We flew out to Rome on the 8th of April, joined by Geoff's lovely girlfriend Emma for our four nights there. Then on to Florence, Bologna, Verona and Venice as two Gentlemen.
It's pretty impossible to express the love and wonder I felt for Italy. Each of these places with its own individual character and charm. It's important to remember that Italy wasn't unified as one "Country" until 1871, and that the character and traditions of each region are still incredibly important to the people who live and work there.
I think the highlight of the holiday was spending my birthday on a Wine Tour around the Chianti Region of the Tuscan Countryside - Grape Tours . Meeting with the wonderful characters whose passion for the region is infectious, and tasting the amazing flavours of the wine, food and indeed the olive oil which takes one tree per bottle to produce (I've never eaten grass, but without coming over all Oz Clarke on you, it really did have a grassy character to it). The group we were with were also a great bunch of characters, and our tour guide was brilliant. Both the producers we visited farm organically, and use a minimal amount of sulphites (preservatives) in their wines meaning despite drinking all day on my birthday, I had no hangover the following morning!
I ate rather too well, drank more than is advisable and learned a huge amount from my friend and Tour Guide extraordinaire Geoff.
By the time we left Venice, both having been eaten alive by mosquitos (Geoff moreso than me as his blood is apparently tastier than mine), we were ready for home and our own beds, but I certainly have plans to return, probably later this year if I can get it sorted :)
Here are a few shots that I've got round to processing from the trip - there will be many more to come which will be added to my FB Photography Page in the next few weeks.
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