Summer goes too fast, it feels like ages ago that swimming and sunbathing were the daily routine... It has been an incredible summer. I will remember it fondly. It was full of love, 3 hour meals with laughs and a few tears, and beauty everywhere.
I titled this post European because my trip started in Tenerife Island, Spain. This is where my sister Carolina moved to open a nice restaurant, Hola Poke. I hadn't seen her in almost 2 years, unbelievable! I was able to spend two relaxing weeks with my family with no schedule other than going to the beach, having some pool time, a couple of day trips, and lots of reading. I read "Americanah" by Ngozi Adichie and devoured "The Forgotten Sunday" by Valerie Perrin. I had to read also "Fresh Water for Flowers" and "Three" by her, all highly recommended.
We stayed in a white villa with Bougainville growing on the walls, and an open view on the ocean and a private pool. Outside that paradise, I didn't fall in love with Tenerife as I did with Ibiza. It's too developed for my taste but it has some hidden gems. Unfortunately I lost most of the pictures as my Iphone fell into the Ocean during a catamaran day :-(
Here some of my favorite places:
La Orotava, a colonial town in the North with tiny cobblestone roads and graven wood balconies.
El Teide, an active volcano, the 4th highest in the world (3,718 m-12,198 ft). There are many hikes with sea view. It was very hot in August and I used my pregnancy as an excuse to skip the hikes but I am gonna do it next time, I promise.
La Caleta is my fave bay with nice typical restaurants like El Caldero or Celso. They have stunning sunset view by the water.
Best fish was at Bar CofradÃa, a very rustic place by the sea port, few seats, menu is catch of the day and limited so go at 12 to make sure you get a table!
That was my chilled part of the holiday. Back in Milan the craziness started. My agenda was full of breakfasts, lunches, dinners, trying to find the right balance between self-time (0%), family time, and time for friends. My stay in Milan started with a great dinner at Rataná (Milanese), a yummy pizza at Cocciuto and ended with a 2 Michelin star lunch at D'O. Many dinners at friends' houses that are always the best and our traditional closing dinner at my parents with friends and grandma as a special guest. Milan looks better and better every time I go back and I miss it so much: its vibe, the diversity, all the things going on, art, music, fashion, design...
As soon as Jace landed in Milan, I picked him up in Malpensa and we drove 3 hours to get to Tuscany. We quickly stopped at the beach in Forte dei Marmi to feel the sand between our toes, had a beer facing the sea and drove up to the hills of Camaiore. My parents, aunt Paola and my cousin Gaia where waiting for us at their beautiful B&B Borgo4case.
This is one of the places of my heart. It's were I have sweet childhood memories, spending time cooking, picking fruits and vegetables from the garden, and enjoying time with the whole family. That's what we did the whole weekend. To burn some calories we included a few ping pong tournament and my mom killed us. If you visit this area the town of Lucca is not to be missed. Regional specialties include Farinata, Tordelli, Torta di Pepe and Pasta alla Trabaccolara.
The last part of the trip was the cherry on the cake. Jace was gong to finally meet my best friend Chiara and share time with me in Puglia, where I go every year since I met Chiara the first year of university. I think I've been going there for 15 years now, it's kind of my third home.
Puglia is even more precious now because Jace proposed there during this trip. I know it's kind of strange... we do things in an unconventional way as we are already married. This will be THE wedding. We can't wait to share with our closest ones the magic of that place. Its amazing food, the masserie, the clear water, the small white towns Monopoli, Polignano, Alberobello, Ostuni, Cisternino...
I get excited just thinking about it!!! Well... I have to go now. We have a wedding to organize as well as lots of new things for Ama.Mi.Kitchen like cooking classes , private dinners, maybe an Apulian social dinner? Ah! And a baby on the way. This 2021 is rocking!!!
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