I've titled this section 'miscellaneous' as it covers a few of our first experiences upon moving to Italy. 

Conegliano, Italy: The first five photos

Conegiano is a village just 10 minutes down the street from us. Mostly industrial, but it backs up to the Dolomite Mountains and offers some great cuisine.  Since my dad was visiting (and owns a wine store in Oviedo, Florida), we made it a umm....priority to check out a few prosecco houses/wineries.  For those of you not in the know, Prosecco is a sparkling wine, much like Champagne...minus the locale and the hefty price. Same great taste.  Dad carries a few prosecci in his store, one of the Zandetto, hence the trip to Zandetto Prosecco house in Conegliano.  Whodda thunk it....the prosecco dad carries is made just down the street from where his daughter lives in Italy.  Kismet!  So off we went for a day of touring, tasting, eating and visitng.  This could easily be one of the best tours we've ever experienced.  The folks at Zardetto dedicated an entire day to us, to show us the facility, experience the process and enjoy the end result....over one of the best meals I've had yet in Italy (and I've had some EXCELLLLLENT meals).  The photos show us enjoying the day, touring Zardetto and just having a perfect time.  The folks at Zardetto are top notch.....so if you don't happen to live just down the road from Conegliano (sorry folks...), seek out Zardetto Prosecco in your local winestore....it's heaven. And affordable!  Let's just say we bought enough to get us through the holidays....if we drank every night. 

I love Italy!
 

Cansiglio, Italy: The next five photos

Just behind our villa (gotta use the term while we can) are the Dolomite mountains.  Literally just behind our house, as the view from our backyard is magnificent.  If one hops in the car and drive about 45 minutes up a windy, multiple hairpin turn road up the side of the mountain, you'll reach Cansiglio, a beautiful park.  It has turned out to be one of my favorite places to take walks with Jameson and Levi, however with winter coming and the steep, windy roads, it is now off limits to us until the spring.  We did venture up there for our daily walks a few times before the cold hit and these are some of the photos I took. Obviously, two different days.  One day was overcast but the leaves were insanely colorful, and the other day was in a different area of Cansiglio, on a magnificently perfect Autumn day...blue skies and pure air.  Aaaahhh....

I still love Italy!

Barcis, Italy: The last five photos

Being the owners of a one year old Golden Retriever (Levi) and now living in Italy where they have no dog walking areas (people actually walk their dogs on the roadside.....heavy traffic, crazy drivers, I'll pass), I've been desperately seeking out an area to not only take Levi for daily walks, but that would also allow me to push Jameson in a stroller. The only places I've yet discovered are either for hiking or personal property....long gone are the days of Germany with the wide sidewalks on every street. *SIGH*  Anyway, I reached out to some other Americans in the area via the internet, inquiring where one might find such a location.  I received scant responses but the responses I did receive were golden.  Barcis is one such response.  It took me 75 minutes to make the drive and the whole time I'm thinking....oooh this is a LONG way from home.  But when I arrived, my jaw dropped.  Not only was I surrounded by breathtaking rocky craggy mountains, but snowcaps, whispering trees, the clearest lake I've ever seen and a path that not only allows dogs, but a stroller.  Whoooohooo!  We had an excellent day walking around half the lake (the other half was roped off due to some path damage via bad weather). However, just as with Cansiglio, the weather limits winter trips and I must now await the warm days of spring where we can make the trek safely.  So for now, I drive 20 minutes to a small quiet residential area in the village of Santissima, where each day, we gander in amazement at a serene little church that was built in the 12th century...still standing.  We might see 2, maybe 3 people on our daily walks...always friendly, the Italians are, waving hello as they ride by on their bikes, sometimes stopping to pet Levi and give some love to Jameson.  It isn't Cansiglio.  It isn't Barcis. But its safe, its close to home and its super friendly.

And yes, I still love Italy!