For the last couple of years we have been focussed on remodeling our new home base and haven't taken many trips to speak of. Here's a peak at what our view will be once we can officially move in. UPDATE: I've taken to much time to finish this article, we have been moved in since the middle of 2023.
More on that later, because this is about an epic celebration. We took to the skies for our this adventure. We had a very special family event to attend and decided to turn it into a bit of a road trip. When we realized we'd be heading to Italy we decided to see as much as we could while we were there. Our ultimate destination was in the Le Marche region near Treia, Italy. This is approximately half way between Milan and Rome.
Our adventure began with a flight from Seattle to Geneva with a short layover in Dublin. As we drove to our Hotel in Scion, Lake Geneva (Lac Leman) loomed large.
Mother nature really never fails to impress. The Alps are absolutely indescribable. We had about a 3 hour drive that was filled with views of jagged mountaintops, a few castles and so many hillside vineyards. But the first thing I noticed was how polite the GPS voice was in the rental car! She says, Please!
We checked into our hotel at about supper time with all the excitement of two kids on Christmas morning. The host promised us the best hamburger in the world... we didn't burst his bubble. That honor, for us, belongs to the great US of A.
Traveling is an absolute gift that we greatly appreciate. The U.S. and Canada are beautiful places to visit but the age and grandeur of Europe is out of this world. For our first outing in Sion, we chose a castle. Chateau de Valere, construction began in the 10th century!
So many castles... so little time. Personally, I would love to tour them all but that is sadly not possible.
We love the water, so on our second morning in Sion we ventured to Montreux, a quaint resort village on the north shore of Lake Geneva (Lac Leman).
We like to stick our toes in the water wherever we go... sometimes I just lean over and touch it with my fingers... Lake Geneva was no exception. If you zoom in on the pano it looks like Darin got a little to aggressive at the lake and lost a hand... Just kidding but take a look at what happens when you aren't perfectly still during a Pano shot.
We spent the day cruising around in awe of the natural and architectural beauty of this gem. The little shops, cafes and bakeries were all welcoming and of course we bought some pastries and chocolates while we were there.
As we drove along the lake, the hillside vineyards looked as if they went all the way from the lake to the clouds. The scenery is absolutely unmatched, at least until we got to the next beautiful scene. Just look at those waterfalls! Everything Switzerland was simply breathtaking. The Food? Yes - delicious! Even their burgers were good but if you haven't had roasted bone marrow - don't leave that of your list!
After a wonderful tour of Lake Geneva we began our journey to Vallouise-Pelvoux, France. The route was so pretty and filled with unmatched landscapes that my photography skills could never hold a candle to.
We went through tunnel after tunnel and drove by meadows that belong in the Sound of Music. We crossed into Italy and needed gas so we stopped at a gas station of course. We had been told that gas station food was good in Italy, being the skeptic that I am when it comes to good food, I was doubtful. Well doubt no more - The best pastry shops in the US would struggle to compete.
This trip was during May 2023, we were not expecting snow. While traveling through northern Italy to get to France we went through countless tunnels with mesmerizing scenery after each tunnel, as we approached France and exited another tunnel, it was snowing as we crossed into France. Well, we were headed to a ski resort, but it was off-season so this was a pleasant surprise. The quaint village and ski resort were deserted, we had the town to ourselves basically and we loved every minute of it. The few locals we encountered were very friendly and welcoming.
We checked into this cute hotel and walked around the town for a few hours before having dinner. We found a river that is apparently a summertime weekend attraction for the rapids. We would totally return to this area again for the scenery, the food and the wonderful people.
From France we headed back into Italy for the big event! We were there to witness a spectacular wedding but before the big event, Willow and Matteo took us to the nicest restaurant you can imagine for the most delicious 7 course meal you could dream of! The food at Ristorante Andreina is out of this world! If you ever get a chance to have smoked pasta, don't pass it up. However, when you are in a dimly lit fancy restaurant, watch your step! After our meal I headed to the ladies room carefully watching for steps and uneven flooring. As I entered the ladies room, I apparently did not see the step just inside the door... as I came to on the bathroom floor I realized we had a huge problem. I had apparently rolled and broke my ankle. As I crawled around to try and manage the task I actually went there to do I wasn't sure how I would get out of there without screaming. I managed to crawl out and get their attention... Off to the Emergency Room we go! Thank GOD for Matteo and his fluent Italian.
The big day arrives in the midst of a 100 year storm! The roads were muddy, the winds were whipping and the rain was relentless, but the nuptials took place without issue. Only a few changes had to be made due to weather, but otherwise a gorgeous celebration of love.
After the wedding, Darin and I had plans for a bit of touring around Italy, my broken ankle was a real drag but we persevered and did some sightseeing anyway. We found our way to a beach on the Adriatic Sea, and more delicious food before heading west.
Next up was Florence, Pisa, the Ligurian Sea and Rome... We managed to still see many attractions and historical places of interest but getting around on crutches made things super difficult. We will have to return again one day to see the sights again! Cathedral Square, the leaning Tower and the Vatican are all things that should go on a bucket list! Just try not to do that while on crutches or in a wheelchair. Being in a wheelchair in the Vatican is insanity!
We had loads of fun, saw beautiful scenery and were around some amazing and loving people. Our NEXT big trip is BULGARIA!! Stay tuned for those memories and don't forget to go make some of your own. Peace and love to you all. Here's a photo dump for you...
