(It)aly just melts your heart...

It has been kind of long since I posted anything here. But I bring you some more of the visual treat from Italy - yes it's a never ending process and  ...it takes over one small part of heart first and then slowly captures the whole heart and then just keep melting you in its love and charm. That's Italy !

A little town called Hahndorf - Part 1

The cute little towns, the rustic shops and cafes, the streets with traffic slow as a snail, people wandering around and having a good time, arts and crafts, great smell of wood oven pizzas and grill : that's pretty much how I can sum up Hahndorf, the German village in Adelaide hills.

Here are a series of photos spread over several posts from my little moments captured in this town over time. It's so gorgeous that it almost takes you back an era. *sigh*

A day's affair in Mclaren Vale

A beautiful day spent at Mclaren Vale recently. We are kind of romantic birds and love to take a flight alone every now and then to absorb nature, sip a cup of coffee together and eat some good food. 

Visitor Centre is the first place to go in any area when you are travelling especially around Australia. This is the beautiful McLaren Vale Visitor Centre also emcompassing a beautiful spacious Art Gallery - The Stump Hill Art Gallery. 

You can easily spend hours in Visitor centre alone, as it has a wine tasting bar, art gallery, shop showcasing local produce and art and crafts and a cafe that sells yummmm Gelato ! 

Our next stop was this cute cafe 'Tin Shed' Cafe - a really cute little cafe in the heart of Mclaren Vale. 

Based in famous Salopian Inn, I have been meaning to come to the Vale Ale brewery ( Mclaren Vale Beer Co.) for a long time. Beautiful venue for lunch although we had some Pizza, cake and coffee and my camera's battery had died by that time (Will never forget to re-charge before taking it with me next time !). 

I believe Vale Ale is SA's 3rd largest brewery now. They offer tasting of 4 different types of beers ranging from clean crisp tasting to American style dark lager. Hmmm....Sniff, swirl, swallow.

We found it to be a perfect spot to watch the day go by...

Break the routine...

I love breaking the routines. Getting a break. We sometimes unintentionally get into a routine even for our off days - don't we? and then....life gets boring. 

Well I like to catch it before that happens.  

So this time we took a day trip to McLaren Vale. 

Started off in the lovely cafe in the information centre with a breathtaking view...

So blessed to be living in the region of beautiful wineries, infact the most popular wine region.

Perfect weather and the sunshine caressing - We loved it !

This time decided not to go to any winery...well what a contradiction to what I said before but that's because we always end up going to the wineries and we always fall short of time to check out the speciality shops...those little bakeries, handicrafts, rustic cafes...

So we broke to routine... ;) and checked out handicrafts, local produce and chilled out in a beautiful small cafe...

then just meandering around the streets and among the wineries...

chatting away....

stopping and breathing the fresh air..

and a retro scene...

And read the sign below in the Avocado Farm. So amazing is the feeling of 'Trust' - Trusting a stranger...trusting someone you have never met, trusting someone just as a human being....I love that feeling although yes...it's fading away in today's world. 

And I always manage to find my other half ;) - India. 

and Buddha...my eyes stop everytime I see any idol of buddha and takes me to the place of instant peace. There is something magical about Buddha's face !! 

 

We found a beautiful handicraft shop called Samadhi Bali . So many pretty things to look at..

...and then another shop called...Artel. 

Everything - Yes Everything in this shop was handmade. OMG - I could just spend all day marvelling at the beautiful things and just thinking of artists making them...

Found this little cute thing...

and great produce with pretty packaging...

I absolutely love the country towns, the vast distances and magical nature leaves me rejuvenated. Tell me about your travels....would love to hear.