Mikie in the Red - Centre

Have received these latest photos from Lisa (Alice Springs) of our little mate Mikie - he will be 2 in late September.

With his Mum in the Alice - at the old Telegraph Station

Walking that "red dirt track" with Dad

How good is he - a real aussie "outback swagger"

This little man has spent the first 20+ months of his life with his hip in plaster, and had many many medical procedures in Adelaide.

How wonderful it is to see Mikie really on the "move" - and with that special grin.

Verona - Romeo and Juliet

Our time in Verona was very short, it was a 3 hour stop en route from Lake Maggiore to Cortina d'Ampezzo in the Dolomite Mountains. You would really need quite a few days to do this place justice.

Verona's origins date back to ancient times, and from what I have read, the first settlements may date back to prehistoric times.

The old city retains the traditional grid layout of Roman towns. Below is a photo of moi, in front of some of the old roman walls

Escavations reveal some of the Roman ruins in Via Cappello

We stopped at the Casa di Giuletta (Juliet's House) and checked out the famous balcony of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet .

We then wandered up to Piazza Erbe - named after the city's old herb market

It is so alive, full of stalls selling herb flavoured roast suckling pig in bread rolls to fresh picked fruit and wild mushrooms, and of course the few usual touristy stalls as well.

Casa Mazzanti stands out on one side of Piazza Erbe with it's 16th century wall frescos still visible above the cafes

Verona Madonna fountain in Piazza Erbe dates from the Roman times, and serves as a reminder that this Piazza has been used as a market-place for 2000 years.

At the northern end of Piazza Erbe is the Palazzo Maffei (1668) below, surmounted by statues. In front of the Palazzo rises a column supporting the Venetian Lion marking Verona's absorption into the Venetian empire (1405)

After enjoying the atmosphere in Piazza Erbe we set off for Piazza Bra

We passed some angels near Verona's enormous Roman Arena (1st Century)

The 3rd largest in Italy, and one of the best preserved - world famous operas are held within this magnificent ancient structure every summer.

We are now in the "Liston" the wide pavement - the traditional promenade for the locals

around Piazza Bra

We walked around the exterior of Palazzo's

So many "towers"

Italy - must be the king of Towers and Tunnels !!

Our final stop before meeting up with Carlo and Stephanie, was a little Tavern for a quick snack for lunch - Stephanie had raved about it, so we had to try it - as did most in our group - and what we had was superb.

We exited Verona across the Adige River to head to the Italian Alps

*****

Obviously not nearly enough time for Verona, but quite honestly every place in Italy needs many days to explore, unfortunately one can't do it all.

Wentworth Village - in bloom

Frank's sister, Margaret and Kevin drove to Wentworth Village, South Yorkshire last week, to enjoy lunch at the George and Dragon Pub (below) their youngest son, Matthew is the head chef here - a great meal - of course - for his Mum and Dad.

The history of Wentworth village is inextricably linked with the history of the great aristocratic familys, the Wentworths, Watsons and Fitzwilliams, who presided over if for generations. The sketch above is of the Wentworth Woodhouse - the longest frontage of any house in England - 600 feet. It is now in private hands and not open to the public.

******

Only recently, following the end of the Fitzwilliam family line in 1979, has the village started to lead a more independent existence with much of the property being managed by a trust.

The managing Trust does an excellent job of preserving the character of the village,

and continues to make charitable donations for the benefit of residents.

Below is the new Church, commissioned by the 6th Earl Fitzwilliam in memory of his parents, apparently it is like a Cathedral inside. The old church built in 13th century is partially in ruins now, though still used for special events.

AND ON SUNDAY THERE WAS A WEDDING

Followed by pre and post service drinks

in the Beer Garden of the Pub where Matt cooks up a storm - on a glorious sunny morning.

The Bride, Amanda, her Dad and crew arrived in this Combi Van Just love it!!

Amanda and Jorden, have done loads and loads of wandering around this world.

(A Combi van was my first wagon in England too, just a little while ago - 4 decades exactly!!!!).

We first met Amanda and Jorden in Sydney at end of 2008

Jorden is the brother of our neice in law - Clare who married our Nephew Nick (Kevin and Margaret's middle son), about one year ago in a Helicopter above the evening lights of Las Vegas.

Clare and Nick at the George and Dragon drinks on Sunday,

and Clare, centre, on New Years Eve 2008 - "Lawn with a View" Botanic Gardens, Sydney, with Nick on the left and Amanda and brother Jorden on the right.

AND Clare and Jorden's parents - Gill and Frank, a lovely colourful Sydney sky that night!

All the best Amanda and Jorden

Isola Pescatori and Villa Taranto

A print of Isola Pescatori - 1878

by Harry Fenn

This Borromean Gulf island's full name is - Isola Superiore dei Pescatori, a big name for a very very small island - 350 mts long and 100 mts wide. It is more commonly known as Isola Pescatori - Fisherman's Island. For so many years - fisherman have called this island home.

It is such a charming island from a distance

and I had read some great reports about it's restaurants on Tripadvisor

we had chosen one from our Tripadvisor research, and Stephanie said it was superb, she eats there whenever she has the opportunity. so she made a reservation for us - thank goodness, it was packed on the deck when we arrived at noon.

It is the restaurant to the left of the boats below

The waiter greets us with - "I have a table called Liz"!

and Stephanie has reserved a table right at the front corner of the deck - so we can take in all the lake action.

Tratoria Imbarcadero's menu was outstanding

- we opted for the local fish - starting with "antipasta pesca", followed by a superb grilled laverelo (white fish), which she is filleting above, and then a trout ravioli.

The fish, service and view were more than we had expected and as for the "conto" - just so low - less than a couple of caffes in Portofino!!!!

There are only about 50 permanent residents on Pescatori now, including fisherman - the houses they live in have entrances in the centre of the island, with doors slightly high off the ground to protect them from the floods which frequently occur when the lake waters rise.

Pescatori's wildlife roamin' the streets!!

such a great few hours - a really charming island Waiting for the ferry

which will take us north up the lake to Giardini Botanici Villa Taranto

These botanical gardens are located on the western shore of the lake, and were established by a passionate botanist Scotsman - Neil McEacharn between 1931 to 1940. He bought and existing villa (above) and its neighboring estates - 16 hectares, opening this garden to the public in 1952.

There are the colourful terraced gardens The Putti Fountain - named after the decorating sculpture of lads, the fountain is surrounded in spring of blooming flower beds.

This garden houses more than 20,000 plants of particular botanic value and more than 80,000 blooming bulbous specimens. Two of my favourite - the peony rose (above) and the wonderful cornus florida - dogwood (below) Both the above were so easy to grow in Chester, New Hampshire, but I haven't had luck anywhere else - even in Bowral in the Southern Highlands - and I have tried on numerous occasions.

The mausoleum chapel above was built in 1965 responsively to the last will of the deceased Captain McEacharn (died in 1964), his last resting place in the gardens created by him. Since his death this garden has been run by a non-profit organisation.

The gardens were superb - even late afternoon, as is the coast of Lake Maggiore.

On arrival back to our Hotel - Stephanie lets us know she has still got " some room in her budget", so she has organised "free drinks and antipasto" prior to our dinner - of course we all attend!!. Photo below, shows our gang enjoying themselves, and Stephanie on her feet amongst this group.

This night we had a choice of two Restaurants in Baveno - Fish or Steak, we chose (along with the majority) Steak - well we personally had "fished" out on Isola Pescatori. I have to tell you it was not our best dinner - really mini steak schnitzels I would say, not that it worried us after our superb lunch.

However, it was one of the funniest nights of our life - too hard to explain but it was absolutely wonderful - (photos above shows our outrageous waiter chatting up Stephanie.) We laughed all the way back to the hotel, laughed going to sleep and were still laughing the next morning . A superb evening!

Next - Carlo and Stephanie truck us to Verona.