Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Italy Was Fabulous!!! -Part 1

Ciao Crafty People!!! I'm back home, and it's been a whirlwind of family activities, not to mention bad internet connection since, so that is why I am FINALLY here to give you my first of a triple scoop (Gelato still on my mind...sorry!) of the Artful Adventures in Tuscany with Tim Holtz.  Each post will be heavy laden with photos and info, so you have your eye work cut out for you should you choose to go along with me on this trip. By the way, Tim has fabulous recaps of the trip over on his website as well, as does Jim, the Gentleman Crafter.

Three of us girls left West Texas, and headed to the Big Apple for a night before we left for Italy. We hit the town and saw a Broadway Play called Kinky Boots. It was a great show...heartwarming and funny!
Me, Paula, and Pam on the airplane.
Day 1: Montecatini Terme
Then finally, we were on our way over the Atlantic to Italy. We arrived in Pisa nine hours later the next day, and not a one of us were tired. We were ready for adventure, and our first one was to the uber wonderful town of Montecatini Terme, where we laid our head for the next eight nights at the Grand Hotel & La Pace, the ultimate Inn I tell you! We were expecting a very basic place, and were told to have an open mind...that not only the culture was different, but that the hotel amenities were not what we might be used to, so we expected the worse naturally. Boy was our tour guide Jim West of Scrap Map right! It's a whole lot different...better! I felt like a princess in this place! I truly kept thinking I was dreaming, and kept asking myself what I did to deserve this! The hotel room was my vacation already! I could have stayed here the whole time and would have been perfectly happy.
The Grand Hotel & La Pace
The three windows with the triangular caps on the very right, three floors up, was mine and Pam's room. A place I absolutely fell in love with...a hotel room like no other I've ever stayed in...pure luxury and peacefulness.
Yes, that's right! I had three balconies here on the front, and one on the side that you can't see. Three of them were walk out balconies, and the side one was twice the size of the others, and that is where I hung out every night reflecting on my day and enjoying the most glorious views and wonderful sounds of the town, including the ringing of church bells.  It was a spiritual place for me, and I miss it so.
This was our huge living room, complete with fine antique furnishings and art work, a refrigerator, and just beyond those drapes is...
...Balcony #1. The glass doors open to reveal the most awesome heavy duty shutters. You can open them like vents or slide them back to enter the balcony.
The view from Balcony #1.
The bathroom was wonderful! I love the tile, the tub, and the bidet. Oh my gosh, a bidet! I've never even seen one in person much less used one! Now I need one in West Texas!
Each room was totally different from the next, and I am told that several people didn't have the shower/tub like we did. We were very fortunate!
And just beyond the bidet were the doors that lead to Balcony #2.
It was not a walk out balcony, but it was wonderful to open to let in the cool air while taking a hot bath. The view was nice too, and I loved saying hi to passers by below...dressed of course!
The bedroom was amazing with ample storage, and fine linens. Every night, we had turn down service with lots of little extras.
The armoire had glass front drawers on each side and in the middle was a long clothing rod with plenty of space for the mounds of luggage we lugged around.
The view from Balcony #3 in the bedroom.
My favorite, Balcony #4, was the large walk out balcony. I should have taken a panoramic picture of the view here. This does not do it justice. You can't even see the hills and Montecatini Alto in this photo, sorry. It was always so quiet and peaceful, and I never saw one person walking around these lovely grounds...what a shame. It was always the birds and me, and they sounded sweeter than any I have at home.  I just loved the fountain and statue of the little girl in the yard. Friday and Saturday night sounds made me so happy. People stay up late, eat hardy, and laugh and laugh. Live Music was always playing until the wee hours, and none of that ever woke me up, I found it enjoyable. However, the loudest thunder and wildest lightning sure did! Storms in Italy are fierce! The glass windowed doors shook like mad in the two rain makers we had.
This is a fuzzy shot, but I wanted to take this gorgeous statue home so badly. She was beautiful!
The town of Montecatini Terme is known for it's thermal spa waters bubbling underneath. People come from all over to drink the waters for medicinal purposes to cure them of their ails.  There are many spas around, as well as boutique shops, eateries, gelaterias, bakeries, and high end stores among the old buildings and churches. The food was fabulous at every place I visited, but the bakery Pasticceria Giovannini was my favorite place, any time of day, and the gelato just up from the hotel...can't remember the name...was the best I had. 
 
 
 
The oldest running Funicular Railroad Car in the world is also located in the town, and runs you up to the picturesque village of Montecatini Alto. The views were fabulous, especially at night, and the narrow cobblestone streets between the oh so wonderful castle, houses, stores, and restaurants were pure vintage eye candy! The food at La Torre Signorelli was most excellent there.
The Funicolare



 
I loved the etchings on the walls.
Even the trash cans are cute!
Thanks for joining me for Part 1. I hope you enjoyed a few of the many photos (1,210 to be exact) I took of this marvelous adventure!

32 comments:

  1. WOW!!! and amazing! Can't wait for Part II. Great pics!!

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  2. AnitaI'm really happy that you enjoyed my country! I'm biased but it's really beautiful! Ah I wanted to say that the bidet we have it everywhere, in all the hotels and even in homes! In fact we are used to this, and when we go abroad, we are always a little uncomfortable in hotel rooms! I am thrilled to hear you speak with joy of Italy! I love all your pictures! Hugs BArbarayaya

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  3. Great pics from what appears to have been an amazing trip!

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  4. What a fantastic adventure Anita!!! I bet you'll be on cloud 9 for months to come after this. Love the views from your balcony and it seems every building is more beautiful than the next. Now looking forward to many more instalments. Jenny xxx

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  5. WOW... I want to live there... Wonderful post Anita... the photos are beautiful....Loved your hotel... Bring on part 2!! can't wait.... Hugs May x x x

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  6. Hi Anita, thank you so much for letting us share in your amazing adventure!!I have greatly enjoyed reading Tim's own descriptions, so it is great to now get a glimpse of what it was like for you lucky participants! Funny, I never realized bidets are not common in the States, here they are everywhere, we have one ourselves, it would never occur to me that they were special lol.... Anyway, stunning photos too! We get a real flavour of the place! Hope you will share some of your arty creations too! That kit with the stamps and DI 4 colour pad, looked something else, - you lucky, lucky girl!!

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  7. So glad to hear that you had such a great time in Bella Italia! Ages since I made it there (we rarely get beyond France with having our own place there!) looking forward to seeing more photos of the trip and the creations (she says hopefully :-D)

    Sally

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  8. Wonderful photos, I want that armoire!!

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  9. Looks like you had the most wonderful time in Italy x thank you for sharing and I look forward to viewing more x hugs Annie x

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  10. Wow, thanks for sharing your journey with us! I so wanted to go, but it sold out so fast! By the time I learned of it, it was full. I enjoyed your photos, and can see why they chose that hotel as it has all the old world charm and beauty you could image! What gorgeous buildings and views. Sounds like a dream vacation for sure! Looking forward to your next installment! Welcome home!!

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  11. I wondered why you were so quiet!!! Glad to hear you were having such a fabulous time. Gorgeous photos.

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  12. Wow!!!!! That hotel room is to die for!!! Incredible! What a wonderful way to start a trip with a fabulous place to stay, gorgeous and relaxing scenery, and great food. Seriously ... you should have enough inspiration to last you for a couple of years after this trip :) Can't wait to see installment #2! Ciao -- Mary Elizabeth

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  13. Super to read of your trip Anita. Looking forward to next instalments. Nicola x

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  14. Fabulous photos Anita! What a beautiful place and would love to have a ride on that fantastic railway...... Glad to hear you got dressed before looking out of the balcony near the bathroom! Have seen Jim and Tim's photos too - can't seem to get enough of this wonderful experience you all had. Hugs, Anne x

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  15. Love seeing all these pictures and reading about your journey. Can't wait for the next installment!

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  16. Oh great Anita, I was hoping you would share the adventure with us. Way to go on the picture taking by the way. thanks and I know you had a wonderful time. xoxo

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  17. Wow Anita, what a dream trip! I'm so happy that you got to go and experience all this. Thank you for sharing this with us, it just looks amazing. Can't wait to see what you have in store for us tomorrow.

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  18. I'm so glad you loved Italy as much as I do! Your photos are wonderful, thanks so much for sharing your trip with us. I'm looking forward to seeing more.

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  19. I followed your wonderful adventures on Facebook Anita, but to see these photos is just beautiful, such a gorgeous hotel with so much atmosphere. Its a wonder you came home.........lol, hugs Annette x

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  20. Anita, I take it that you had one great time! Wow, the photos are fabulous and I can only imagine how fun it had to be and then to go with friends, even better! Thank you for sharing your journey! Hugs!

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  21. Wowza! Talk about the experience of a lifetime! I'm sure you feared the hotel would be something like LVH...*shudder*. What a magnificent place you had! Can't wait to continue the tour with you. Thanks for letting us live vicariously through you and have a taste of Italy without leaving home :)

    Amy*

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  22. Wohoooo....so happy that you enjoyed a bit of European culture....allthough quite different from your culture it is always lovely to find inspiration, beautiful places, pretty details. And you do have a good eye for the important details... So lovely that you sound so thrilled.
    And yes by the way : bidets are all aound in Southern Europe. Also most private homes have at least one.
    Next time you go to Italy you can come and say hello to me. I'm just beside....sooooo close.LOL
    Thanks for sharing your lovely text and photos.
    Hugs from SPAIN

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  23. So many wonderful photos. Thanks for sharing.

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  24. Thank you Anita, I've really enjoyed part one and am looking forward to further instalments what a fantastic adventure , xx

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  25. Wow, it must have been so much fun!! I wish I could have gone with you! Thank you for sharing all the photos!

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  26. Ohh wow Anita! What a beautiful pictures! I can see that you've had a wonderful time. Hugs, Sandra

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  27. Oh my Anita, what an amazing time you had and these photos and your diary to go with them is just lovely. A great post and thanks for sharing.
    hugs {brenda} x0x

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  28. Thanks for sharing this wonderful trip in words and photo's with us!

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  29. Thank you so much for sharing the adventure with us... even though I've been going backwards, I'm looking forward to the next chapter!
    Alison xx

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  30. Phenomenal pics! So glad you had this wonderful trip.

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