VALDOBBIADENE
Valdobbiadene is the home of prosecco .. and is a great place to visit! .... three times so far ... and more to come!!
Agriturismo Le Mesine
Just some of the Vineyards
|
|
|
'WHAT I REALLY MEANT TO SAY WAS ......
Believe it or not, whilst learning a new language there can often be embarrassing occasions, times of great hilarity and "OMG, what did I just say" moments ...
In Valdobbiadene in 2014 I was being very learned, I thought, in ordering my breakfast while staying over at Le Mesine. I asked hostess Annalisa if I could have some hot milk to add to the oats [avena] I always travel with and had brought with me to the table.
She responded "Si, s, naturalmentei! ... e il caffè?". "Si, si, but with hot milk", I responded. I THOUGHT she then asked if I wanted them at the same time. "Va bene, insieme [together]", I replied.
She delivered a HUGE cereal bowl of coffee [see the picture on above] and I laughed, saying that's not a typically Italian cup of coffee, as they're normally very small. She looked confused for a moment, then said, "No, no, that's for the oats". She thought I wanted to soak my oats in coffee!
"Together" obviously does NOT mean "at the same time". It was really funny ... and charming ... and I did get a bonus massive cup / bowl of coffee to start the day!
Ordering coffee at the best of times can be a bit hit-and-miss ... you can ask for the same thing on different days and get different things, or order the same thing at different coffee shops and get totally different things. Sometimes I just give up and order hot chocolate instead! See Coffee and Other Essentials
Believe it or not, whilst learning a new language there can often be embarrassing occasions, times of great hilarity and "OMG, what did I just say" moments ...
In Valdobbiadene in 2014 I was being very learned, I thought, in ordering my breakfast while staying over at Le Mesine. I asked hostess Annalisa if I could have some hot milk to add to the oats [avena] I always travel with and had brought with me to the table.
She responded "Si, s, naturalmentei! ... e il caffè?". "Si, si, but with hot milk", I responded. I THOUGHT she then asked if I wanted them at the same time. "Va bene, insieme [together]", I replied.
She delivered a HUGE cereal bowl of coffee [see the picture on above] and I laughed, saying that's not a typically Italian cup of coffee, as they're normally very small. She looked confused for a moment, then said, "No, no, that's for the oats". She thought I wanted to soak my oats in coffee!
"Together" obviously does NOT mean "at the same time". It was really funny ... and charming ... and I did get a bonus massive cup / bowl of coffee to start the day!
Ordering coffee at the best of times can be a bit hit-and-miss ... you can ask for the same thing on different days and get different things, or order the same thing at different coffee shops and get totally different things. Sometimes I just give up and order hot chocolate instead! See Coffee and Other Essentials
Agriturismo La Rondine
The main accommodation
The view from the La Rondine terrace
|
Agriturismo La Rondine
Strada Grappe, 9, 31049 Guia di Valdobbiadene Italy Phone:+39 340 336 7745 In 2015 we enjoyed the hospitality of the hardworking Massimo and his delightful parents [la famiglia Zanin] at La Rondine ['the swallows']. Everything was really good - an enjoyable time practicing my Italian, great hospitality and good food ... and prosecco, naturally. The views were quite spectacular, very quiet and relaxing. Their recommendation to visit Castelbrando, nearby, was well made. A little tip - the map/directions to getting here can be a bit misleading ... continue on the road above the main road, even past what looks like the end of the trail ... it's not ... persevere, the road is more than adequate.. |
San Gregorio Azienda Agricola - Prosecco
|
San Gregorio Azienda. Agricola
Via San Gregorio 18 31049 Valdobbiadene, Veneto Phone +39 402 810 0263 In 2015, after getting a little lost in Valdobbiadene [it's NOT that easy to get lost there] we ended up at this small producer [only 50,000 bottles p.a.] and had a wonderful time talking and sampling prosecco. From the outside it looks like you are entering a a family home ... and it is!! We were hosted by Elisa, one of the five daughters helping run the estate, and also met the proud father. Nothing was too much trouble and we enjoyed hearing the story of the vineyards and of the family and we sampled 'quite a few' of their wonderful products [see photo on the left]. When we departed we were stocked with ample 'supplies for later'. The whole event was one of those 'moments' that happen when you're travelling - we couldn't have planned it better and we had a great time. |
|