home.


Anna and her husband Paul are artists and they have a gallery on their property that showcases their artwork. In case you are interested I have included a link to their site below.


Blue Horse Gallery is located in the Southey Point area of Salt Spring.

Weddings are frequently held on this picturesque property and they also run a B&B called Bloom.




I was so smitten with this adorable suite...
I could imagine waking up and taking my coffee out to the terrace and listening to the bees buzzing and the birdsong.


We visited quite a few gardens and there are many keen rosarians on the island.
I felt very privileged to be included on the tour and have Ali to thank for arranging it for me to join in.


A clump of poppies caught my eye...



I must get some of these for our garden.

Ali and I had lunch in Ganges and perused some of the lovely shops.
I was tempted by many of the lovely linen garments in the shops 
but I do not "need" any more...

 I cannot say that for roses 
as I am already thinking where I can find room to squeeze in a few more in our garden!


One of my favourite gardens on the tour was a 6 acre property near Vesuvius. 
Pauline and her husband have a vast garden with over 200 roses!
A fragrant oasis of roses
which Pauline has mixed with many lovely plants.

The most stunning array of vibrant blue, mauve and purple delphiniums 
stood tall with her glorious roses.
Pauline is an avid and knowledgeable gardener and very gracious.
It was difficult prying myself away from her garden but I had to catch the ferry. 


Ali and I plan to meet again on the island 
as there are so many wonderful things to see and do...

I am heading out to the garden so I will close before donning my garden gloves.

Hope you have a lovely weekend.
XO