Italianspiration: One Week

One week from today, we will be on a plane to Italy. I have to admit, it's turning out to be both the best and the worst timing possible. It's been an insane couple weeks for both J and I. (My clip folder—thankfully—attests to many of the recent late nights spent reporting.) And J is in the middle of some big changes on his current project. The time away and alone will be good for us, even better and more necessary than we'd imagined when we originally booked the trip. However, it also comes in the middle of big projects and deadlines for both of us, so leaving is a little scary. But we're going. Period. So I am praying we get everything done in the meantime and are able to focus on our trip and each other when we're there. I cannot wait for next week!

Italianspiration: Lagotto Romagnolo

 

As if there weren't enough reasons to love Italy lately, we found another one at Central Park yesterday. His name was Walter, and he's a Lagotto Romagnolo, aka an Italian Water Dog. J and I have been obsessing over various breeds of dogs for the last couple years, just waiting until we finally attain that perfect combination of income, free time and square footage to own one.

Italianspiration: Postcards from Verona

Today is one of those days, so in my mind, I am in Italy. I'm exploring the streets of Verona, learning all about the arena and the various squares, churches, bridges, etc. The Library of Congress has archived thousands of images on Flickr, and I found this collection of postcards from Verona, between 1890-1900.

Piazza delle Erbe (the Square of Herbs) where the market is held and the chariots used to race

Italianspiration

We just booked our flights and hotels this week, so Justin and I are for sure going to Italy in September. The trip technically celebrates our anniversary and my birthday that week. I'm sure I'll be posting in the coming weeks as I do more research, but to start, I looked at my own pictures from 2006. I've been to Venice a couple times with family and friends, but each time was in late fall or winter. I'm excited to be there when the weather is lovely!

But going through my old shots, I'm impressed at how vibrant and stately the city looks, even during a dismal season. This one is my all-time favorite picture I took in Venice. I think it's the combination of blues in the door, the way the water has chipped at the paint and the moss has grown over it. I desperately want to know what's going on inside.