2011 started with floods in Brisbane. The city was devastated when the Brisbane river rose and inundated thousands of homes, destroying everything in its path. A house we own was flooded and the renovation has just been completed in the last week. This is what it looked like in January 2011.
when the water went down
There is a series of posts covering the rain that lead to the floods, the mess and the cleanup. Click here to see the first one – Raindrops keep falling on my head. At this point I had no idea what was ahead of us. At the bottom of each post is a link to the next one in the ongoing saga.
In February I headed off to Italy again, this time via Dubai, where I had a brief stopover.
old and new Dubai
Click here, here and here for more on this incredible city in the desert.
I had a short stay in Milan on the way to Bagni di Lucca. I was there at the right time to see the beautiful spring fashion appear in the shops. Click here for more.
in the window at Valentino
I planted pansies in my window boxes and on the bridge at Ponte a Serraglio. Click here to see more on the pansies and here for my solitary peony.
my pansies on the bridge
I visited Bologna and climbed the tower and was Freshly Pressed for my post about the climb.
the view from the top of the tower in Bologna
Click here to see the full story and here to see a very ugly fish in Bologna.
The Carnevale in Viareggio was amazing – again. The floats were incredible and the atmosphere wonderful. Silvio Berlusconi came in for some criticism.
showered with confetti
Click here to see more of Silvio and here to see my favourite float, the Big Green Man. There is a category devoted to the Carnevale in Viareggio as there was far too much to put in a couple of posts.
Italy turned 150 this year. It was great fun to be around for the celebrations.
the huge flag on the Devil's Bridge
Click here to see the festival at Ponte a Serraglio and here for the flags flying in the village.
Jim and I drove to Spain in April. The Mezquita in Cordoba was a highlight.
Spring in Tuscany is magical and we drive through the picture postcard countryside whenever we can.
along the road to Asciano
Click here to see more of the spectacular drive to Asciano and here to see Pienza and here to see Volterra.
Our house in Vergemoli is coming along, thanks to our lovely builders.
what lovely smiles
Take a look in the New house in Vergemoli category to see our pile of rocks grow into a beautiful house.
On the way home from Italy we stayed a while in Helsinki. The blog received a Blogger of the month award from Easy Jet for a post called Beautiful Helsinki. Click here to see this gorgeous city.
the strong men at the station
Back in Australia for our wonderful winter, I worked again at the Ekka. I dragged myself away from dressing beautiful models to photograph prize chooks.
a legal chook - he looks a bit like a barrister
Click here to see these amazing birds and here to see some very large bulls.
Southbank Parklands was restored to its beautiful self after months of work to remove the filthy mud left by the flood. Click here for the post.
Southbank Beach
Brisbane put on some spectacular winter weather. I come home for this.
Then it was back to Italy for October and November. It was the most beautiful autumn this year. The weather was excellent most of the time and the autumn colours were exceptional.
autumn colour
Click here and here for more of autumn in Bagni di Lucca.
A highlight for me this autumn was the Chestnut festival in Lupinaia, a lovely village in the mountains above Bagni di Lucca.
roasting the chestnuts
I went with Heather Jarman of Sapori-e-Saperi Adventures and after sampling the delights of the festival we wandered back to the car along an old mule track. Click here to walk the track with us.
I took myself off to discover Naples for the first time and fell in love with it.
the heart of Napoli
Click here and here to see my adventures in Naples.
In S’Agata, near Sorrento I visited the family of my first husband. I lived in S’Agata nearly 40 years ago and when I sit at the kitchen table with them it is as though I never left. Click here to see Maria and Agata and here to see Angelo.
Maria and her brother Fernando
There was also the Sagra del Tordo in Montalcino which was absolutely amazing. You have to go there one year for this.
Montalcino’s Festival of the Thrush
The costumes and the spectacle of this were wonderful. It was great to see the whole town involved. Click here to see the costumes and the archery competition.
Of course there was much more. Take a look in the archives to see more of lovely Bagni di Lucca, Lucca, Florence, Tuscany, Spain, Helsinki, eastern Europe, Paris, France, Venice and other fabulous places.
I am going back to Italy in early February to collect more photos and stories. I hope you will come along for the ride, and leave the odd comment so we know what you think.
