New little treasures

A few images of the new little treasures that found their way back to my house Sunday afternoon, after a blistering morning spent walking around my first Italian flea market. The markets I've been to up until this point have all been a little disappointing and incredibly expensive,  but this one is a treasures itself. Set in and around the grounds of a Palladio Villa which is worth the visit without the market, the Magnolia lined streets are filled with stalls. I was very excited to find a guy who sold all old stationary, the labels were my last purchase of the day, but I have a feeling he will be my first stop when I return in the Fall with slightly cooler temperatures.

pride & joy brunch

I wanted to share with you my pride and joy of this weekend...an almost perfect Spainish tortilla.

Normally with these things I end up deciding to make them into a mash, but this somehow decided to play nice and was then enjoyed with a nice cold prosecco.

Breakfast.

Breakfast. London

Breakfast. Liverpool

Eat Sleep Pamper.

I had the the most relaxing weekend this weekend...headed off to Parma on Friday night, for a concert of Lawrence D 'Butch' Morris. http://www.conduction.us/main.html. We then drove SW to Salsomaggiore which is known for it's Terme, weekend of pampering was indeed the only thing required. Saturday morning breakfast in fluffy robe followed by wonderful 1hour Ayurvedic massage, quick dip in the pool...exercises optional (thanks Ku) 1 Eastern Vapours Hammam, which consisted of being rubbed, scrubbed and steamed and finally Ayurvedic facial peel, I'm suffering for this now. 

Sunday was spent driving through the food valley  in Emilia Romagna, buying fresh produce...Parmesan from the local farmer, Red wine from a castle on a hill, and Fresh Milk from a fake cow.

Lunch was at another castle on a hill Castello di Fellino, as always we ate to much but the Melanzane alla Parmigiana was worth the food coma.

Saturday stroll...

It's Monday morning,  sat at my desk and I'm still feeling the weekend...in the backs of my legs and shins. We hiked our way up through the Dolomites on Saturday, west of Cortina. It was a fabulous day, it also had the added excuse for me to don my favorite hat, bought whilst hiking through Zion National Park 2006 which was a very special trip for me.

The Dolomites are such a beautiful mountain region for hiking....

"Their extraordinary fame has made them into icons and their exceptional beauty is so acclaimed that no one feels the need to ask why they're considered beautiful, it's simply evident"

Exhausted  (well I was) and hungry we arrived at our refuge for lunch, ham, egg and potatoes followed by a well earned cold beer. Backpack back on and off we go again. A 6 hour hike  = another cold beer at the bottom and one back at our friends house then early to bed. Planning our next hike now, hoping to book a stay over in a refuge next time...sleeping bags and all!

Blue skies...

Just had a wonderfully relaxing weekend in Liguria. Sunday was my first afternoon at the beach this year. I hope you're weekends where lazy too.

Aperitvo in Piazza Erbe...

...and sometimes I complain about where I live...