Brew-acracy

Georgio told me Italians never have a cappuccino after 11 am. But they drink espresso all day long (even on the beach) in tiny Lilliputian-sized cups. Our villa came with an espresso machine and a few dozen pods but we couldn't adapt. We managed to find paper filters at a store but no cone for drip coffee. A funnel had to do. I asked Paolo's daughter if they had a coffee machine that we could use and she said, disdainfully, "Oh, of course Italian coffee is too strong for you." Paolo then ordered an "American" coffee maker for us. We also asked about a toaster so he ordered one of those too. Here's how our kitchen counter looked when we arrived and how it looks now. Brew-tiful!

Can you pasta sauce, please?

Sept 3

Georgio, Arlo's GlaStar friend from Milan, flew in for a visit and gave Arlo & Ric scenic flights. Then, by way of example, he taught us all the proper way to dine in Italy. The restaurants open at 7:30 but he said it's rude to go before 8. We enjoyed prosecco first, followed by a half order of Sardinian fragola pasta (we didn't know you could order half), followed by fish grilled in a salt bath, followed by a mixed salad. The lesson was delicious even though we still feel like impastas.

La Dolce Vita

Aug 26
After a successful meetup with Ric and family, who arrived on the ferry, we all drove south to our rental villa in Porto Frailes. Paolo, the house owner, stocked the fridge with sandwiches, prosciutto, cheese, caprese salad, fruit, beer and prosecco. He also reserved a table for us at the nearby pizzeria where we dined at 10 pm like real Italians. We cannoli eat so much in one night.

Cone Apetit!

Aug 25
Upon arrival in Olbia, Sardinia, after 24 hours of travel, we forced ourselves to go out for a stroll before collapsing and were rewarded with our first gelato. I was thrilled to find Sardinian fig flavor that was probably the best I've ever had…so far. The gelato was churning away right in the display case which I have never seen before — fresh as fresh can be. Cone apetit!

Carry-on curling



Aug 25, 2025

With five hours to kill in the Frankfurt airport en route to Sardinia we invented carry-on curling. We competed by rolling our luggage down the rink. The winner got a pretzel. The loser earned the Wurst Case Scenario Award. 

Gluten tag!

With a few days of R&R before our departure from Zurich, Arlo suggested the island of Lindau on Lake Constance and, well, it was on the way. We rented e-bikes and rode from Germany through Austria and into Switzerland — three countries by bike! Then it was time to cake it easy and we found a sweet cafe to complete our cake walk goals: From apfelstrudel to zwetschgenkuchen (plum cake), we left no crumb behind. Thanks to Arlo, my butter half, for taking all of the best photos and talking me down off many precarious ledges. Thanks to you for reading along!

Sole searching

We added a 13th day to our hiking trip (baker's dozen) when Chris suggested we check out the Cortina waterfalls. Chris then did some sole searching when his boots disintegrated on the trail. We knew the time had come to give the Alps the boot and head to Munich to see the rest of the family. En route, Arlo got word that his application for German citizenship was approved. We enjoyed celebrating with German beer, spaetzle cooking class with Stephi, and other hair necessities.