howdy & happy monday!
i've been pussyfooting around long enough about where carol & i are skipping off to in about a month.
umbria! yes, i'm going BACK to italy.
some pictures you say?
but of course!
we've rented a farmhouse (for a song!) that is plunked down in the middle of some sacred woods on the hillside of monteluco, overlooking the village of spoleto. we did our research and found spoleto to be the perfect base for us as it's a bit more off the tourist circuit than other villages in umbria.
also as soon as we saw this hot tub and its location overlooking an olive grove...well.
we were pretty much sold. ya know?
we are planning to Take It Easy. which means heaping doses of this: reading, travel journaling, cooking, walking, wine drinking, and hot tubbing. i won't be blogging from here, but when i get home i will regale you with travel tales and travel journal pages, photos galore and a few videos. though i think carol will be blogging...
to get to spoleto we'll walk through the forest and across an ancient footbridge. oh i can't wait for that!
Dammit! TOO COOL!
Posted by: Lewis | Monday, March 11, 2013 at 07:28 PM
You are a Traveler Extraordinaire...make that Two Travelers Extraordinaire! Can't wait for the travel tales and journal pages when you get back. :)
Posted by: Judy H. | Monday, March 11, 2013 at 08:00 PM
WHAT? NO JOURNAL CLASSES? NO SIGN-ME-UP TRAVEL-ALONG DAILY PHOTOS AND NOTES? SIGH.......................gonna be awful lonely over here.
Posted by: WH | Monday, March 11, 2013 at 08:29 PM
Sounds and looks fabulous!! Can't wait for pictures. Safe travels!
Posted by: julie | Monday, March 11, 2013 at 08:48 PM
You must watch My House in Umbria with the divine Maggie Smith! Transports you completely...
Posted by: Suzy | Monday, March 11, 2013 at 09:16 PM
I'm coming too, well if not in body, then spirit. I don't know if I could leave such a gorgeous place, UH Mary Ann, I think you've got some sort of internal gps that just knows where these awesome places are, forget how you use the internet to track em' done, fooey, I think it's your instinct that gets each click of the mouse just right, hoovers just above that perfect place and then hit 'enter' and heaven appears, oh something like that, it doesn't really matter how you find these gems on earth...I'll be counting down the days till your return, I will look forward to all your wanderings too and fro, all the little places that you discover, you have a knack for finding magical places...and of course sweet Carol's knack for keeping you both well grounded with martini's and libations must factor in too, I'm hookin on my wings and I'll be flying low and under cover, you won't even know I'm there but if any high jinx come about, feel free to blame it on phantom-big- wing-girl here, I often crash land rather ungracefully, and if I should knock you into the hot tub in the process, or send a bottle of ink flying, it was just me. ;)
Posted by: Susie LaFond | Monday, March 11, 2013 at 09:31 PM
Oh - this is so great. You´re going to have a great time May Ann and Carol too ofcourse. Umbria is so beautiful - sign... :-)
Have an awesome trip and I can´t wait to see pics
Posted by: Tina | Monday, March 11, 2013 at 10:39 PM
How fantastic! You found such a beautiful spot. I've been to Umbria briefly and loved it, but have plans to return when I can since I have an online friend from the Bay Area who lives there.
You keep coming so close, but I still haven't been able to meet you live! Someday.
Posted by: anna maria stone | Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 12:17 AM
Oooh, that looks lovely and luxurious! I just booked a last minute to a neighbouring island for six days starting march 24 in the tiniest but marvelous studio. A bit less exotic (and a bit less warm probably), but I am definitely looking forward to it. I guess even on my trips I like to be on an island sometimes. Enjoy your Umbria anticipation! ;-)
Posted by: Caatje | Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 12:43 AM
Great minds think alike! I am going back to Italy, too, in June - we'll be on the border of Tuscany and Umbrian, a bit heavier on the Umbria. My trip is a photography workshop and I can't wait! Look forward to hearing about your trip.
Posted by: Molly | Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 03:55 AM
we all seem to be giddy with excitement for you. sounds perfect, the way you have to get there (through the forest and over an ancient footbridge!) don't forget to take a left at the candy cane forest, lol
~Dawn
Posted by: Dawn | Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 04:00 AM
Looks absolutely divine. Wishing you both lots of adventures and delights.
Posted by: cynthia | Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 05:23 AM
What fun! Don't forget biscotti dunking in some nice Vin Santo!
Posted by: Rhonda H | Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 06:15 AM
Lovely! sounds just wonderful!
Posted by: Janet Ghio | Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 06:40 AM
sigh! looks lovely. doing something like that is definitely on my "life list." can't wait to hear more about it.
Posted by: katie | Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 06:50 AM
looks incredible. i am very jealous to say the least.
Posted by: Lucy | Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 06:56 AM
It looks so magical. *dreamy sigh*
Posted by: Kelly Luna | Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 07:14 AM
You. Are too much. Love it. Would so love to be there....will you take me under your wing? I'll be quiet. Promise. No trouble from me.
Posted by: LaurieJay | Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 08:27 AM
Sounds like a fabulous trip for you two adventurers! We'll all be so happy to hear all about this next vacation wonderland!
Posted by: Sue | Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 08:29 AM
I knew it. Who can resist Italy? On our last visit to Orvieto, we drove east a few times but never as far as Spoleto. You know you just don't want to rush in Italy...
Molly, are you going to Orvieto?
Posted by: Maureen | Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 08:54 AM
speechless, breathless, and completely weak at the knees. Looks like a fairy tale to me. Be careful - if you hear footsteps behind you getting onto the plane - they could be mine. What a great choice. xodonna
Posted by: donna Parker | Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 09:22 AM
Looks like a FAB place to lounge around, eat great food, sip the vino and enjoy life. Can't wait to hear/see all about it.
Posted by: Joan | Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 09:49 AM
Oh how cool! So, I'm curious, about how much is "for a song"? When are we leaving? xo
Posted by: Connie Rose | Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 10:38 AM
Can I come please. Oh my gosh, that is a dream of a lifetime. This will be your best trip ever. You so deserve it wow
Posted by: Peggy McDevitt | Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 11:02 AM
connie,
ill supply all the property rental details when i return. including the price. which was EXCELLENT!!
Posted by: Mary Ann Moss | Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 12:29 PM
That's not a little cottage - it's a castle!! You and Carol will be the Queens of the Castle, complete with footbridge as noted. And well deserved too, may I add! Lovely, lovely, lovely :-)
Posted by: Jane Bumar | Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 05:23 PM
(Wailing sound). I want to go! (And get away from all this construction).
Have fun, girls.
Posted by: Caroline | Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 05:50 PM
Really, really, really think you girls need a chaperone!! Don'tcha??
Posted by: linda | Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 06:59 PM
OK, you have my explicit approval. ;o))) Can we come too? Glad you are picking a spot away from the big tourist scenes. Italy has so many undiscovered goodness. You found a bit of it! Can't wait...
Posted by: catherine lucas (photocatseyes) | Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 02:42 AM
Ok you will be so close you have GOT to go to Nikki de Saint Phalle's Tarot Garden
http://www.nikidesaintphalle.com/
I didn't manage to get there and have been dreaming of it... I think you will be blown away! Such colors!! (And if you don't know who Nikki de St.P. is, oh my you will be in for a treat!!!)
Posted by: Rhonda H | Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 05:58 AM
How did you ever find this gem? I bet the staff is just as attractive, especially the hunky gardener:) Never been to Italy but I now have my Italy Travel Journal all prepared, just waiting for the stars to align, sigh.
Posted by: Violet Cadburry | Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 08:51 AM
Wow! Truly out of a movie! Can not wait to see the art that comes out of the trip.
Posted by: Vicki Rutherford | Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 09:02 AM
You have a gift for finding the most extraordinary homes! You really do! Maybe you should be a travel agent......This trip reminds me of a very sweet and favorite movie called "My House In Umbria." If you have not seen it, and you can't get your hands on it, let me know, and you can borrow my copy. I can drop it in the mail to you.
Posted by: Saguaro Chick | Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 11:51 AM
Can I go with you?
Seriously, you must share the rental info. That place looks DIVINE!
Posted by: AJ | Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 12:24 PM
What is the large castle looking building on top of the hill?
Oh, and in regards to Miss Cadburrys' comment if your rental does not come with a "hunky gardener" would you consider a lanky, somewhat dorky one? I'm Italian so I think it would be fine.
Posted by: Domenico | Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 08:13 PM