Britt-Arnhild's House in the Woods

On the Brenta River

Text and images Britt-Arnhild Wigum Lindland

Many years ago, it must have been during one of my first visits to Venezia, I read in one of my guidebooks that it was possible to take a boat up the Brenta Canal, from Venezia to Padova. I tried to figure out how to do it, but never found the information I needed. Terje and I even asked my friend Carlo Feli, but at that time he was unable to help us.

Then Isomehow forgot about it, or stored it in a special file in my heart. I took the train to Padova one day and spent the day there. Loved it and hope to go back. But no more thoughts about a boat trip.

Not untill this winter when I read in Frances Mayes' blog about her search for Palladio in Venezia. She mentioned that some time she would like to seek out Palladio's villas along Brenta, and my dream came back.

May be.........

I mentioned my dream to Antionella when we were organising our night in La Fenice, and almost before I knew, Antonella had booked us a day trip.

 

If you had happened to be somewhere near Piazza San Marco Saturday morning, you would have found two happy women, both eagerly looking forward to the day. Both carrying bags with books, eays looking forward to see, hearts looking forward to love, minds looking forward to explore.

Venezian villas along the Brenta Canal was our goal for the day, Palladio's designs would be an extra treat. And the first Palladio sign was to be found already almost before we started. This amazing church.

 

Then it went on, almost into the night, when Antonella's husband picked us up in Padova to drive us up to Bassano where I've spent the week-end.

Starting with Villa Foscaro, or Malcontenta as it is also called.

we kept on up along the river. One amazing villa after the other.

Lunch somewhere along the river, with 8 different dishes.

La Dolce Vita!

 

Our last stop was Villa Pisani.

Live has so much to reveal. Italy has so much to offer.

Two years ago I never knew Antonella excisted.

One year ago I had never heard of Andrea Palladio

What will come next I wonder.......

A Night in the Opera. La Fenice

Text and images Britt-Arnhild Wigum Lindland

Antonella, my dear friend and blog reader, came down to Venezia from the town where she lives (further north in Italy). She booked in at La Fenice Hotel, where I was already staying. We went out for an icecream, and then it was time for our treat for the night:

Lucia di Lammermore at La Fenice Opera House

Ever since I first heard of Fenice and her story of growing out again and again og her own ashes, just like the bird which gave her her name, I've wanted to go there.

Now the opportunity had come. Finally.

What a house.

What an atmosphere.

What music!

For three hours Antonella and I were in heaven.

During the break we were able to walk around in La Fenice, oh-ing and ah-ing, smiling, chatting, filling our minds and hearts with beauty.

 

Afterwards.......a late light dinner.......caprese for me, tomatoes and fresh buffalo mozzzarella cheese.

Friendship

Music

Food

Venezia

Warm Night

Got lost......for a morning

Text and images Britt Arnhild Wigum Lindland

(and Mauro Vianello)

From my diary:

Got lost today. Left the vaporetto (public transport boat) at Ca'Rezzonico. I was so sure I had some kind of inner map of the Dorsoduro area in my head. I had not!

I was hot. I was thirsty. I soon became hungry. And Venezia, with her cafes around every corner suddenly had none to offer me!

I had a small map in my backpack, but I soon figured out I was outside the area shown on the map.

 
Then, all pof a sudden, almost like out of the blue, I saw a familiar sign. A calle where I've been before, a church, a river, a bridge. Far from where I had believed myself to be. 

In Campo S. Polo a small cafe was awaiting me. An inviting table with clothes in deep plum red and playful orange. A cappuccino, a bottle of acqua frizzante and a grande gelato!

I got lost. I found my way back.

It is all about love, isn't it.......

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..............by the way, finding my way means to know where to walk to Mauro's shop. I did, and we went out to have lunch together.

And what did I eat?????

Yes, you guessed it. Spaghetti vongole of course.

....

To love a city

Text and images Britt-Arnhild Wigum Lindland

Is it possible to be in love with a city? And to be loved back? A long lasting love affair.Yes, I know it is possible because I am right in the middle of it. Here. Now.

A four hours' train ride up from Rome. Time went almost too fast as I was reading, looking out the window, listening to fellow travellers.

Met by Mauro at the Santa Lucia train station. He took me to my hotel, the most charing one you can imagine (I will write a post about it laster). And then it was time for walking. Exploring. Breathing venezia in yet again.

After Mauro finished work we shared a typical Venezian drink on the shores of Grande Canal. Then he walked home. I walked over to Zattere to have a pizza in the sunset.

Yes. It is possible. To love. To be loved. By Venezia!

Colours and inspiration

Text and images Britt-Arnhild Wigum Lindland

 
We spoke about a lot of things yesterday, Sheri and I. At some time I asked her about the lemon tree she has in her garden. She told about all the lemons it bears right now and all the yummy things she makes from them. Then she continued to talk about fruits and vegetables and told me that she planned to visit the food market in Roma one of the coming days.

The food market? My interes was caught and I was up with my map "Can you please tell me where the food market of Roma is?"

 
It took me some time to find the market, but once there I felt I was in heaven. Colours, fragrances, bursting life.

I took it all in with my senses. Especially enoying the colours.

 
I have almost nothing left of the spices I bought in Syria last autumn, so now was a perfect time to buy some more. A whole bag.

 
Inspired by the girls I posted about yesterday, and about a morning filled with colours, I couldn't resist when I passed an art supply store. Suddenly I found myself with coloured pencils, a sketch pad and all I needed to make "my own art".

 

Then, in the late afternoon, I found myself in the monastery garden of Il Rosario, trying out my new pencils....

I am no born artist........but love to challenge myself. And we cannot all be masters, can we?

Walks with a camera

Text and images Britt-Arnhild Wigum Lindland

 
Three American girls enjoying orange juice in Trastevere, filling their painbooks with memories.

 
"May I take a photo of you" I asked. "Sure" was their smiling answer

 
Flowers and the beautiful Roman ocre.

 
Camp dei Fiori

 
Lunch with an Italian friend

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La vita e bella!

A Day in Assisi

Text and images Britt Arnhild Wigum Lindland

 
10 years ago I cam to Assisi for the first time. I travlled with a group of deacons from Norway and Sweden on a bus tour and we had planned to spend an afternoon in Saint Frances' birth city. Unfortunately we experiences some traffic delay and when we arrived in Assisi late in the afternoon every single church was closed. We had a pizza, wwalked the main street, I bought a beautiful painted ceramic plate......but.....

 
Breakfast, 2 1/2 hous in bus enjoying the Italian landscape....and then Assisi was there. Waiting for me. Waiting for us.

I told our group that I wanted to walk alone....in silence, in prayers, in reflections, and we decided on a time to meet in the afternoon.

 

Basilica di S Francesco, Basilica di S Chiara, Santuaro di S Damiano.

A long lunch in a small osteria.

Enough for one day. Still so much to see. To do.

 
The sisters here at Casa Il Rosario only give me half an hour at a time on the computer, and Roma is whispering my name from every single terracitta corner....so....see you later.

Postcards from Roma

Text and images Britt-Arnhild Wigum Lindland

 
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Roma

 
Roma.

Wonderful as always.

Long walks, sore feet, pizzas, churches, tourists, sun, charming Italians, coffee, prosecco,

......and no time for blogging.

 

(I need addresses for those of you who wants postcards)

In the wee hours........

Text and images Britt-Arnhild

It is 4am and I am up, waiting for the taxi to take me to the airport.

Italy is my destination, and i have no idea when my next post will be up......... Hopefully some time soon.

Anyone wants a postcard???????

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A repost from some time ago:

A Day on Water

 

Since the first, well, actually the second time I came here, four years ago on our silver honeymoon, (the first time I was 14)I have looked at almost every boat. Dreaming. "How I wish I was one of the persons in one of the open boats in the small canals, in the laguna, in Canal Grande."There is nothing to prevent my dreams, and I always have alot of them.

Mauro made this dream of mine come true.

"Are you free tomorrow?", he asked. "Yes, we are, why are you asking?" Mauro smiled and said; "If the weather is fine, not raining, come here at 11.30, and we'll see!

 

We came. The weather was fine. And suddenly we were out in Maoro's small, wooden boat. Built by his own hands.

Through a million small canals inside Venezia, out on the laguna, crossing Canal Grande. I could never have dreamed the dream better.

 

Mauro, you are giving us such strong, vivid, wonderful memories.

THANK YOU! GRAZIE!