wine

Dijon, France

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Upon leaving Lyon, we adopted a new mode of transportation, driving a car.  For the following 9 days we plan to be exploring central and western France, specifically the Loire Valley, so a car is the best way in which to get around to see the many sites in this part of France.  Before leaving the US, we went to the AAA office and obtained an International Driving Permit which requires nothing more than presenting your US driving license, getting a photo made to attach and paying a fee.  However, this is a necessary item when renting a car in most countries.  So from Lyon, we pointed the Renault Twingo towards Dijon (pics) by way of Macon.

Macon

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Cicchetti in Venice

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When I posted about Venice, I neglected to mention cicchetti.  This refers to small snacks or side dishes served in bars around Venice.  These may be small sandwiches, crostini, vegetables, a variety of seafood or other small portions of typical full course plates.  You can pick and choose portions of these dishes.  The bar we visited for cicchetti had a variety of about 20 different items to choose from, priced from 1.5 Euros to 3 Euros each.

Cicchetti
Cicchetti Bar
Cicchetti – Sarde en Saor, rice ball, squid, rolls with meat and pumpkin
Cicchetto bar
Cicchetti menu
Our cicchetti choices

Cicchetti is generally available throughout the day and locals may stop in at any time for a quick snack.  Usually, cicchetti will be accompanied by a glass of wine so there is a social ritual that goes along with this type of food.  The bars are generally small and may only have a few tables where you may stand while having your snack.  It’s a terrific way to experience some different foods and to take part in a very Venetian activity.

Mendoza, Argentina

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Cavas de Don Arturo wine tourMalbec wine and Mendoza.  The two are inextricably entwined.  Mendoza (photos) is unquestionably the wine capital of Argentina.  There are over 1,000 wineries in the Mendoza province that are responsible for about 70% of the total wine output for Argentina.  The Malbec wines put Argentina on the map in the wine world but Mendoza is producing a wide variety of red and white wines.

The fact that anything at all can grow in Mendoza is owed to a network of irrigation canals or acequias.  Mendoza gets very little rainfall, less than 8 inches annually.  All of the vineyards and the entire town get their water from these canals which are supplied with water from the nearby Andes precordilleras or foothills.

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