For anyone who has ever dreamed of opening a bed and breakfast in the Italian countryside have I got the place for you.  Yesterday we spent the afternoon and evening at the county home of our neighbors parents.  They bought this property in the 70's during the boom days of the Italian economy and slowly added to it over the years, accumulating an entire hill.  Apart from an enormous old farmhouse, there are vineyards and fruit trees and gardens.  There is also a huge indoor/outdoor swimming pool where we all played volleyball for hours.  This place is incredible and it gets all of my garden and house design juices flowing.  But for the fact that I have no desire to take on a new occupation and tie myself down here.....  And its CHEAP.  Italians aren't interested in big properties anymore.  There whole package is going for about $500,000.  We ate dinner on the covered veranda and watched the lights come on in all the little villages on the hills.  There is a view of MonViso towards France and endless hills all around.  Man.  Anywho.  Just a few pictures below.

the front garden

early evening

the main house

setting the table

 xxoo me