Trip to Italy: Crossing the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and France

On July 22nd, Bob Wilkinson and I set off to visit a friend, Bonnie Weinstein in her home high up in the Italian Tuscan hills just two hours outside of Rome. Our weather was perfect. Bob planned the journey so that our first evening landed us in the Black Forrest town of Frieburg im Breisgau where I'd spent three carefree weeks as a new graduate in 1971. We stayed at the charming Hotel Minerva.

Frieburg Cathedral

Cathedral Gargoyle

Susan and Bob atop the Furka Pass, Rhone Glacier, Swiss Alps second highest pass

At the top of the Furka Pass, Bob poses in front the hotel where he worked as a college student

We stop at a lovely lakeside cafe for an elegant cheese lunch in Cham, Switzerland on the Zug 

Me at the Rheinfall, Schaffhusen, Switzerland

Porcaracce, Tuscany, Italy

 Bonnie and Piet's Shed

 Under the grape arbor overlooking the stunning hills

 Kitchen Window

 Piet Bongaart and Bonnie Weinstein's Tuscan villa, Porcaracce, Italy

 Hill Side of house

 Front Door detail

 Guest bathroom where you can bathe or relieve yourself wtih an incredible view! 

 An inventive planter

View from the arbor terrace

Tamalone

After a day of sunbathing on a beach near Tamalone, we meet up with friends of Bonnie & Piet, Laura and Piet Severijnen who summer in Italy. L to R: Annelies, Bonnie, Piet S., Bob, Laura

After the terrace, we sit at the summer home of Piet and Laura and are serenaded!

Rome

The next day Bonnie asked if we'd transport her friend, Annelies to Rome for her return flight to Maastricht. It was a perfect occasion to slip in an unplanned visit to the Eternal City where neither Bob nor I had ever been. Though it may have been only one half day, we had a great one seeing highlights, enjoying the sun, and sampling the food.

 The ubiquitous Carabinieri 

 Trivoli Fountain

 Susan and Bonnie at the famous Caffe Greco

 La Luna over Roma

 Inside the Pantheon

 Susan and Bonnie, Piazza Novana

Susan at the Spanish Steps

Pitigliano

An afternoon in the fantastic ancient Etruscan walled city of Pitigl

iano 

 Bonnie takes a rest from the blazing noonday sun

 Pitigliano by day

 Pitigliano by night

 Typical side street

 The facade of the Synagogue

There is a rich Jewish history here

The Return

We bid arrivederci to Bonnie and head back towards Maastricht via the scenic coastal route, stopping the first night in a very posh modern seaside Hotel Mare where because we had no reservations we got the last superior room with a whirlpool!

All glass partitions and a lovely whirlpool at the Hotel Mare which my traveling muscles appreciated.

We crossed the St. Bernard pass this time and stopped at Lake Geneva for lunch.

St. Bernard Pass

Final Day: Troyes

Our last night we stopped in the lush wine country of Burgundy/Champagne France. While discussing where would be good to stop the final day for lunch, I mentioned to Bob the book I've been reading, Rashi's Daughters, which is set in medieval Troyes, France, a stop that was right on our way. We arrived at noon on a sleepy Monday and found ourselves almost alone in this most fascinating city. It will be a place I want to return to.

 Detail of Troyes Cathedral

 Detail of Troyes Cathedral

 Troyes Cathedral

Typical medieval building