Christmas Geneve

Finally I found a time to edit photos and write an article about Geneva, undeservedly forgotten after the article about Lausanne.

We stopped in Geneva before leaving,  after left luggage on the station we went for a walk.

Geneva is also a very beautiful city, which has a lot of special places. I must say that I liked more Lausanne, maybe because I felt Christmas there more, or because we were in Geneva on Sunday and the city seemed to be almost desert. I'm sure I will come back to Geneva and Lausanne in summer or spring )

Geneva - the third important city and the second largest city in Switzerland, although by our standards it's enough small - it has only about two hundred thousand inhabitants. The city is located on the shores of Lake Geneva, near the border with France. We were told that in good weather it is perfectly visible French coast.

As you probably know there are located the headquarters of the UN, the Red Cross and other international organizations, we certainly did not look for them, but just walked)

The main attraction of the city - Jeu d'Eau fountain (Water Jet) throws 500 liters of water per second to a height of 147 meters - it is one of the highest fountains in the world.

Vintage restored wheel steamers, built in the period from 1904 to 1928 are sailing on Lake Geneva.

Another interesting and unique attractions of Geneva - Hours of flowers in the English Garden at the Promenade du Lac with the largest second hand in the world. Its length - 2.5 m, and the overall diameter - five. Bright unusual bed - the result of the activities of a diverse team of craftsmen - watchmakers, designers, florists and gardeners. Several times a year floral arrangement is updated according to the season.

Summer photo

Near the Palace of Justice there was a wine shop, Enoteca, which is called - La Cave du Palace de Justice)) It smiled my husband-lawyer))

Well, the main amusement of Geneva is feeding swans. But even more I liked cute ducks that were hiding under a low bridge, and when someone threw bread for swans, swam as fast torpedoes and snatched the bread under the nose of sluggish swans ))

A huge number of gulls

St. Peter's Basilica in the historic center of the city.

The historic center is small, located on a hill. I liked it more street (Grand Rue) - patrimony of antique dealers and artists.

Here we leave the way it is in front of the station so many bikes.

Amazing Christmas Lausanne

By accident in December we went to Switzerland to the ball. His cousin lives there near Lausanne, and she actually invited us to this event and hosted us. We went for 3 days, so we can spent on the day for Lausanne and one for Geneva before departure.

It was cold, icy wind, when we visited Lausanne so we decided to walk only in the center and don't go down to the lake.

The city is very beautiful, especially decorated for Christmas. I think in the spring and summer it is absolutely amazing. The decorations on the streets were non-traditional, modern, not the way we usually think about them - for example, clouds made of white wire, hanging men, perhaps, they were angels, but at first glance did not seemed so.

Lausanne - the 4th largest city in Switzerland, it is remarkable that is on 2 levels. This is due to the fact that it was built on three hills, which are connected by bridges. Elevation here is from 373 to 871 meters above sea level. And Since 1994, Lausanne - the official Olympic capital of the world. Here are the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee, as well as key institutions for managing the Olympic movement and international sports.

Taking off the bus we got straight to the Church of St. Francis.

Here began and Christmas Market, where there was a lot of things: and knitwear, and soap and cosmetics, and jewelry.

Every weekend in the streets of the old city it is also a market, so the streets were filled with vendors of everything: lots of flowers, branches and all you need for Christmas decorations, as well as ready-made Christmas decorations for the house, vegetables and fruits, homemade canned goods and more.

mushrooms :)

After strolling through the streets and bought a jam, we went to another square with the Cathedral of Notre Dame - one of the most beautiful and important Gothic churches of Europe. At one time, it was a center of pilgrimage. Now there is a organ of 7,000 pipes.

On this square Fair moved into the category cheese-sausage (there were even Italian cheeses and pasta) and then became a flea market where I bought a pair of spoons/forks/knives for food photos.

By the way, I really liked the singing of the choir, which collected donations in the pot on the side of the photo:

And, of course, we haven't forgotten to buy in this shop some Swiss chocolate to bring it at home :)

One of the squares in the center called square Palud, decorated in the center with a beautiful colored fountain "Justice". On the square there is a clock that shows every hour a small musical performance. We were lucky and we just went at one o'clock on the square.

Here, actually, I drinking gluehwein  :)

This is me before entering at the ball, which was held at the Beau-Rivage Palace, which is one of the most luxurious hotels not only in Switzerland but also in Europe and in the world. 

Two hours in Castelmezzano, Basilicata

Some times ago on a Sunday we were in Basilicata. Looking through Tripadvizor for the restaurant, where we could go for lunch, I noticed that all restaurants in the town Castelmezzano have many reviews. Other restaurants within 30 kilometers have not more then a dozen of reviews. And all the reviewers wrote about the "Volo dell'angelo" - Fly of the Angel. It grown an interest in us, and we decided to look at this town and find out what is this - Volo dell'angel. 

In Italy, a beautiful small towns we call Borgo, and, as it turned out that Castelmezzano is among the 100 most beautiful Borgo of Italy. This was a surprise, and it's only 2 hours by car from Brindisi! This stunning little town, literally stuck to the cliff. 

Volo dell'angelo turned out to be an attraction famous for Europe! 

Between two mountain peaks in Lucan Dolomites a steel cable tensioned (actually two of them - because you make two way fly). You can feel like an angel who flies in the sky and see breathtaking panorama. Anyone who overcame his fear, can enjoy not only the sensation of free flight but magnificent views a bird's-eye, or better to say - angelic's -eye. There are gorgeouse mountains, water stream and forests. Unfortunately, it was still closed (it was spring), but we will definitely go back and try it) 

In Castelmezzano thera re many narrow streets, rising at an angle and small ladders to shorten the path between the streets. 

There are several restaurants, in one of which, a small trattoria over this bar we had lunch. 15 euros per person, we got a fixed menu, everything was very tasty and soooo much that the next time we'll take only one)) 

Top-down view of the houses and streets 

On the opposite hill is another town - Petrapertosa, on the right

On the way to the town of a top view of Basilicata

Trip to Foggia region - Italian Granary

This summer we spent weekend in Tenuta Capaccio, nice farm holidays near Foggia, between wheat fields. This region is called "granaio d'Talia" which means Italian Granary, because here are grown most of italian wheat. Foggia has also the ambition to obtain recognition of the European Capital of durum wheat. 

Entrance of the Tenuta:

 

It had big beautiful garden incide, where weddings are take place from time to time.

 

 

The house own made in rustic farm style and full of details:

The number on the room door:

These are wheat fields around the Tenuta:

Walking through the Cerano Forest

This Sunday we decided to go walking, but not far. Best idea we created was to walk along the coastal road. Going by car out of the city after about 5 km I saw the sign - Bosco di Cerano (Cerano Forest). We decided to change our plans and explore this forest, located so close to Brindisi and which for some reason we have not heard about.
For clarification I will say that the forest in our region - a rare thing, basically you can see olive groves, fields with vegetables or vinelands. Therefore, each grove is a national park in miniature.
The forest was divided by road along which we came. 

Both parts had had paths and benches for rest.

The paths sometimes came out on the sidelines of vinelands.  

Now it's spring and vines are covered with the first pale green leaves. 

And under them grow poppies and other flowers.

One of the paths led us to a huge field of yellow flowers, where sometimes poppies could have been seen.

I realized that yellow is the color of high noon spring in the southern Italy for me, because this color can be seen everywhere.

After the trees, I saw something bright yellow and scrambled through the brush I saw this huge mimosa tree in the full blow.  I didn't have enough space to make a photo of whole tree.

I liked contrast between mimosa and dry stock under it.

In the end we arrived to the sea and tired we decided to go back home.

We realized that we need to be sure prihat here for a picnic)