Italy highlights

Ok, I've been back all week but I am still sorting through the 3,000 pictures we took (well, and waiting for the ones from Leah) and trying to get back to real life - my bedroom is an unpacking/laundry disaster still. So, it's going to be some time before I can do a full report. But I figured I'd give you a "best of" list to tide you over. Obviously, I was a fan of the food.

Best wine: Chianti Reserva from Castello Sonnino (Tuscany) AND this one we had in Amalfi (name to come when I find the label)

 Best beer: Cinque Terre. A chestnut belgian

Best pasta: Florence. Four cheese gnocchi

Best pizza: Naples. They really don't lie about that. It was ricotta and ham in between two thin pieces of dough, with mozarella and sauce on top

Best fish: Cingue Terre. Ligurian-style sea bass, with olives, tomatoes, and potatoes 

Best cheese: the mazarella di bufala was to die for, but I think pecorino with honey wins my heart

Best gelato: Amalfi. Creamy lemon with mixed berry

Best other dessert: Florence panna cotta drizzled with chocolate

Best boating experience: Kayaking through Venice

Best sunset: Elba

Best blue water: Capri

Best preserved old shit (and saddest): Dead people at Pompeii

Best coastal shot: Positano

Best public transportation (and yet, the place we walked the most): Rome

Best art: the Vatican

Best animal: sea gull protecting Rome

Best hike: Cinque Terre

Best hot guy sighting: The Vatican tried very hard (seriously, all the hot guys work in one place), but my long lost love was the guy who checked our tickets on the train leaving Elba