| 2022 | Rome, Ravello, Naples, London |
| 2021 | COVID |
| 2020 | Argentina – Chile |
| 2019 | Utah, Italy – Milan, Dolomites, Verona, Bologna; Amsterdam |
| 2018 | Stockholm, Denmark, Norway, Fjords, |
| Italy – Rome, Orvieto, Spello, Florence; Paris | |
| 2017 | Italy – Venice, Pesaro, Spello, Parma |
| Portugal – Lisbon, Porto, Douro Valley, Amsterdam | |
| 2016 | Italy – Rome, Lucca, Florence |
| Spain – San Sebastian | |
| 2015 | Napa Valley |
| Italy – Rome, Orvieto, Spello, Volterra, Florence | |
| Amsterdam | |
| 2014 | Alaska |
| France – Nice, Provence, Arle, Montpellier, Bordeaux, Paris | |
| Italy – Venice, Lago di Garda, Verona, Alba (truffles), Sicily | |
| 2013 | Italy – Lake Stressa, Ovada, Cinque Terra, Lucca |
| Italy – Family Trip – Rome, Orvieto, Tuscany, Venice | |
| 2012 | Italy – Venice, Verona, Bologna, Genoa, Rapallo, Alba (truffles) |
| France – Montpellier, La Bra | |
| 2011 | Spain – Bilbao, Barcelona (with John and Tommy) |
| 2010 | Italy – Rome, Pienza, Venice |
| France – Paris, Montpellier | |
| 2008 | Italy (w/ Margaret and Richard) |
| Positano, Sicily, Rome | |
| 2007 | London (visiting John) |
| 2005 | Italy with the Fortunato Family – Lake Como, Cortona, Rome |
| 2003 | Italy – with Italy4Real |
| Lago Maggiore, Verona, Venice, Remini | |
| San Marino, Pisa, Florence, Rome | |
| 2002 | Alaska |
Month: December 2022
Amalfi Coast 2022
In October 2022 we returned to the Amalfi coast since 2008. The weather was fantastic and we stayed in Ravello which is south of Positano and further up the mountain because the coastal towns like Positano and Amalfi have attracted a lot more tourists. The views were spectacular and Ravello is a quaint little town that offers a bit of peace and quiet.
We drove to Ravello from Rome. Our first stop was at the Apicella Winery in Tramonti. We toured the winery and the vineyards which have a unique pergola system using the trunks of chestnut trees to support the vines. We drank their wine and had a delicious lunch.
The following day we rented a boat and traveled up and down the coast. Our captain was Sandro and he was very good about pointing out all the sites on the hills. It was a beautiful day and an experience I will always remember. We circumnavigated Capri and saw the green and the blue grottoes. We pulled into the harbor in Nerano and had a fabulous lunch at Il Cantuccio in Marina del Cantone looking over the sea and the beach. Lunch naturally included Spaghetti Nerano, which we learnedhow to make with Daniella in Rome.
The next day we went into the town of Amalfi and had a guided tour of the town and the Cathedral which was quite impressive. Our guide Michelangelo was fascinated by the remains of St. Andrew which were reportedly brought to Amalfi from Constantinople in 1206 during the Fourth Crusade by Cardinal Peter of Capua. After the tour of the Cathedral we were taken to a lemon grove at the edge of Amalfi and had a nice tour and lunch. Salvatore was the proprietor and a 6th generation caretaker of the groove. The steep slope of the mountain makes this very challenging work.
The next day we left Hotel Rufolo (which was lovely) and we went to Hotel Cimbrone which was situated perfectly to give spectacular views of two sides of the mountain. Cimbrone is one of the top 10 location for wedding in Italy and for good reason. We lunched our first day on the terrace which had amazing vistas. It was a treat for the senses.
Restaurants we ate at:
Mimi Pizzeria & Cucina – good pizza.
Ristorante Vittoria – right outside the door of Hotel Rufolo. We had a slight wine dispute when they opened a bottle of Antinori reserve by mistake. We ate eggplant parmigiana, lamb chops and sea bream. Meet too delightful British tourists who shared our wine
Ristorante Salvatore 1958 – Nice location right outside the tunnel with a local cuisine flair. We had tempura rabbit, gnocchi with braised veal and sea bream with lemon rinds.
Enotavola Risto – very nice lunch shared the caprese salad, raviolo al limone, and polpette della nonna.
Il Cantuccio – Marina del Cantone – Nerano