Saying goodbye to Italy

We've had a fabulous trip and have enjoyed so many things about Italy. The ancient buildings and the fresh, tasty food come immediately to mind. But also the coffee culture here. On every corner there's a bar serving espresso, wine, liqueurs, and snacks. We never once made coffee in our own kitchen because the cappuccino served in these bars was just too delicious to miss.

Each bar specializes in its brand of coffee, and all are different. The one we had most often is Marcafe, but others were also tasty. And in the morning if you are lucky there will be fresh cornetto with vanilla cream in the middle. or maybe a pastry with dark chocolate folded inside. And when the sun shines you can sit outside at a table and savour it slowly. Can you think of a better way to start the day?

Of course I haven't mentioned the wine or the exquisite olive oil. Or the warmth and courtesy of the Italian people. We will especially miss this aspect of Italy.

But going back to the food, there is also the gelato. We indulged ourselves quite often with this treat as well. Some fabulous flavours include mandarino, limone, wild berries, and cherry with almond. We couldn't resist the pastries, or the olive oil or the gelato. And that's why we will have to be going on a serious diet when we get home.