Wednesday 25 April 2012

Positano update - the rest of the story.


We've had three wonderful excursions this week.
Monday - Amalfi, by ferry boat.


Tuesday - Pompeii 


Wednesday - Ravello 


both with our wonderful, handsome, young driver Vittorio!


As you can imagine
 I have many more photographs to sift through and prepare 
to share with you.


In the meantime (because you asked !) some photographs of the inside of le botticelle.

The cliff wall is a feature (!)
on the other side is the wine cellar.

Our makeshift bar -
g&t anyone?

the in room jacuzzi (!)

tiles plastered into the walls
 are a common feature in buildings along the Amalfi coast


In my previous post I shared some photographs of the latest Positano fashions.


I didn't buy a dress or skirt but I did fall for two lovely scarves, made in Positano. 
Perfect accessories for a summery outfit 
which will add a little Italian style to my look.


ciao!

Sunday 22 April 2012

Positano - new digs & shopping

Montepertuso.
For our second week here at La Tagliata we have moved into the bigger of the two suites that they have -  Le Boticelle.


It was only when we came down in the small lift into the private wine cellar
that the choice of name became clear!.


We have to walk through the private cellar to reach the inside door of Le Botticelle,
 ducking beneath the salami sausages and provolone cheeses
 and skirting the large wine barrel where the wine cellar register is kept.

View from the in room jacuzzi!

There is also a door which leads outside to our private terrace
which is about twice the size of the one up at Limonella where we spent last week.


We can look across and down the valley to the town of Positano below 
where I spent a lovely hour or so browsing clothes shops yesterday afternoon!

Positano style!
ciao


Linking to Mosaic Monday with Mary @the little red house
stop by for a visit if you get the chance to see Mary's wonderful photographs.

Thursday 19 April 2012

Positano latest.

Brightly coloured homes cling to the mountainside in Positano.
Unfortunately, the rain didn't stay away for very long from the Amalfi coast.
It's been another 48 hours of almost non stop rain with the occasional thunderstorm thrown in for good measure.

When the sun does manage to shine through, as it is at the moment, we grab our things and head out to explore the region.

We try and catch one of these, to take us down to Positano.


On Tuesday evening after strolling down the cobble stoned lanes, enjoying a little retail therapy and a spur of the moment decision to get a new haircut (hence the updated profile photo!)


we stopped for an alfresco dinner at Chez Black.


Due to the terrible weather not all of the restaurants were serving dinner al fresco that evening!


The bus timetable however is in a state of flux between seasons, a couple of times we've waited in vain and so we had to take a more expensive mode of transport back up the mountain.
The taxi driver charged 30 euro, the bus costs 2.40 euro for a return ticket!

ciao

Wednesday 18 April 2012

La Tagliata, Montepertuso.

Positano rising up the mountain side seen from Spiaggia Grande
Well, the rain that has been falling almost non stop since we picked up our hire car on Saturday has finally stopped, for now!
I have lots of pix to share but first the bad news........................
On Saturday afternoon as we approached the final leg of our journey from Naples to Montepertuso we found ourselves in the middle of an autobus sandwich!
On a very narrow road which consisted of one hairpin bend after another.
I guess it was inevitable..........................
whilst reversing back down the mountain the SP backed into the rail guard and bashed the car.
The carbinieri arrived, the driver of the local football team bus (the one that made us back down) was given a ticket (YAY!) and after about 20 minutes we completed the last 100 yards of the journey.
Now the good news.
The family who own and operate La Tagliata welcomed us with open arms, insisting that we eat a little something to recover from the journey.

Some of the antipasti from Saturday's lunch
Antonietta and Peppe brought eight plates of antipasti to our table, also red wine and still water, then refused to let us pay for the meal!
We were so stuffed replete that we didn't eat dinner that evening!

 Our home away from home

The view from our terrace


Breakfast Italian style.
Eggs, grapefruit juice, fresh fruit, toast & conserves,
TIRAMI SU?





Limone and Limone Grande grow abundantly in the terraced gardens.


You may just be able to see a small island in the background?
This is one of the legendary sirens from Greek mythology.
I see it every morning as I sit in bed & drink my tea!
So, now you know where we're living for the next couple of weeks, I'll be back again in a few days with more photos of the area, around and about.
Ciao, ciao!!

Monday 16 April 2012

Monday Doorways

Joining Louis la Vache in beautiful San Francisco
with this shot taken by the SP yesterday
 as we wandered around the cobbled streets of Positano, Italy.

Palazzo Murat, Positano.

This is NOT our hotel!



Tuesday 10 April 2012

Alpha - Omega

Alpha-Omega
Sculpture by Oliver Barrett (2006)
Hellens Manor, Much Marcle, Herefordshire. U.K.


Sunday 8 April 2012

Sunday Walk - Town & Country

Clockwise from top left
L'Olivier (Florist)
 Patisserie (little cakes & chocolate eggs),
 L'Olivier (pavement display),
fresh mussels & crabs from Grandcamp
Easter Sunday dawned wet and cold in our small corner of Normandy.

fish seller from Grandcamp,
 patisserie window display,
communal gardens
L'Olivier pavement display

After breakfast we headed to a local town to do a little shopping.

little white bulls (not!)
yellow ajonc
my favourite pony
wild primroses

On the way home we stopped off to visit some four legged friends we hadn't seen in a while.

I couldn't resist this pretty white hydrangea and the little pot it came in
and the SP bought little cakes for afternoon tea.





Sharing these peeks into la vie quotidienne with
 The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays #95
and
Mary @thelittleredhouse for Mosaic Monday

Saturday 7 April 2012

CCW Scrap Map Challenge

Since joining the scrapbooking website UKScrappers I have been learning new techniques, meeting very friendly folk and thoroughly enjoying myself.
I particularly enjoy taking part in the weekly, monthly & house challenges.

This is a layout which I did for the April Week one challenge, set by Sue from Creative Craft World.
You might recognize the photo of Ben which I used in my Tartan Parade post earlier this week.
I also entered it into the CCW April Scrap Map challenge, who knows perhaps I'll be the lucky winner of a scrap kit and the chance to become a guest designer at CCW.

Thursday 5 April 2012

Fleurs de Paris

Last weekend the SP & I spent 24 wonderful hours in Paris.
We drove up to visit the Version Scrap Expo, which was being held at the Parc Floral, Vincennes.


Later we checked into the Hotel Daumesnil located close to the Chateau de Vincennes.




This beautiful florists shop was on the opposite corner to the Chateau, just across the road from the Hotel.








Sharing all these beautiful flowers with
 Liz @ Rose Vignettes for Fresh Cut Friday
and
Beverly @ How Sweet The Sound for Pink Saturday.
I'm sure they'd both be happy to see you if you called in too!