Sweetie and Doc Take a Trip: Monday in Ravello

Dear Charlie and Polly,

Monday was another beautiful day in Ravello. Every day last week we were very busy sightseeing in Florence, so it is really nice to just relax and take it easy this week. We had breakfast on the terrace. I fixed myself a Caprese salad which may seem like a strange breakfast, but it tasted delicious!

Doc had his usual cereal and milk. No weird Italian breakfasts for him!

:- )

While I was downstairs doing some laundry, I came upon this picture hanging on the wall. It is a very old photograph of a famous Ravello view. Do you think you have you ever seen something that shows this view before? You have...it's in our house somewhere, but you will have to try to figure out where! It is a view of the sea from the gardens at the Villa Rufolo, a beautiful home and gardens built almost eight hundred years ago. We went to a strings concert at the Villa Rufolo Monday night. It was beautiful, but it didn't begin until 9:30 at night, and I got a little sleepy before it was over!

Before long, it was time for lunch! Are you beginning to see a pattern here? Eating out is the highlight of our day. So up the steps we trudge...

As we climbed up the stairs we passed this beautiful tree. Can you see what is growing on it? Beautiful ripe cherries!

After several hundred steps, we reached our destination - the Villa Amore restaurant.

Italian meals are a bit different from meals we are used to at home. They consist of many courses, served one at a time. First, there is the antipasto, or appetizer. Next is a pasta dish. Then comes a meat dish with different side dishes. And finally, if you are not too stuffed, a dessert. Doc and I have finally figured the best way for us to order our meals here. We choose one dish from each category and share everything. That way we don't get quite so full! The Villa Amore restaurant served one of our favorite antipasto dishes - prosciutto (thinly sliced ham) and canteloupe. The canteloupe here is sweeter than any I ever remember having. Delicious!

Next we had pasta carbonara, or spaghetti with bacon and eggs. It was yummy, too.

Then they served us these big guys. They are called prawns, but they are really just great big (GREHT big) shrimp. There was nothing shrimpy about them!

And of course, spinach!

The view from the restaurant was similar to ours from the house, just a good bit higher.

Here we are - stuffed from a delicious lunch!

From the restaurant, we followed the path toward town...

...and passed the organic garden of the Villa Maria.

After wandering around for a while, it was gelato time. I had chocolate and hazelnut!

While we were eating our gelato, Doc noticed these two cats playing with something. Soon their owner came out and scooped up the "something" they were playing with and tossed it into the bushes.