After leaving the more open spaces of Puglia, the mountains of central Italy certainly impose themselves on you as do the winding roads test your nerves.  As Umbria is a land locked region these mountains eventually meld into more rolling hills somewhat like Tuscany with that rural patch work scenery. 
 
 For as far as the eye […]

Yes it’s been a while but worth waiting for. Vineman has taken a month off and traveled to the southern region of Puglia in Italy, the heel of the boot. This region is renowned for its hot climate, rugged landscape, robust red wines and Trulli (cone shaped stone dwellings).

The area I have settled in for […]

Earlier this week I went along to the local cinema to see “A Good Year” featuring Russell  Crowe.  
Loosely it is about a high flying London-based bonds trader Max Skinner (Russell Crowe) who flies off to Provence to inspect a Chateau and estate left to him by his uncle who had brought him up as a boy.  […]

It was a great surprise to recieve this stenciled artwork as a gift recently from my youngest son. He understands fully my affinity with these lovely creatures.
Not sure about those legs though! Yes they belong to Vineman.
 

After an extremely busy year it was difficult to find time to get away for a well earned break.  Eventually I decided that we needed to take some time off so we headed to Ubud in Bali. 
Ubud is away from the more popular coastal parts of Bali and is noted for its artisans and rural surroundings - […]