Trip Tip a Day

Tip of the day:  Try Grom gelato in Firenze Blurry photo of the Bacio sign - on the Grom website Bacio is the flavor "with Venezuelan Ocumare chocolate and Tonda Gentile hazelnut chips" Chocolate/hazelnut = Bacio = heaven Grom website in English http://www.grom.it/eng/index.php Flavors http://www.grom.it/eng/prodotto.php August flavors http://www.grom.it/eng/gusti_mese.php Shops (yes, Malibu and New York) http://www.grom.it/eng/gelaterie.php

Tip of the day: Eat more gelato! On the movie poster for Eat, Pray, Love , Julia Roberts sits on a bench in Roma holding a spoon in her mouth with a cup of gelato in her hand. I had my own "eat gelato, pray gelato, love gelato" experience in Italy. Time to get moving and document the gelato-a-day era of our spin through Roma, Firenze, and Venezia! First off, the photos from the beautiful gelato shop in Firenze. Gelato cones dancing Nocciola (hazelnut) Cioccolato Pistacchio Melone Limone Stracciatella (white base with chocolate shavings)

Tip of the day: Take that gondola ride! I have a wonderful excuse to go back to Venice - I didn't take that gondola ride the first time, and didn't sit at a sidewalk cafe on the canal to sip a beverage and take in the sights by the water. It's been almost a year since my daughter and I went on our little adventure to Europe together. So, my tip of the day, is to embrace your inner tourist when you travel and hold her/him tight! Take that gondola ride. Pay the premium price for a beverage at a canal front table if that is your dream. If you are dreaming it - live it.

Tip of the day: Have something embroidered in Venice Choose your item and watch as she embroiders freehand The apron says "c ucino con Amore" with hearts A fun Venice memory for the 13 year old cook in our family from her Swiss Uncle Kurt

Tip of the day: Visit Trevi Fountain in Roma It's a video-clip-on-the-blog experiment - Trevi Fountain still photographs, Trevi fountain video clip to capture the sound. Let's see if it works. Who is the King of the European fountain - Trevi perhaps?

Tip of the day: Enjoy a cappuccino in Italy Here's a beautiful cappuccino from a cafe near the water in Cecina Mare, Italy. I love the cup, the saucer, the little spoon, the foam and the delicious taste. Ahh.

Tip of the day: Bring some earthly treasures home from your trip Many years ago, I visited the beach at Cecina Mare on the Mediterranean near Pisa in Italy. I collected these rocks from the beach and loved them, especially when they in water (as above in the photograph). The color comes alive, the bands of white run through the rocks, the colors and shapes are beautiful. After we moved from Ohio to Texas, I couldn't find the rocks. I thought they hadn't been packed up and were perhaps tossed while packing (and I blamed my husband). :-( For years I have dreamed about getting back to Cecina to collect some more rocks from the beach. Imagine my surprise when today, 13 years after moving to Texas, I found the little sack of rocks in my garage clean out. They were in a bag with all the letters and cards my husband wrote me when we were in different states for a year before we married. I hugged him and told him I was sorry today. My treasures have returned - two of them.

Tip of the day: Be prepared to see lots of grafitti in Rome Rome has it's share of magical sights - Trevi fountain and the Coliseum are just two. But Rome has a big share of grafitti that leaves an impression. A shame, not sure. Something that captures your mind and your eye, yes.

Tip of the day: Have a sandwich I was surprised to see pre-made delicious looking sandwiches on crusty yummy looking bread in Italy and France. Can you picture any beautiful display of pre-made sandwiches in America? Hmmm......I can't. Enjoy the European sandwich if you need a snack or lunch.

Tip of the day: Visit Il Duomo di Firenze, Cattedrale di S. Maria del Fiore From afar - see the dome? Up close - see the dome? http://www.duomofirenze.it / Inside - see the dome? Polychrome marble - 3 colors Magnificent - if you visit Firenze, you won't miss it, it's grand and beautiful.

Tip of the day: Find some nutella and taste it - while in Europe. Follow up tip: Bring some home. Breakfast at the Pensione (family owned guesthouse) outside Florence includes nutella . www.nutella.it This chocolate hazelnut spread is delicious on crusty European bread, by the spoonful, or on fruit. I picked up 2-26.5 oz (750g) jars at Costco here in the States w h e r e t h e N u t e l l a i s m a d e i n C a n a d a . Now, Nutella connosisseurs will tell you that European nutella tastes better than American/Canadian nutella . AND, if you check with someone from Switzerland, they may tell you that Italian nutella is much better than French, German or Swiss nutella . So, it you are in Italy - be sure to try Italian nutella. American staple - peanut butter. European staple - Nutella . How nice.