Time could not pass quickly enough for the return of my cooking/traveling companion/friend Kelly and her lovely family to Seven Mile Drive. They had stayed on in Europe traveling to Naples, Sorrento and Florence for a week longer than I. But, I was excited for her to arrive home. My cookbook from Casa Ombuto was…
My personal journal dated June 18th, 2010 Today I took the 7:50AM vaporetta from St. Marks Square to Marco Polo Airport where I would embark on my transatlantic flight home. As our boat traveled along the Grand Canal, we stopped for additional passengers, some tourists, some locals catching a ride to a stop up the…
It is Wednesday in Venice and when I awoke at 7:30 I could hear the sprinkling of rain on the window. The Hotel Monaco provides a continental breakfast like none in the US. The tray was delivered with my selection of cappuccino, a basket of breads, including fresh croissants, two type of muffins and small…
A page from my personal journal dated June 15, 2010 Tuesday noon.. As I write this I am sitting on the train from Roma to Venezia, Santa Lucia, which is a three and one half hour trip. I am happy to return to Venice as it was my favorite city when Tom and I brought…
This is a page from my personal journal dated Monday, June 14, 2010 This morning Kelly, Katie and I were the first to rise. We showered and again took turns with the temperamental blow dryer. Katie, Kelly and I rushed down to the piazza where the farmers market assembles each morning to buy fruit and…
15 The PrayerA page from my personal journal dated June 13th, 2010. The apartment in Roma, located just steps from the piazza, was a second floor walk up with three fairly large bedrooms, a living room, two kitchens, a beautiful outdoor garden terrace, nicely appointed. The third floor had a bathroom complete with bidet and…
A page from my personal journal dated….June 12th, 2010 Today I figured out if I changed my international settings to Italy I would be on the correct calendar. It only took me a week to figure that out…. Kelly and I left Casa Ombuto at around 8:30 am after a tearful goodbye to our new…
A page from my personal journal dated Friday, June 11, 2010 Sadly, today is our final day at Casa Ombuto. Tomorrow morning we will rise bright and early, drive the now famous Fiat Panda back to Florence, do some shopping at Ponte Vecchio, have lunch and catch the train to Rome where we will be…
A page from my personal journal dated Thursday, June 10th, 2010 It is already Thursday and our one totally free day here at Casa Ombuto. Awoke a bit later this morning for no particular reason other than…..I could! Showered and readied for our adventure with Kelly and Elizabeth, who were waiting in the cantina eating…
A page from my personal journal dated Wednesday, June 9th, 2010 Here it is Wednesday already. We had two intense cooking classes today and spent the entire day here at lovely Casa Ombuto. We are also really getting to know and love our chef Laura Giusti. Laura is a wonderfully knowledgable and professional chef. She…