HOME AGAIN, HOME AGAIN, JIGGITY JIG!

After nine fabulouso days in

ROME,

FLORENCE,

and TUSCANY,

we are home again in Dubai!

After nine fabulouso days at

WOOF,

Shallie is home again, 

as well!

(And she is one happy camper!)

Home again, home again, jiggity jig!*!

AHHHHH, ITALIA! MEMORIES OF PORTOFINO!

It was our last day in

TUSCANY

and what did John and I plan to do?

We decided to 

hit the road once again 

to visit a place

(after watching an Andrea Bocelli's concert there) 

we had dreamed of seeing one day...

PORTOFINO!

Once again, 

it was the perfect day for a drive

(this time we told the TomTom that toll roads were a-okay!),

through green rolling hills of fog and vineyards,

past rows and rows of platano trees, 

until finally, and at long last,

we saw the sign we had been waiting for!

Driving through the municipality of

 Santa Margherita Ligure

and then the several miles to

PORTOFINO

actually made for one hair-raising ride!

(Narrow, narrow, winding streets....did I mention NARROW?)

But we made it!

Three hours after leaving

IL BORGHETTO

we arrived in

PORTOFINO!

It was even more amazing to see it live 

than it was

seeing it in the Imax Theatre in Dubai!

Everywhere we looked,

standing in the Portofino Harbor,

was picture postcard perfect!

There was an enormous yacht

called the Lady M

that was moored in the harbor.

(And took up much of the marina!)

It was an absolutely beautiful sight to finally see!

We were so glad we made the trip!

We devoured a pizza and a beer

(we are undeniably addicted)

at a cafe on the water.

(Note my BIG BEER and John's LITTLE BEER!)

It's tough being the designated driver!

We stood in the Marina 

and soaked up all the goodness that surrounded us!

AHHHH, PORTOFINO!

It wasn't long before it was time to say

 CIAO PORTOFINO 

(we will be back someday),

and we began tackling 

those narrow winding roads once again!

We loved every single minute of the road trip home.

(Well, at least I did!)

Oh, what a day it had been!

Once we were back at

IL BORGHETTO

we spent the evening finishing up several 

bottles of wine 

that we had opened throughout the week.

(It was a tough job, but someone had to do it!)

We were up and at em early the next morning,

returned the TomTom and the car in 

 FLORENCE,

and took the train back to

ROME

where we caught our flight back to

DUBAI AND SHALLIE.

Ahhhhhhh, ITALIA....

how I love you, how I love you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHALLIE!!

Today is 

SHALLIE'S

one year birthday!

And today 
(since it's her birthday),
she wanted me to show you how dog gone smart she is!!

Happy 1st Birthday,
SHALLIE!

Now SIT, DOWN, SHAKE, TURN, STAND, LEAVE IT, LEAVE IT, LEAVE IT, TAKE IT, TAKE IT, TAKE IT, TURN, TURN!!!

AHHHHHH, ITALIA! MEMORIES OF TUSCAN WINERIES!

What a way to start the day.

Relaxing in warm sunbeams, surrounded by vineyards,

smack dab in the middle of 

TUSCANY!

And then Market Day back in

SAN GIMIGNANO!

Italians just love their gellato!

(And this was in the early morning.)

I hesitate to admit it, but we devoured a 

delicious sandwich for lunch made

from the guy on the left!

(Mmmmm, mmmmm, mmmmm.)

We were picked up by a van for an afternoon of

TOURING TUSCAN WINERIES!

First, a stop in

MONTERIGGIONI!

Then on to our first winery,

CASAMONTI!

This lady was the owner of the winery

and spoke better English than I!

They raised a special breed of pigs and the meat

was cured for months.

They also had acres of olive trees

and made and bottled their own olive oil.

(It was out of this world!) 

Then came the really good part --

not only wine sampling but we actually got to EAT!

(Again....out of this world!)

Um, sure I'll have some more!

We ate.  We drank.  We listened.  We learned.

Then off to the next delightful little town,

CASTELLINA in CHIANTI.

And off to the next winery,

(ooops, I forgot its name but it was amazing!)

A long table was set for us amidst old oak barrels.

Let me tell you, it smelled AMAZING!

And the food was AMAZING.

And the wine was AMAZING as well!

CHEERS.....again!

I hate that I can't remember the name of this winery.

But don't worry -- John bought some (many) bottles 

that will be shipped back to Indianapolis.

(Here he is making out his order!)

I'll let you know when the wine arrives and Jonathan 

can read me the name off the label!

(DO NOT DRINK THE WINE, Jonathan!)

Ahhhh, ITALIA...

how I love you, how I love you!