One year ago today I was anxiously gobbling down a slice of pizza while unwisely over-stuffing a large backpack with clothes, shoes and electric adapters.
Frantically checking and re-checking to make sure I had packed all the essentials – passport, money, plane tickets and travel guides – for the epic journey my husband and I were about to embark on.
Our i’s were dotted and our t’s were crossed – we were going to ITALY BAY-BEE!!!!
The vacation I had dreamed about taking for as long as I could remember!!!
Little did I know…
36 hours later the aforementioned large, over-stuffed backpack would cause me to fall flat on my face in the middle a busy intersection in Rome. D’oh!
37 hours later I’d be drowning my sorrows in what was the first of dozens of scoops of luscious, Italian gelato.
Three days later I’d be touring the ruins of the Colosseum, where men and beast fought to the bitter end almost 2,000 years ago,
then flipping shiny Euros into one of the most well known fountains in the world.
Four days later I’d find myself not ready to leave the intriguing, unique city that I’d fallen in love with,
yet eager to make my way towards the picturesque Amalfi coastline that I’d patiently waited to lay eyes on for years.
Five days later I’d be dining al fresco, sipping wine and eating seafood caught the same day from the crashing ocean less than 50 yards in front of me.
Six days later I’d be climbing up and down ancient stone steps while exploring every nook and cranny of the tiny, impossibly charming town of Praiano, Italy.
Seven days later I’d have nothing better to do than sip cappuccinos all afternoon while getting lost in a good book, then cap my night off with a big glass of local, red wine.
Eight days later Ben would have to pry my clenched fingers from the wrought-iron fence overlooking the glittering Mediterranean Sea on our hotel’s balcony, as I refused to wake up from the dream our life had become the last two weeks and go back home to Iowa.
Nine days later I’d be sprinting barefoot through the Paris airport only to see the gate to my Iowa-bound plane shutting…
You know what – lets not relive that memory!
365 days later Ben and I would still be as smitten with Italy as the day we left. That we’d still share our remember when? stories as often as we do. That we’d regularly see things that would awaken memories of our trip, glance at each other and ask, what does that remind you of? – knowing exactly what the other is thinking about.
That we could not WAIT to return someday!
Today, on the one-year anniversary of the best trip we’ve ever taken, Ben and I decided that if we couldn’t get back, we’d reminisce with what we’ve got: the most mouthwatering Italian food in town!
There are at least half a dozen local Italian restaurants that I have been dying to try over the past several months – Tumea & Sons being one of them.
Located on the south-east side of Des Moines, T&S was started in 1998 by Italian immigrants, Joe & Lucretia Tumea, and their American-born sons.
The minute you walk in the door, you’re smiling. You’re home.
First you notice the family pictures and painted scenes of Italy lining the walls, then you pick up on the sound of Frank Sinatra crooning in the background as you sink into one of the deep, maroon booths.
The waitresses are chatting with the regulars, who show up at 5:30pm on the nose, but we’re new, of course, so we’re asked what we’ll have. One God-awful Peroni for Ben and a water for me, thank you very much!
We tore into the warm & doughy rolls that accompany our meal, before cracking open the menu.
It was an easy choice. Cavatelli with sausage and red sauce for her, Canneloni stuffed with cheese, topped with red & white sauce for him.
Before a sip is supped, fresh salads were brought to the table.
Drizzled with the most incredible house dressing we’ve EVER had! (Locals: this beats Bisignano’s dressing!)
A short time later – the main event.
Dun-dun-duuunnnhhhh!!!!!!!
The cheese!
The sauce!
The cavatelli!
The Best!
I nearly slumped down in the booth after tasting Ben’s canneloni though. STUFFED with ricotta cheese, this was one of the best things I’ve ever had.
We knew we needed to call it a night when I started stealing spoonfuls of white sauce from his dish to eat…by itself. NO REGRETS!
Check please!
Stretchy pants, too…OMG!
While we may not be able to make it back to Italy for a few years (there’s so much of the world to see, after all!) being able to devour home-cooked Italian food definitely softens the blow.
Off to find those stretchy pants and question myself as to why I turned down homemade Cannoli for dessert…what was I thinking?!
Goodnight!
~~~~~
Have you ever been on a trip that changed your life?
What were you doing one year ago? Is your life different then it was back then?
Ally at A Girl In Her Kitchen 09.03.2011
What an amazing trip! I dream about going to Italy (can you dream about a place you’ve never been?) and one day I will get there!
Kathleen 09.03.2011
being Belgian, Middle-West USA is my favorite place to visit! Still dream about AZ heat, the Southern CA climate… San Diego; San Francisco… sigh…..
Italy is far too nearby :o)
Valerie 09.02.2011
Oh my gosh, I love this post so much!!! Exactly 10 years ago yesterday (Sept 1, also) I flew off to study abroad in Italy for a semester. I totally fell in love with the country! (And the food! Oh my god! The food! Your pictures of the gelato look so good it’s almost painful to look at them.) I lived on a little cobblestone street in Rome right near Piazza Navona and had classes in a building right by the Pantheon. I didn’t want to leave either! (I seriously contemplated throwing my passport in the Tiber River so that I’d have to stay). And the year after the trip, everyday I would play the “one year ago today” game and reminisce about everything I’d done in Italy. (And, frankly, I’ve kind of done that every year since). It’s great to see someone else have such a similar experience.
Leanne @ Healthful Pursuit 09.02.2011
Such a beautifully written post! I think I gravitated to Rome the most, so amazing. I just got back from a trip to an ashram in British Columbia. Although only an 8 hours drive from home, it was life changing!
Brittnie (A Joy Renewed) 09.02.2011
I remember reading your trip posts one year ago and thinking “Brandon and I SO need to go there.” Crazy one year has gone by…. your dinner looks delicious! Way to celebrate!
Ashley @ Coffee Cake Cardio 09.02.2011
You must have had so much fun going back through the photos and reminiscing over your trip!
I went on a two week trip to Luxembourg, Germany, and England in 2007. It was an amazing trip for me. I went to the town in Germany I lived in as a kid, spent christmas and boxing day with my Dad’s family in England and celebrated New Years in London! It was epic!!
Amber from Girl with the Red Hair 09.02.2011
Can’t believe it’s already been a year since your trip! It’s been 1.5 years since our big Europe trip (we spent three weeks backpacking around Europe in April/May 2010) and I think about it ALMOST every day. It gave me the traveling bug and was totally the trip of a lifetime. I loved every second of it!
Brook @ Redhead Reverie 09.02.2011
Oh, wow! Now I want to go to Italy even more. It’s on “the list”. My favorite vacation would have to be our honeymoon. We took a cruise and since we don’t travel much it was nice to see so many places at one time.
As for this time last year. I had only been back at work for a month after having my second son, so I was pretty much sleep deprived and nursing…oh those were the days. ;-)
Have a great holiday weekend!
Lindsay @ biking before bed 09.02.2011
One of my best trips was in 2005 during my freshman year of college when I went to ecuador for a month. I was able to go to the beach, the city, the rainforest, and the galapagoes islands to get my scuba certification in one trip! I would definitely advise anyone to add ecuador to their places to see list!
You photos are beautiful. I really felt like I was there!
Christina Webb 09.02.2011
Hi – love your blog! I’ve been reading for a few months and drool over your food pictures every day. I think you have the best looking recipes out of all the healthy living/food blogs that I read! I loved this post because my husband and I are actually going to Italy in 6 weeks for the 1st time. We will doing Venice, Florence, and Rome! I’m so excited and love seeing pictures of people’s travel there (especially the food, drink, and gelato ones). I would love any recommendations of good restaurants that you visited in Rome, if you get a free moment. Or a good hotel?
Thanks!
Christina
Elyse 09.02.2011
A year ago today I was getting out of a bad relationship and moving into my own apartment. Today life is much better as I have found the love of my life, and he took me on one of the best trips I have been on to date; Chicago! I had wanted to see Chicago for years and it did NOT disappoint. The deep dish pizza, the views of the lake, the people, THE POPCORN (garrett’s)!! I would move there from Dallas in a heartbeat! Well, except for maybe in the winter months ;-)
Kirsty in Ottawa 09.02.2011
Just found your blog about a month ago because ironically, I was researching stuff on Italy for our upcoming trip and up popped IGE!
Hubby and I are leaving in 9 days to spend TWO months in Italy – yay! I am turning 40 and this is my birthday present to myself.
We are staying in Rome, Tuscany, Positano, Capri, Florence, Venice, Cinque Terre, Lake Como and a little village in the Dolomites called Ortisei.
Then we are taking a cruise home from Rome to NYC on the Celebrity Silhouette for 11 days. HEAVEN!
I have marked down all your resto suggestions for Rome and Praiano and will try them out.
It was so fun to open your blog this morning and see this re-cap as I have been getting a bit nervous about the trip and seeing all your pics just got me all excited again.
Thanks!!
Cindy 09.02.2011
Two, actually.
Five days in Paris with an old lover where I learned that no one in this world is worth it unless they love you as fiercely as you love them.
Six days in Cozumel with the man who would ask me to marry him just a few short months after we got home. We fell fiercely in love on that trip and decided we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. The rest is history.
torp 09.02.2011
Ireland was a life changing vacation for me. Went back 18 months later and it was just as magical as the first trip. Italy was next on my list and I’m excited to go next June!
Sarah W 09.02.2011
My Italy trip was amazing but my medical mission trip to Tanzania was the most life changing.
One year ago I was moving from a small town to a bigger city and switching jobs from a rural hospital RN to a intensive care unit RN. Wow that was really a year ago?! I’ve grown so much this past year.
Megan 09.02.2011
We are headed to Paris, Rome, and Florence in about 6 weeks and I cannot wait! This is pretty much my dream trip :)
AC 09.02.2011
Our dream trip was to Austria/Germany/Switzerland… I LOVE the Alps! :)
Tumea & Sons have been our go-to place after zoo brews during the summer for years… And I 2nd…3rd…whatever the vote for Cosi Cucina!
Kierstan @ Life {and running} in Iowa 09.02.2011
Crazy! So where are you going next?!
I am travelling to England for 10 days in November and I can.not.wait!
Allison 09.02.2011
BEAUTIFUL pictures! I went to Italy with a school group in high school and toured around the major cities and the smaller towns, I fell in love and had to be dragged out of the country… I hope to go back soon! One year ago I was just about to start my senior year of college, this year I’m starting my first year of teaching :D
Ami@dashofcurry.com 09.02.2011
Wow! Time has flown by– I remember reading all your incredible recaps! What a fantastic way to celebrate that anniversary! To me, there’s nothing better than boatloads of cheese in delicious Italian food!