there were two people who met, fell in love and got married. Instead of presents, they asked for help honeymooning in Italy. This is our site all about our families adventure. We hope it will inspire you to love Italy just as much we do!

The Gardens of Puglia

Every Italian over the age of thirty who we had a lengthy conversation with, after a little small talk, would elegantly speak about their personal garden space. The gardens and farms we visited were a lovely combination of two thousand year old dry wall construction and modern tractors and shovels. The countryside landscape is mostly filled with mid-sized fields of orchards, vineyards and animal husbandry. The personal gardens are located in the little spaces that are left over randomly scattered around the countryside.

Wild Asparagus

Wild Asparagus grows in the early spring and we had a fun time hunting it though the experts surpassed our flimsy efforts in a short time. Delicious when lightly steamed or just eaten raw, sweet elegant and tasty the wild asparagus tastes nothing like the store bought variety.

Olives

We were especially interested in the olive orchards though it really was the wrong time of the year to visit them. The fruit was just being taken out of storage from the year before and the fresh cuttings of the spring covered the orchard. Olives are a love affair of Italy. We made it a habit as we traveled to the various farms and households of Puglia to try each particular olive variety and flavor.

Olives are not edible till they have been fermented in a brim solution and we did taste several lovely varieties. Sadly some of the flavors we encountered are not even considered for sale in the states.

Italian Wine

In every household we visited after some polite introductions, I would be the lead as the representative of American masculinity, down stairs into the cellar where I would find several large steel containers of wine. Home made Italian wine is grown all over Italy and in all honestly it puts every American brand of wine to shame. The Italians keep the best for themselves.

The vineyards were scattered throughout the country side and from what I could see in the early spring weather they looked quite healthy and popular. Wine may be a French National Passion, but in Italy it is a popular art form. The way we in a America have local and home based brews of beer, but more so.

Here is a picture of the elderly couple who hosted us in their apartment. Two gardeners with their proud results. I wish I could taste Olives like those back in the states. What is her secret recipe?