You're so right about Acqui Terme ! Only one thing that I'm not sure of ... Is Balalah really the hippest cafe or is it Il Sarto in the Corso Italia? I'm also not sure which aperitivo I appreciate the most.
Hmmm, what about sending the guests to the two places and organising some kind of election ?
I would say, Il Sarto for hippest bar and Balalah for hippest cafe... Natascha, why don't you and I meet Natasja in town and do a tour and post about it?
Diana - you have missed out on one of the other great things about Acqui Terme - YOU and the incredible Baur B and B. Count us amongst the many tourists who visit for a short while and talk often about returning for a longer stay.
Jerry
The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see. ~G.K. Chesterton
Very nice piece.....brought back pleasant memories of our stay at Baur B&B and the time we spent in Acqui Terme. We look forward to returning in the not too distant future.
I can only say "Yes, yes,yes!" I have spent three weeks in Acqui and my third week was actually my favorite. The town is very pretty with buildings painted in a beautiful palette and lots of lovely landscaping. It's not too big and not too small. After spending three weeks there are still restaurants I haven't tried.
I don't know why I started on this sales pitch--Diana did a great job in her article.
Hi Diana, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your article about Acqui Terme. I loved your photos and learning about the history and about the wonderful atmosphere and things to do.
Thank you for this great read!
Posts: 790 | Location: California | Registered: 19 September 2004
Sounds like a bunch of hot water to me! There's not a cypress-tree-lined lane in sight. And where the heck is the ceramics shop? Huh? And the woman holding up the rose, leading the art aficionados (aficionadi?)? What, are we supposed to just eat and drink and cool-hang on vacation and soak our feet in sulfurish hot water?
Nah, I'm going to Disneyland. Californ-I-A.
Posts: 624 | Location: Logan, Utah, USA | Registered: 02 June 2006
Thanks, everyone. Your comments are all very kind. There is really much more than this to say about Acqui and the surrounding area, and I will be following up with more articles.
Tim, does this mean I should disconnect the "It's a Small World After All" tape that goes off everytime I open the gate? I mean, we Piemontese like tourists and all, but I wouldn't want to go overboard....
Well, then, on our next visit we apparently still have a lot of "soaking up" to do. I do want to make a tour of all of the 'mom&pop' cafes and drink a lot more wine.
Yes, Diana, write that wine book.
But now that you have let the secret cat out of the bag, expect more visitors.
to Diana & Natascha, Well girls would love to meet you for the best cafe or bar hunt, but well some girls just need to work. Working 20 hours a day to finish up for the coming season and the photoshoot for the next magazine I stupidly said yes to. But oke sleep can wait, Diana you know I always make time for some drinks with you but this time I'll come because I didn't see you Natascha for more than a year or so (and want to know how you're doing in your new life as a farmgirl.)
Another fan of Acqui Terme and Baur B&B checking in. It's great charm was not antcipated and was a lovely bonus to our stay with Diana and in the Piemonte area. Here's a picture of one of Acqui's pretty streets. Lunch at I Caffi was fabulous!
Acqui was a great spot for exploring - with lots of other neat little towns within a short drive.
I remember this one little restautant we went into on the first day when everything else was closed. Good, simple food. It was full of locals enjoying their lunch. We were the only non-Italian speakers in the place. It was fun listening to them as they enjoyed the food and company.
When we returned the second time the owner remembered us and made such a fuss over us. Seated us at the exact same table, chatted away . . . we chatted back . . . no one knew what the other was saying but we had great fun.
Jerry
The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see. ~G.K. Chesterton
Tim, does this mean I should disconnect the "It's a Small World After All" tape that goes off everytime I open the gate? I mean, we Piemontese like tourists and all, but I wouldn't want to go overboard....
What, Disney overboard? Are you anti-human or something?
Best of luck with the remodel. If you have time to write things this lively and profound, you ain't pounding enough nails! Get to work, woman. There's a house to renovate.
I don't know what your June is like, but we are returning to Piedmont for a couple of days mid-June before another big bike-y thing in the Dolomites. I started a small, small, small business escorting dreamy-eyed, lycra-clad bodies around the hills and dales of Italia. Sold out 13 slots before I could say what-the-heck-am-I-drinkin'. There's no hand-holding people up Stelvio, Gavia and Mortirolo!
So the pre-official tour time gets me and two other guides three days with my beloved -- Piedmont, that is. My real beloved doesn't put up with sweaty bike people and their re-telling ad nauseum of every pebble-in-the-road story. Smart woman.
And, you are a great writer, especially of lists!
Posts: 624 | Location: Logan, Utah, USA | Registered: 02 June 2006
