Author: Yvonne Wilson

I take take so many photos, am at a place that has really good internet so it isn’t taking me forever to upload some of the shots I have, so I thought I would share some with you. Hope you enjoy!

This is the second time we have gone to Civita di Bagnoregio but it was still as awe inspiring as the first time we saw it. The hill it stands on has slowly eroded away until all that remains is the central part of town, balanced precariously on a stand of rock. It is almost like looking at a fairytale rendition of a magical castle placed out of reach by some evil witch. The town is only reached by a long, long bridge that rises up to the entrance. No cars can fit on the bridge, only motor scooters and the small Piaggio Ape, a tiny vehicle used to traverse the small streets in Italy. So in order to reach this beautiful little town, you have a great deal of walking and climbing to do. But if you can manage it, you will never forget it!

We were fortunate to be invited the other day to go to lunch in Panicale by some very special people. They spend a great deal of time in Italy, even more than we do, and they use Cortona as a base as we do. They have a wonderful blog with a lot of the history of the places they visit and well worth reading, blogginginitaly.com.

Panicale is a lovely little hilltop town in the province of Perugia in Umbria, with a fantastic view of Lake Trasimeno. We had been to the lower part of the town before, but never to the upper area so it was a great new experience for us. Not only did we get to drive through the fields where the beautiful red poppies are starting to show but they have a Cinque Cento which is my favorite car and we got to ride in that!

We were too busy having fun chatting and getting to know each other better for me to be bothered with too many photos, but the ones I did take will give you a small idea of how sweet this town is.

Today was the day to brave the insane crowds in Florence. I must admit this isn’t one of my favorite things to do. I find this town to be very commercial and far too overrun with tourists and massive tour groups. However we have tried twice before to get in to the famous Trattoria Sostanza for their Butter Chicken. This time we were able to make a reservation so off we went. It did turn out to be well worth the trip. The food was wonderful. Of course we had to try the Butter Chicken….Yum! I did, however notice that a half roast chicken cost 9 euro while the famous one was 20 euro. The portions are generous, two breasts, so you could end up sharing. For dessert we shared their Meringue Cake with Wild Strawberries. It was wonderful.

We meandered around for a few hours braving the crowds but eventually gave up and back to the train station we headed. I did try to take a few of the less standard photos but had to include one of the Duomo.

We went to Orvieto for the first time a few years ago and spent five nights there. How quickly and easily it was to feel a part of this beautiful city that sits high on a hill of volcanic rock in Umbria.

Its main piazza is overshadowed by the magnificent Duomo di’ Orvieto. The Church that dates back to 1290 is truly something to see. The exterior is covered in mosaic and the gold leaf glitters in the sun.

The streets are filled with little coffee shops, stores filled with local works and gelaterias. We quickly found our favorite coffee shop and gelateria the first visit. We also found our favorite restaurant, La Grotte del Funaro! It sits near the outer wall, at first glance looking like a very small building that you could easily miss. However, looking in the front door, you see a set of massive stairs leading down to the underground restaurant that is not only beautiful but has some of the best food we have found in all of Italy.

While there you also have the opportunity to visit the famous St. Peter’s Well and tour the caverns that were used during the war. I have written more about these sites in previous posts if you are interested in them.

This visit we were just here for the day so we used the time strolling along the streets, visiting our gelateria and having lunch in “La Grotte”. We also had to go and feed the cats that live in the small park overlooking the valley.

Since we arrived back in Cortona a week ago we have pretty much just been relaxing and meeting up with old and new friends. We have just been enjoying the experience of once again being in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

It is such a joy to walk down Via Natzionale the main (and only flat street) in town and see all of the familiar faces and get to meet so many new ones. Catching up with the wonderful people we have come to know over the years, finding out how they have been doing. Also, sadly finding out that a very sweet friend who was not well has closed her shop doors and faded away.

In Cortona it seems that their aren’t strangers, just friends you haven’t met yet. The common thread is that we have all arrived here for one thing, the hope to be able to share in the beauty, peace, history and magic that is Cortona.

We arrived in Todi late last night.  Only being here for two nights, we have been trying to experience as much as possible. Todi is in the Perugia, Umbria area, another of those fascinating little hilltop towns that are spread throughout Italy.

This is the fourth time we have been to Todi, and find it a good example of most Italian hilltop towns. I am sure just about everyone that knows me is aware of my love for Cortona in Tuscany. However, I am always sensitive to the fact that Frances Mayes fame, her book and the subsequent movie “Under The Tuscan Sun” have changed quite a bit of the original reality of Cortona. With the amount of tourists that flood the town each year,  it was inevitable that the way of life for the residents would be changed forever. This has forced them to have to adapt to the overwhelming impact on their lifestyles both economically and culturally.  Not so much Todi, having far less tourists, it has never endured the fame that Cortona has had to, thus leaving it quite a bit closer to the “true” Italian lifestyle. For those interested in the impact that fame has brought to Cortona I would suggest watching the excellent documentary “The Genius of A Place.” However, having said that and never knowing Cortona prior to this impact, it still remains as the most special and magical of places to me. Now back to Todi, which in its own right is lovely.

Church of St. Fortunato begun in the late 12th Century

The Mastio, only remains of a fort that was built in 1373

Typical street and this evenings restaurant

12th Century Cathedral at night

Morning  fog over the valley below

  A few photographs taken at Kensington Palace and from the Princess Dianna Exhibit

We have been in London, England for a week now, with one week left to go. As usual for us, this trip was pretty much a last minute decision. However, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to come and enjoy the fantastic show of  Christmas lights that London excels at. Truly, wherever you turn in this town during Christmas it is one blaze of lights and decorations each more magnificent than the last.

We have been doing the normal sightseeing, which never seems to get old, while adding in some different and truly special things along the way. Our daughter gifted us with a two hour sightseeing tour around London. This was a personalized tour in an original 1993 Mini Cooper named Daisy! What a great time we had whipping around all of the sights in that. Since we have seen all of the standard sights, Tony our escort took us to some of the “not so known to everyone” sights. What a wonderful time we had, especially when he was recreating the racing scene from the movie The Italian Job! Trust me, I was holding on tight as we raced through the alleyways that normal cars can’t make, but it was great!

Yesterday we actually got to do something I never would have believed possible as a kid growing up over here, we went behind the gates of Buckingham Palace. When the Queen is not in residence, they allow tours of the State Rooms that the Royal Family use to entertain their guests. We were shown through the formal foyer where we have all seen visiting dignitaries pose when visiting. We then proceeded up the grand staircase to the Throne Room, yes actually stood right next to Her Majesties throne and also the throne that belonged to Queen Victoria! We spent two hours strolling through all of the Palace wing that holds the rooms used for formal dinners and balls. My favorite was the Portrait Gallery. The most beautiful, longest room I have ever been in. It had four fireplaces and some of the finest paintings the world has ever seen. This is the room that Prince William and Kate chose to hold their wedding reception in. It was so awe inspiring to hear the guide explain exactly how it looked, down to where the wedding cake was situated, and to hear that Prince William had his own special favorite cake of chocolate and Rich Tea biscuits off to one side. I was not allowed to do any photography while inside, but trust me, it was truly magical. When we exited through the portico and out through one of the main gates at the front of the palace I felt almost royal! I must admit it was so overwhelmingly emotional to stand inside and know I was right where the royals call home.

Below are a few photos including “Daisy” in a tunnel filled with graffiti, part of the ceiling graffiti from the tunnel and a couple of shots to give you an idea of the Christmas decorations.

We recently took a short trip to Bullhead City, Arizona via Las Vegas, Nevada. We were only in Las Vegas for one night but wanted to make sure to spend a few minutes walking down to the Mandalay Bay to pay homage to the victims of the awful attack there. It saddens me terribly to see so many acts of hate in the world these days. As my blog is titled “Blogging My Dreams”, I couldn’t resist sharing my biggest dream…..that of peace on earth. I won’t try to explain my feelings, I will let someone far wiser and greater than me do that: