Italy - Week 2 - January 2015

Italy Week 2 – Jan 29 – Feb 4, 2015

Thursday, 29 January 2015

Nice surprise today. “Cooking with Lucas” had a cancellation in his Tour of Downtown Vicenza and I was able to secure a spot! 

We met in front of the Teatro Olimpico--a theatre in Vicenza, northern Italy, constructed in 1580-1585. The theatre was the final design by the Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio and was not completed until after his death. For more info, check out their website: http://www.teatrolimpicovicenza.it

This is the courtyard of the Teatro Olimpico  

Awesome day. Toured downtown Vicenza with 9 other ladies. Army wives. So fun. Loved getting to meet them and hear about their lives in Italy.

We walked through the whole town! Lucas took us to what he considered the best pastry shop, the best coffee shop, wine shop, deli shop, and a trip to a 119 year-old copper shop. We visited a couple of Asian markets and went into the supermarket, EuroSpar. Wow, it was awesome so many fresh items and wine, wine, wine!

Copper Shop in Vicenza started in 1896 by this man's great-grandfather. His grandfather ran it and now it's run by him and his father. Here he's molding a plate.

Hand-made Copper pots, clocks, and more.

The Bacchigilione River runs through Vicenza with bridges crossing the river in several locations.

Prepared food to go. A feast for the eyes as well as the belly!

La Visea -  Nice wine shop with some of the local wines. Here's a wonderful post with all the information you'd need to find it and what the shop has to offer. All with Pictures!

https://bravovino.wordpress.com/2014/10/09/wine-shop-enoteca-la-visea-vicenza/

Original house of the famous Antonio Pigafetta who sailed with Ferdinand Magellan.

Built in 1440. Can you imagine living in a house that old?









Door to the Pigafetta house.




And my preoccupation with cool doors continues.



http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fit.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FCasa_Pigafetta&hl=en&langpair=auto|en&tbb=1&ie=UTF-8

Learn more about his contribution to the voyage here:

https://bravovino.wordpress.com/2014/10/09/wine-shop-enoteca-la-visea-vicenza/

 Fresh seafood market.

After the tour, four hours of constant walking, we stopped for lunch at Lucas' house. 

Lasagna and salad with great wine. 

Cheese and desert wine—the best! 

I’m still reeling over the Lasagna. 

It was a special kind usually only made during the Christmas holidays. This Lasagna had seven meats and included olives and chopped Almonds in the top crust. 
Mama Mia—sooo delicious! 

Hands down, the best Lasagna I’ve ever eaten. 

And what was so amazing is that I didn’t have any issues with the Gluten. 

It’s been amazing how I can eat things with gluten here and not have any problems. I’m sure it has something to do with the lack of GMO’s and other things that we’ve done in the US to make things “better.” Can you say “let’s go back to the simple ways” please?

Lunch "Italian Style"
Super Special Day 

Cheese with dessert wine. 

Yum! 

Buonissimo!

Here’s the "Cooking with Lucas" website if you’d like to check out the great Italian recipes. If you’re ever in the Veneto Region near Vicenza, I highly recommend connecting with him for a class or a tour! http://www.cookingwithlucas.com

Statues on the building in Vicenza's Piazza dei signori. 

http://www.italiaoutdoors.com/city-of-vicenza/697-vicenza-s-main-square-piazza-dei-signori

To see this square with the Christmas lights.

https://www.facebook.com/negrieditore/media_set?set=a.10205400682086630&type=1&pnref=story

The oldest coffee shop in Vicenza.

Although the day was cloudy and a bit dreary, we rode up to Monte Berico and had an awesome view of the town. 

Here's more about Monte Berico: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Berico

Great day! Once home and settled I check the stats on my FitBit.  Walked 16,158 steps for 6.76 miles. 

Friday,  30 January 2015 

Square in Cavazzale

We woke to snow on the ground—about an inch of the thick slushy stuff. So the walk to school with the grandkids was fun. Boots and lots of splashing. Funny, it didn’t stop the women who ride their bikes everywhere to be out and about as usual. Some of the riders are at least in their late sixties or older. They do keep active here because they walk or ride bikes where they need to go. The town is small enough to get what they need in the heart of town or from the market on Saturday.

Saturday 31 January 2015

 

Market day. Walked around the square. Bought fresh garlic (aglio). Wow, powerful stuff. Cooked fresh spinach (spinaci – spin—ah—chi) with garlic, olive oil (olio) and butter. Very Good (Molto Buono!)

Went bowling with the kiddos on post today. Quite fun even though it had been at least 4 years since I’ve gone bowling. Didn’t even break 100. But, hey, came close!

Sunday 1 February 2015

Left early this morning, son and I headed to Piazola sul Brenta to attend one of the largest antique/contemporary markets in the Veneto area. There are over 700 vendors and is held each month on the last weekend of the month. Yep, you guessed it. We missed it. Feb 1 is not the last weekend of the month.

We were a bit disappointed.

The Villa Contini is located here and it is amazing. Here’s a link to the history.

Cobblestone Road in Piazola sul Brenta
that is in front of Villa Contain

http://www.villacontarini.eu/en/villa-contarini.html

One of the many stone faces adorning the arches over the road in Piazola sul Brenta

Gates to Villa Contini in Piazola sul Brenta

Chess board square in Marostica

We decided to drive up to Marostica to go to their market. I adore that square. It’s a giant checkerboard and a human chess game is played in medieval dress every two years. Now that is one chess game I would be ready for!

http://www.visitsitaly.com/images/veneto-im/marostica-im/marostica_chess_tournament.jpg

Wall around the square in Marostica

Had Gelato at 10:00 AM is was wonderful. Who says you can only have gelato after lunch and in the summer? Banana flavor with cheeries and hard chocolate shell. Yum!

Market in the square in Marostica

Church this evening on post. Sermon from Matthew of the temptation of Christ. Yes, the enemy is always lurking and he shoots directly for those areas of our greatest vulnerability.

Didn't watch the Superbowl. The start time here was 12:00 AM. Sleep was more important...

Monday 2 February 2015

Relaxed around the house today with the wee little man. Lovin’ this little guy.

Had wonderful wine tonight! Brought our bottles to this wine shop and they filled it from a spigot!

Tuesday 3 February 2015

Drove with DIL to NICOLI, a local purse factory. Oh boy, you’re talking my language! I’m such a purse hound. Well, I couldn’t resist buying one. A red one!

http://www.nicoliitalia.com/php/eng/collezioni/

Wednesday 4 February 2015

Stopped into Fausto’s a local coffee and pastry shop. Had a cappuccino with a Miele (me-A-lee) Brioche (Bree-ooch) (Honey Brioche). Awesome. On the way home visited the local fresh vegetable market and bought a branch of cherry tomatoes (pomodorini)

Decided to walk to the neighboring town, Montecello Conte Otto, and visit their church. Didn’t seem very far when we drove through. So I dropped the tomatoes off and headed out. Stopped along the way at the local cemetery. Very interesting. As a writer, I love reading the names on the headstones. Gives me ideas for naming my characters. Especially the ones in my stories set in Italy.

Broom hanging on stone wall in cemetery

These cemeteries are very personal. There are eternal lights on the graves with pictures of the deceased and many have live plants on them. Every mausoleum had brightly colored flowers. Very beautiful.

Some families have individual mausoleums.

So I wore my FITBIT bracelet today and by the time I arrived home before 10:30 AM, I’d logged 11,700 steps or approx. 4.75 miles. 

Watering cans in the cemetery for visitors to water the flowers/plants
See the large family mausoleum behind.

A grave site with a garden over it.

Oh and when I got to the church in Montecello C.O. it was locked. AND my camera’s memory was full AND the battery was dying. So I didn’t get any photos past the cemetery. Guess, I’ll just have to go back with a full charge on my phone and all my pics downloaded to my computer. Maybe in a couple of days I’ll have pictures of the beautiful church and bell tower.

Walking path to Montecello Conte Otto

Finished the day with well over 13,000 steps at almost 6 miles.

Until next week, Ciao!

Fay Lamb - Storms in Serenity

Good Monday Morning Readers!

Today, Fay Lamb visits Lagniappe. 

See why she likes a Southern Heroine over a British one.

Her book, Storms in Serenity is featured today.

Welcome, Fay!

1.  Tell us a little about Storms in Serenity.

Storms in Serenity is the novel of my lifetime. It’s the first book I ever wrote—and it took me nearly thirty years to publication. The story is a modern-day retelling of the aftermath of David’s sin with Bathsheba:

Jake New has a secret that no one else in the small town of Serenity Key knows. When two men arrive on the island, Jake fears his life is about to become unraveled, but he could never have imagined the devastation his thirty-year-old indiscretion could have on everyone he knows and loves.

When the daughter Jake has never met is reported missing, possibly a victim of foul play, and the lives of others around him begin to unravel, Jake realizes that his “personal” sin has unleashed a spiritual storm whose winds match the physical hurricane barreling down upon the island. In the aftermath, will anyone be left standing?

2.  Tell your readers about your brand and how you came up with it?

I have two brands that actually lend to the same truth: I write fiction with a Romans 8:28 attitude that shows that God is always in the details.

One day when I was bemoaning the fact that I didn’t have a rich Christian heritage to lean upon, God reminded me that I had the heritage that He had prepared for me, and I realized that if I had not gone through some of the tough things in life, if my parents hadn’t been two of the strangest, wonderful people in the world, if I had grown up with my father versus my mother, I would never have walked down the aisle of a church and accepted Christ as my savior when I was twelve years old. Yes, it could have happened in another way. God always makes a way, but would my heart have been so open to Him? God’s like that. His way is perfect. And God the Father actually faced a difficult hardship to remind us the truth of Romans 8:28 when He sent His only begotten Son to the cross and had to turn His back upon Him. God’s sacrifice of His son shows that all things do work for good for those who love God.

3.  If you could spend the day with a famous author, whom would you choose and why?

James A. Michener. I started reading his books when a history teacher made me do a book report on Centennial. It wasn’t until after high school that I realized how much I loved the book. Every year around my birthday, Mr. Michener released a new book, and I always thought of it as a special present from him. I’d love to sit with him and just talk to him about all the events in history he experienced both in real life and through his research.

4.  What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing? Hobbies, etc?

I collect salt and pepper shakers and have over 500 sets of them, but I have slacked off on my search lately. I also love to tat.

5.  Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

Oh yes. I’m very fortunate as an editor to read many of the newer authors before they are published, and I am always letting readers know about them. I’m thankful for the opportunity to list their names and works here: Elizabeth Noyes (Imperfect Wings); Betty Thomason Owens (Amelia’s Legacy); Julie Arduini (Entrusted); Jerusha Agen (Sisters Redeemed series); Victoria Buck (Wake the Dead). And there are authors to be looking for: Kathleen Friesen (Nila’s Hope) and Joanie Deneve (Saving Eric). There is so much talent in the Christian writing industry, it’s hard for me to list them all.

6.  Where is one place you want to visit that you haven't been before and is it a place you'd set a story?

My publisher, Write Integrity Press will be releasing a multi-author collaboration novella this month entitled The Love Boat Bachelor. You can imagine this is about a man on a cruise. Actually, Brent Teague will be familiar to readers of A Dozen Apologies, last year’s Valentine’s novella. Brent has taken a job as a cruise ship chaplain, and I got to send Brent to shore on Barbados. I have always wanted to visit that tiny island, which is so rich in history, but I absolutely enjoyed my virtual visit via research.

7.  What can we expect from you in the future?

I’m currently writing the third book in my Amazing Grace series. That romantic suspense novel is entitled Everybody’s Broken. And I’m continuing to write the third novel in my The Ties that Bind series, Hope. These will both be released in 2015.

LIGHTNING ROUND   

Pride and Prejudice or Gone with the Wind?

Oh, Gone with the Wind of course. It’s the difference between proper and respectful versus determination and grit. I’d take a Southern Belle heroine over an English heroine any time, even if she does have some antagonist’s tendencies.

Laptop or Desktop?

The only reason I’ve sat at a desktop in the last five years is to help my mother-in-law with her continual computer problems. I have to have a laptop. I can’t be confined to one space.

Steel Magnolias or Fried Green Tomatoes?

Really? Can you have one without the other? Well, if I think about it, I’m partial to Steel Magnolias. I love the laughter in the midst of tears. You can’t get past that funeral scene without crying and laughing at the same time. “Take a whack at Weezer” is one of my favorite movie lines.

Sweet Tea or Unsweetened Tea?

Ha! My car pulls up to the local drive-in five days a week (every night they are open) for a jumbo sweet tea with extra ice. Each week, I brew tea in the hopes of having it taste as good as the Moonlight Drive-In’s, but I can’t do it. I just thankful that I finally got it drinkable.

More important: Plot or Characters?

In my opinion, you need both for a good novel. However, I start with character, and the plot builds from the conflict I decide to give them.

Vacation: Beach or Mountains?

I live on the east coast of Florida. We have a beach, but it’s a few miles out from our town, on the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, which has been taken over by Kennedy Space Center. I much prefer the lapping waters of our Indian River that separates us from the barrier island. We also have a home in the mountains of North Carolina. While I prefer Florida in the winter (can’t do the gloomy, hemmed-in mountain skies), I’m much happier in the mountains, especially in the spring when I can watch the dogwood blooms fill the mountains with nature’s lace.

            Fay Lamb is an author, editor, and writing coach. Her emotionally charged stories remind the reader that God is always in the details. Fay has contracted three series. Stalking Willow and Better than Revenge, Books 1 and 2 in the Amazing Grace romantic suspense series are currently available for purchase. Charisse and Libby the first two novels in her The Ties That Bind contemporary romance series have been released. Fay has also collaborated on three romance novellas: The Christmas Three Treasure Hunt, A Ruby Christmas, and the newest A Dozen Apologies. Her adventurous spirit has taken her into the realm of non-fiction with The Art of Characterization: How to Use the Elements of Storytelling to Connect Readers to an Unforgettable Cast.

Storms in Serenity (release January 2015), is the first novel in her Serenity Key series.

Future releases from Fay are: Everybody’s Broken and Frozen Notes, Books 3 and 4 of Amazing Grace and Hope and Delilah, Books 3 and 4 from The Ties that Bind.

Fay loves to meet readers, and you can find her on her personal Facebook page, her Facebook Author page, and at The Tactical Editor on Facebook. She’s also active on Twitter. Then there are her blogs: On the Ledge, Inner Source, and the Tactical Editor. And, yes, there’s one more: Goodreads.

Fay, thanks so much for sharing with our readers!

Readers, thanks for visiting Lagniappe.

I pray you find 

"a little something extra" 

in each of your days.

Marian