sugarpiehoneybunch's Profile
Rome Up the Coast to Genoa
Won't be able to log in for a bit, but will be watching the comments and adjusting our plans. Thanks to everyone who has, and will comment. Had read about and planned on La Pineta from a NY Times article and a few comments confirmed.
Rome Up the Coast to Genoa
We planned to stay in Pietrasanta and whole explore the area for a bit as we have a car. Any specific suggestions in Lerici, Moneglia, Camogli, Bolgheri/Castagneto Carducci and the nearby Forte dei Marmi are more than welcome. I had read that all were charming (including Forte) . . .Menemsha on the Vineyard is where we've spent time. . . I get the picture. Specifics??? Please??
Where to dine in Ojai?
Decent I can recommend. Better than decent. . . no. A side note, the high prices will not be reflected by what you get. Fresh fish (and something other than but including salmon. . . the only fish anyone seems to know exists in the town) try SeaFresh, very down market surroundings, but decent. Bode's has a nice atmosphere and decent. They try. Or, take out something hot from the health food market . . . decent. The rest, hype and high prices.
Hole in the wall breakfast in Santa Barbara?
Its not a total hole in the wall, but its casual and yummy and there are 3 in santa barbara, but the one in carpinteria is better. . . Cajun Kitchen. I always have Shirley's Scramble, there are a million items on the menu but the scrambles are always great. See if there's something on the chalkboard special and ONLY have breakfast. Thumbs down on the rest. Esau's (which is in SB as well as Carp) looks more hole in the wall and has its fans. I find it to be a greasy spoon heavy on the grease. But some love it.
porto san stefano/italy
Oh my BAFU . . . 40 years there. . . lucky lucky you. Any and all thoughts on CP, PSS and Argento are something we'd welcome hearing about from "local" you!! If I were 17, I'd have been on the back of the bike with you. . . we are not young anymore. . . but we are reasonably fit and were hoping we'd be able to rent kayaks (with a guide probably) or paddle board. . . and go by sea between towns in CT or . . well, anywhere it might work. Any destinations where you think something like that might work/and where you can remember seeing equipment rentals like that? Is that do-able in Argento? Any place else up the coast ? I'll see if I can convince my friend (with the coin) to rent a boat. . . I'd love that! Also, I'd love an opinion, have you/anyone spent time at Lake Bracciano . . . what is "the scene" there. I may be alone for a few days and was going to spent it there. . . daytripping to some small towns by car, depending on how I like being "lakebound". As a woman possibly traveling alone for those days, I don't want someplace SO quiet/romantic or surrounded by italian non english speaking families that I feel weird. NOT that I want to be surrounded by American tourists, but I didn't think I'd see them there. I've traveled in Italy alone before, and had fun, but I was always in cities and I was younger. But its summer, I want to be somewhere resort-ish. Do you think I'd be better off staying somewhere in particular along the coast as opposed to that Lake for the alone days? Anyone with a thought/recommendation in this vein. . . I'd love to hear.
porto san stefano/italy
I don't know about the original poster, whose thread I resurrected, but we are actually staying at the Hotel Torre di Cala Piccola in Monte Argentario in July. . . just the place mnosyne mentioned and we were happy to hear he liked it. And we really appreciate all the comments re restaurants and anything else in the area . . . keep em coming!! We are not impoverished, and love a good meal in a wonderful setting. . not really the fine dining experience this trip!!
porto san stefano/italy
To Mnosyne, Thanks!! are you Frank the author? how did you email a link on the 6th t for an article that was dated the 7th? quite ahead of your time!!! I'd read another NY Times Article from awhile back about a place in Maramma (my spelling might be off) called La Pineda and was hoping someone might have been there to echo the positive sentiments in that article.
porto san stefano/italy
we are going to be in porto san stephano in July and were hoping to find some recommendation on this site. have you found any recommendations anywhere else? did you go and return so that you can provide a recommendation to me? thanks if you can!!!
Please critique my Lucca, CT, Parma itinerary!
We are making a similar trip by car to yours this summer. I'd love to hear your highlights and avoids in Lucca and CT.
Great Food in a scenic setting on PCH between LA and Monterey
Skip Ojai. I live here and cook at home or drive to Santa Barbara for a meal out. The Ojai Valley Inn and Spa is overpriced and not even decent, much less inspired. If you really care, I can give you an overview of everything in town. . . which I tried when I first moved here 7 years ago and tried OVER and OVER again, as well as anything new that opened, figuring sooner or later someone would get it right. Someone finally did, a bakery called "Oak Tree Bakery" that had a fantastic bakery and also served a small lunch and dinner menu. It didn't last more than a few months. This is a foody challenged town no matter what the PR liars tell you. If you must come to tour the town, there is a restaurant called Bodi that tries very hard, has a nice outdoor space and the servers are very nice. But the rest of the places in town are tired, pedestrian, parochial and overpriced. . . I know I sound bitter, but its not great when a foody has to cook it herself or drive 35 minutes for anything remotely decent.
Seaside base in Liguria??
Any updates or additional thoughts re the Ligurian Coast would be appreciated for my upcoming trip mid-July for a couple weeks.
Rome Up the Coast to Genoa
We are going to take a driving trip going up the coast from Rome nearly to Genoa (mid July to mid August). We're planning on stopping in Porto Ercole, maybe somewhere in Maremma, Pietrasanta, Lucca, Sestri Levante (which I am now afraid is a mistake after reading the lengthy posts re Camogli and Santa Margherita etc etc.). We are hoping to kayak and basically substitute the Italian Coast for the California Coast where we live. We are planning to go inland for day trips (ie Lucca) and we want to eat well. . . not as in fancy, but yummy. We aren't interested in total quiet/serenity/ romance. . .we want to be amongst humanity, just not surrounded by tourists, tourt buses, and tourist traps. Oh, I'll have a coffee in Portofino and watch the scene for an hour, but only because I've never been in this area. Any suggestions on MUST SEE/DO/EAT would be appreciated. The Ligurian Coast posts by Erica seemed to match our sensibilities except I can't eat octupus and am not much of a meat eater. Any comments will be appreciated. Oh we are spending a day or two before we go home at Villa Clementina on Lake Bracciano. Any food there?
