Our van in camping mode; ready for the night. In the background, the towers of Ottobeuren Abbey in Germany.
The old town of Innsbruck in Austria.
The view from our campsite near Innsbruck, Austria.
Horses next to our campsite near Innsbruck, Austria.
Horses next to our campsite near Innsbruck, Austria.
Enjoying the views at Hotel Alpen Tesitin in the Dolomites.
Rifugio Auronzo, an Italian Alpine hut in the Tre Cime Natural Park. We parked our camper van on their parking lot and started hiking from this hut.
We started with trail 101 from Rifugio Auronzo. From trail 101 we merged onto trail 105, looping the Tre Cime.
Rifugio Lavaredo, an Italian Alpine hut in the Three Peaks region at an altitude of 2,344 meters. The scenery is breathtaking.
The views in the Tre Cime area are mesmerizing. The famous Tre Cime peaks are partially shown in the background.
Wild flowers are randomly seen throughout the Tre Cime terrain. I like how this flower claimed its place in the world.
The path around Tre Cime is very rocky and not always easy to follow. There were still patches of snow to navigate around (not shown in photo). All in all, a very doable 10 kilometer hike.
Vanessa in one of the outdoor infinity pools at Hotel Alpen Tesitin.
The indoor-outdoor pool at Hotel Alpen Tesitin has a tranquil vibe.
The Church of St. John with the Dolomites in the background. Consecrated in 1180.
The path to the Santa Magdalena Church. It's about a 30-minute hike.
For the best views of the Santa Magdalena Church, hike up the Panoramaweg.
The Santa Magdalena Church with the Dolomites in the background. The church belongs to a tiny village of the same name tucked in the southern end of Val di Funes. The exact date the church was built is not known, but it was first mentioned in historical documents in 1394.
We experienced a sudden and violent daytime storm at Lake Garda.
Wine tasting at Villa Calicantus, a small organic winery in the heart of Bardolino Classico. We enjoyed meeting both owners, Chiara and Daniele Delaini, and learning more about their vineyard. We ended up shipping 12 bottles of their wine to our home.
"Today slow service" is exactly what we wanted at Villa Calicantus. We loved the 2-hour wine tasting and lunch.
Reading next to the pool at Ca Murreta Relais.
Summer nights under Italian grape vines.
When in Italy, it's almost a must to air-dry your clothes on a line. Fortunately, we found this handy drying system that attaches to Miles, our Volkswagen California.
One of the gardens at Dievole. Perfect spot for an 'aperitivo'.
A boy filling up his water bottle at a historic water fountain in San Gimignano.
Vanessa enjoying the aperitivo at Dievole.
Aperitivo! One of my favorite Italian traditions.
At the end of about any meal in Tuscany, you're offered Vin Santo and Cantucci. Cantucci are crunchy almond biscuits. You dip them into Vin Santo, a sweet Italian dessert wine.
Summer nights by candle light.
The pool at our friends' house in Tuscany. Incredible views!
A shop in Pienza.
An old bike in Pienza.
People watching in Levanto.
We hiked part of the SVA, a scenic coastal path connecting the 5 villages of the Cinque Terre. I'd like to come back to hike it in its entirety.
Honeymoon appropriate underwear.
Breakfast in the van. To eat: fruit, yogurt and granola parfait. To drink: coconut water and coffee made in the percolator.
Levanto, a seaside town with great beaches.
Fishing boats in Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre. And a woman swimming with her hat on.
Cliff jumping in Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre.
Fishing boats in Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre.
Manarola, one of the villages in Cinque Terre. We went for a swim. Highly recommended for those who love adventurous swimming.
Foodie selfie!
Walls of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
Wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
A barrel with 100-year old balsamic vinegar at Acetaia Leonardi. Its thick syrupy texture and deep sweetness was incredible.
Wooden barrels of balsamic vinegar at Acetaia Leonardi. Barrels are oranganized in "batteries". Some of their batteries have been in use for over 400 years. Love the traditions and long-term planning.
Vanessa at Casa Maria Luigia in Modena.
Massimo Bottura's "Five ages of Parmigiano Reggiano" being plated during our dinner at Francescana at Maria Luigia, a three-Michelin-star restaurant in Modena. "Five ages of Parmigiano Reggiano" helped Osteria Francescana become the number one restaurant in the world in 2016 and is one of the most influential culinary dishes of the last decade.
Massimo Bottura's "The Crunchy Part of the Lasagna" debuted at Osteria Francescana in 1995. This iconic dish is no longer available at Osteria Francesca, but lives on at Francescana at Casa Maria Luigia.
"Oops! I dropped the lemon tart." by Massimo Bottura. It recognizes that mistakes are not only human, but also beautiful.
