We arrive in Rome on Sunday morning after an over night stop at Dubai airport hotel.We thought this was not a bad way to travel.
We booked into the newly renovated boutique hotel Babuino 181 Luxury Suites in Via del Babuino, half way between the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo. This is in the heart of the best clothes shopping.
The weather is stunning, shops great,lots of people. JB enjoys some shopping at a few of her favourites such as Ferragamo, Max Mara, and a very nice shoe shop called Barberini. After mass we have dinner at a nearby small restaurant in an old
factory that was for centuries a sculpture foundry with many small and
large moulds and Marquette's which
created great atmosphere.
Monday we started with an hours walk exploring the beautiful Borghese Gardens. After a beautiful italian breakfast on the hotel terrace.
We took a taxi to the Terme de Caracala. This is a huge amazing public baths and gym complex, developed over about 10 years in around 250 AD. This was well worth a visit. We then wanted to see the Imperial tomb of Augustus. It appears as a hill of rubble and not open as it is being renovated. We heard that the inside looks spectacular. We then have lunch and a little shopping to which even MB succumbs.
That night we join cousin Anne Ahern together with our friends from Porto Ercole Federica and Marco Fusco, for a
great dinner at the Hotel de Russi.
Tuesday 24th. We leave early for a flight to Venice where we stay at the hotel Danielli, always a treat and arriving there by water taxi makes you realise how beautiful this city is.
Unfortunately a lot of art museums are closed today so we just wander the beautiful streets. We have never seen the place so busy in the winding small streets, but we find time to shop for a few small items for Siracusa such as some tassels and a beautiful Byzantine Cushion. After a light lunch we rest up before we meet up with our friend Sue Farrelly for dinner. We have the most fantastic room in the Hotel overlooking the Grand canal and over the water we have a view of a large contemporary sculpture with the back drop of a old basilica behind. Our hotel has recommended a small family restaurant which was close but if we had not found it during the day we certainly would not have found it at night through the narrow winding streets. It is set in a garden and the food and wine excellent.
Wednesday. Together with Farrelly we meet the Australian representative for the Venice Biennale. He takes us on a tour of the Australian Pavilion, which displays a complex series of works by Simryn Gill. Without the guided tour it would be difficult to understand its full meaning. We then went on to visit several of the other countries pavilions before heading off to the Arsenale. On the way we stop for a light lunch at a small cafe in the via Garibaldi.
The Arsenale is always a highlight of the Venice Biennale. It takes hours to absorb all the art, but it is exciting with all the new art from around the world. We wander back to our hotel finding art shows dotted in buildings along the way.
That night we have dinner at another recommended family restaurant, 'Nouvo Galleon'. It is fantastic. The owner Sergio simply presents us with a 3 course meal with beautiful local food and wines.
Thursday. We visit the Peggy Guggenheim museum which is an absolute must in Venice. The collection is outstanding and the museum has great atmosphere.
We say goodby to Farrelly as she is staying for a few more days and we are heading off to Sicily.
Disaster at the airport as we are told our tickets were booked for yesterday in error. We are cross but lucky to be able to buy new tickets so we are able to get to Catania by 7pm as arranged. However, we then find on arrival our luggage has not arrived. We wait in line at the lost luggage desk. This is the most disorganized office, with one person trying to serve a dozen people. After an hour we finally get served, complete the lost luggage documents then our luggage turns up on a later flight.
What a day!!
We are rewarded by the hotel we have chosen in Siracusa, The Musciara Siracusa resort, situated on a small beach only 10 minuets walk to Ortiga Island. Even though it is late, we meet our friend Lucia Iacono, who last year was our guide and now our trusted friend. Dining at the hotel is right on the private waterfront. The evening is warm and the food exceptional.
Friday. After a swim and an amazing fresh food breakfast, we make contact with our friend Baron Peter, to arrange dinner for Saturday night.
We then wander over to Ortiga to meet Gemma Davis at our apartment. Gemma and her assistant are our architects and project managers for this project. They have ripped the interior of the 17th century apartment to pieces, exposing vaulted ceilings. We discuss finishes, fixtures and fittings all day, which is exhausting but satisfying. MB's cousins Mick and Jo Ahern along with Anne have arrived so we have dinner with them at the Musciara on the waterfront.
Saturday. Our hotel suite is stunning, a large terrace on the top floor overlooking the Ionian Sea and Ortiga. We start the day with Francesca for a Yoga session. Then swim, breakfast, then back to work with Gemma and Laura all day.
That night, together with the Ahern's we have been invited to the Baron's palace for dinner. We had met him last year and have become good friends. We have drinks on his balcony overlooking the crowded Piazza Duomo. Dinner is delicious local seafood and Peter's own wines from his vineyard. It is always entertaining with many interesting stories, mainly interesting historic anecdotes.
Sunday. JB has picked up a virus, and needs to rest. MB joins Peter to visit some of his estates, of which there are many. We visit a proposed Golf course development then onto several small fishing villages along the south coast. We stop at what was once a large Tuna processing village, but as the Tuna have diminished and the factories closed, the people have turned to tourism.
We go to mass at the 'Madonna del Lacrima' cathedral which is huge and amazingly crowded. Then we move onto dinner with our project team including their respective husbands called Antonio, plus Lucia and Enzo. Gemma has booked at the 'Antica Locanda da Enrico' in via Vittorio Veneto, which is family run. The owner presents us with a superb array of local dishes to be shared. We feel we have developed a real family in Siracusa.
Monday. Another yoga session on the Terrace, a swim, breakfast then back to work. We wander up through the fresh food market renewing our love for that part of Siracusa.
Gemma takes us to an interior design warehouse to select furniture and to complete joinery designs and finishes. This takes all day again, we are exhausted but invite Peter for dinner at the Musciara, which enlivens us. He knows everyone, including the young owners of the hotel and the mother who is the chef.
Tuesday. We have our final session with Gemma and Laura, to wrap up the lighting, budget etc. Job done.
We meet with Lucia for lunch and finalise the finances and management issues.
We say a tearful goodbye. JB hopes to be back in May 2014 to finish and enjoy her new Italian home.
JB and Mick