Travels in Italy: Amalfi Coast

 Travels in Italy: Part III  ~

Amalfi Coast

Planning to explore the intense beauty of Italy's Amalfi Coast? You are in the right place because The Red Balloon has just returned and what an absolute breathtaking experience it is! The photos do not do it justice. Within the Campania region of Italy lies the Amalfi Coast, a 50 kilometer stretch of land that is beyond compare. 

The coast is located between the Gulf of Naples and the Gulf of Salerno. Filled with gorgeous views, port cities, beautiful beaches, and pastel colored fishing villages. The beaches here are considered to be the best and most beautiful of the entire Tyrrhenian Sea. Tip: Check the weather since temperatures in some months (ie. summer) can get extremely hot. 

Whether you are seeking the posh life of Positano 

Or the artwork in Amalfi, the coast has it all!

The Amalfi Coast is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It officially earned its spot as a UNESCO world Heritage Site in 1997. 

Below see the inside of the Parrochia Di San Gennaro, the Church of St. Gennaro, built in 1589. The church is divided into three naves. The church is a site to behold. 

Throughout each town in the Amalfi Coast is no shortage of things to see and do. Il Sentiero degli Dei or the Path of the Gods, was once the sole connection between the 13 villages of the Amalfi Coast. What are the 13 villages of the Amalfi Coast? 

Glad you asked! They are: Amalfi, Atrani, Cetara, Conca de' Marini, Furore, Maiori, Minori, Positano, Praiano, Ravello, Scala, Tramonti, and Vietri su Mare. Each with their own unique and distinct ambience.

See a photo from the Path of the Gods:

Tip: Be sure to bring water with you on the trail. If you are traveling during a time of year when temperatures heat up, it is best to start early. 

Be sure to bring a camera. You will be glad you did.

Tip: While on the Amalfi Coast be sure not to miss a visit to Capri. The Blue Grotto is the most visited site in Capri and The Red Balloon took a boat from the town of Amalfi to Capri and then a second boat to then board a row boat into the Blue Grotto. Behold you will be entered into a whole new world!

Stay turned for more tips from The Red Balloon's Travel Series.

Travels in Italy: Florence

Check out the Photo Preview as The Red Balloon takes over Florence, Italy!

See Travels in Italy Part II: Florence, Italy

                                       

Stay tuned for the next stop in The Red Balloon's Travels in Italy tour!

Travels in Italy: Venice

Travels in Italy: Part I    ~

Venice Photo Tour

Stay turned for more from The Red Balloon's Travels in Italy Series.

Boston Wine Expo 2016

The Boston Wine Expo 2016 Grand Tasting took place on Sunday, February 14th and love was in the air. Love for the effervescent favorite: wine. There was no shortage of both food and drink at the affair. The Red Balloon was there at the 25th celebration of the Boston Wine Expo (BWE) at the Seaport World Trade Center. Scenes from the BWE can be seen below:

From Australia to Lebanon, Israel to France, Italy to the United States, the Red Balloon floated (everyone else needed to walk!) The wine was poured from pretty much every corner of the world and every country on the map. As an added bonus: no passport was needed.

From Portugal, there was Vinho Verde. A fun fact is that the wine itself is not actually green, it instead tends to be white. The word "verde" refers not to the color of the wine but to the fact that the grapes are picked typically within the first three months. Although the name translates literally to "green wine" it is actually called a "young wine." The Red Balloon thought it to be a perfect match!

If you have been searching for a dessert wine, you've come to the right place (see it in the BWE glass above.) The Red Balloon conducted extensive research while at the Boston Wine Expo, tasting numerous wines to find just the right dessert wine. Bartenura's Malvasia Di Casorzo, from Italy, is THE dessert wine. It is sweet and an absolute delight on the palate. Once you taste this wine, you won't even want dessert!

Speaking of dessert, there was no shortage of sweets at the BWE. That was thanks to Montilio's Baking Company which provided an assortment of cupcakes, tiramisu, cheesecake, fruit tarts, and a made to order cannoli station (a favorite of The Red Balloon.) (Okay so perhaps one can make room for dessert after all!)

Photos from the BWE 2016 can be seen below:

 

Happy Saturday!

Sights & Sounds: Part 8

The Boston Wine Expo

The Boston Wine Expo will return February 13th-14th. The annual event if celebrating its 25th anniversary and no doubt there will be plenty of wine from around the world. Attendees of the Grand Tasting on Sunday will experience not just wine from over 200 producers but also food from across the globe. The Grand Tasting floor is dividing into different countries and The Red Balloon did enjoy spending Sunday in "Italy" as the wine and food experience is second to none. It is truly like being taken to another country...no passport needed! 

Check back soon for The Red Balloon's Boston Wine Expo full review!

The Lunar New Year

In honor of the Lunar New Year, the Lion Dance Parade will take place on Sunday, February 21st in Chinatown.

Hail Caesar!

The latest film by the Cohen brothers (which doesn't seem like a Cohen brothers film at all) is now playing in theaters. Starring George Clooney among a ton of other celebrities.

Happy Valentine's Day weekend!

~The Red Balloon

Don't take this "Trip to Italy"

A new film called "The Trip to Italy" features beautiful scenes: rolling hillsides and vast expanses of luxurious lands all over Italia. The film appeared at first glance to have much promise. That was of course until I actually watched the film. What the film does have in the beauty of the landscape, it still fails to make up for in terms of plot, dialogue, script, and basically ever other matter essential to good filmmaking.

The movie stars Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon who overdo most every scene they're in and well...they're in pretty much every scene of the film. The film starts out okay and then gets really bad really quickly. The pair manage to talk so much that the viewer is literally in pain. I mean...it appears that the two mean well..but the jokes do not come across to the viewer as jokes instead it's almost as if the two are really trying too hard and end up being so over the top that the viewer can feel no connection with the characters. And there you have it: right at the heart of the film, the two actors have alienated the viewer. The duo are on the trip alone.

I'm writing about this film for the sole purpose of trying to save others from taking this trip. Trust me when I say: this is one 'Trip to Italy' you don't want to take!