We are still having a wonderful time, but we cannot believe how quickly the time is going now! There are still quite a few things we “need” to do before we move on, including places to see and restaurants to eat at.

We are still attempting to do a decent walk at least once a week. We found one through the vineyards, starting at Castiglione Falletto to Barolo.

The views were again quite spectacular and Greg had some fun with his camera!

Of course the knees needed to be lubricated once we returned home!

Elena invited us again to her home for lunch. It was another delicious 5 course meal. After lunch we had a very special outing. They invited us to accompany them to a friends house and watch them make ravioli.

The couple ran a restaurant in the square in Monforte for 37 years. Nonno made the past dough while Nonna put it through the machine, filled and pinched it to make “ravioli plin”. It was amazing to watch, such an art.

We had eaten pizza at the local square but we were told that the Piscine Pizzeria, or the local Pizza joint at the swimming pool was good too!

 

We enjoyed the pizza in the square better, but the swimming pool was pretty impressive for such a small village! It was a one kilometre walk to the pool, so by the time we returned it was twilight. The square looked rather impressive!

 

 

 

 

 

The roses in the village have just about come to an end but they are still really pretty!

 

 

We are still discovering the many villages dotted around the area.

Sinio, left, is a very small hill top medieval village with a population of 471 , but quite quaint. Canale , right, was a larger town , and the covered archways were a great spot for a drink!

We did a day trip to Santa Margarita , a 2 hour drive , on the coast past Genoa , near Portofino. Although the weather was not kind to us with rather grey skies , we still enjoyed the day. We had a great lunch and walked around the town looking at the beautiful buildings and the coastline.

We had thought about returning to Portofino, to re live a special time there a few years ago  drinking Veuve with special friends , so we started along the narrow winding road! However poor little Pierre was quite intimidated by the rather large number of red Ferraris and Italians that drive those cars do not get out of the way of  little purple Citreons , so we did a U turn and came home!

Another drive took us to Diano d”Alba , another beautiful hill top village.

We were lucky that the Alps had re appeared out of the mist that morning and even though the clouds had started to come in, the view was stunning.

Our next stop was Roddi with a rather impressive Castello , parts of which date back to the 1300’s.

Again Greg was having fun with the camera. The red geraniums are all over the place and in full bloom.

The next stop on the tour was Cherasco with many medieval palazzos and magnificent churches. Yes more ABC’s.

We are still enjoying eating at the many restaurants! We had a wonderful meal last night at Osteria Rebbi, just down the road from home.

Rhonda’s gnocchi with asparagus , ricotta and saffron was sensational , and Greg’s grappa pannacotta was his best one so far! Yum!  Donkey was on the menu , however not available last night. It was a shame as we would have tried it!

Well it is Friday night and pizza night in the square for us , so it’s ciao until next time.

Love Greg and Rhonda

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