LANGHE
After the group event we will continue to travel with our friends the Grants and headedup to the Langhe. This is our third visit to the Piemonte region and in as many years to the Langhe.
Langhe means a narrow ridge of a chain of hills. This is an area of hilly landscapes and excellent food and wine.
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We stayed in the town of La Morra, at the one of the hotels we place at the top of our list of Great Places to Stay - Corte Gondina Hotel. Every time we stay here we leave with plans to come back. I guess we have been very successful in our planning for the past three years! The hotel is owned and operated by Elena and Bruno Viberti and they maintain a very professional hotel while still having a comfortable and personal feeling about staying here. You feel you are staying in their home.
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The Corte Gondina Hotel has a full web site and takes on-line reservations. |
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Glenn and Bruno Viberti talked, and renting Vespa's can all be arranged. He made the arrangements and we drove to the town of Canale it pick up our bikes.
Well actually we drove there twice, as the first time it hailed just as we approached the town. the grown was covered in white ice! They agreed that was no day to take the bikes out so we went to Torino for the day. But the next day we were back. Ready to go!
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Chris Grant and Glenn Marcus getting instructions on how to operate the vespa. |
Glenn Marcus on his vespa. There was an "accident" between the photo to the left and this one! |
We picked up the vespas, received our "how to use" instructions, they were very helpful, and then it was off. I had never driven a motorbike before, so this was a first. The first spin around the piazza in Canale was uneventful. But, when folks said, go around again, let's get a picture, well it was a different event. As I turned on one of the corners a man walked out in front of the bike. I am not sure what I did, but the combination of turning, probably hitting the gas and the brake at the same time, and the fact that I was not used to the weight of a motor bike — the pavement rushed up to me! My beautiful yellow bike was scratched, dinted, but still worked so on we went!
The photo to the left pretty well sums up the day. Here Chris Grants is on his vespa with endless vineyards. It was a great day of driving the small country roads through vineyard after vineyard. Every hill top has an old town or castle. We would stop for wine tasting at the castle of Grinzane Cavour. All in all we drove through 14 different towns of the Langhe.
Great wine and food - that seems to be a natural in the Langhe. We had some great meals while we were here. One was at La Cantinetta in Barolo. Maurilio and Paul Chiappetto set the mood for this restaurant.
Expect very good food in a causal fun atmosphere. This is a third visit to this restaurant and each time we have enjoyed the meal. Each time we have eaten too much! Hard to have self-retraint when the food is so good. They will recommend you have the anitipasto taster menu - good call! We have address location in our Great Places to Stay web site.
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The town of La Morra is one of the most scenic towns of the Langhe area. |
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