Gubitzinitaly2018

Alas,  packing and last room views... Good departure timing as Mont Blanc is overcast!  Views still spectacular even with clouds... You all know this feeling.. ciao bella!  Always time for one more gelato! Grom Rules!  And as we finish the 24 hours of travel logistics,  which many of you are overly familiar with..arriving safely home at 10:30 pm, we were treated with a spectacular view ... Great bridges of San Francisco!

Our last dinner was a special gift from God as the weather was beautiful,  the joy of getting the outdoor power table was ideal and the food was superb! We drank the last bottle of purchased wine from Valpolicella, a Testal, which was sublime! Recounting the places we've been, the sights and hikes we've had and the glory of God that we've shared with others... It's been a truly memorable vacation!  Tomorrow we fly home, which is always awesome! Champagne to toast the trip!  I've got to find this Testal stateside!  Exceptional vitello tonnato!  Zucchini flower with ricotta... Peggy's well- loved onion and cabbage soup!  Delicious trout in beurre blanc.  Peggy's pintade... also delicious!  As I'm writing this last entry for the evening,  the church bell chimes ten times, Peggy's enjoying/ministering to a single woman in the dining room and all is ready to be packed for our 2pm Turin to Frankfurt... Frankfurt...

What a glorious day,  our last chance to hike,  and celebrating America's birthday! We drove to the end of the valley and the foot of another well marked,  challenging hike. The coming down is not much easier... The flowers were spectacular, as were all of the water features and mountain vistas. We were blessed! Color combinations to enjoy!  Great snow and sounds!  Is there a word to describe this color?  We caught the wild flowers just at the right time!  Our destination...1000 feet above our start (2061 is meters)  Lunch wasn't bad either.. with a view table,  outdoors,  eating veal cutlet smothered in local ham and cheese. The size of a medium pizza! 

God's Creation is Majestic! 

Dinner was excellent.  Sun all day until 5 minutes before dinner when the clouds exploded with thunder and lightning.  A marvelous display which meant we'd eat inside. Not a problem.  The view is still spectacular! Indoor Power Table!  Just a few photos of our fantastic dinner. Beautiful veal cutlet covered in local ham and cheese... No longer confused why they called it a mushroom profiterole!  Looking forward to one more day of pure vacation,  and then excited to get back to all of you, and maybe a few fewer calories! 

Great weather for a stroll in the Italian Alps... we walked uphill for an hour,  sideways for an hour and downhill for 30 minutes.  God's glory was visible in all of it! Through a beautiful high mountain valley.  Looking down,  mountain azaleas were exploding!  Looking up, entire hillsides were full of azaleas... Love the Dente de Gigante! All the glaciers produce brilliant water features.  Those water features converge lower down!  Almost 1400 feet of climbing =  2 1/2 hours of glory!  Most climbing yet...PTL!

So you meet a great guy from the Bronx, and you enjoy the parallel paths life has taken you on... then you discover shared love for hiking,  travel,  food,  wine,  wine glasses and great conversation... and bang.. you've got a new brother! Our anniversary meal was very special.. the food,  the surroundings,  the wine and especially the company. Steve is a serious hiker and awesome person!  Hand carried Barolo glasses to enjoy a Barolo and an Amarone... Glasses matter!  The food,  over the 3 1/2 hour meal was splendid. Love the sprout variety... Well loved cheese and ham crepes!  Breaded trout with panko and shaved peas... Peggy loved her ravioli... My fresh trout was awesome. 

With almost perfect weather,  we knew today would be special with a gondola ride up to Mont Blanc.  49 euros per person ain't nothin as they say, but on the anniversary... nuf said! More oxygen please!  There were 2 stopping points,  a champagne production facility,  playgrounds,  herb gardens, hammocks,  giant telescopes, great restaurants and of course,  killer views. Mont Blanc Why Not!  Everybody's taking photos for everybody!  Nick Colonna's next climb? (There were people at the top)  Toast to a great start of 492! When we returned to our country estate,  it was time to relax! Great foot of the mountain location!  Lovely indoor/outdoor pool with mountain views!  I think she's relaxing!  Not sure everyone here enjoys the beautiful sunshine? What would your caption be? 

Testing out our dining options for tomorrow's big 492, we are totally satisfied with our hotel's patio dining venue... and the food quality was great.  Here's just a few photos of the ambience... A great mountain view... Delicious and creative food!  Cool cloud formation #1!  Cool cloud formation #2!