Italian Friendship – Vacation at IL Borghetto

Il Borghetto

Three months have passed since we were in Italy, but the wonderful experience we had at Villa Il Borghetto is still in my mind. It makes me smile whenever I thought about the beautiful settings and the amicable people there who own and manage the property. 

Simona, Chris, Richardo, Steve

On our arrival at the first night, we met an American couple from Indiana, Larry and Carol, who were on their 9^th visit to the villa ! They have now made it their annual trip to come back here. How much chance would you want to visit the same place year after after? The question was answered after we had our one week stay here. I came to understand where the temptation comes from.

Prior to this trip, I have been in Italy at least half dozen times, but all of my previous trips were arranged by travel agents. This is the first time that we were aiming for a self-tour, an adventure.  Regardless how well we have planned, we missed calculating the time needed between arrival at the airport and the villa out in the countryside.  Garmin rocks in many countries, but it often appears confused in the remote country locations. We arrived very late and missed the check-in deadline; however, we still received a warm welcome from Ricardo and Simona. Richardo helped us with our luggage and Simona handed us the key instantly that we were able to settle in the apartment without any hassles.

Nicola

After 22 hours, we could simply drop our bags in the room and walk into a nice and cozy dining room for our first glass of authentic Chianti wine. A gourmet 4-course dinner was served with true Italian hospitality.

Sandra

Nicola brought us a 4-page wine list and give us an introduction of different types of Italian wines. Whenever a dish is served, Cesar would explain to us the ingredients and spices used. Steve loves to try varieties of wines. When he found out that Sandra is the wine connoisseur, he has been getting her advice for our dinner wine choices. We consumed one bottle a night for five nights, but we were told it was nothing in comparison with the intake by other people.

We were in a foreign country and in a rental, but we felt like at home and chatted with family and friends. We were not dining at a regular restaurant, instead, we enjoyed a home-made and authentic Italian cooking right at the villa. We either dined inside the restaurant with tasteful decorations or outside in a large gazebo area with candle lights and a sky full of stars.

Amazing enough, the main chef in the kitchen is the mother of Richardo and Sandra. I love almost everything come out of her kitchen. In fact, I have since learned to use plum sauce on sliced pork, various sauces on different pasta and easy dessert with lots of flavors.

At the villa, the pace is easy, peaceful and relaxed. Every morning we were welcome with a pre-dawn fog hovering over the vineyard. Layers of hues change as sun rises. It is surreal and heavenly.

The moment when the sun hits the horizon, I couldn't usually wait to rush to this spot to observe the majestic nature scene. You can pick up a morning read and sit on the balcony or you can open all your windows to suck in the freshest air.  For me, I ran down to the lower level in the wide open space to set up my tripod awaiting for sunrise.

The view is fantastic from all angles. Often times I lost my choice of focal point because there are so many beautiful subjects right in front of you and for you only. The villa was fully occupied and yet it was so quiet that you think you have the whole place for yourself. I cannot count how many times I have run down these stairs and wandered into the vineyard to get my shoes wet and to smell the sweet aroma of fresh grapes.

As daylight gradually took over the whole place, the main entry of the villa comes to sight. I would climb up to the upper level where the swimming pool is and overlook the place. Beyond the building, there is the typical Tuscany scene, rolling hills and vineyards. And, I love when they are overshadowed by morning fog.

I tried not to shoot anything when the sun was up high. So here came my quiet time. I had a cup of Italian coffee to sip and my laptop to work on the photos. And, I could easily locate a spot to lounge myself in without any interruptions.

Either it is a recliner along the poolside looking out the vineyard and mountains in distance or simply a table and few chairs on a casual corner. You are guaranteed to enjoy to your contentment.

This is a lovely vacation spot with home comfort and ease. You are far away from city and not too far away from reality. You are surrounded by beautiful nature, but not far away from civilization.

You run into friends from other parts of the world and enjoy little chit-chat to broaden your world view in an informal pace. Friends who choose to come to the same place have obviously liked something in common and the conversational harmony is a pleasure.  And, I cannot tell you how nice Richardo, Simona, Nicola and Sandra are.  Whenever you need them, they are there and they make you feel like you are part of their family...

Now you know why I miss this place so much. We surely hope to come back soon.

P.S. Something is going on with the layout. I simply could not get everything aligned... more skills               that I need to have.       

Il Borghetto
info@ilborghettotuscanholidays.com
  

View in the Frame - open and yet enclosed

Through the eyes of being a photographer, I begin to love windows.  Window is like the live view screen on the camera, it helps to filter through the wide open space and frame the ideal image to please our eyes.  When an image has a focal point, it is given a meaning and therefore appealing. 

Tuscany, Framed

The rolling hills at Tuscany is like lines and lines of poems that rhymes and goes on and on to no end. I did not use a telephoto lens and I felt that I could not focus on one segment without carrying it on to the others. As we cruised along the road, I fast-produced lots of panorama clips which seem to satisfy my anxiety to take in everything, but at end of the day, I found the images framed are more attractive and drive me to be more attentive.

I did bring my tripod, but it does not always practical coming to the popular tourist spot where I either had to dodge hundreds of heads or there was no extra room for a tripod. September is usually not a prime tourist season, but it still is here. I found myself constantly in the way of another photographer and had to snap my shots whenever there was an opening.

Grape Vines, Under and Up-Closer

Lodging at the place next to the acres of vineyard is an unforgettable experience. The smell of the rows and rows of ripen grapes flows into the air a sweet and vinegary aroma. It is enjoyable to walk down the vineyards; It is soothing to rest under the structured grape arbor; It is captivating and satisfying looking through a window with grape vines and ripen grapes hanging down... Wonder why I did not see such grape arbors in Willamette Valley. Maybe our grape vines are too young to be manipulated as a sustained structure?

Either we look through the windows from inside or look in from outside, the frame (window or door) can easily transform the dullness to magic. I like French doors. The images shown through the checkered panels are like a live version of puzzles.  This simple lunch place serves freshly-caught fish, home-made pasta (of course), killer appetizers and potato croquettes that melted in your mouth after you break the crunch on the surface. If not for the wood frames, the white light bulbs and planters, the ocean scene will disappear and no ambiance to speak of. I just cannot get enough of these open frames.

Difference is in the Framing

Not until recent trip in Italy, I did not think much of open doors and windows without glasses.  The distinctive history of Italy has established its exceptional styles of architecture. Instead of wood frames, there are stone and rock version that often remind me of the stronghold and fortress in historical Roman Empire.  They were built upon a long and hard history, meant to be unbeatable and forever lasting. I wowed when I walked into this space and was wholeheartedly in love of what I saw. The view won't be so stunning without the dramatic stone columns which bring in the contrast and frame for us a natural painting.

 

How do you like to live in the house where a large panel of open window unwraps for you the whole world of sea below and the blue sky above, right in front of you? Don't you feel like you can walk on water and easily reach out to the sky? This house makes me dream. That's what I am talking about...

Now I understand why Terra cotta color is so popular here. I cannot think of a better color to harmonize the sky and the earth, and to amplify the entire color scheme to its extreme, so perfectly.

It is the combination of vintage flare, the color drama and the ultimately irresistible nature. It is the Italian charm that draw people over here, time after time. This also explains why the Italian designers are so inspiring and outstanding. 

Amalfi Coast - the Mediterrian Blue

Once just a geographic term for me, and now I have been here.  The adventure and experience that I had within the week is dramatic and the impact on me is huge.  I am still swimming in the volume of pictures I have taken and can barely begin to re-organize myself and let out what I have taken in.

Prior to my trip, I have known of the elevation, the cliff and the scaring busing adventure. I had a good share of nightmares that I either fell on the cliff or I was shaken out of the bus and went straight down to the ocean... 

The reality was, my fear was still there, but not as drastic as what I had envisioned. We are truly blessed with absolutely wonderful weather and are able to complete our journey without hassles. Most of all, God has removed my fear and affirmed to me that with His Presence, I shall not fear or fret.  

The scenery at Amalfi coast is more dramatic than Tuscany and the varieties are better for photography. The beauty in Tuscany is natural, peaceful and comforting while Amalfi Coast forces you to breath harder and desire bigger. The Mediterranean blue water is screaming at you wherever you go and it provides the most gorgeous backdrop for the landscape. Everywhere you go, you see the blue. Wherever you stop, you are looking down the water. In the beginning, I could feel the tremble on my feet, but it got better every day.

 

Italian’s intricate architecture is undoubtedly enriched by its impressive history. To me, the residential houses are particularly charming in respect of its appearance and how they were built - one next to the other and one on top of the other. It is surely not built under a building ordinance or regulation code. They seemed to be established by people’s imminent needs and simultaneous inspirations throughout the centuries. Every house has the appeal of its own and they are all so closely attached to each other. 

I was intrigued by the layers of winding streets. On one street, you can start to walk uphill and half way, the road goes down.  If you don’t want to walk down the street to compete with the hectic traffic, you can choose to use stairs and walk up and down hundreds of steps. Once you use the steps, you are set in a maze. Pray for good luck that you are not confused by the twisting and turning stairs.  One wrong turn can get you to walk another hundred steps before you can find your way out. If you are tired, it is quite frustrating to get lost. But if you are fresh in the morning and in for the adventure, it is lots of fun to get lost and get back on track again. 

The sun was just down for couple hours on that day. I was up at Cimbrone Garden looking down, I meant, straight down. I found my stiff legs were gravitated to the ground, moving very slowly, one step at a time. The heavy stone fence gives me an assurance that I would not fall through the gaps, but it still took me a while to come close to the fence for a quick snap.

Wonder if you have heard of Tiberius Leap. Tiberius Cesar is the second emperor of Rome. He was in power when Jesus was crucified. We visited the remnants of his palace, Villa Jovis in Capri. I enjoyed Italy history but not architecture relics particularly these emperor's palaces where brutal and inhuman events had taken place. Tiberius had infamous acts that he dropped his young conquests to this 1000 foot cliff to death for his own pleasure. I wanted to check out this place to measure how far I can push myself to overcome my fear of height.I did finally make it to the edge of the railing, but I could not take a clear picture when my hands and feet refused to coordinate.

I am removing Tuscany and Amalfi Coast from my bucket list, but it does not mean that I won't go back. I am so happy that I finally made myself a tourist (not a business woman) in Italy. There is a reason why Italy is such a popular tourist destination and like Hawaii, people do not just go there once, they go regularly.  It is that unbeatable and irresistible Italian charm that captured your heart time after time.