it was exactly this time two years ago that my prince husband charming whisked me and my baby bump of maddalena off to my favorite land of all lands. the land of my ‘cestors. the land of all the best wines and cheeses and hand motions. italy! and even though i have an italian heritage [which you will know if you, too, have an italian heritage, comes with a very strong sense of italian pride. i’ve yet to meet anyone with any italian blood that wasn’t raised to know and embrace their italianness, although i still think my husband has some hidden italianness in him, so ;)], this was my first time actually in italy. and i absolutely loved it… just as much, if not more than i thought i would! i discovered that italy is totally my speed in so many ways, and i have lately found myself wishing so much that we could beam ourselves right back there. but happy, happy americanos that we are, i have settled for reminiscing and reliving some of my favorite memories from our trip. and i have so many photos that i’d completely forgotten about!!
so, since throwing it back on a thursday is the thing to do these days…
een roma!
een firenze!
een venezia!
and then there are some favorite little things in my recollections that i just don’t want to forget like…
waking up to provolone cheese on soft rolls for breakfast. and oh, banana flavored yogurt. where is the banana yogurt around here?
the spinach ravioli that i couldn’t get enough of in rome
enjoying one another over leisurely dinners and seeing others do the same… no one staring at phones… waiters not rushing you out of the restaurant
tasty little macchiatos that are actually macchiatos 😉
bakery windows full of nutella jars! of course.
the history. oh, all the history.
the stylish but casual vibe of all the women and men. like, maybe that lady was wearing stilettos but her hair was au natural and full of body. or maybe that man was comfy in his sneaks, but his blazer was a handsome touch. and the black accessorizing, looove iiiiiit!
the evening steven ordered an entire jug of wine by accident and had to drink most of it himself [i had a glass, but i was preg, member!]. so, thank you, italian wine, for not giving him a smidge of a headache the next day!
the heavenly smell of leather in florence
the dinner where steven ate the most ginormous hunk of steak and then we got two delicious desserts and chatted with the older couple next to us
when neil patrick harris was also in florence and i did. not. find. him.
the incredible views out every single window
walking, smelling, chatting, listening, gazing!
the cute little shops. the little embroidery shop where we found maddalena’s name!
and then the lunch where we kinda talked about the name that we both liked 🙂
strolling down the street at night, people dangling out of doorways laughing holding glasses of red wine… so happy
picking up a cute little pink onesie in venice for our unborn lady!
and then hiding suddenly from a weird random hail storm
the funny gondolier who really, really needed us to know that the water level was high that afternoon
lying in bed watching episodes of the only watchable show we could find on tv: the mentalist
and obviously… gelato!
okay, miss you much, italy! one day we return!
i love you and your 'castors. so wish i was italian. just italian by association (of you!).
not castors 'cestors!
These photos are stunning…and the memories? They sound priceless =)
I love all of these photos! I want to go there as soon as humanely possible 🙂 Love Europe
Trader Joe's has banana flavored yogurt 🙂 Also, this looks like a dream!
Italy is my next out of the country destination! My Prince and I went to Ireland for our honeymoon, and I just find that people on that side of the world know how to live leisurely and enjoy meals and time together and it is not all about the cell phones and texting. They really spend time together. I love it!
This is such a wonderful list and all those photos! You capture it all so well. It's because you're Italian. 😉
I cannot wait to show my kids Italy!!! Ah! I'll probably bore them to tears with all my stories!
thank you, my dear italian friend! i can't wait to show m italy. i am always reminding her that she was there 😉
Such a wonderful trip down your memory lane! We spent a week in Venezia with a teeny tiny Kaitlyn. I am SO happy we did that trip. It will forever hold a place in my heart.
xx Viv at JoieDeViv
I miss being pregnant in Italy! Ps. It is so weird seeing pics of you and S pre Mad! Something [or some pretty little princess] was definitely missing!
Beautiful pictures!! I'm 50% Italian (my dad's parents came over to NY from Italy) and very proud of it too!
yes! love a fellow half-italian!!
Hi! Where did you take this stunning picture of the blue doors?!