Tuscania/San Giusto

After leaving Meran, we headed south to San Giusto and warmer weather, a secret paradise just outside the small town of Tuscania. We stayed two nights in Ippolita and SImone's incredible rebuilt castle tower that they have available HERE on Airbnb. You should stay there too :) The place is a haven for horses, donkeys, dogs, cats, DJs and Mayas. With rolling hills surrounding it and a lazy creek running through open fields, it is the most serene I've ever felt. For breakfast, we were ushered into Ippolita's family home for a lavish freshly made meal, home cured meats, fresh lemon cake and so many other yums. 

We walked into Tuscania our second day there and explored the small town, ancient churches and of course delicious foods and coffee. The town has a very relaxed feel, the locals were so friendly and we had the place to ourselves, since it's not exactly a tourist hotspot (not sure why!), but that was fine with us. It was so warm that day, I'll never forget that feeling. 

It is impossible to pick a favorite place during our adventure, but this comes pretty close. While we were there, DJ cooked us delicious pasta and we drank champagne and watched the sun go down over a horizon of rocky hills dotted with donkeys. It is a truly unique and vibrant place. Ippolita, Simone and their employees work so hard to make San Giusto shine and it shows. The grounds also include an abbey, a couple homes and a few little cottages, all of which were rebuilt starting about 25 years ago by Ippolita's father and then late Ippolita and Simone as well. Many a couple have said "I Do" there as well, since they've recently turned San Giusto into a wedding venue (hire me now!?). We most definitely will be returning because it's a place you can't just visit once.

Sean + Maren

When Sean wrote me and asked if I'd be there for his surprise proposal to Maren, I said uh, YES. These two have always been a role model couple for me. Their passion for each other as well as their independence within their relationship is not only admirable, it's impressive. Their love for one another is contagious and I couldn't stop smiling the entire shoot. 

A little backstory, Maren's family has been coming to the cannon beach area and staying just a stones throw from Ecola State Park, since she was a little girl. Her family would spend their days playing at "Secret Beach" aka Crescent Beach, so it's always been a special place for her. When Sean and her first started dating, she brought him there and he fell in love with the place too. Fast forward 4 + years, new states, new jobs and a new life together forming. Sean decides to bring Maren back to that same beach to propose right before New Years Eve. The day was unbelievably beautiful and we had the beach to ourselves and I couldn't stop smiling at the two of them. Bursting with love, all the happy. Congratulations again, you two! You're a lovely example of love. 

View fullsize

Meran/Merano

I waited to write about this place, until I had a fresh brain and a little caffeine. This is because, although we were only there for 3 short days, it was the experience and education of a life time. The main purpose of visiting this beautiful little mountain town tucked up in northern Italy near the Austrian boarder, was to visit a friend DJ had made on a previous trip to Portugal, Michel.  Michel and his girlfriend Daniela welcomed us into their home (which is gorgeous) and immediately immersed us in the BEAUTIFUL culture of Meran. Michel is a head chef at a local resort there, so to experience an Italian city with a chef, is very very lucky. 

Apart from taking us on little explorative adventures around town, like an ancient watch tower and a handful of breathtaking old churches, we drank LOTS of incredible local wine and made some good friends in the process. We ate THE BEST pizza I've ever had in my life. No one can convince me otherwise. We drank gluhwein outside in the clear cold night, under twinkling lights and beside blazing fires. But what I found most special, was on our last day we were treated to an incredible homemade meal, created by Michel, himself. Pasta, sauce, everything was made from scratch to complete the seafood pasta dish called Scoglio (which is pictured down at the bottom). All I could do was make happy sounds as we ate there together, cozy by their christmas tree, before we hopped on our next train.

The warmth and friendliness we felt from Michel, Daniela and their friends was so refreshing after the isolation we felt in Germany. The people of Meran take such pride and delight in showing you the BEST version of what they have created. Quality over quanitity every time, everywhere I went in Europe, not just Italy. There is something to be learned, in taking your time to do something right, once. Instead of crappily over and over :) 

Thank you to everyone we met while we were there, I cannot wait to visit again, but in the meantime, COME VISIT US!! love love love

Munich

After being in Ireland, adjusting to Germany was, an adjustment. We landed in Munich in the morning and caught a ride from the airport to our hotel in a taxi cab that is nicer than most cars I've ridden in, period. That was our first tip off that this place runs well and efficiently. Efficient is an understatement, Munich is like a well oiled machine and if you aren't doing your part you better get out of the way! The city was intricately beautiful and filled with a sense of pride. We were lucky enough to book a hotel right by the Oktoberfest grounds and although that wasn't going on, The Tollwood Winterfestival was in full swing and it was quite a sight. From what we learned, the festival is made up of part international handicraft booths, organic food and education with a focus on sustainability. Basically, a HUGE farmers market/saturday market combined with random entertainment and a pinch of recycled art. Purty cool. It was beautiful and delicious and very entertaining :) 

Since we were only in Germany for 3 days we were only able to experience bits and pieces, but along with Tollwood, we also experienced a Bier Haus, some amazing bratwursts and Thai food? Oh and let me tell you, there is nothing quite like the sound of bells tolling in a city square in the morning. There may be similar things...but nothing, just so.

Blarney Castle

We spent about 5 hours walking the grounds of Blarney Castle. We could easily have spent 5 more and still wouldn't have uncovered all the beautiful secrets hidden in it's walls. From the poison garden to the ruins just casually posted about, the area is filled with a certain magic that makes you slow down and just observe the space. It is an outdoor museum, like much of Europe. The gardens they have surrounding the castle are so impressive in their variety, one second you felt like you were in the tropics and the next you were standing next to Ireland's oldest cedar tree. My day was complete when we stumbled upon some horses and donkeys grazing down by the lake, luckiest animals on earth. Although we didn't kiss the Blarney stone, due to warnings from the locals that it might not be the "cleanest" place to put our mouthes, I still feel like we had our full Blarney experience.