One of the first accommodation tips we got was from a very sweet couple who shared a table with us at a wine tasting. Being retired, they whisk off to Europe every winter to their house in France. I’ve always envied people who are able to do this. They also frequently travel to Italy, and always ensure that they spend time in Piedmont, and specifically in a little town called Barolo.
So – after losing our hearts in the Cinque Terre area, we will spend some time in Piedmont. And of course we’ve managed to book the same guesthouse. (I so love the family photo on their website!)
http://www.lagiolitta.it/stanze.htm
Whether we will be able to go truffle hunting, I’m not sure. But we will certainly be in truffle country. And Alba, the Truffle Capital, has an Earth market every Saturday morning, so I’m hoping I could go and show Niel what these truffles actually are.
From Piedmont we will head into the mountains, and get our first taste of Italian passes. There are quite a few things that attracted me to the Aosta Valley. Mont Blanc has a cable car that takes you all the way over the mountain to Chamonix. And then, of course, there is the St Bernard Pass. Our accommodation is near the town of Aosta, and from here we will explore what this area has to offer.
http://www.booking.com/hotel/it/au-petit-chevrot.html?aid=304142;label=postb
With only three days to go, the feelings are rather mixed. Will we be okay driving with those Fiats constantly on our bumpers? How badly will we get lost? What are we forgetting?
I guess the answer is simple. We are going to experience Italy. Some of that may be less than great. But to truly experience, you would have to expect some bad experiences as well. It’s all part of the character of Italy.
