Days 2-4 Italia

Emilia's first morning we left straight away to Italy.  Our destination was to visit Michela Formis and her kids, Jacopo and Maia, in Levanto, about three hours away along the coast.  There wasn't a lot of traffic but the drive was one tunnel after another through the mountains interspersed with sharp curves up on high bridges above the beautiful sea.  When we finally left the highway I felt my neck and back muscles relax and hurt from the concentration.  

We met Michela and the kids up at her family's house in Dosso, a tiny hillside village in the domaine of Levanto, which is by the seaside.  She had laid out a beautiful and delicious spread of focaccia, salads, proscuitto, cheese and strawberries, all with a view of the valley.  The kids played as we took in the surroundings.

Later on we drove down the mountain and into Levanto.  We parked at the top of the apartment building and followed a labriynth of hallways to their terrace with the most amazing view!

We took the kids down to play in the water and then enjoyed the most delicious and simple spaghetti dinner overlooking the sea.

We stayed another full day in Levanto, sleeping up in Dosso and waiting out the rain in the apartment.  But with all sides open to the sea and the kids getting along perfectly, we just talked and enjoyed the company and Italian glory.  

Sunset brought more friends to the house and more pasta with pesto.  What a wonderful invitation to have received.  Some lovely photos of the area below.

 La Casa Formis

 

On our way home from Italy we took the high road back along the coast, stopping in La Turbie to see the Trophy of Augustus, a large Roman monument built c. 6 B.C. to celebrate his victory over the Ligurian tribes of the Alps.  From this perch we could see the principality of Monaco in all its glory.