Lake Como Part Two

Today I'm sharing part two of our first full day in Lake Como! After exploring Bellagio Dale and I took a ferry to Varenna and started exploring. This was one of my favorite towns we visited, it was a little less crowded than Bellagio but just as charming. First up we got gelato and then walked through the town. We knew we wanted to hike back to Bellano so right before leaving we stopped at a grocery store to get some pasta and bread to cook back at our Airbnb and then we started along the path to Castello di Vezio. 

Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two

The Vezio Castle is almost 1,000 years old and it was quite the trek to get there from Varenna. Before we started the hike we thought it was mostly downhill back to Bellano, but it was exactly the opposite! But the views from the top of the tower were definitely worth it. After a quick beer on the castle grounds we started the long (but beautiful) trek back to our Airbnb. We saw waterfalls, vineyards, slugs, and truly stunning views of the lake. There were also lots of olive and cherry trees along the path. When we finally made it home (our Airbnb was directly on the Sentiero del Viandante) we immediately started cooking our dinner! It was nice to have a meal at  "home," after having had so many meals at restaurants during the trip. After dinner we had some wine and researched the strange bird we had seen all over the lake, the eurasian coot. While our hike was a much longer route than we were expecting it really was beautiful, and one of our favorite days of our entire trip!

Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two
Letters Are Lovely | Lake Como Part Two

Milan, Italy

Ciao! On June 1st we arrived in Italy, possibly my favorite country in the world. We took the train from Nice and headed straight to our next Airbnb to drop off our bags. First up was pizza (Dale's favorite food, so I was especially excited for him to experience this first pizza in Italy!). After eating we took a short nap before heading out to explore. We saw the Columns of San Lorenzo and then got coffee (and a lemon soda for me). We were lucky to be very centrally located so the Duomo was only a short walk from our Airbnb. That night we had dinner at a restaurant near the canals designed by Leonardo da Vinci before heading to bed. 

Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy

The next morning we headed straight for the Duomo! On our way we grabbed coffee and croissants at a restaurant right by where we were staying and then got our tickets. The line moved pretty quickly, especially since we had chosen to take the stairs to the roof. We enjoyed the beautiful views of the city before entering the cathedral (the marble floor was my favorite part of the interior). By this point we were really hungry and found a restaurant a few blocks from the duomo for lunch. I ordered the pesto pasta and Dale of course had pizza. We had to get gelato for dessert, too. Next up we walked to the Francesco Sforza Castle before buying our train tickets to Lake Como for the next day. We had dinner at a different restaurant near the canals, and stopped by the Duomo so I could feed the pigeons! Milan is the perfect quick stop on the way to Lake Como, especially if you are in the mood for shopping. I can't wait to share our dreamy few days in Lake Como next! 

Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy
Letters Are Lovely | Milan, Italy

Lisbon Part One

We had the best time in Lisbon, and I'm really excited to begin sharing photos from each stop of our trip! We headed to Europe this summer to celebrate Dale's graduation from medical school and we have been planning our itinerary and booking our Airbnb's over the past year. Visiting Lisbon was at the top of my list so we decided to make it our first, and longest stop of the trip!

Letters Are Lovely | Lisbon Part One
Letters Are Lovely | Lisbon Part One
Letters Are Lovely | Lisbon Part One
Letters Are Lovely | Lisbon Part One
Letters Are Lovely | Lisbon Part One
Letters Are Lovely | Lisbon Part One
Letters Are Lovely | Lisbon Part One
Letters Are Lovely | Lisbon Part One
Letters Are Lovely | Lisbon Part One
Letters Are Lovely | Lisbon Part One
Letters Are Lovely | Lisbon Part One
Letters Are Lovely | Lisbon Part One
Letters Are Lovely | Lisbon Part One
Letters Are Lovely | Lisbon Part One
Letters Are Lovely | Lisbon Part One
Letters Are Lovely | Lisbon Part One
Letters Are Lovely | Lisbon Part One
Letters Are Lovely | Lisbon Part One
Letters Are Lovely | Lisbon Part One
Letters Are Lovely | Lisbon Part One
Letters Are Lovely | Lisbon Part One
Letters Are Lovely | Lisbon Part One
Letters Are Lovely | Lisbon Part One
Letters Are Lovely | Lisbon Part One
Letters Are Lovely | Lisbon Part One
Letters Are Lovely | Lisbon Part One

After arriving (via Dublin), we took the metro to our Airbnb and got ready to start exploring. To beat the jet lag we decided against a nap and stayed awake. We were also starving so our first stop was putting our name in at Taberna Da Rua Das Flores, a restaurant recommended by our host! He had told us it was a popular spot, and we even had to wait arriving later in the afternoon. During our wait  we did some shopping, one of our favorite spots being A Vida Portugesa, When we finally ate Dale had a duck salad and I tried the swordfish, both were amazing and worth the wait! After lunch we headed to the Carmo Convent — we especially enjoyed the museum inside. We were meeting some family friends, Laura and João, for dinner so on our walk back to our Airbnb we stopped by the Santa Justa Lift (the line was too long to go up), and stopped in a few more stores. After meeting our friends we headed to dinner and had a traditional Portuguese meal! I tried the Bacalhau and Dale tried the Secretos de Porco. Laura and João were kind enough to show us around Lisbon after our meal, it was the perfect start to our trip. By this point we were getting tired and headed off to bed! 

New Orleans: French Quarter

Happy Friday, friends! Last week I went on a quick spring break trip to New Orleans with my family. I have never been to Louisiana before so I was especially excited to check off visiting a new state. Just 17 to go! Our first evening and first full day were both spent exploring the French Quarter. We stayed in a lovely Airbnb outside of the main hustle and bustle, and loved having a real home to come back to each night. I haven't had the opportunity to spend very much time in the South, and I really enjoyed experiencing the food and culture! 

Letters Are Lovely | New Orleans: French Quarter
Letters Are Lovely | New Orleans: French Quarter
Letters Are Lovely | New Orleans: French Quarter
Letters Are Lovely | New Orleans: French Quarter
Letters Are Lovely | New Orleans: French Quarter
Letters Are Lovely | New Orleans: French Quarter
Letters Are Lovely | New Orleans: French Quarter

Our first meal was at the Napoleon House. I tried my first Po' Boy there (which was delicious) and also really loved my Satsuma Pimm's Cup. Since it was St. Patrick's day we were able to see all the craziness on Bourbon Street before heading to Preservation Hall for a jazz performance. It was amazing. I definitely recommend getting tickets in advance so that you can have a seat, rather than standing in the back — it was one of the most memorable parts of our trip. (I even got a saxophone charm to add to my charm bracelet.) After that we headed back to the house to get some sleep. 

Letters Are Lovely | New Orleans: French Quarter
Letters Are Lovely | New Orleans: French Quarter
Letters Are Lovely | New Orleans: French Quarter
Letters Are Lovely | New Orleans: French Quarter
Letters Are Lovely | New Orleans: French Quarter
Letters Are Lovely | New Orleans: French Quarter
Letters Are Lovely | New Orleans: French Quarter
Letters Are Lovely | New Orleans: French Quarter

The next morning we got up and headed to get beignets. We originally planned on going to Cafe Du Monde, but the line was so long we headed to New Orleans Famous Beignets & Coffee instead (which in my opinion was just as delicious!). After that we walked all around Jackson Square, did some shopping, and then ate at the Oceana Grill for lunch. After a little more sight-seeing we then headed back to the house to rest before going on a ghost tour. Although a bit silly, I had a lot of fun listening to the stories. We loved exploring the French Quarter, it was the prefect introduction to New Orleans! 

Letters Are Lovely | New Orleans: French Quarter
Letters Are Lovely | New Orleans: French Quarter
Letters Are Lovely | New Orleans: French Quarter
Letters Are Lovely | New Orleans: French Quarter

Anniversary Trip To Nashville

Dale and I spent Memorial Day weekend road tripping to Nashville! It was our first time in the city as adults, and I would have to say it exceeded our expectations. We stayed in a lovely East Nashville Airbnb with hosts who were more than willing to share their favorite spots. Here are a few pictures from the weekend:

Letters Are Lovely | Trip to Nashville, Tennessee
Letters Are Lovely | Trip to Nashville, Tennessee
Letters Are Lovely | Trip to Nashville, Tennessee
Letters Are Lovely | Trip to Nashville, Tennessee
Letters Are Lovely | Trip to Nashville, Tennessee
Letters Are Lovely | Trip to Nashville, Tennessee
Letters Are Lovely | Trip to Nashville, Tennessee
Letters Are Lovely | Trip to Nashville, Tennessee
Letters Are Lovely | Trip to Nashville, Tennessee
Letters Are Lovely | Trip to Nashville, Tennessee
Letters Are Lovely | Trip to Nashville, Tennessee
Letters Are Lovely | Trip to Nashville, Tennessee
Letters Are Lovely | Trip to Nashville, Tennessee
Letters Are Lovely | Trip to Nashville, Tennessee

We arrived late Friday night and got up early Saturday morning in order to get in a full day of exploring! Our first stop was Biscuit Love for breakfast, and I have to say the Bonuts were as good as I imagined. (I suggest going early because there was already a line forming at 8 AM.) The waiter recommended 12 South as an area we wouldn't want to miss, so we drove through on our way to Pinewood Social for some morning bowling. The restaurant at Pinewood Social looked great but we were so full from breakfast that we headed back to 12 South right after in order to do some shopping. Our next stop was the Nashville Farmer's Market. After that we explored Hillsboro Village and then made the trek out to Hewitt Garden and Design Center. If you are on the hunt for a cactus (like I was) this is the place. I could have been happy snapping photos of all the different plants for hours. 

By this point we were exhausted and headed back to our Airbnb to relax before dinner. We choose to eat at The Pharmacy, and boy was it worth the wait. The beer garden atmosphere was just what we were looking for after a full day. (I recommend grabbing a drink at the Holland House Bar and Refuge next door if you have a long wait.) We finished off the evening with a drink at No. 308 and headed back home for the night. One of my favorite parts of the trip was chatting with our Airbnb hosts that evening! 

Letters Are Lovely | Trip to Nashville, Tennessee
Letters Are Lovely | Trip to Nashville, Tennessee
Letters Are Lovely | Trip to Nashville, Tennessee
Letters Are Lovely | Trip to Nashville, Tennessee

Sunday we slept in and then headed to Barista Parlor for coffee and breakfast. This is perhaps one of the most well thought out restaurant spaces I have ever been too, and I really appreciated their attention to detail. Amelia's Flower Truck was parked right outside which was an added bonus. After eating and relaxing for a bit we wandered down to several shops close by including Wilder. The rest of the afternoon was spent driving around to a few other shops we didn't want to miss (White's Mercantile & Old Made Good) before a late lunch at Desano Pizza Bakery. I couldn't have asked for a better way to celebrate our First Wedding Anniversary! If you are headed to Nashville, take a peek at A Beautiful Mess' posts, too, because they were super helpful in planning our trip.

Until next time, Nashville!