Ciao Zio Tony Fans! (Well, I don't know if it's "cheating", but, instead of creating a new post, I've just added the pictures to show you the grand time I had with my parents).
I'm sorry the blog has been a bit quite recently, especially after the great feedback you've given me on the ZT tales I've posted so far. My only excuse is that I've enjoyed a welcomed rush of visitors over the last few weeks; so, my virtual existence has taken a bit of a hiatus while the flesh&blood Zio Tony has gotten to show off Milano and share a few "you won't find this in Foders" ZT-spots with friends & family.
Actually, Mom & Dad are in town and I spent the weekend giving them Zio Tony's deluxe Lake District tour, starting with the Borromean islands on Lago Maggiore
and then overnighting at Lago di Orta before dropping them off at Bellagio on Lago di Como this afternoon.
Out of it all, I have to report that Orta is the real gem. Although I had visited there twice before as an hour or so stopover on the way to somewhere else, I realize now that anybody who wants to experience the real magic of the Italian Lakes needs to do it the other way around. The other lakes and towns may own the paparazzi buzz and been-there-checklist-cachee', but Lago di Orta is a place where one wants to walk at midnight, wake to the morning, and explore through the day (by foot, rowboat, or bike). That is, it is a place to stay a while.
I hope to give you a full expose' on Orta in the future, but, for the next couple of weeks ZT & the folks will be busy swinging with Paolo Conte,
(follow http://www.last.fm/event/708083 to a clip of "Via con Me" )and touring the northeastern province of Trentino
to sample grappa in Valle dei Laghi,
(You may recall I rode through here on "What Fun a Fondo!"
We came back for some of Giovanni's finest "vecchia riserva")
... explore family roots in Preghena, Val d' Non,
(My mother's great-grandmother immigrated from here in 1885)
(We arrived at apple harvesting time)
... and nosh at an agriturismo outside Trento, yes, thanks to the auspices of Slow Food.
(Julie & Tim got the playt-by-playt, real time texting ... all 5 courses)
(and we picked up a few bottles of the fab Pinot Nero to go)
Once we're back in Milano, we'll attend a matinee wedding at Teatro alla Scala.
(Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro")
So, hang tight and I hope to have the quill back in hand in a couple of weeks. In the mean time, I'll try to post a few light snacks for you to chew on.
Ciao! Ciao!
ZT
