Awesome Little Girl in Taquile, Photo by Simon
When I stepped on Taquile Island, I felt as if time had stopped. No, it was even more than that. It was as if time was suspended and this contributed to the magic of the island.
The walk leading to the town is beautiful and my eyes wandered along the deep blue of Titicaca Lake, the awesome island scenery, the children in their colored costumes strolling with their sheep and the colorful laundry leaned on the houses roofs or the grass.
Taquile Terraces, Photo by Simon
Everywhere, men knitting hats with beautiful and complicated patterns and lots of colors, a way to distinguish single from married men. Taquileños are well-known for their fine hand-woven textiles, among the most awesome handicrafts in Peru. There a lots of wonderful textiles to buy and it’s additionally a good way to support the community. As it happens in many other places in Peru, Taquileños wear their traditional costumes. A mix of peasant clothing, adopted from the Spanish, and Andean-style garments: colorful ponchos, belts, mantles and other accessories.
I still remember the magic of this little island and have one regret. I should have stayed longer, a couple of nights, sleeping in the local guest houses to discover more of this incredible people, some of which maybe never left the island.
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A gorgeous beach in El Nido, Photo by Simon
The journey to the Philippines has been one of the great and unexpected discoveries among my latest travels.
Time was short and I only explored El Nido, loving the dramatic scenery, the colors of the sea, the clouds running in the sky, and thinking at going back some day…
After the incredible New Year’s Eve in Sidney, we rented a car to explore the surroundings. We wished to see a little of Australian nature and countryside so we headed West, in the direction of the Blue Mountains. Our plan was to stay there at least a couple of days to explore a bit of the National Park and have some hikes. Bad luck! Apart from the first afternoon, that let us enjoy a glimpse of the scenery’s beauties, the weather was awful! Foggy, rainy and cold… Wasn’t it supposed to be Summertime?
Mayfield Vineyard, Photo by Simon
The following morning we thus decided to move further and we headed towards Orange… Why Orange? Stefano and I made it very simple: if it’s raining also over there, we’ll solace with a good bottle of wine. Yes, because Orange is famous for great food (apples, stone fruit, berries, beef, lamb and venison) and excellent wines.
Grapes today... tomorrow a good fresh wine, Photo by Simon
Everything turned soon well very. The sun peeped out and the countryside looked gorgeous.
We first stopped for lunch and some wine tasting at Union Bank wine bar, a lovely place that has just been awarded ‘Best Regional Wine List’ in the Sydney Morning Herald’s 2010 Good Food Guide awards. As we were looking for an accommodation in the countryside, we’ve been very well advised at Union Bank and found a cottage for rent at Mayfield Wineyard.
Gosh! That was really paradise! Imagine a white cottage immersed in a beautiful countryside. In front of the cottage the garden – where gooses stroll peacefully -, a little pond and the hills designed by the vineyard.
So relaxing... Photo by Simon
Imagine a beautiful and huge cottage (large living-room with fireplace, 3 bedrooms) where you are welcomed by a good bottle of local white wine, having a drink in the garden and enjoying sunset. I wished I was the landlady… 
Take Care, Photo by Simon
The days we spent in Orange were pure and total chill out. Nice walks in the vineyards, sitting in the garden and reading a good book, some good food and wine tasting (our favorite was Philip Shaw No. 19 Sauvignon Blanc 2007).
Total chill out, Photo by Simon
A pity that we could not have dinner at Lolli Redini, celebrated as one of the best Restaurants in Australia. It was closed the days we spent in Orange, so it will be a good excuse for another visit (Ehm… more than 10,000 miles for a good dinner might be a little too ambitious…).
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How I decided in 15 minutes my trip to Australia
The peace of the green rice terraces in Bali
Nordic ski, walks with snow rackets and romantic ambience in Cogne
Rice Terraces in Bali - Photo by Simon
I couldn’t tell why, but rice terraces are one of the landscapes that makes me feel a sense of peace. Stillness and harmony reign everywhere in the inlands of Bali.
I love the shapes of the terraces looking like some sort of sculptures, the incredible variety of green shadings and the brilliance of colors right after raining, when rice terraces are at their best.
I find it always a bit difficult to make lists of ‘5 or 10 top something’. For travels and destinations it is even more complicated because in some way every journey has its charm. But finally here I am, with my Top 5 Adventure Travel list.
Yemen
Yemen Sana'a
A fascinating country, a place where I experienced so many great emotions… I traveled to Yemen – gosh! – in 1996, a few years after the reunification (1990) and the opening to tourism. Describing Yemen is a few lines is impossible, and I’ll write a few posts in the future. There’s so much to tell about…
The awesome Sana’a, with its finely decorated houses, the men chewing qat all day long, the women wearing black burqa, the fantastic crossing of the desert and then reaching Wadi Hadramawt valley, with its lush oases, the always changing landscape around Al-Mukhalla and the astounding fortified mountain village of Shaharah.
Bhaktapur - Photo by Monica Foresti and Francesco Fusco
It was a long time ago, but I don’t believe much has changed since then. Yemen remains a secluded and mysterious country, where you can experience real adventure.
Nepal
Spirituality, wonderful architecture, awesome mountains… I remember the peace in the small villages along the Annapurna trek, the warm hospitality of the women, the deep brown eyes of the kids and a crazy journey on the rooftop of the bus, looking at the hills and mountains of the Annapurna region.
Nepal is a country of incredible fascination that remained deeply impressed in my memory, a place where I have often though of going back but then…
Guatemala
Another fabulous on the road journey!
'Chicken bus' - Photo by Nicky Lewis
Thinking back at my Guatemala trip I can live again some memorable experiences. Traveling around with the ‘chicken bus‘, awfully overcrowded by people, cases, baskets and animals. The incredible fascination of Tikal ruins. The awesome Lake Atitlan and the beauties of Antigua, the ancient colonial capital. And then the people, the colors. I felt like being in a different dimension. After all, when I asked them how long it would take from a place to another, the regular answer was ‘un dìa, dos dias, quien sabe?’
Morocco
That was my first solo trip, back in… don’t ask!
Fes, The colorful tanneries - Photo by Oliviero Masseroli
At that time, my heart had broken into pieces and I decided to go to Morocco with a special aim in mind: reaching the Merzouga dunes and when surrounded by the desert read Paul Bowles‘ novel ‘The sheltering sky‘…
I liked the Imperial Cities, especially Fez and Rabat, but what I really loved is the south, the oasis and palm groves of the Draa Valley, the qsur along the road, the awesome Atlas mountains and the special ambiance of Essaouira, a lovely town on the ocean shore.
Peru
I was not expecting Peru being such a varied country: high and wild cliffs, tropical lush forest, sandy dunes, awesome mountains…
Titicaca Lake - Photo by Simon
I was impressed by the sky, so incredibly clear. And colors, everywhere. I loved Titicaca lake and I wish I had spent more time on Taquile island, where men are knitting caps with beautiful and complicated designs. I enjoyed so much strolling about in the markets, looking at the women carrying kids on the shoulder in a self-made backpack. And I still feel so proud for having been able to trek in the Cordillera Blanca, up to 4,900 meters!
Street art in Olinda (Brazil), Photo by Simon
If I were to describe Olinda (which, in Portuguese, means ‘oh, how nice!’), an awesome little city near Recife, I would say: colorful.
Pink, blue, yellow, red, green and a small street where the houses display a fabulous exhibition of street art. One day I’ll have to collect in a slide show the pictures of the nicest houses. For the time being, I hope you’ll enjoy my favorite photo. Brings me back to the ’60s…
One of our top priorities of that crazy journey to Australia was New Year’s Eve. Sydney’s streets were full of flags announcing 2010 New Year’s Celebration as one of the most awesome of the last years and a fabulous pyrotechnic show ,so both Stefano and me felt thrilled and we spent almost a whole afternoon wandering around and gathering information on the best place to see the fireworks.
After an in-depth ‘marketing research’ we finally booked at Quay, a lovely restaurant with a terrace offering an awesome view on Sydney Harbor Bay. The Quay Restaurant (we learned then that it’s one of the most famous dining spots in Australia) proposed 2 options: a seated dinner or a more informal cocktail and we chose the second one. I guess there’s no need to say that it was bloody expensive but it was really worth the money and come on… we had crossed the ocean!
Sydney Opera House, 2010 NYE - Photo by Stefano Riva
December 31, 2009… Lots of buzz in the streets. Starting from the afternoon lots of people were heading to the better viewing spots, carrying small trolleys probably housing the necessary ’survival kits’. Around 7 p.m. we left the hotel to head towards Sydney Harbor Bay. Once there, lots and lots of people sitting, chatting and picnicking while waiting for the fireworks.
We felt increasingly excited. The view from the Quay’s terrace was indeed superb, with the Harbor Bridge on the left and Sydney Opera House on the right, both beautifully illuminated! Plus lots of food and drinks and excellent live music. We were warming up, waiting for the first set of fireworks. It was supposed to be like an ‘hors-d’oeuvre’, mainly for families with small children but indeed it was fantastic! That was anticipating a really great show at midnight.
Simon @Sydney 2010 NYE - Photo by Stefano Riva
Stefano @2010 Sydney NYE - Photo by Simon
Stefano @2010 Sydney NYE - Photo by Simon
Still a couple of hours left. More food, more drinks and some dancing.
Stefano and me had an incredible success with our quirky sunglasses, and lots of people asked us to wear them for a picture.
Midnight approached very rapidly. A little before we went out again on the terrace. Below and incredible crowd was buzzing in anticipation. Only a few minutes left… and there the great fireworks show started!
Fireworks, 2010 Sydney NYE, Photo by Stefano Riva
No words can describe that fabulous 2010 New Year’s Eve. So I assembled the best photos we took in a video. Enjoy it!
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Sydney Harbour
In the recent years I have thought many times at visiting Australia but could never resolve to include it in my favorite destinations list. I believed it was so far that I would never get enough time and I also feared that I could be disillusioned.
And then the time has come! My best friend, Stefano, was planning a trip to Brazil but had finally to give up because it would have cost him a fortune. He phoned me a couple of days before Christmas asking if I would be ready to make a trip with him and asking where we could go. We quickly agreed on Vietnam and Australia as possible destinations and made a quick check to see the prices of the flights. Then, on Christmas eve, while I was on the railway platform waiting for the train to Florence, we talked each other and decided in 15 minutes that we would go to Sydney. While I was jumping on the train, Stefano had already clicked to buy the flights. Departure on December 26 and back on January 9.
That was it! A crazy decision, but we felt thrilled.
Sydney Harbour Bridge
I confess, we were both a little worried by the long trip and the jet lag but things have been far better than expected. We traveled with Emirates via Dubai, the airline offering the cheapest tickets and the best timetable. It was our first experience with Emirates and we’ve both been impressed by service quality. Additionally, we were lucky enough to travel from Dubai to Sydney with the new Airbus A380. A great airplane indeed, far more comfortable. We slept a lot, thus the arrival in Sydney was not that traumatic despite the 10 hours difference.
Having decided so quickly, we had only planned to stay in Sydney until New Years Eve. We choose to stay at the Hilton Hotel because Stefano is traveling a lot for his job and thus can benefit from special benefits. I am not particularly keen of large hotel chains but I have to admit that Hilton is nice and most important very well located. Service is excellent with only one exception. There’s no Internet wireless connection and the cable connection in the rooms is awfully expensive. Apart from this, we really enjoyed our stay.
Our first day in Sydney was mainly dedicated to a rough recognition of the city. We felt a little bewildered and decided that the real discovery of Sydney would start the following day.
I still remember the colours of the dunes and the incredible silence of the desert.
One of the deepest travel experiences I did so far…
Seeing the snow in Milan is not a common event, and as soon as it’s snowing a bit the city goes haywire.
Despite that, I love looking at Milan covered by the snow. The atmosphere is smoother – especially after dark -, sounds are softened and lots of places become incredibly striking.
The Cathedral (Duomo) is even more gorgeous surrounded by the snow, the frozen water fountain in front of the castle (Castello Sforzesco) is impressive and the orange streetcars queuing along the street seem like the miniature trains we have been playing with when we were kids.
It will surely melt soon and become gray and dirty. Thus enjoy the nice pictures of Milan covered by snow.
