Wedding Day

It’s been a busy few weeks. The highlight, of course, was celebrating Gracie and Nate’s beautiful wedding in the Yarra Valley; what a wonderful, love- and laughter-filled day that was. Since then we’ve been here in Brisbane, getting our home back into shape.

Now though, as things settle down, we’re finding space to reflect on our time away. Of course, we have so many amazing memories. And not only of the big events; often it’s the small things that first come to mind – the chance encounter on a train, an unexpected friendship, a funny thing that happened, the kindness of a stranger.

Our memories of place are inevitably linked with those of the people we met; the added richness of an experience shared. Greg and I feel very fortunate to have had this great adventure – and so grateful to have shared it with each other. Memories of a lifetime.

 

Of course, our wedding was the biggest thing that happened while we were away; it will always be top of mind for us :)
Of course, our wedding was the biggest thing that happened while we were away; it will always be top of mind for us 🙂
 
 
It was such a wonderful day
It was such a wonderful day
Made all the more so by loving family and friends
Made all the more so by loving family and friends
During our four days together in Montegridolfo there were lots of laughs
During our four days together in Montegridolfo there were lots of laughs
Wonderful wine
Wonderful wine
And non-stop fabulous food
And non-stop fabulous food
Thanks, in part, to these lovely ladies at La Venerina
Thanks, in part, to these lovely ladies at La Venerina
Pasta dinner on our first night together
Pasta dinner on our first night together
And gathering for a pre-dinner drink on our last evening
And gathering for a pre-dinner drink on our last evening
Time spent with family, before and after our wedding, prolonged the celebration for us
Time spent with family, before and after our wedding, prolonged the celebration for us
 
 
Many people contributed to making our wedding special
Many people contributed to making our wedding special
Our beautiful rings were designed in Rome by Cristina Spinelli
Our beautiful rings were designed in Rome by Cristina Spinelli
And the wonderful Piccio family went above and beyond in making sure I had a dress to wear on the day
And the wonderful Piccio family went above and beyond in making sure I had a dress to wear on the day
Our visits to Piedmont and the Piccio family are among our favourite memories of Italy; we'll never forget those Alpine hikes
Our visits to Piedmont and the Piccio family are among our favourite memories of Italy; we'll never forget those Alpine hikes
There was a lot more 'walking with spectacular views' - on the island of Maderia for example
There was a lot more 'walking with spectacular views' - on the island of Maderia for example
And in the Faroe Islands, too
And in the Faroe Islands, too
Walking in the Lake District in England was a real highlight
Walking in the Lake District in England was a real highlight
That's where we met English friends, Mary and John - beach walking here in Northumberland with Rosie and Gracie
That's where we met English friends, Mary and John - beach walking here in Northumberland with Rosie and Gracie
And across the sea to Ireland, visits to the Kinne-Coyle family meant fun with this young fella, Alexander the Greatest!
And across the sea to Ireland, visits to the Kinne-Coyle family meant fun with this young fella, Alexander the Greatest!
In Sicily Pina and Nicola, relatives of Australian friends Stacey and Gus, cared for us as though we ourselves were family (the lady in the middle there was the keeper of the key to the local church)
In Sicily Pina and Nicola, relatives of Australian friends Stacey and Gus, cared for us as though we ourselves were family (the lady in the middle there was the keeper of the key to the local church)
We loved Sicily for so many reasons - this performance in the 2500-year-old Greek theatre was an amazing experience
We loved Sicily for so many reasons - this performance in the 2500-year-old Greek theatre was an amazing experience
In Syracuse, we gave the Sicilian oyster shucker a few euro - in return he handed over a plate overflowing with fresh oysters and a couple of cups of prosecco. 'Tranquilla, signora!'
In Syracuse, we gave the Sicilian oyster shucker a few euro - in return he handed over a plate overflowing with fresh oysters and a couple of cups of prosecco. 'Tranquilla, signora!'
The unexpected encounters were often among the most enjoyable; in Manuta we met Petrit, shoemaker to Popes and Prime Ministers and friend to all
The unexpected encounters were often among the most enjoyable; in Manuta we met Petrit, shoemaker to Popes and Prime Ministers and friend to all
In Bologna we chanced upon master violin maker, Aaron Lorenzo Orfei
In Bologna we chanced upon master violin maker, Aaron Lorenzo Orfei
And in Pescostanzo, Abruzzo we stayed in a little B&B run by these three brothers and their extended family
And in Pescostanzo, Abruzzo we stayed in a little B&B run by these three brothers and their extended family
We sought out snow as often as possible - our first white Christmas was unforgettable
We sought out snow as often as possible - our first white Christmas was unforgettable
Carol singers and spritz caldo
Carol singers and spritz caldo
Christmas markets in Milan, and the city's magnificent Duomo
Christmas markets in Milan, and the city's magnificent Duomo
We loved the wild Dolomite Mountains - especially when they were covered in snow
We loved the wild Dolomite Mountains - especially when they were covered in snow
But snowfall in Rome was something quite unexpected - people came out to play as the city's services ground to a halt
But snowfall in Rome was something quite unexpected - people came out to play as the city's services ground to a halt
Living - and looking - like a local (Greg was regularly asked where in Italy his family was from) :)
Living - and looking - like a local (Greg was regularly asked where in Italy his family was from) 🙂
Of course, many memories are associated with food - the daily catch, straight off the boats, in Monopoli Puglia
Of course, many memories are associated with food - the daily catch, straight off the boats, in Monopoli Puglia
Fish, fresh from Lake Garda, cooking over hot coals in the home/restaurant of a fourth-generation fishing family
Fish, fresh from Lake Garda, cooking over hot coals in the home/restaurant of a fourth-generation fishing family
Pizza dinner in the garden of the Landucci family in Lucca
Pizza dinner in the garden of the Landucci family in Lucca
And on what seemed like every Italian street corner, a wonderful deli
And on what seemed like every Italian street corner, a wonderful deli
The best cheese we tasted came from this little hut in the middle of the Campo Imperatore plateau in Abruzzo (step around the chooks to get inside) :)
The best cheese we tasted came from this little hut in the middle of the Campo Imperatore plateau in Abruzzo (step around the chooks to get inside) 🙂
The alpine meadow sits above the Gran Sasso massif in the Apennine Mountains - it's breathtaking
The alpine meadow sits above the Gran Sasso massif in the Apennine Mountains - it's breathtaking
We visited Campo Imperatore with lovely friends Franco and Patrizia from Bologna
We visited Campo Imperatore with lovely friends Franco and Patrizia from Bologna
Travelling with them always involved family, friends and food - this quick supper just before a concert under the stars
Travelling with them always involved family, friends and food - this quick supper just before a concert under the stars
And on another evening, apericena at Franco's cousin's home in Fontecchio (the houses are small so gatherings are often held in the street)
And on another evening, apericena at Franco's cousin's home in Fontecchio (the houses are small so gatherings are often held in the street)
Adèrito was our wonderful wine-making host in northern Portugal
Adèrito was our wonderful wine-making host in northern Portugal
It's a place where traditions die hard
It's a place where traditions die hard
We visited countless churches on our trip (just ask Greg); this amazing monastery is on the Greek Island of Amorgos
We visited countless churches on our trip (just ask Greg); this amazing monastery is on the Greek Island of Amorgos
And we met quite a few priests and nuns along the way - this fun-loving Augustinian sister was from Montefalco in the province of Perugia
And we met quite a few priests and nuns along the way - this fun-loving Augustinian sister was from Montefalco in the province of Perugia
On the streets of old Bari, Puglia we found fishmongers selling mussels
On the streets of old Bari, Puglia we found fishmongers selling mussels
And grandmas selling pasta
And grandmas selling pasta
In Greece, Greg landed fish
In Greece, Greg landed fish
And in Liguria we dined and then danced in the street - to the music of harpist, Ricardo (whom we first met on a crowded local bus)
And in Liguria we dined and then danced in the street - to the music of harpist, Ricardo (whom we first met on a crowded local bus)
There was music in Slovenia, too
There was music in Slovenia, too
This great little boy listened and learned as his grandfather, Ivan, played traditional folk songs on an alpine zither made by Ivan's father
This great little boy listened and learned as his grandfather, Ivan, played traditional folk songs on an alpine zither made by Ivan's father
New Year in Hammerfest in Norway's far north was quite the celebration
New Year in Hammerfest in Norway's far north was quite the celebration
But was it better than a wonderful week returning south on the famous Hurtigruten shipping line?
But was it better than a wonderful week returning south on the famous Hurtigruten shipping line?
Fjords to take your breath away
Fjords to take your breath away
The city of Bergen - where Greg will never forget demolishing a huge king crab claw :)
The city of Bergen - where Greg will never forget demolishing a huge king crab claw 🙂
And the little village of Fezzano in Liguria, Italy
And the little village of Fezzano in Liguria, Italy
Where we met beautiful friends, Rita and Elio
Where we met beautiful friends, Rita and Elio
All our Italian friends were loving and generous; we feel very fortunate to have made these friendships for life
All our Italian friends were loving and generous; we feel very fortunate to have made these friendships for life
Events, experiences, places ...
Events, experiences, places ...
... and, especially, people we'll never forget
... and, especially, people we'll never forget
Memories of a lifetime
Memories of a lifetime