Casa Debbio

Posted on March 23, 2016 by kathy

While staying in the apartment in Ponte a Serraglio, the lovely owners, Debra & Jim, invited us to lunch at their other home just outside the village of Vergemoli in the Garfagnana National Park. After a 45 minute drive up a very narrow, winding mountain road, we arrived at our meeting place, a quaint little church on the edge of the village.

1.Arrival

With knees still trembling, I looked back down the road I had just driven up.

2.Vergemoli

The scenery had a wonderful calming effect

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and a friendly spaniel came to greet us.

6.Bella

The walk to the house through peaceful countryside

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led to Casa Debbio. Resurrected from ruins in 2012, the house was stunning.

14a.entrance 15.Casa Debbio 16.rear view 17.garden 20.terrace

The views from the terrace were breathtaking.

18.view from terrace 19.Vergemoli

Lunch was delicious. We enjoyed antipasto of fava bean dip, prosciutto & cheese

21.lunch

followed by pork chops cooked to perfection on the barbecue

22.BBQ

accompanied by pan-fried potato & onion, little fat sausages (undoubtedly they have an exotic Italian name), salad and homemade bread. Dessert of strawberry trifle topped off a wonderful afternoon. One last look at the vista

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and we walked back to the car, bracing ourselves for the drive home.

To see more of Casa Debbio and the wondrous changes to the property, visit Debra’s blog https://bagnidilucca.wordpress.com and website http://www.casadebbio.com

discovering Darwin

Posted on March 5, 2016 by kathy

Our last day in Darwin before heading south, we arrived early for a lunch date with a friend and took the opportunity to explore the Botanic Gardens. Named after George Brown, under whose guiding hand they were restored after Cyclone Tracy, the gardens exude a lovely serenity.

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Some of the trees are works of art,

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others serving as nature’s plant pots.

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The tropical flowers are so delicate, I would love to have these in my garden.

There is colour everywhere.

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The orange-footed scrub fowls are lucky to call the gardens home.

19.orange footed scrub fowl

Lunch was calling and we were introduced to the Darwin Waterfront. Stokes Hill Wharf was there when we were last in Darwin in 2005,

25.Stokes Hill Wharf

but now the precinct is an impressive collection of eateries, accommodation and activity.

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We dined at Il Lido with views over the lagoon

21.waterfront1

and Convention Centre.

20.convention centre

There were some interesting beverages on tap

and the quarter pounder & fries were delicious.

29.quarter pounders

We managed to ward off the heat with a few cold beers.

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Cheers! Thanks for a great afternoon, Nigel, it was lovely to see you again.

Hartzview Vineyard

Posted on January 29, 2016 by kathy

When my sister was here on holiday, we ventured on a girl’s road trip to Strahan and Hobart. Having sampled the produce of Hartzview Vineyard at Salamanca Market, we realised an expedition further south was in order. The complimentary lunchtime dessert voucher was added incentive. On a gorgeous overcast, drizzly day and after a few diversions along the way, we arrived at Hartzview in time for lunch.

1.Hartview

Hartz peak was shrouded in mist.

2.vineyard

The shop was filled with tempting produce, some of which came home with us.

The views through the stained glass windows of the tasting room were lush and peaceful.

There was no need to reserve a table

9.dining room

and the meals were superb.

Did I mention the free dessert?

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After lunch, we explored the Heritage listed fruit pickers’ huts.

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The seven restored huts, dating from 1934 and 1943, were used by seasonal fruit pickers who came to pick berries from December to March.

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Whole families would live in a hut, sleeping up to eight people.

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During the Second World War, Italian prisoners of war worked as fruit pickers and farmhands and were housed in these huts. 25.hut3 24.hut2-4

This unexpected journey into the past, coupled with a wonderful lunch in a beautiful location, made for a very memorable day.

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picturesque Penguin

Posted on January 9, 2016 by kathy

Penguin is a quaint seaside town, a scenic 15 minute drive from our house. It was first settled in 1861 and named for the little penguin rookeries along the coast. The Big Penguin was born in 1975 to commemorate the centenary of the naming of the town. There always seems to be a seagull on its head!

1.big penguin

The rubbish bins around town represent cement penguins and this handsome fella stands outside the Tourist Information Centre.

2.small penguin

The main road hugs the panoramic Penguin Beach

3.Penguin Beach1 4.Penguin Beach2 5.Penguin Beach3 6.Penguin Beach4

and lunch at 52 Main was a must when visiting the town.

7.52 Main

A glass of wine, magnificent views and excellent food. The lamb sliders were amazing.

8.52 Main sliders

Sadly, 52 Main closed its doors a few months ago, they are greatly missed. The Uniting Church is an impressive Federation Gothic building, opened in 1903.

9.Uniting church

At the western end of town in the lovely bay of Johnson’s Beach.

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When my sister was here on holiday, we spent some time wandering the shore marvelling at the myriad colours in the rocks.

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No-one told these guys a “shag on a rock” was supposed to be on his own

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but this limpet had the right idea.

22.limpet

Some of the flotsam was quite delicate

and the sand patterns left by the ebb & flow of the tide were fascinating.

You can see where the worms and seagulls have been.

We returned to Johnson’s Beach later in the holiday

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and the rock formations mesmerised us yet again.

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I think this is one of the most beautiful photos I have ever seen, stunning in its simplicity.

35.Pat's pic

Unfortunately, I can’t take credit for this one, it is my sister’s masterpiece.

contented Christmas

Posted on December 25, 2015 by kathy

We decided to do something different for Christmas Day this year. Life is so busy, time spent relaxing together seems to get less and less, so that’s what we did. We packed up Betsy

1.Betsy