DRINKS WITH A VIEW - EUROPE
My picks:
5. Des Alpes terrace, Interlaken, Switzerland
From your sidewalk chair the range of heaven rushes at you. You’re sitting in an emerald valley, quaint Swiss chalets all around, and yet the soaring, craggy sentinels are all you can look at. If the Alps don’t take your breath away, the schnapps will. Perfect for warming your bones after a day hiking down from the Jungfrau http://tinyurl.com/6n8vq7r Stay til nightfall and the jazz band under the bar’s trellis will provide ample soundtrack to the show put on by the infinite bright stars in the sky.
http://www.desalpes-interlaken.ch/index.php?setLang=2
4. Poolside at Castello Banfi, Montalcino, Italy
Relaxation is reality in Tuscany. And you’ll never lose touch
with it at Castello Banfi, home to the world-renown Banfi vineyards and winery.
The entire estate is lined with rosemary shrubs, pomegranate and plum trees.
Not to mention a few hundred thousand rows of grape vines that spill down from
the hilltop where the castle (hotel) reigns, into the Tuscan forests and
countryside. It is by the pool, however, that Banfi wins you over for good.
Surrounded on three sides by citrus and fruit trees, all it takes is a slight
reach to grab a snack: a few fresh figs would go nicely with the complimentary
bottles of house vino that sit underneath the stone archway. Right next to the
slippers and robes. A glass of brunello, a slice of fig and the Tuscan
countryside stretching as far as you care to look and your reality is relaxation.
3. BYOW(wine) under the Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
Which makes it all the more important to make a few stops
along the way. There’s the cheese shop, let’s pick up a stinky wheel. Oh look,
patisserie, how about some delicious treats. Some meat here, a jar of fruit
preserves there and that smell – oh that smell of fresh baked bread can only
mean a warm baguette in your near future. Of course, don’t forget the vino.
2. Hotel Boscollo Bellini, Venice, Italy
This spot was one procured out of luck and utilized out of
necessity. Because sometimes the view doesn't have to be of wide, sweeping vistas.
Venice can be done in one day. The canals, the pigeons, the
people. When you’re lucky enough to be handed a private roof deck, it’s
necessary to turn your back on the Grande Canal to sit and sip in peace. The
outdoor area faced the opposite direction from the water, but rather looked out
onto a much more real part of Venice. The rooftops faded into the sunset and a
quite neighborhood crowded around a small courtyard. There were no sounds of
water taxis or yelling tourists. Rather, clanking dinner plates and idle
Italian chatter. Clotheslines strung between homes swayed effortlessly. It was
a view of Venice not on the pages of a guidebook. No map names the neighborhood
we watched power down for the night. And a bottle of pistachio booze helped
bring hectic Venice to a peaceful close.
1. A Pie de Mar - Lovers walk bar, Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre
There are no poor views in the Cinque Terre. There are
simply personal favorites. Anchoring one end of the famed hiking path that strings
these five seaside towns together like grapes on a vine is A Pie de Mar. As you
ascend from Riomaggiore to begin the “Lovers Walk” portion of the trail, a
stone stairway peaks out seemingly leading down off the cliffside into the
rocky waters below. But take the plunge and you dive into a patio bar with
nothing but blue sky blocking the oceanic panorama. Grab a table at the edge
and lean against the short rock wall buffeting the patio perimeter. Order a
carafe. It doesn’t matter what it’s filled with; could be wine made from the
tiered hillside vineyards, limoncello from the local lemon trees dotting the
slopes or Cinque Terre’s infamous Schiachettra. Like the views, there are no
poor drinks in Cinque Terre. Just personal favorites. Here, it’s all made within
shouting distance so there’s a good chance you can express your fondness for a
specific pour its maker, or at least someone who knows him.
As you watch the residents set out across the sea in their
multi-colored fishing boats that match their multi-colored houses, you’ll start
to question whether or not you actually want to get up and continue the hike. You
should, it’s a good opportunity to discover your personal favorites, perhaps in
the midst of an olive grove or atop a rocky outcrop. But there’s no harm in
coming back to A Pie de Mar when you’re done. Just to see if it’s your personal
favorite.
http://whereverittakestravel.blogspot.com/2010/09/cinque-terre-land-of-stairs-912.html
http://www.desalpes-interlaken.ch/index.php?setLang=2 4. Poolside at Castello Banfi, Montalcino, Italy
Relaxation is reality in Tuscany. And you’ll never lose touch
with it at Castello Banfi, home to the world-renown Banfi vineyards and winery.
The entire estate is lined with rosemary shrubs, pomegranate and plum trees.
Not to mention a few hundred thousand rows of grape vines that spill down from
the hilltop where the castle (hotel) reigns, into the Tuscan forests and
countryside. It is by the pool, however, that Banfi wins you over for good.
Surrounded on three sides by citrus and fruit trees, all it takes is a slight
reach to grab a snack: a few fresh figs would go nicely with the complimentary
bottles of house vino that sit underneath the stone archway. Right next to the
slippers and robes. A glass of brunello, a slice of fig and the Tuscan
countryside stretching as far as you care to look and your reality is relaxation. 3. BYOW(wine) under the Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the Eiffel Tower
is always far away. I don’t care where you are in Paris, when you walk to it,
you’re always almost there. Once you get
to it, but remember you’re always far away from it, but once you do get to it,
the famous landmark doesn’t disappoint. It may be touristy and cliché but
impress you, she will. Especially because it took so long to get there in the
first place.
Which makes it all the more important to make a few stops
along the way. There’s the cheese shop, let’s pick up a stinky wheel. Oh look,
patisserie, how about some delicious treats. Some meat here, a jar of fruit
preserves there and that smell – oh that smell of fresh baked bread can only
mean a warm baguette in your near future. Of course, don’t forget the vino.
When you do reach the Tower, walk to it, near it, under it
and pop out the other side, away from the crowds onto the greenway. Pull up a
square of grass and mimic the other lovers basking in the shadow of arguably
the world’s most famous landmark. The view is of the tower, yes, and as
awe-inspiring as that may be, the more interesting scenery is created by your
fellow gawkers, cuddlers, readers, photographers, painters, Parisians and
hustlers scattered around. Look up in wonder. Look around and wonder. Look at
your empty wine glass and wonder if it gets any better.
2. Hotel Boscollo Bellini, Venice, Italy
This spot was one procured out of luck and utilized out of
necessity. Because sometimes the view doesn't have to be of wide, sweeping vistas.
Hotel Boscolo Bellini is a classy, smallish establishment near the
Venice train station. Any visitor would do well to stay there. But any visitor
would do even better to get the room we got (and as soon as I remember the room
number I’ll let you know. It’ll probably be right around the time I remember
the exact day I learned how to read, or when I remember anything about
Trigonometery or when I remember my wedding anniversary – we all know the odds
aren’t good).
Two large floor to cathedral ceiling curtains covered what I
assumed were windows. Upon further investigation, however, I discovered large
doors that opened onto the roof of the first level of the hotel. Whether or not
this private roof deck was meant for human relaxation, I know not. But the
rickety wrought iron bistro table and chairs suggested it was. The hotel itself
is worth staying, regardless of the room and we weren’t the only ones with a
balcony, just the biggest.
Skip ahead to that night, strolling home from dinner in
Murano. A liquor store about halfway down the Rio Terra Lista de Spagna was
hawking local hooch in the road. I couldn’t resist and walked away with the
most delicious aperitif – a creamy, potent pistachio liqueur. Two bottles, in
fact. http://whereverittakestravel.blogspot.com/2010/09/forget-venice-go-to-murano-95.html
Venice can be done in one day. The canals, the pigeons, the
people. When you’re lucky enough to be handed a private roof deck, it’s
necessary to turn your back on the Grande Canal to sit and sip in peace. The
outdoor area faced the opposite direction from the water, but rather looked out
onto a much more real part of Venice. The rooftops faded into the sunset and a
quite neighborhood crowded around a small courtyard. There were no sounds of
water taxis or yelling tourists. Rather, clanking dinner plates and idle
Italian chatter. Clotheslines strung between homes swayed effortlessly. It was
a view of Venice not on the pages of a guidebook. No map names the neighborhood
we watched power down for the night. And a bottle of pistachio booze helped
bring hectic Venice to a peaceful close. 1. A Pie de Mar - Lovers walk bar, Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre
There are no poor views in the Cinque Terre. There are
simply personal favorites. Anchoring one end of the famed hiking path that strings
these five seaside towns together like grapes on a vine is A Pie de Mar. As you
ascend from Riomaggiore to begin the “Lovers Walk” portion of the trail, a
stone stairway peaks out seemingly leading down off the cliffside into the
rocky waters below. But take the plunge and you dive into a patio bar with
nothing but blue sky blocking the oceanic panorama. Grab a table at the edge
and lean against the short rock wall buffeting the patio perimeter. Order a
carafe. It doesn’t matter what it’s filled with; could be wine made from the
tiered hillside vineyards, limoncello from the local lemon trees dotting the
slopes or Cinque Terre’s infamous Schiachettra. Like the views, there are no
poor drinks in Cinque Terre. Just personal favorites. Here, it’s all made within
shouting distance so there’s a good chance you can express your fondness for a
specific pour its maker, or at least someone who knows him. 
http://whereverittakestravel.blogspot.com/2010/09/cinque-terre-land-of-stairs-912.html
Your picks:
- Sarah Shemkus: "The Caffe Poliziano in Montepulciano in Tuscany. Beautiful inside, has a couple of tiny balconies with amazing views. Fellini used to hang out there. Like many cafes and bars in Italy, they do coffee and food and drinks." Check Sarah out on Twitter @Shemkus
- Sarah Shemkus: "The Caffe Poliziano in Montepulciano in Tuscany. Beautiful inside, has a couple of tiny balconies with amazing views. Fellini used to hang out there. Like many cafes and bars in Italy, they do coffee and food and drinks." Check Sarah out on Twitter @Shemkus
http://www.caffepoliziano.it/
- Liz Paciello Rappa: "Old city Antwerp....I once stayed in a castle that was converted into a hotel. The restaurant overlooked the castle grounds. Amazing."
- Liz Paciello Rappa: "Old city Antwerp....I once stayed in a castle that was converted into a hotel. The restaurant overlooked the castle grounds. Amazing."
- Monica Golik Manhoney: "The vineyard right outside the old Prague castle! Tim and I got a carafe and stared out onto our lands ... I mean admired the landscape."
- Bren Sullivan: "There was a bar near the Globe Theater in London, right on the banks of the Thames. It was actually a beautiful summer's day when I was there, and we ate and drank outside."
- Dianne Morad: "Bateaux Parisiens, Paris...it's not an especially fancy place, but it sits on the Seine. We took a river cruise on Christmas night and had dinner and drinks afterward at the restaurant. The view was beautiful."Check out Dianne on Twitter @DiMorad
- Bren Sullivan: "There was a bar near the Globe Theater in London, right on the banks of the Thames. It was actually a beautiful summer's day when I was there, and we ate and drank outside."
- Dianne Morad: "Bateaux Parisiens, Paris...it's not an especially fancy place, but it sits on the Seine. We took a river cruise on Christmas night and had dinner and drinks afterward at the restaurant. The view was beautiful."Check out Dianne on Twitter @DiMorad
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