Italy 2018 - Venice

After visiting the family on the Ligurian Coast we drove to Venice. The drive isn't bad and we were there early in the afternoon. We stayed at the Crown Plaza just outside Venice in Quarto d'Altino which is very close to a train station. The next day we took the train into Venice which took about 30 minutes and then took a water taxi to St. Marks Square.

This time of year the number of tourists is lower than the summer and lines were short. We were able to see everything in the square and also get a gondola ride in. The weather was perfect and we got to relax in the square.

Last time I was there we took the water taxi back. This time we decided to walk. Walking was a much better experience. The walk is long but along the way you will come across many different neighborhoods each unique in itself. We stopped along the way for drinks and to take in the sites. All in all it was worth the walk.

Some people say Venice is better at night when most of the tourists leave. I would have to agree.

Italy Trip 2018 - Monaco

Palace

Our family lives just over an hour from Monaco by car. It is a very beautiful drive up the coast. When you are going to Monaco by car the drive isn't the issue, it's getting around the city and parking that can be a problem. For that reason I prefer to drive to the Italy/French border to the city of Ventimiglia and take the train into Monaco. You could do the same from Nice. The train runs every 30 minutes and drops you off not far from the harbor.

We left early and had breakfast at a nice outdoor cafe on a very pleasant morning. After that we walked up to the palace for pictures and another stop for drinks. One of my favorite views is of a harbor on the back side of the palace. The walk back down from the palace around the point is also beautiful and you get a great view of the main harbor.

Palace

Small harbor from back side of palace

View from walk up to palace

View from walk up to palace

This trip we ended up at an expensive hotel and sat on their terrace overlooking the harbor. The views there are incredible.

On another note, my son gambled at the casino. He had always wanted to do that and he even won some money and had a James Bond martini.

Monaco is perfect for a day trip whether you arrive by boat, car or train. If you are in the area of Nice or the Italian Riviera take the time to spend a day there.

View of harbor

Kevin relaxing on terrace

Check out the helicopter on the yacht from hotel terrace

Pops relaxing with a cigar

Ligurian Coast - Italy

One of the best kept secrets in Italy is the Ligurian Coast. It is situated on the Italian Riviera with beautiful beaches, small towns both on the coast and in the hills and many historical sites. Our relatives live in Bardino Nuovo and there is plenty to see and do in the area.

We went into a medieval walled in town, Final Borgo, to have cappuccino and pastries for breakfast. The town has multiple squares where you can sit outside and relax. There is also a beautiful church close to where we ate. Above the town there are ruins of castles that you can explore. From the highway take the Finale Ligure exit.

We also went to the town of Verezzi where some of our family is from. If you want a great view of the coast this is where to go. Verezzi is located in the hills above Finale Ligure.

There are beach towns all along the coast. We went to Alassio to swim. It is a larger city but the beach there is long and sandy with plenty of places to eat. To get to Alassio you can drive through the coast towns or take the exit off the autostrade.

You don't see a lot of foreign tourists in these towns and pace seems to be a lot slower. You are not far from Monaco or Genoa as it is between the two so it is a perfect area to explore. It doesn't have the big name cities but I would recommend going.

Italy 2018 - Family

One thing I value over anything else is family. I try to make it over to Europe as much as I can to visit my Danish and Italian relatives. I take pride in the fact that my children have also been able to visit our families in Europe. This year I was able to bring my brother's family to Italy to visit our family home town and to meet their relatives. We are very lucky to be able to say we know where our family came from and that we still communicate with our relatives. Last year I did the same for my cousin Sandy when I took her to Denmark to see our Danish relatives. It is good to know your roots.

Our family name on my mom's side is Bosio though when my Grandfather came to America it was changed to Bosson. Our family home town is Bardino Nuovo which is on the Italian Riviera in Liguria about halfway between Genoa and Monaco.

This weather was perfect for the trip and we were able to swim in the Mediterranean, see Monaco and visit some really cool towns in the area.

This was our first stop and I will continue to post about our stays in Venice, Florence, Rome, Pompeii, Amalfi Coast, Montepulciano, Tuscany and Lake Como.

For this post I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Bistro Jeanty, Yountville

I write this out of love for my favorite soup, favorite chef and fond memories of going to the wine country with my mom and dad.

Years ago, too many that I want to remember, I happened to have lunch at Domaine Chandon in Yountville. At that time I was introduced to a tomato soup in a puff pastry that was the best soup I have ever had. The chef was born in France and worked for Moet Chandon in France before moving to Domaine Chandon in Yountville. It was the soup and more. The rest of the menu is awesome and I made it a habit of  going in early October so I could sit outside for lunch.

I started taking my mom and dad and it became their favorite place to go for lunch. Then the chef moved and the soup went away. We were devastated but then my parents found out he opened a new restaurant in Yountville and they started going there.

I still love Domaine Chandon for lunch even though they don't have the soup and one of my dad's last trips to Napa was there.

However, if you are in Yountville, which is just north of Napa, you need to go to Bistro Jeanty. The soup is just as it was years ago and the rest of the menu is out of this world. When I think of a French restaurant I think of small portions. This is the complete opposite. I started with the soup which could have been a meal in itself, split escargot,  had our main course which was I would consider a large meal of comfort food and finish with desert.

We sat outside in their patio and the meal with a nice bottle of Napa wine which made for a great experience.

Prices are moderate and the atmosphere is perfect.

Bistro Jeanty is a must place to eat when you are in the Napa Wine Country.

Day Trip to Napa

Last week we did a day trip to the Napa Wine Country. September and October are the best months to go to the Northern Coast as the rains haven't hit yet and heat in the valley doesn't pull the marine layer inland.

The weather was perfect and the fires have died down which made for a clear sky. Our first stop was Domaine Carneros which is between Napa and Sonoma and is known for sparkling wine and Pinot Noir. The winery is associated with Taittenger, a French winery. The buildings and grounds make you feel like you are in France. The wines are exceptional and sitting outside on the patio makes for a pleasant experience. We choose to do the sparkling wine flight with a cheese tray. Some of the wines by themselves may have been too much but the food pairing made wines we wouldn't have liked by themselves very enjoyable. It was such a good experience I became a wine club member.

Later we went to V. Satturi, which we had been to before, and tasted their selection. After tasting wine and purchasing from their gift shop we had a perfect day in Napa.

(Next post will be about lunch in Yountville)