Friday 13 September 2013

August 2013 Italy - Part 1 (Tuscany)

Finally, a glimpse at our lovely holiday in Italy. We stayed in this very beautiful converted farm house, called Magnifica, that is situated on a horse farm in a lovely little village called Fauglia, just about 25 minutes from Pisa. The owner, Paula, grew up in this farm house and have since converted it into five beautiful apartments/villa's. We had three very spacious bedrooms and a lovely private outside area where we ate and enjoyed many happy moments, a beautiful lounge filled with wonderful books and a kitchen and dining room with the original fireplace. It couldn't have been any more perfect, as there were other kids to make friends with, a park for the kids to play in, a swimming pool, what more could you want. The gardens were what I would call 'National Trust gardens', they were very beautiful and there was no shortage of space for the kids to explore and run around in.



We spent quite a few days just enjoying this wonderful setting, soaking up the glorious atmosphere, just lounging at the pool and relaxing and it proved the perfect balance for our daily excursions. The kids would very happily have spent every day here as they just so loved having a pool to play in with their new friends. Josh started swimming without armbands just short of a month before we went on holiday and it was incredible to see him develop over these two weeks. He went from just swimming to diving in all the time, swimming to the bottom of the pool and being able to backward dives, dive bombs, you name it. He wanted to be in the water from the minute he got up and with 32C weather every day for the full duration of our holiday, who wouldn't. In fact it became a bit of a joke as there was a digital thermometer in the town advertising the temperatures, and my doh (darling other half) was convinced it was broken as it read 32C every day, until one night we had the luxury of having a meal without kids (thanks Ma & Pa) and on our way home it actually read 28C. Little Es started swimming without her arm bands for the first time and did it about 3 days before we left, which to be honest was a blessing as I don't think my nerve would have held it for much longer. Once the arm bands went, she became a little reckless, to the point of putting herself in danger, but we were all on tenterhooks and her swimming confidence kept on growing, from someone not wanting to dive in at all to someone permanently jumping in doing the the most hilarious killer wale dive I have ever seen, I was in stitches every time.


We enjoyed quite a few day trips out, firstly to the lovely city of Pisa, where the wonderful husbands pushed us around (I think one of their easier days, they were amazing!!) and we enjoyed lunch at a wonderful restaurant right by the side of the leaning tower of Pisa. No one braved the steps as the kids were to young, but it is something for the future. 

Our next trip, and most definitely one of my favourite places that we visited, was to a very beautiful city called Lucca. Lucca is set inside a ring of Renaissance walls fronted by lovely gardens and huge bastions. Apparently the city is reputed for once having seventy churches, which would explain the number of beautiful piazzas that we encountered around almost every corner. We indulged in to the big open spaces that hardly felt touristy and enjoyed seeing many people seeing the city from their bikes, something we would have loved to have done, but for now we were using our other wheels. Lucca was a great deal more wheelchair friendly than other places we visited and to be honest, I could happily visit Lucca for a week, just to lounge around in cafes soaking up the atmosphere and getting high on the treasures displayed in the very impressive antique markets. The markets take place every third weekend of the month and fortunately for us, our timing was perfect. I honestly could have spent a fortune and so wished we drove as I would have rammed the car full of very beautiful antiques. Everything there was to my taste and the fabrics and linens were simply to die for. I was very restrained and bought only a few bits (which I will show in another post), but I could have left with a great deal more. We visited the San Michele in Foro, which apparently has one of Tuscany's most stunning facades, pictured below the leaning tower of Pisa. The church is first mentioned in 795, but was rebuilt in 1070 and the facade was done by a famous architects in the 13th and 14th century. The picture of the horse drawn cart was taken in one of the Piazzas and so was the photo of the kids playing hide and seek. It was tranquil, relaxing, yet quilted with beautiful buildings.

One of my other little highlights was visiting the casa (house) of Puccini. Having spent many an hour in my life singing his opera's and arias I wanted to see where this Master of Music lived and I sneaked a picture of his piano, where he wrote most of his music. I felt a little emotional being in his house, and somehow felt a little connected with something that formed such a big part of my life for so many years. Everyone enjoyed Lucca, even the kids and I don't think any of us really wanted to leave that night. It is definitely a place I am going back to.


Being only 30 minutes away from a beautiful coastline, we spent on day at the beach, which I was so excited about before we left as I love the sea and so miss seeing it every day. The beaches weren't that great to be honest and even though we enjoyed our day there, we didn't really feel that we wanted to rush back. The beaches are all packed with loungers and it is very well set up, but for me it detract from the natural beauty of the coastline, that you just couldn't enjoy. 

We also took the kids to an amusement park as a little buttering up before they had to spend hours looking at ruins and what they would deem as 'boring' days out. It was a great, but very long day and my Ma and Pa were so wonderful throughout!! Both Ma and myself absolutely LOVE roller coasters and even though us two arrived in our wheelchairs, we decided that needs must we were going at the very front of this roller coaster and boy did we have fun. To be honest most probably not my best decision to date, but it is a memory that I will treasure for life. Our evenings were mostly spent at our casa and the sunsets were simply breathtaking. What I loved more than anything was just listening to the symphony of cicadas and insects playing to the darkness of the night.


Well if you have gotten this far, well done! I will share our trips to Firenze (Florence) and Rome with you very soon.

Wishing you all a very happy weekend.
Warm Wishes
Hannapat
xoxo



23 comments:

  1. Hannapat I just love your photographs, what a holiday you and your lovely family had, must have been like magic. I know that I want to go back to Italy even more now than ever. I think your holiday did you the world of good, recharged your batteries for you, so glad for you dear Hannapat. Can't wait to meet up soon.
    All my love as always
    Dorothy
    :-)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Dorothy, it certainly was a great deal of fun. xoxo

      Delete
  2. Dear Hannapat - thank you for sharing your lovely pics (must have taken ages to sort them all out) and holiday story, and I'm so glad your trip worked out so well.
    Well done to your little ones for abandoning the arm bands - that is very welcome progress isn't it!
    How wonderful that you were blessed in making that connection with the home of Puccini!
    So now you are nicely settled back into home routine and can look forward to your next trip, and in the meantime - happy crafting and I'm looking forward to your update.
    Warm wishes,
    Joy xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks lovely Joy, it certainly was a welcome progress from the little ones and they seem to be enjoying their swimming classes so much more now, which is great. Thanks for your sweet comments xoxo

      Delete
  3. Wow. Stunning! Viva Italia! Nothing like a villa in Italia to make one feel alive, restored, content. Pisa is such a wonderful place, glad you enjoyed it - and to visit Puccini's home! Amazing! I would've busted into an a capella aria (and I'm sure that wouldn't be the first time a tourist has sung in his place!). Well done for maintaining your composure there... More pics, please! Firenze! Roma! Chrissie x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah too right, there is certainly nothing like it my dear. Yes I had to be very restrained, fortunately I was in there on my own with the kids so they offered a very good distraction for me trying to touch everything they were not suppose to touch including the piano, so you can imagine there wasn't much time to think about starting A Capella, but next time, I sure am and they are staying with the doh. xoxo

      Delete
  4. It looks like you had a wonderful time. I haven't been to Italy but I really want to go someday. You saw so many interesting places and things. I'm glad Es did well without her armbands, what a huge milestone. My little girl can be a bit reckless around water too, so I know the heart-stopping feeling you must have had! I'm looking forward to the next installment about your trip. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jennifer, yes it sure it heart stopping stuff isn't it. xoxo

      Delete
  5. Oh, I know what you mean about the recklessness of small people in pools - the whole first week of our holiday we were on tenterhooks lest one of the kids fall in minus their armbands, but as the holiday relaxed they were less obsessed with the pool and we relaxed more. Your holiday looks and sounds so wonderful. I've never been to that part of Italy and it just sounds amazing, all that architecture and history. So glad you had a great time. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So did yours lovely Gillian, I so love France and we have always said that we would retire there, but now, I think we have both decided that Italy might just win hands down. Only time will tell as there are many adventures still to be had before then. Thanks for your sweet comments xoxo

      Delete
  6. Hi Hannapat,

    Thank you for your kind comment on my blog! I enjoyed hearing from you :-) Unfortunately I bought the table at a thrift store. I just had a look if it by IKEA, but I don't think it is. Although the table is not old, I can't see a sticker/stamp anywhere. I sanded the table and painted the tabletop white and the legs a soft shade of greenish blue. It looks lovely now.

    I am not sure of what material the Ikea table is. If it's made of wood you can always sand it and paint it. Not sure about MDF though.....

    Good luck on your craft room!! I am still working on mine too :-)

    Happy weekend!

    Madelief x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Madelief, yes I didn't think you could paint the furniture from Ikea, but then I am not an Ikea expert or regular. Thanks for your comment, what a shame you didn't get the desk from there. Happy weekend to you too xoxo

      Delete
  7. Beautiful post about your Italian holiday, Hannapat! What a wonderful time you all had, and lovely that the children were able to practice so much swimming :) Florence is one of my favourite places so I am looking forward to when you write about it!
    Wishing you a happy weekend.
    Helen x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Helen, yes we certainly had the most wonderful time in Italy and it was great that the kids enjoyed the swimming so much. I could happily have spent two weeks in Florence alone, but that is something for when the kids are older and possible for a trip with some friends, as I can't see my doh spending hours every day trawling through galleries (just my thing). Thanks for your comments xoxo

      Delete
  8. Wow what a fantastic post. I really wish that I could go and book my flights to Italy right away!!
    Rosie xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Do it Rosie, you won't be disappointed :-) xoxo

      Delete
  9. Thank you for sharing your lovely holiday and photos with us. It sounds just perfect. Well done on your two wee ones...no armbands that's a great achievement! Looking forward to seeing your posts about Rome and Florence. G and I visited Florence 7 years ago and we loved it, have never been to Rome though...
    Hope you have a lovely week, lovely Hannapat!
    Marianne x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks lovely Marianne, Florence is vastly different to Rome, but they are both wonderful. I do think I prefer Florence though. Thanks for your sweet comments xoxo

      Delete
  10. The photo's just brings it all back. I can even smell the gorgeous aromas. Oh dear! I do miss all of you so much! The bestest holiday ever! But, as always, too short. Your photo's are really classy, ours look a bit lame compared. I'm so pleased that you are recording all the events in your blog because, already, I struggle to remember our sequence of events in France and it is only a year ago. So thank you very much for that! Love you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I so feel the same Ma, it's so hard to come back to reality after such a fab hols. At least we did it and it was magnifica! I am happy to send you some of the photo's over, I did say that I would. Yes, the reason for doing this is for us all to remember one day. Love you heaps xxxx

      Delete
    2. I so feel the same Ma, it's so hard to come back to reality after such a fab hols. At least we did it and it was magnifica! I am happy to send you some of the photo's over, I did say that I would. Yes, the reason for doing this is for us all to remember one day. Love you heaps xxxx

      Delete
  11. Sweetheart it looks fab, I really do want to return to Tuscany one day, left a little piece of my heart there! Glad you had a great time....love your little Robin too, I might have a go myself one day! Hope everything settles down soon, new beginning can be difficult! :) x

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow, lovely photos. You obviously had the best time. Tuscany is such a beautiful part of the world. I was particularly interested to hear your take on Lucca as I have never been there. Must make sure I do next time. xxx

    ReplyDelete