Feltre e Pedavena

Photos by Alessandra Zecchini ©

Venice: signs, masks and Spritz at the Florian

Since there are no cars or bikes in Venice, there are no traffic signs either. But there are other signs, and some are quite funny! I hope that Aussie blogger Red will appreciate these (she always post great images of cool signs!). BTW, the signs above weren't in San Marco, but in a small calle (Venetian street) near a pub.

We visited Venice before Carnival, but there were already coriandoli on the streets (small colourful paper confetti to through at people during carnival). And of course we went to a mask shop and laboratory and bought a couple of masks. Fun to notice that the mask maker was sporting a cardigan with the same pattern of Arlecchino, the most famous Venetian mask and Commedia dell'Arte character.

From the Trieste's post (and probably older posts too) you probably have noticed that I love historic cafes. My favourite in Venice is the Florian (although the Quadri is also magnificent) and I know that it is expensive, but for a treat it is unbeatable! First of all I like to sit inside, while most tourists go outside, maybe they like to be in the square, but I rather look at the interior decor, since most cafes in NZ tend to be rather modern or retro (sorry, my Italian blood needs a little dose of history now and then - btw, the Florian opened in 1720, so it is the oldest cafe in Italy!), and then there are too many pigeons outside! As a plus the service at the Florian is great: formal yet relaxed, the waiters (all men) are professional but  can talk informally if you like (in a few languages), and they all seem to be pleasant and handsome. And you are allowed to take your time: you can sit for as long as you like in there, use the beautiful clean toilets (instead of the public toilets in the square, for which you have to pay for anyway), they have great chocolate and coffee, and make a good spritz too (my favourite aperitif).

Photos by Alessandra Zecchini and Arantxa Zecchini Dowling ©

Murano

A few photos from Murano, also to let you know that the best meal that we had during our stay in Venice was here on this island, in this trattoria!

Photos by Alessandra Zecchini ©

Venezia in gondola

I really really really love Venice, I have written a few posts about it (here is one), and my dream is to live there for a year (or more, or less... whatever time I am allowed!). Usually we do day trips as Venice is only 85 km from my Mum's town, but this time we spent three nights in the city, in the lovely and quiet area of Cannaregio. We stayed in a lovely B&B, but I will tell you more about it in the future, today I only have the time to post a few photos, mostly from a gondola (yes I admit it, I love gondolas too!) as we are off traveling again, slowly towards home... So I'll see you soon, and sorry again if I don't have enough internet connection these days to visit you all!

Photos by Alessandra Zecchini ©

Canazei via Agordo and Moena

Agordo

Last Saturday we left Feltre for a week in Canazei, via Agordo and Moena. It has been almost two years since we had a skiing holiday (in Bormio), and we are loving it! This time I am also doing a 5 days course, 3 hours every morning, and for the last day, tomorrow, a whole day on the slopes with the teacher and the other students. There are six of us, three Italians, two Russians and one Serbian, all keen to improve!! I will post some more photos during the rest of the week, and so far I greatly recommend this place as there are a lot of slopes for beginners and also for advance skiers, and the mountains are stunning!

Moena

From top left clockwise: on the slopes, Canazei, coffee break, Alba di Canazei

From top left clockwise: getting ready for a steep descent, Canazei, hot chocolate with cream, on the slopes.

Photos by Alessandra Zecchini ©

Belluno

Photo by Alessandra Zecchini ©

I have already written about Belluno here, it was Summer then (still, have a look, it is a very charming city!), and as I did post quite a few photos already, today I will just post one single photo, one that expresses how cold it was!

Cortina D'Ampezzo

This is not a post about the recent Blitz in Cortina (in the news in Italy, fraud office - guardia di finanza - looking for riches who don't pay taxes), but just a few photos from a recent visit.

Cortina is beautiful, the mountains are beautiful, some of the houses are charming, and some of the tourists are ... interesting. Anyway, this must be the first place where I saw the greengrocer selling Champagne!

Photos by Alessandra Zecchini ©

This morning from my window...

Feltre 6 January 2012, finally a bit of snow.

Photo by Alessandra Zecchini ©

Almost Christmas in Feltre, Italy

We are in Italy, in Feltre, getting ready for a mountain Xmas. Decorations in the streets are really subtle,  mostly pine branches, fairy lights, and Christmas trees outdoors, in the gardens, balconies or squares, that light up at night. My Mum put a few decorations on the doors, and we made one too with the little red lanterns that we got in Singapore.

Feltre Winter Bliss: hot chocolate and caramelized fruit from Sommariva (above) and winter vegetables and citrus fruit from the market this morning (below).

Photos by Alessandra Zecchini ©

I would like to wish you all the best for Xmas and New Year, I will try to visit you to send you my greetings, but as I have little internet connection these days it may take me a long time to get to all your blogs... still, you are in my thoughts, have fun and have a good time!

Cheers

Alessandra

Artwork by Arantxa Zecchini Dowling ©

Bella Belluno

Belluno is one of the cutest cities ever.

Surrounded by the Dolomite Mountains

its name derives from the Celtic language:

belo-donum, which means splendid hill.

It is small (population 35,000), elegant,

quiet, and hardly any tourists around!

Photos by Alessandra Zecchini ©

In a bakery I got some traditional breads (including pumpkin bread) and then Kiffel, a sort of savoury croissant, typical of the area. In German the kiffel are called Kipfels, I found a recipe here, I have to say that the ones I got in Belluno were superb, with linseed and sunflower seeds, if I'll have time I will try to make them one day...one day... :-)

Or maybe I'll go back to Belluno!