Olive Tree of Vouves - Ancient Olive Tree - Crete
The Olive tree of Vouves is an a gorgeous tree I had the pleasure of visiting when in Crete. It's located in the village of Ano Vouves in the Chania region. It is one of the oldest olive trees in the world, and it still bears fruit. The true age of the tree can't be determined but tree ring analysis ages it to at least 2,000 years old, however locals claim it's between 4,000 - 5,000 years. Either way it's a gorgeous and worth the trip if you're interested in going out and exploring rural Crete. The tree has a girth of about 41 feet and a diameter of 15 feet.Besides the tree there's a museum in a quaint 19th century edifice, you can visit that houses traditional olive making tools, the courtyard the tree is housed in is surrounded by other olive making tools or presses and random stuff.
The most impressive is the tree itself. Crete has been inhabited since forever, and olives have been a staple food product for ages. Having the opportunity to sit for a few moments with a living piece of antiquity is something to behold.
The peaceful surroundings and landscape is an ideal place to sit and ponder the history this tree has "seen".
Falassarna Beach, Crete - Off Season, a (mostly) deserted paradise.
A while back...May 2014, I had the pleasure of taking a "girls trip" or "Mommy Get-Away" with some friends. My husband was recently returned home from a sixth month deployment and I was overdue for a little "girl time". We set off from the Venice Treviso airport on Mother's Day for a short flight into the Chania region (Chania International Airport) of Crete. Renting a car was easy, though slow going. We stayed in Kastelli, Kissamos, in a picturesque apartment/resort, where each night the Mediterranean sea sung us it's perfect lullaby. Although May is the off season, I thought it was a great time of year to visit this Grecian Island, because it afforded us more time with locals who were very welcoming and kind and lots of wide open space.We arrived in late in the afternoon, and enjoyed our first sunset. It was spectacular.Being the book nerd I am, I couldn't help but think of King Minos, his Minotaur and those many tributes from Athens, and though I found no labyrinth, I had a new appreciation and understanding as to why King Minos demanded tributes...
My first meal, a mojito and Greek Salad. On Our first full day, we set off to explore some of the beaches of Kissamos.Falassarna is a popular beach for tourists and locals during the summer months and because of the wind, it's a great place to wind surf.When we finally made it down we discovered it was deserted. (Another perk of the off season).While my friends worked on their tans, I sat beneath an umbrella, where I had my pick of umbrella and chair for €10,00.It was a windy day, which is not uncommon for this beach.After working up an appetite, we dined at Taverna Mouraki. Where we enjoyed this amazing view, and a free desert.We closed out our first full day, back at our resort with this sunset.Tomorrow I'll share, a tale about a 5,000 year old olive tree.
Living in Italy - A Few of My Favorite Things: Part 1.
It's hard to believe nearly three years have come and gone since my family and I moved to Italy. We've just over a year left and though I'm excited for our next adventure there is a very big part of me that will be sad to say "Arrivaderci" when the time comes. Over the next year, I will be sharing all the little things I love about living in Italy (and perhaps some of the things I don't.) because living in a foreign country as opposed to visiting one on vacation allows one a rather unique perspective.In years to come, when I think of Italy, I'll think of their amazing coffee. It truly is a major part of the makeup of this land. Coffee bars, cafes, and even vending machines can all provide a delicious cup of caffeinated dreaminess.
The quintessential cappuccino, sprinkled generously with unsweetened chocolate or as it's often referred to "cacao" Is one of my most favorite things about Italy. I don't think I've traveled, or toured, or simply experienced any place more aware of art. Everywhere you go, even in the most humble of places there is some form of art, or at the very least a beautiful natural landscape. Italians enjoy beauty, and even when they don't mean to, they make things beautiful. From the way they package gifts you buy, or box sweets from a bakery, or go for a picnic. Which isn't how you or I would. No, these can be large affairs full of multiple course meals, and of course wine and things to beautify a picnic table...
I encountered this simple flower bouquet at a park one summer afternoon, a previous visitor, had left it to be enjoyed by the next person to dine. I'd be remiss if I were mentioning coffee, to not remark about gelato. Gelato is delightful any time of year, but especially in the summer months. When I visit my local gelateria, I may, take home one of these other - non "ice cream" deserts. My favorite - the meregata. If you've ever the chance to try this desert. Go for it! It's meringue, whipped cream, and a fruit, usually a berry. Yum!
Italian deserts, aren't they pretty?All of these photos were shared on my Instagram- follow me!
Postonjna Cave & Predjama Castle
. The first portion of the tour takes place via the world's only double track railway system within a cave. This railway carries you in part of the way. The guided walking tour takes up much of your time, and allows for and up close view of some of the most beautiful formations. Please keep in mind that you shouldn't touch any of the rocks. The path is paved, but the cement can be slippery at times, as the climate inside the cave is damp and humid. The path consists of various inclines, some at times can be steep. Your tour guide will explain part of the history of the cave, and it's hard to imagine that humans were able to enjoy this cave, and even build a bridge (pictured below).The tours are offered in a variety of languages. Be prepared to wait in lines to purchase tickets and upon entering the cave for the tour.
Cinque Terre, Italy Is As Charming As You Think It Will Be
Libreria Acqua Alta: Quirky Venice, Italy Bookshop
Living in Italy certainly has its perks... A short train ride to Venice is unquestionably one. Last week, while meandering over canals and waxing poetic, I remembered this book shop I'd read about when I knew I'd be moving to Italy. Prior to researching the area we were to live in, or anything of significant importance, I Googled, "bookstores in Italy" or something equivalent because visiting every single "must see" bookstore or library in Europe is on my bucket list. Yes, friends, I know where my priorities are.On previous excursions to Venice, my husband and I had no plan, except to "get lost". In the excitement of being in Venice, I forgot about this shop. I don't know if it was the just bloomed wisteria which dappled balconies, the murky turquoise water sparkling in the afternoon sun, the memory of a novel that took me to Venice long before I set foot on its cobbled streets; which contributed to my remembering. Or my desire to walk into a bookshop and find a treasure... Preferably in English, because despite my six-year study of the Italian language, when I read in Italian, it is slow going.A not-so-quick Google + map search provided me the address to la "Libreria Acqua Alta" which means "Library of High Water", and my husband a mission: to get me to this book shop. A few hours and ninety percent of my iPhone's battery life later, I was there.
The Liberia Aqua Alta, calls itself the "most beautiful bookshop in the world". I wouldn't vote it "most beautiful", but it is a welcoming, eccentric, dusty store which makes it's guests feel as though they've stumbled into a place that could only be found in a story.
Upon entering, visitors are cocooned in a cacophony of books, welcomed by feline guards who are remarkably tame and take no notice of all the store's patrons. You will find a motley crew of genres ranging from new publications to old second-hand books. I like to imagine how the books came to be at La Libreria "Acqua Alta" were they left behind by tourists in gondolas, found underneath hotel room beds, or left by distracted café goers? Oh, the stories they could tell...
You will find books in many languages, mostly in Italian of course, but don't let that stop you. A book from this shop is a perfect memento of your visit to Venice. Pick a book that speaks to you and take it home as a special treasure. I discovered two books. The first was The Allegory of Love by C.S. Lewis. It is a yellowed, 1958 copy, with notes by a former owner who was called Brigitte Rü-something. I can't really read her handwriting, but she wrote Friuli, 1961 on the inside title page. The second treasure I took home was Henry James' The Portrait of a Lady, published by Penguin in 1074. It too is delightfully yellowed but in otherwise excellent condition. I couldn't help but wonder where these books have been, or how long they sat piled on the shelf waiting for me to find it.
There are books on Venice, stacked high front and center in a gondola that takes up much of the floor in the center of the shop Yes. You read and see correct. Who needs a shelf when you can store your books in waterproof bins like a bathtub or gondola?
On each side of the gondola that monopolizes much of the main room's floor space, are narrow aisles. You'll have to squeeze by other bibliophiles in rapture to get to the back of the store where you'll discover a staircase made of old encyclopedias.
You know the ones rendered useless by the Internet... They've been given a new purpose. I can think of far worse walls and much sadder ends to a book's life than that of delighting people from all over the world. It is exciting climbing the steps, wondering what you'll discover...Which as it turns out is just a canal. But it is a canal in Venice.
Magic.
If bookshops and libraries are on your "must see" list when traveling, you can find La Libreria "Acqua Alta" on Calle Longa S.M. Formosa 5176, Castello 30122.
Sculptures & Jane Austen in the Galleria dell'Accademia? Florence, Italy
I thought I would take this opportunity to show you another area (besides the David) that stood out for me at the Galleria dell'Accademia or Gallery of Academy Museum in Florence. We weren't allowed to photograph in many parts of the museum, but the one area I would've loved to explore was this room full of statues, called the Gipsoteca Bartolini which unfortunately was roped off the day we visited. I was totally drawn to this room, and probably spent a good 15 minutes just gazing in longingly into it.I later learned (read, I Googled) this room of statues is actually plaster casts of sculptures, all done by Lorenzo Bartolini. Plaster or stone, I would've loved to have spent a ton of time in this room, which was lit beautifully with soft light.
I couldn't help but be reminded of the scene from the 2005 movie version of Pride & Prejudice, where Elizabeth Bennet played by Kiera Knightly tours Darcy's home.
Can you see it too? Or am I just that much of a P&P fan..?Sigh. Photos of Lizzie's Tour of Pemberly, source