Bongiorno, Quilters and Travlers!
Today, I would like to share my travel journal for Italy.
With the news of devastating floods in Venice this week, I spent a little time reviewing my photos and my journal.
Our Travel Agent
First, I’d like to give a shout out to our travel agent, Lindsay from Passion for Italy.
(This is NOT an affiliate link–Just a very happy customer!)
Lindsay helped us create a customized trip that was the best use of our ten days. She found great deals on B&Bs as well as the best tours in Italy. I recommend her highly!
She helped us find the best places to see and the best guides to take us there. We were so glad we took her recommendations for a walking tour of each of the cities as well as separate semi-private tours of the Colusseum, the Vatican, the Uffizi museum, glass-blowing on Murano, and a water tour of Venice.
Even weeks after our trip, none of us can decide which was our favorite city-Rome, Florence or Venice!
My First Italian Purchase
We didn’t do a lot of shopping, but I purchased this gorgeous leather notebook in Florence.
I doodled and took notes in it whenever I wasn’t snapping photos.
And I had a lot of time to doodle on the looong flight home!
Italian Coffee is the BEST!
One of my favorite memories of Italy was sitting outside in the cafes of Rome, Florence and Venice drinking delicious coffee!
As much as I loved all of the food–I adored the coffee!!!
As soon as I got home I purchased a Moka pot and some Illy Coffee!
But then I had to research how to brew coffee in the Moka pot. It’s not at all like my drip coffee maker!
How to Brew Coffee in a Moka Pot
One thing to note about Moka pots–you can’t adjust the number of cups you make. You buy a 3 cup. 6 cup or even a 9 cup pot and brew that amount.
Saving Momentos
Several weeks after our trip, I spent a quiet afternoon collaging tickets, postcards and travel brochures into my calendar.
I even created a new quilting motif, Roman Columns.
Travel Appreciation
My husband, son and I LOVED our trip to Italy.
We walked hundreds (?) of miles in ten days and covered a lot of ground.
We visited churches, art museums, historical monuments, saw a glass blowing demonstration, and so much more.
And of course, we ate—fish, risotto, pizza, cheese, olives,pasta…
and drank coffee, beer, wine, Aperol spritz.
Memories
I’m so glad I have my photos and journal to jog my memory!
Every time I make coffee in my Moka pot it all comes rushing back. (Not sure if it’s the taste or the smell that causes a rush of memory!?)
I’ve shared some of my photos on Silent Sunday and have more to come…
I hope I have an opportunity to return!
YOUR Travel Momentos
What about YOU?
Have YOU been to Venice? or to Italy?
Did YOU keep a journal or photo album?
Have YOU ever used a Moka Pot?
Were YOU lucky enough to see Notre Dame before the fire?
We’d LOVE to hear!
Praying for Venice,
Lori
PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy Quilts and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to Lori Kennedy Quilts. For all other purposes, please contact me at Lori@LoriKennedyQuilts.com. Thanks!
17 comments
Cheryl R Parker
I got to spend a month in Europe back in college (some of it behind the Berlin wall). Yes, we got to go thru Notre Dame. What a trip of a lifetime!
Cindy
Are you glad you didn’t take your big camera? I’m sure your photos are fantastic!
Keysha
I visited Rome, Florence, Tuscany, Pisa, Cinque Tierre, and Venice this past summer. Tiramisu in Venice was most delicious as was the cappuccino and espresso in Rome and Florence. After taking a cooking class in Tuscany, I purchased the Atlas 150 Marcato pasta machine. Also, I purchased wine, fabric, and yarn. Needless to say, I’m ready to go back to Italy.
Paola Gemelli
I’m so glad you liked my country! Thank for your kind words. Paola, from Milano
Applikaye
I have never been out of the country. Just got my passport. My husband and I are going to Italy the end of April for 2 weeks. Starting in Sorrento and ending in Padua. I am beyond excited!!! I love your blog and books!
Shasta
I’ve seen Venice when I took a trip throughout Europe and Italy was one of my favorite places. I tried to keep a journal but wasn’t able to keep up with it. Your journal is so pretty!
Helen Johnston
You travel journal is so much more artful than mine! Travel has become my newest passion in retirement. I think I’m a “novel experience” junkie. Just got back from fourteen days in Cambodia and Vietnam. Try Asia as well as Europe!
Jeanne Phillips
It was great to see your exuberance in your post…we have loved our visits to Italy (to see our son and his young family). It has been wonderful to “immerse” in daily life while reveling in the historic significance of the sites and sounds in each city! The food, the people, the crazy traffic, the beautiful coasts…an amazing place. You certainly captured some of the highlights! I vote for Florence as best!
Genia
Hi Lori! I loved reading about your trip. It looks like a wonderful time. I also love my moka pot. I use Cafe Bustelo most of the time for Cuban coffee. It’s quite strong, but so good!
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SUSAN REDMOND
My husband is retired from the Navy, so we’re fortunate enough to be able to catch military flights Space A. We just returned from 10 days in Italy, 3 weeks ago. Like you, I had to Google “how to use a moki pot”. We spent time in Naples (mostly Pompeii), Rome and one night on Sicily. We plan a return trip in February with a visit to Florence. I also paint (watercolor) so I took plenty of pictures as reference photos. Next time I’ll bring my travel paints. I LOVE your journal! We used AirBnB for our accommodations and utilitzed them for small tours as well. I logged some of our days on my Strava app and most days we walked well over 10 miles. Your Roman column motif is gorgeous! Thank you for the pictures!
Bette
I’ve been blessed to be able to go to Europe every year since my retirement, and we’re currently planning our 14th Rick Steves tour! Lori, if you loved northern Italy, start planning your trip to southern Italy and to Sicily (sigh—my favorite place)! The food, the wine, the people! See as many places as you’re able before climate change and political turmoil in the EU make travel there too problematic. I truly fear for Europe’s future.
MJ
Ah, Sicily… the sea, the pesto, the history. I loved it all!
Betty Monroe
Lori thank you for sharing your doodles and memories. I’m traveling vicariously with you.
Pamela Meyers Arbour
Thanks for sharingi your journey. So, the coffee was more memorable than Italian food? Do we in the states even know what real Italian food tastes like? LOL I am thinking we all have our own version of that. You did a very nice job with your journal and encouraing others to make one. I hope to get there in the near future. We have family in Germany so it helps to have a home base when we get started on our journey.
quiltalong
I lived in northern Italy for 2 years in the 70’s. I seldom saw an American. I lived out in the country. Just breathtaking. Monticello was a favorite of mine as was the trattoria around the corner from where I lived. The people and smells and sounds will ever be in my mind and my heart.
Little Miss Traveller
Love your detailed journal with drawings. I used to do that all the time before I moved on t my blogging diary!
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