More Great Glass Via OG Venice

Masters at work.  Come watch them with us!

Venetian Truck Driving Skills

Via our foodie friends at Venice Bites:

That’s pretty cool–navigating a barge around those old, narrow canals and low hanging bridges.  Everything you see in Venice’s quiet neighborhood shops and restaurants arrives in this manner; deliveries require these guys and their unique boat maneuvering skill sets.

I’ll bet none of these guys are getting rich, but none of them would give up what they do for a living either.  One of the more unique jobs in the world.

Gran Paradiso

You can see why Piemonte is one of our favorite regions, and it’s not just the great hospitality, amazing food, world class wines, bucolic vineyards, and undulating hills populated with quaint towns (need we say more?)…

Garda

On a sunny day, with a slight haze coming off the lake, and the turquoise water looking lovely…you can see why European vacationers flock to Lago di Garda and the surrounding area.

From Sirmione’s shoreline:

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Corks

From our favorite winery make for an interesting subject, and enjoying them again is reliving the good times with friends and family spent over a glass or two of Piemonte’s best.

Giribaldi Corks

Lagoon Sunset Views

I was kicking myself for not having lugged the tripod with me to Burano this day; I would have shot these with HDR for a more dramatic contrast with the Venice buildings, campanile, and rooflines that sit under this dramatic sunset.  But in retrospect that’s a “happy accident”, as the slight silhouetting I think emphasizes the romantic, mysterious qualities of Venice at night and in the evening.

These were shot at f5.6, 1/800th, between 260mm and 300mm depending.  Any time you can watch the sunset on Burano, you know it’s good to be alive.

Click ’em for the full size versions.

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Artisanal Genius

We agree with OG Venice:  this is mesmerizing to watch.  Even more so in person!

Please Buy Legit Extra Virgin Olive Oil

http://www.slowfood.com/the-future-of-italys-liquid-gold/

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The short version:  artisanal olive oil producers are getting squeezed by an unfair, corrupt market.  Whenever you have the chance to buy from a specialty olive oil shop or reputable store, please do.  We buy from The Olive Tap.

http://theolivetap.com/

Euro Exchange Rate: No Time Like The Present

Thinking about an Italy excursion?  This is as strong as we’ve seen the dollar in the last five years.  Your dollars will go far toward that bottle of Barolo, that plate of risotto, that platter of antipasti, that assortment of cicchetti, and that hotel stay.  Get there now!

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