My Ashtonville: Italy..finally!!

"If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies,

jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears." — Glenn Clark

We are on the final leg of our journey but to me the most rewarding leg. For we have reached Italy...finally. Some rest will be mixed in with our journey.
We have been to Italy twice before so there is some familiarity. But more than familiarity, there is friendship and family. Not family in the "legal" sense, but a family of the heart. Salzburg takes us to Verona where we transfer trains and travel on to
San Giorgio Piacentino.
This is our destination and the home of two very special people - Jon and Sonya. Jon Canestrini stayed with us for two months in 2007 and became our "Italian" son from then on in and Sonya is the young Canadian woman who captured his heart. They carried that romance to Italy where they married in Dec 2011 and they have opened their home to us to share during our time in Italy. Unfortunately Jon is away on business during our trip so Sonya is our hostess - and what an amazing hostess she is.
During our stay we visited a castle town called Castello di Grazzano Visconti, had lunch in an old tower called La Torre Dei Cavalieri, visited the city of Parma (home of parmisan cheese), the city of Sirmione (a beautiful seaside resort), and of course our favourite place in Italy - Fondo.
I have to elaborate a little on Fondo as this will be our third trip here to visit this amazing little town. This beautiful little town is nestled in the northern mountains in Italy - in the Val di Non. It is truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. We are most happy to spend time in this beautiful place with one of the nicest families we know - the Canestrini family (Jon's family)! Gianfranco and Emiliana live in Fondo and thier daughter Miriam lives nearby in Bolzano. During our time here we are fortunate to meet Miriam's boyfriend Stefano (a true Ironman - he just finished the Ironman competition in Austria the day before!). It is also our first time meeting Emiliana's parents.

After we finish our trip to Fondo we return to San Giorgio. We wrap up our time in San Giorgio in with a meal of home made pasta and meat sauce (compliments of Sonya) which was molto delisioso!! Forgot to take a picture of that - doh!!
Next up, our final stop. Milano (my Canadian friends and family will know this as Milan).