Gratitude Friday: Time...

I can remember as a kid asking my mom (many times) the very kid-like questions, “When will we get there”?, followed by “How long is soon”?, followed by “How long is 30 minutes”? , followed by “I can’t count to 60, 30 times!”!  Ah, to be young and have no clue of time or to think a 1/2 hour was an eternity.

I’ve always thought it strange how life seems to pass so much faster as we are older.  Are we so much more occupied as we get older that a 1/2 seems like a smidgen of time, one that can make or break your entire day?  Maybe.

Today, I managed to have 3 doctors appointments, pay the bills at the post office, write and send a proposal for work, and have an impromptu caffè with a friend all before 11:30AM.  In Italy.  This is a miracle, a luxury - something that certainly does not happen during the “season”, or possibly may not happen again.  Today I had time on my side.  What a nice feeling.  Thank you time.

Buon weekend a tutti!

Swordfish, Dom Perignon and X-Factor

Yesterday was our wedding anniversary.  And like most couples we wanted to celebrate it in a romantic and gastronomic way.  But we’ve been so “on-the-go” lately that staying home really sounded most appealing.  So we did, but not without some good food, GREAT champagne and our favorite guilty pleasure of the moment (X-Factor).

For the big event, I prepared my “Super Swordfish”, as Lui calls it.  Super easy and super good:

2-3 swordfish steaks, 3/4 inch high

A handful of Italian Parsley

2 slices of a large red onion 

1 garlic clove

Olive oil

Salt & peperoncino (red chili pepper flakes) to taste

6-8 cherry tomatoes sliced in quarters

1/2 a handful of pine nuts

1/2 glass of white wine

Start by mincing the parsley, onion and garlic together into a fine mixture (I think the “mezzaluna” knife works best for this).  Add oil, then the mixture, salt and peperoncino to large saute pan.  Bring it to a sizzle (about 2 minutes) and add the swordfish steaks.  Let them cook for about 3-4 minutes and turn.  Add the tomatoes and pine nuts and let cook for 3 minutes.  For the last minute add the white wine and shake the pan a bit letting the wine cover the steaks.  Serve hot with your favorite bottle of white wine (in our case a bottle of Dom and I feel great today!).  You can also add olives when you add the tomatoes and pint nuts (I was out!).

As you can see, it’s not a complicated process but comes out tasting delish.  Buon appetito and “buon anniversario” to us!

FABULOUS RENTALS SERIES: 

Rustic Charm & Unbelievable Views Above Lerici

Cozily situated in the hills above Lerici in the bay of La Spezia on the Ligurian coast where Shelley and Byron spent their summers, Villa Rocchetta enjoys fabulous views of the bay, Porto Venere and the islands of Palmaria and Tino.  On clear days you can see as far as Elba and Corsica.  The famous villages and hiking paths of “Le Cinque Terre” are just across the bay and around the corner from Portovenere.  Located in the splendid setting of the protected woodlands of “Parco di Montemarcello” this beautiful property is surrounded by olive, fig and chestnut trees, while its terraced gardens fill the air with the scent of fruit trees, wild flowers and fragrant lavender and rosemary.

The once olive oil “frantoio” has recently been restored and is equipped with all kinds of modern comforts yet still keeps its rustic charm with wood beamed ceilings and stone façade. The villa has four floors and is fenced in with a verdant garden. 

You enter the home from the second floor where there is a living room with TV (Italian stations only), DVD player and CD stereo, fireplace and a french doors leading out onto a magnificent terrace overlooking the bay. In addition, there is a small study with a single bed. 

The lower floor consists of a dining room, large sea view living room with large flat screen TV (Italian stations only) and sliding glass doors leading onto the garden, a fully equipped kitchen, bathroom with shower, dining room, and access to a second covered porch and the multiple gardens. 

The third floor has a second bathroom with bathtub/shower combo and a laundry room.

There are "2" fourth floors: one set up stairs leading up to a double bedroom with small terrace and garden views, and the other stairs leading up to the “mansarda” (attic floor) where there is the master bedroom with sea views.

The autostrada can be reached in less than 10 minutes and there are several nearby interesting villages and towns to visit including San Terenzo, Tellaro, Montemarcello, Sarzana, Castelnuovo Magra and La Spezia. Portovenere and Le Cinque Terre are just a short boat ride away from the port in Lerici. Villa Rocchetta is perfectly situated for exploring the Liguria, NW Tuscany or for just relaxing in front of the mesmerizing views!

For more information and pricing, please contact me directly at:

megan@bellavitaitalia.com.