(A bit late with this one. Playing catch up!)
Off to Italy for a wonderful wedding!
I devoted most of Tuesday to flickring and writing up Into the Pyrenees with Alfonso & Manu: Photos & Notes – I’ve got us through the Carros de Foc and to Vielha, so that leaves las Golondrinas for when I get back from Italy.
Phil and I also packed for our week away, getting all the essentials into the cabin bag sized suitcase we’re putting into the hold. Hopefully.
The rest of “Herefordshire Week 196” was spent in Northern Italy. You can read my write up here Northern Italy – Turin, Ivrea & Nomaglio: Photos & Notes, and Phil’s here Turin, Ivrea and Nomaglio.
You will find that I got very excited by ALL THE FIAT PANDAS.
Here are the (other) highlights:
Wednesday was Travelling To Turin day: drove to Abergavenny – TfW train to Newport – GWR train to London Paddington – Elizabeth Line to Farringdon – ThamesLink to London Gatwick Airport – EasyJet to Turin Airport – Arriva bus to Torino Porta Susa – 5 min walk to Hotel Torino Porta Susa. Dinner at DaZero pizzeria.
After our first breakfast at Pastarell we spent Thursday strolling and sightseeing in Turin: arcaded streets and spacious squares, the Museo Egizio (the Egyptian Museum), veggie lunch at l’articiocc, shaded gardens, (our first) dinner at le vitel étonné.
Friday took us from Turin to Ivrea to Nomaglio, ready for M&K’s weekend wedding where we met lots of lovely people. We pottered around Turin Centro, lunched at L’Orto Bistrò, got the (packed) train to Ivrea, caught our lift to Nomaglio. Dined and slept at Trattoria ‘l Burnel.
Saturday was the wedding day. Just Magical.
Sociable Sunday morning in Nomaglio then back to Ivrea, staying at Dora Maison De Charme. Explored the old town. Had my first gelato of the trip. Bruschetta and pizza (and red wine) at Pizzeria Sale E Pepe for dinner.
Monday was spent mostly in Ivrea – exploring “Ivrea, industrial city of the XX century” – the industrial and residential architecture commissioned by the Olivetti family for their factories and workers in Ivrea – in the morning and the old town in the afternoon, finishing up with another gelato before catching the train back to Turin and the Hotel Torino Porta Susa. Dinner at the oh-so-slow Selezione Naturale.
It was hot and sunny the whole time. We did a lot of walking. It was a fab week away…. read about the rest in Herefordshire Week 197!
TV: Sensationalists: The Bad Girls and Boys of British Art (parts 2 & 3), Sex Education (started season 4).
Podcasts: History Extra, The Forum, In Our Time.
Photos: Herefordshire week 196 on Flickr.
Phil: F/E 2023-10-08.