Category Archives: Italy

Easter weekend at Lake Garda


Instead of searching for Easter eggs (we follow traditions very rarely anyway) we decided to spend the long weekend at Lake Garda, the place that always has a special place in our hearts. It’s because it (and Venice) was the destination of our very first vacation together, way back in 2011, the trip that changed the course of our lives and fate(s). Now I wonder why we’ve waited this long to come back here.

One thing you must know about Garda Lake is that it is immensly popular among Germans, especially those living in the South like we are. Coming down on Easter weekend we already knew we couldn’t possibly avoid the crowds, but I believe we managed to make the best out of it. We stayed in Gaino, a small village on the less popular side of the lake, rent a fast motorbike and headed uphills to the mountains, exactly the opposite of everybody else.

Italy is probably Europe’s most favourite country among tourists and they have very good reasons for it. The weather is usually nice, mild in the winter and always sunny all year around. The foods are always delicious and the scenery is more than dreamy. We’re not particularly fond of anything over popular but its charm is undeniable. Many Germans end up here after retirement, we won’t be surprised if we would, too ;-).

Downtown Torre del Benaco, on the east side of the lake

We had bread, prosciutto, salami and wine for a romantic Lake Garda picknick-dinner – but had no corkscrew 🙁

Sunset over Toscolano-Maderno while arriving by ferry from Torre del Benaco.
Google translation gone wrong.: “Belästigung” means “sexual harassment” in German, surely the chef didn’t mean it this way…
when in Italy…
A perfectly pimped, 1962 Vespa
My biker boy 😉
The must-have selfie in front of Lago d’Idro in the mountains west of Lake Garda.
Village life

Southern part of lake garda, overlooking Toscolano-Maderno
Northern part of lake Garda
Olive trees from above
The old center of Gaino village.

Italy roadtrip: Savignano and Florence


Right after JP Day, we hit the road with P’s mom, sister, P’s bff from highschool and her spouse (we postponed our honeymoon till next year) and headed to Tuscany. It was everyone’s first Europe trip and since it’s already mid September, we figured Italy would be a safe bet for warm and sunny weather. And so it went, our week was full of sunshine. We stayed 20km north of Florence in the secluded, ancient and tiny village of Savignano in a beautiful 13th century villa with an infinity pool overlooking the owner’s own olive plantage.  Needless to say, we didn’t wanna leave.

 

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Our villa in Savignano
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Aerial view of the tiny village, that’s really it!
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The villa has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, perfect for our group of 6.

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Florence
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Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore late in the evening

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Palazzo Vecchio

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On the way to the river Arno
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Ponte Vecchio, another “must-see” with many shops built on top of the bridge
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View from Ponte Vecchio to the next of many bridges across river Arno

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Skiing in Wolkenstein / Sella Ronda

Second time in South Tirol, skiing in the Sella Ronda area

Getting ready for the cold weather
Getting ready for the cold weather
Having a break at a snow bar
Having a break at a snow bar
The sky's clearing up
The sky’s clearing up
The sun's too bright
The sun’s too bright
panoramic view of a ski slope
Panoramic view of a ski slope

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Close-up of snow
Close-up of snow
Typical red-ish rock in the Southern part of the Alps
Typical red-ish rock in the Southern part of the Alps

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Leaving Sella Ronda, going into the St. Christina area with a 10.5km long slope
Leaving Sella Ronda, going into the St. Christina area with a 10.5km long slope
Wind gauge on top of a hut
Wind gauge on top of a hut

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Sun set
Sun set
Seiser Alm, beautiful landscape but this part was a bit boring to ski
Seiser Alm, beautiful landscape but this part was a bit boring to ski
Catching the sun on our last day
Catching the sun on our last day