Any fun plans for the weekend? We are mostly getting things in order. Doing taxes (I know we procrastinated but it is a billion times harder to do taxes when you are a freelancer.) I’m also packing my bags for a solo trip to San Francisco next week. We planned a trip so I could bring back the paintings for The Commission Project and to teach my letterpress classes. I’m excited to see my friends and eat all that good San Francisco food!
We are also trying to line up some trips this summer. In August we want to rent out a house in Italy for a month. Does anyone know of a place off the beaten path? We want it to be not very touristy, extremely charming and near the beach (also not crazy expensive.) I’ve never been to Italy so not sure where to start since Google usually gives you the most popular (ie: touristy places.) Any suggestions?
I also write for Babble.com. Here are my links this week.
Did you hear? My favorite person is pregnant.
Crazy huge Kate Spade sale. That perfectly aligns with my trip to the states. It’s FATE!
Bought these new dishes last month and they are so great.
Considering these super cute (and cheap) crib sheets for the nursery.
We bought a new stroller, (with stripes!)
We’re buying this book of maps to use as prints for the boys’ room. Very affordable art!
DEB
April 12, 2011
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kahlia
April 12, 2011
I'm living in Florence now, and a lot of people here go to Viareggio when they want to go to the beach. We also loved Cinque Terre (La Spezia). If you'll have a car, you can look for country homes outside either of those two places and thus avoid most of the tourists in CT. In addition to hiking between the Cinque Terre, there's a train that runs very often (at most every 30 minutes, I think) in a continuous loop in both directions.
Reading through the comments, I see many people have mentioned Cinque Terre. It really is that pretty! Elba (the island) is supposed to be gorgeous; if you end up there I can ask a friend who's from there for more info. Volterra (like Montereggioni and San Gimignano) is inland, but very pretty! (We were in all three this past weekend.) But be careful the "Twilight" fans running around Volterra, (it was set there, though it was actually filmed in Montepulciano).
As you've heard over & over by now, most of Italy vacations in August (a lot of businesses close completely). Everyone heads out of the hot, tourist-filled cities and goes to the beach. Many have (or rent) second homes, and the others go to their parents'/grandparents' villages and stay with family.
Our household of two freelancers will be taking advantage of our clients being closed in August & moving to San Francisco!
Wherever you end up in Italy, especially in the north, keep an eye out for Brunello di Montalcino (2005 if possible) wine. We found a bottle for €25 in Montalcino and enjoyed it… but if I had known it was going to be so good (and prized), I would have bought some more to bring home! However, as I'm sure you've found in France, the house wines at most restaurants are good.
Catch me on twitter (@kahlia) if you want more information, though I haven't been to many beach/coastal places.
Cri
April 13, 2011
Hi, I live in the north of Italy.
As other people told you August in Italy beach towns is really really busy.
But, if you would like to find a quiet place, not far form the beach I would suggets you a "masseria" in Puglia. It's a sort of farmhouse, it's in the country, among olive trees, and it's very secluded and quie.h There you can relax and you can choose what to do during the day between going to the beach or visiting some nice cities (Ostuni, Alberobello, Trani, Otranto, Lecce, Gallipoli..).
But you have to book asap, otherwise you won't find availability anymore.
I just booked a b&b for a week in August in Gallipoli:
http://conigliogiallo.blogspot.com/2011/04/salento-arriviamo.html
If you will stay a whole month in Italy why not spending a couple of weeks in a place and the other two weeks in another place? 😉
Anyway if you are interested in some links (masserie etc) let me know because I've done a lot of searching about that in the last period 😉
Ciao!
Cristina
RIA
April 15, 2011
most businesses will be closed in the less touristy areas for most of august. so make sure to choose your location wisely. i highly recommend visiting the piemonte area which is just 1.5 hrs north of liguria (where vernazzo is) to see the green hills and all the vineyards. if you go, check out Villa Sampaguita near Asti (http://www.villasampaguita.com/Live/home.cfm). they've got two small children as well and a running farm/vineyard.