adventure | Toscanakiwi

After four weeks away we arrived home and have spent the last couple of weeks settling back into life at Kainui Road.

We have had a great time away and been spoilt along the way. People we met wanted to know about us and where we’re from. They marvel at how far we had to travel from New Zealand and want to know our story.

Italy is a generous country and we have experienced many acts of kindness along the way. Hotels we know have upgraded our rooms and restaurants and bars have given us extra treats along the way. Even on our last night we sat at an outside bar in Piazza Barberini drinking local chardonnay and Peroni beer. When it came time to order another chardonnay they had run out and were so embarrassed that a plate of pizza appeared on our table to say sorry. It was the best pizza we have eaten on this trip – but completely unnecessary.

Catching up with our friends is such a treat and it’s always hard to leave. We miss them terribly. Great meals and great times we will always remember. We returned home with bottles of wine, something liqueur and olive oil, all gifts from friends.

The girls were at the Dog Bach Kennels while we were away and apart from a couple of trips to the vet for upset tummies, have been in good health. The team there are excellent and we can’t recommend them highly enough.

The Dog Bach posts photos of their charges regularly and I’ve included a few with this post. Being able to see them while we’re away means so much. When we picked them up they largely ignored us (as they do) but when they got home they were excited to rediscover the house and garden – lots of zooming and a little bit of peeing.

Although it is the end of holiday Jean reminds me often that these days my life is just one big holiday anyway.

After leaving Tuscany we drove north to Firenze, looped around the city to the west and headed towards Pisa then turning north towards the Ligurian Coast and Camogli. Three hours, one lunch stop and one toll stop later we arrived at Cenobio di Dogi – our home until September 8.

This is the largest hotel we will stay in – many rooms, three restaurants plus bars, a salt water pool and a private beach. Even given its size it feels relaxed and friendly and nothing is too much trouble.

So far we’ve spent a day on the beach and a day by the pool, we’ve relaxed on the terrace with many drinks and experienced the organised chaos that is breakfast, twice.

Our first night we ate out at La Camogliese just a few metres down the road.

we’ve eaten there before and the seafood has been superb. As a surprise I booked a table there months ago and didn’t tell Jean. It gets incredibly busy and we’ve actually been turned away in the past so I thought booking was a great idea. Making the booking was a challenge from 18,800 kms away but we got there in the end.

The surprise didn’t quite go to plan however.

“Darling, seeing it’s our first night, we should go out” I said. “Maybe try that place we like – what was it called? La Camogliese?”

“Really do we have too go out? I’m tired. Maybe we just grab some takeaways and eat them in our room. I can’t be bothered getting dressed up and putting on makeup” Jean said.

“Come on, you don’t have to get dressed up, let’s just go as we are.”

“I really don’t want to …”

Things were going pear-shaped fast.

“Darling, you remember I said that I had a couple of surprises I’d arranged? This is one of them – I’ve booked us dinner tonight at 9pm”

An extended silence ensued. “How lovely. Let’s get ready…” she said.