Too much limoncello

A very slow start to the day, not sure why? ;). Luckily I had pictures to show Jim how last night progressed. Lol.  I didn't do that!!! Was a a popular refrain from him this morning.  Even when we stopped at the same roadside cafe tonight, he was saying. We were here last night.... Yes we were ... Really...  Yep here's a picture. :)

Sorrento is a beautiful city, the customer service staff have all gone out of their way to learn English.  They have been ever so helpful with suggestions and tips.  The next paragraph is a total vent so feel free to bypass, it was just one guy.  Tips to put in your Things to know about Italy and I am sure a lot of European regional train stations. - 50 cents to get into toilet, exact change, bring your own toilet paper and be prepared for filth

Venting:

We went to the bus/train terminal today, what a bunch of assholios.  We get our ticket and Jim lines up and I think ok I should probably go to the bathroom if we are going on a 1.5 hour bus ride up and down mountains.  Cant find the bathrooms. Go up the stairs, come down the elevator, finally ask at the tobacco shop. And the toilets are broke, have to go upstairs and use the train bathroom.  Follow the directions she gives me.  Hello.  You need a ticket to get to the bathrooms.  Go to the train ticket counter and he tells me to use gate 8 and over I go and open the door.  Down the stairs I go and voila!,...  You have to pay.  I don't have the correct change so back upstairs I go, back to the train guy and ask him for change and back to the door which he has neglected to open.  Bang bang on the door, these 2 guys having coffee look at me like I am nuts.  Hello I am over 50. When you need the bathroom, Clear the track.  Back to the train guy. I am normally a quiet person but this is really frustrating.  How stupido can you be?  Open the Freaking door I yell in English.  He did understand me.  Downstairs I go and omg the dirtiest, most disgusting toilets I have ever seen.  

Off to the Amalfi

We hop on the 1230 bus to Amalfi.  US Hwy 1 is a like a ride at centreville compared to this road.  Up and over mountains, tons of switchbacks with the bus honking its horn constantly to let other drivers know its coming.  The Italian sense of space and reflexes are amazing.  I don't know how many bikers I thought were toast between the bus and the wall on the sea side.  The countryside was amazing, the little town of Postiano is totally tiered. House on top of house going right ip the cliff.  The only flat area was where they built the piers.  white and yellow and red houses, just stunning.

Another 30 minutes and we were off to Amalfi.   After an hour Jim was starting to turn a little green.  So 1st stop when we got off the bus was to find a boat home.  There was a big cruise ship in and lots of boats in the harbour.  

A lovely little square with lots of people wandering up and down, drinking cappuccinos and Jim and I finally broke down and had our 1st gelato, pistachio with some lemon and I had a limoncello with I think a coffee chocolate vanilla.  Delish and very refreshing.  

There were 2 brides getting their pictures on the pier and in town.  Kept expecting to see Michael Corleone.

 There are tons of people going up and down he square along this 15 foot wide cobblestones road.  Next thing we see are cars moving down the road, Jim and I look at each other - oops he's made a mistake.  Nope this is an actual road and somehow these oblivious tourists who don't even seem to notice the cars and vespas remain unscathed.  

"The Cathedral of Amalfi built approximately 1266 was right in the middle of the square.  This monumental complex of the cathedral is testimony to Amalfi's past.  It includes the cloister of paradise, the basilica of the crucifix and the crypt of St Andrew.  The beauty of the art makes the people feel closer to god. Along the side of he cloister one can admire the remain of the ancient Byzantine pulpits of the cathedral from 1174 to 1200, inlaid with precious mosaics."

We hopped on the boat for a wonderful ride home, what a great finish to the trip. On the way there we saw the region for the top and on the way back we were able to view it from the water.

Finished off the night with another lovely meal at an outdoor cafe and then went back up to our market square to do some people watching.  Met another lovely couple from Britain.  Honestly I think there are more Brits in Italy then there are Italians.  The Piazza Tasso was just hopping, even at 12 on a  Sunday locals were there with their children in strollers, on bikes just walking and talking.  

Beautiful Sorrento

Asleep at 230, awake at 730. Up and at em.  Try and go back to sleep.  Coffee in bed. Wow so strong. A little mist over the mountains, beautiful high blue sky. Finally get going around 930. Just going to take it easy today. Which means lots of walking. We find a nice little cafe for an English breakfast, capachinno, fresh squeezed oj, fruit cocktail and a donut  - oops we were expecting a croissant.  Lol.  Still ate it.  

Sorrento, and I'm sure most little towns along this coast are full of little alleys, shops, cafes, jewellery stalls and fresh markets. The colours are wonderful, bright yellows, oranges, reds, blues and greens.  Vespas are zipping in and out everywhere, they don't seem to have any rules, other than helmets.  Even saw kids texting and driving with one hand wiggling in and out of cars and people.  They pass on both sides, in between cars and buses and like to take curves on 2 wheels.  Roads that in Aurora would be one way handle big tour buses, cars, vespas and people (taking pictures) walking everywhere.  

The artwork is phenomenal, statues everywhere, a number of them by Salvatore Dali.  The churches here are impressive, painted ceilings, decorative crosses and statues to the saints. I can't imagine what the Vatican will be like.

We walk from the top of Sorrento, where our hotel is, to the sea.  A little worried about the walk back up.  Figure worst scenario we can get a cab.  There are vendors everywhere. They even own the beaches, where for 12 euro you can rent a chair and a change room.  In between the private beach is a public dock not much bigger than our cottage dock, it does have change rooms and showers. 

Time for lunch before the walk back. Split a pizza, beer and mimosa at a quaint little place on the pier.  There were 2 restaurants beside each other with 2 very cute Italians trying to entice people into their cafes, I had more fun watching them chirp each other then watching the marina. Lol

Most exciting part of the day was finding out that for 1 euro you could ride an elevator up the inside of the cliff, this got us halfway back to our hotel,  major relief :). Lovely walk back finding all sorts of little alleys, with no cars just people. 

Back to the hotel and a wonderful hour relaxing by the pool. The water is cooler than lake muskoka but a much prettier colour.  

That's an olive tree btw.  Yes Jim and I had to go to the top of the pool and slide down each waterfall. I told Jim he couldn't have a rum and coke if he didn't get in the pool.  Lol it worked.  Our motto for this trip is to do something silly everyday.  Might buy Jim a speedo tomorrow. As long as he doesn't put me in a bikini. Lol. Xrated pictures for tomorrow. Lol. Are you reading this kids. Beware.  

So after our swim we pop up to the lounge over looking the Tyrhheian sea so I can use the wifi. Ok let's have 2 glasses of chianti.  Future reference 2 glasses of chianti and tip come to 25 euros.  Back up to the room and down we walk to the wine store. 2 bottles of wine and 1 prosecco for 32 euros.  Thinking I will start my day with prosecco rather than lemon water from now on.  

Decided to have a wee taste of the San Lorenzo on the balcony before dinner.  It was so good we decided to have another :). Off we headed to dinner at 9 pm, the streets were crazy busy and the first couple of restaurants we looked at HDTV no seats on their terraces.  So we just kept walking there are literally 100s of restaurants and cafes.  Took an inside seat at .........................  It had a huge antipasto bar and the food was divine.  I had a spinach gnocchi with salmon, Jim had a carbonara and lemon veal and we shared a caprese salad.  Another lovely chianti and the bill came to 100 euros including tip.  Boy it would be nice to eat like this at home!!!

The waiter made a big mistake and brought us a very refreshing limoncello.  Delish and a wonderful way to finish off the night.  I thought. :). We head back to our hotel and Jim decides we need another limoncello.  The market square and surrounding streets have been closed to vehicular traffic and there are people everywhere.  . 

We find a seat at a cafe on the square and yes order another limoncello.  Below is what happens after 2 limoncellos

Yes you start taking pictures of everything. Lol. I ended up deleting about 20 out of focus and a number of shots of our feet. Lol

The Long and Winding Road of Sorrento

Five years ago in 2008 was when we first started planning this trip.  Circumstances caused us to move it from our 30th anniversary to our 35th.  Now that we are older and wiser the enjoyment level has jumped 200 fold.  Andrew drove us to the airport at 5:30 for a 9 pm flight.  We were in row 49 the last row on the A330 Air Transat flight.  Great seats and a great flight.  We landed  in Rome at 11:30 am.  Hopped on the train to Rome termini where we needed to catch a connecting train  to Napoli.  This train was very busy and very hot, modern but slow.  I'm not sure what I was expecting. But definitely surprised at the degree of neglect.  Rome is a big city and railways are not necessarily the best way to get your first impression of them.  The railway line was dirty, neglected, had homeless people living under bridges, definitely not the pathway of the gods I was expecting.  

While waiting for our connecting train we did some people watching.  What a busy terminal. Locals, business people and lots of tourists.     (Aside. the younger Italian guys sure know how to wear a suit, Hubba Hubba).  The train to Napoli was a high speed train travelling at 250 Khm at some points.  Again the line was showing the industrial side of Italy.  Finally we (excuse me Jim was sound asleep, yeah he needed it) started seeing mountains and the coast was approaching.  

Grab our bags and start scrambling off the train.  At the bottom of the steps is this older Italian guy asking if we need a taxi.  Sure I say, next thing I know he grabs our 2 bags and we are running to keep up with him.  Does he go to the front of the terminal. Oh no, we go though some shops, out the side door, down an alley and voila he drops us off at a van.  Jim shakes his hand with the tip,  I am thinking "oh no” Jim has given him some change, but thankfully no it is 5 euros.  I think cool, all he had to do was pull our bags out to his friends car.  Well the guy goes mental as only an Italian can.  Arms in the air, "what's a this,  givea mea 20", youa crazy". Jim hands over the 20. Doesn't look at me just gets in the car no discussion. Lol.  Now the taxi driver passes him a card and says "this is the price". Again Jim doesn't look at me and says "go get a me to my hotel". Lol 165 euros later with a great ride down the coast, through 3 crazy long tunnels under the mountains, switchbacks, a stop for lemonade and some pictures of the beautiful town of Meta and we were deposited in front of our hotel.

Left Aurora at 530, arrive at our hotel at 530 the next day.  Bags are up in the room and we head down to a marvellous balcony overlooking Mt Vesuvius and the Tyrreian Sea. Bellissimo.

Back up to the room and a 2 hour nap and we get ready for dinner. We asked the concierge for a recommendation and he asked us "What kind of food?"  Hello Italian would be good.   A shuttle bus took us down to Vela Bianco for a wonderful Italian dinner with the locals. Thanks to our concierge for this choice.  Homemade lasagne, caprese salad for me while Jim had a fresh shrimp salad, penne in a Gorgonzola and veal for Jim. A great bottle of chianti all for 95 euros. A final drink on the patio and off to bed.  

The Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve - a wonderful walk

The air was a little crisp on Saturday, but not a cloud in the sky.  Guys had gone golfing.  surprise, surprise.  Sitting at the cottage with my 3 girlfriends, Lindsey, Maryjo and Sharon, (probably talking about our husbands - actually there is no doubt that we were talking about our husbands!!!), we decided to put on our running shoes and head over to the Torrance Barrens for a walk around one of the most beautiful trails in Muskoka.  http://muskokatrailscouncil.com/trailguides/muskokalakes


The Barrens are classified as a "Dark Sky Reserve", you can see 360 degrees of the sky, at night there isn't a light anywhere other than the natural beauty of the stars and planets.  I haven't been able to talk myself or anyone else into going over at night.  It is beautiful but I think at night it would be a little scary.  One day, when there is a full moon I will drag someone over (watch out girlfriends)....

The rock formations are wonderful, huge vistas of rock with nothing growing on them, no powerwashers here to keep them clean, just the wind, rain, ice and snow.  You can see the quartz veins running through them.  These rocks are part of the Canadian Shield and 2 billion years old.
There are 3 trails, we thought we had walked the large one, but looking back at the map - sorry girls I think we only did the 3.5 km one.  lol  Before too long, sweaters were coming off.  MJ was gloating over the fact that she had her shorts on.  And to boot there weren't any prickly bushes to walk by as most of the time you were walking on the ROCK.  Running shoes definitely a good idea.

We came upon this little group of Standing Stones, needless to say we all started thinking about the "Outlander" series by Diana Gabaldon with most of the talk being about our darling "Jamie".  http://www.dianagabaldon.com/books/outlander-series/ it is now being turned into a tv series.

A beautiful fall like day in Muskoka what more could you ask for.

Peach Coffeecake - Discovered a new twist for this old favourite

I was introduced to the coffeecake family of deserts by my good friend Claudia Figgures and it has been a love affair ever since.  This coffeecake can be made with fresh or canned peaches.  This recipe is from "The Good Housekeeping Cookbook" I was given as a shower gift over 35 years ago (in 1978).

Coffeecake

1-1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

2 teaspoons double acting baking powder

2 teaspons grated lemon peel

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

4 eggs

1 29-ounce can sliced cling peaches, well drained

or

4 to 6 fresh Ontario peaches, peeled and sliced.  (I soaked them in boiling water and then the skin came off really easy - with a couple of burnt fingers :) )

Topping:

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar 

1 tablespoon grated lemon peel

Preheat oven to 350F.  Grease 13 by 9" baking pan.  

Into large bowl, measure flour and next 6 ingredients; with mixer at low speed, beat until well mixed, constantly scarping bowl with rubber spatula.  Increase speed to high; beat 4 minutes, occasionally scarping bowl.  

Spread batter evenly in baking pan.  Arrange peaches on top of batter.

Topping:  In small saucepan over medium heat, melt 1/2 cup butter or margarine, remove from heat.  Stir in 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon grated lemon peel to form a soft dough.

Sprinkle entire top with Topping.

Bake 45 to 50 minutes until light golden and toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean.

Makes 12 servings.  It will keep for a few days in the fridge.

New Twist:

Andrew and I really wanted to try some last night, so we put it in a bowl with ice cream while it was still hot.  I now can't imagine eating it cold.  

Next time:

Thinking I might add some fresh Ontario wild blueberries on top of the peaches.  

Just as an aside, is there anything that doesn't taste good with "lemon zest" in it....

Enjoy.

Baby Boomer Childhood

I find this hilarious, hope you do too!!!!

An old favourite. Pineapple Banana Split cake

This favourite was first served to Jim and I by Mary Jo who was given it by our friend Denise.

Pineapple Banana Split Cake

Ingredients

2/3 cup butter softened

2 cups graham cracker crumbs

19 oz can of crushed pineapples

3 bananas

1 cup butter softened

2 eggs 

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups icing sugar

Large container cool whip

Garnish - chocolate, nuts, cherries ??? Your choice. I used shaved jersey milk chocolate bars

Mix 2/3 cup of butter together with graham cracker crumbs and press into 9 x 13 pan.

Drain can of pineapples. Save juice into a bowl.  Slice bananas and soak in pineapple juice

Beat 1 cup of butter until smooth.  Add eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth.  Add icing sugar. 

Pour butter mixture over graham crumbs.

Place drained sliced bananas on top and then top with crushed pineapples. 

Use large container of cool whip and spread over the top.

Garnish with chocolate sauce, shaved chocolate, nuts, cherries or whatever your heart desires.

Refrigerate. 

Note:  you are correct this s a no bake desert.

Delish. :)