Lovely Levanto

The view from our house. A backyard filled with palm trees, palm fan, maritime pine, cacti,rose bushes, lemon trees and jasmine. A beautiful, heady smell fills the air...



Just finished a great week in Levanto, Italy. Consensus is...we will be back for a longer visit in the future. A funky little beach town with spectacular scenery - the locals are friendly, great beach with surf, large public pool on the beach,unlimited hiking(with wine /espresso stops along the way) and very good road and mountain biking. What more could one ask for??

We would have liked some sunnier weather, but I cannot complain - the locals have had to live with seven months of rain.



A little piece of heaven...english mags! Thank you Kelly.

We had the pleasure of spending the week with Darcy, Kelly and family. Our cottage was just big enough...for Anderson alone.



It took 7 of us to look after this one..



Two of us to get him up the hill home..



All sweetness..



Picking up fresh pasta for dinner. I had a 5 min. conversation only using hand gestures and facial expressions...and somehow ended up with what I wanted. I needed Kelly for this one. She speaks franglish with an italian accent and somehow they understand her!?



Maxs first car. We figure it will be just small enough to fit on the valley trail!
These little three wheelers are everywhere...in bright colors.



A day trip to Portofino. A little gem of a town to spend a day or two with your husband or lover. Kelly, the kids and I had a nice couple of hours wandering around. It is no wonder there are many paintings of this picture perfect town.





The boys were suppose to meet us there on bike, but they couldnt find the lower coastal road to Portofino. That would probably be because there isnt one! Who sets out on a long road ride without looking at a map?And trust me they didnt stop and ask for directions either. Kelly and I found them back in Levanto at a local cafe with a glass of wine in front of them. We took their seats, gave them the car keys , a car full of kids and sent them on their merry way...

Mike and Darcy had some great road rides and also managed to squeeze in a stage of the Giro D'italia. The locals are very enthusiastic about the race. There have been some epic stages due to the weather. Mike was able to get out and do part of the "Strade Bianche" stage. He rode the rolling hills of Tuscany and up into the town of Montalcino.

(You guessed it...We are now in Tuscany. I am beginning to think you cannot go wrong in Italy.)