#pyramid heart to heart is literally just matching for grown ups i LOVE IT.

[ravenintraining]

havent talked about this lately but i LOVE solitaire SO MUCH

[giannasalsbury]

W H O    A R E    Y O U?

NAME: Gianna ‘Gigi’ Elizabeth Salsbury

AGE:  twenty seven (27)

BIRTHDAY: december 4th, 1991

APPEARANCE:  standing at 5′5″, gianna tends to dress in a certain way that would easily resemble that of a preppy rich girl since that’s how she was raised to be. posh british accent to match. her eyes are a dark brown, almost black color. her hair is cut to her shoulders, tends to be curled and is dyed a caramel brown color. because it’s so short she keeps it down or in a small top knot if she wants to keep it from her face.

GLASSES? CONTACTS? none, she’s always had perfect vision.

TATTOOS? gianna has two tattoos and feels like that is more than plenty for her since she’s quite the little baby. she has her daughters first and middle name tattooed on her left calf with a small angel as well as the words ‘she who dwells in murky waters’ in latin on her ribs - a small homage to her siren ancestors and brethren. 

SCARS OR BIRTHMARKS? gianna has a scar on her right knee from when she was younger and had not exactly been able to handle the change between having a tail and legs, the end result being tripping over and falling onto some sharp rocks by the waters edge.

HANDICAPS OR DISABILITIES? none.

STYLE OF DRESS: like stated before, gianna has a very preppy rich girl vibe even though she’s a grown woman in her late twenties. she wears a lot of plaid/tweed skirts and her shirts are always fitted to her body but not so much that it’s obnoxious. when she wears dresses they’re very simple with minimalist patterns and she’s almost always wearing a pair of heels - the one exception being when she plays with her daughter in a park or in the house which is when she chooses to wear flat sneakers or TOMS.

STANDARD OF LIVING: upper class.

MANNERISMS & TICKS: when she starts to get worried about someone that she cares about but hasn’t heard from in a while, gianna tends to get a bit frantic and bakes excessively until she gets the news she wants. this often has left her with several dozen cupcakes in her home and nobody to give them to - until she gives them away.

P E R S O N A L I T Y ?

What is your idea of perfect happiness? “Perfect happiness to me is probably moving back to England and getting a small cottage in the country where Nikkie can run free and not have to worry about the bigger things in life. Also a place where I can be free to let my tail out without any sort of scrutiny.”

What is your greatest fear? Gianna hummed softly, head tilting down as she looked at her daughter sat beside her playing with her phone, “Something happening to Nikkie. I know that it isn’t likely but the person that ever lays a hand on my angel will be in for quite the awakening,” she mused darkly, eyes showing rage at the mere thought.

What is your biggest pet peeve or trait you deplore in yourself? “I can be a bit too overprotective of people that I’m close with which isn’t exactly benefiting me. It has been something that has broken friendships for me in the past so it’s a work in progress. But, is it truly wrong to care just a bit too much for others?”

What is your biggest pet peeve or trait you deplore in others? “Nosiness or fakeness. There is no need to ask about others buisness if you have not been approached by the person to have that specific chat. Fakeness is rather self explanatory, I believe.”

Which living person do you most admire? "Mary Berry, one of englands top bakers.”

Which living person do you most despise? "I don’t believe that it would be in my best interest to talk about hating others since hate is too strong of a word,” Gianna mused with a firm nod but the image of her daughters father was very clear in her head despite refusing to answer.

What is your greatest extravagance? She tapped her hands together as she tried to pick one specific thing in her life that she would deem the greatest of all, “I can’t say for certain but I do have some rather expensive jewelry which in itself should be considered extravagant. Even if I don’t wear it.” 

What do you consider the most overrated virtue? “Self-discipline. I don’t believe that a person should always follow a specific standard and not give into temptation because temptations are around every corner. Once you start to focus on all of those little details, you lose yourself.”

On what occasion do you lie? Gianna’s face was flat for a moment before a bright smile crossed onto her lips, head shaking slightly, “I don’t. I’m the most honest of persons and haven’t any shame in stating so.”

What is the quality you like most in a significant other? "This is a rather pointless question because a majority of the time, one could wish for so many things and then find that the person you fall for has none of them,” She paused, leaning back in her chair, “But I suppose loyalty would be a heavy quality as well as affectionate because that person would have to deal with not only me but a toddler who deserves all the affection in the world.”

Do you have a catchphrase? Which words or phrases do you most overuse? "That would be a solid ‘no’ to the first question but as for the latter, I likely use the word ‘love’ too much. I tend to call everyone I meet that but that’s mainly if I don’t know their name. Once I do, it’s more so in a caring manner.”

Who or what is the greatest love in your life? The siren smiled as her daughter quickly got to her feet, jumping up and down as she repeatedly said ‘me, me, me!’ because she couldn’t disagree. “She already answered for me.”

When and where were you happiest? Thinking through her life, Gianna remembered a moment from when she was in high school; “I think one of my happiest times was when I was in year twelve. I was in a relationship with this boy who my parents didn’t know about so we’d snuck off to go for a walk in the woods. Oliver had told me that he wanted to show me something special he had done so I was more than curious to see what it was. He was always a cheeky little thing so he had me guessing the entire time until we ended up next to this oak tree right by a stream. He literally made me climb a tree so we could sit on a branch just above the water but on the tree park itself he’d carved ‘Gianna & Oliver’ with a heart around it.” She paused, eyes looking down as she shrugged, “He was killed a few weeks later.”

Which talent would you most like to have? "Oh!” Gianna chimed as she leaned forward in her chair, “I’ve always wanted to know how to do a handstand. I’m not the most flexible person but gymnastics has been a fascination of mine since I was a child.”

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? "Not a thing,” she spoke confidently, “I am very proud of who I am and have worked ridiculously hard to get to this point in my life. Changing one part of myself would defeat the purpose of all my hardwork - something which I’d rather not think about.”

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? "I feel like this sounds a bit strange but I think I would want to be a cruise boat. Think about it, I would be able to be surrounded by water - which is already a huge part of my life now - and I’d be able to see the world almost every day until I get sent to a ship yard.”

If you could pick up and go anywhere, where would you most like to live? “Egypt, possibly. I’ve always been fascinated by the Pyramids of Giza and Egyptian mythology so it would be a chance to actually see it first hard. I don’t think I’d be there long but it would be nice for a few weeks at a time.”

What do you value most in your friends? “trustworthiness. It gives me a sense of calm knowing that the people around me are ones that can be trusted with anything i might have on my mind as well as being around my daughter since she needs the best influences possible.”

What historical figure do you most identify with? “I can’t say that I identify with her but I’ve always had a deep amount of respect for the late Princess Diana. She was actually someone that I tried to emulate when I was younger even if it was only for a few years.”

What is your greatest regret? “Before I say this, I can not stress enough how much that Nicole has nothing to do with this. She is the best thing to have happened to me and nothing is ever going to change that,” she stated briefly before looking down the make sure her daughter still had headphones on, “But her father is probably my biggest regret. I never would have expected him to just... leave at the sign of a big life change knowing that I was going through my own issues. I don’t know if I would even do anything if I saw him again but he was a waste of time. He was only good for giving me my baby.” 

What is your life’s motto? “Everything's better with a little chocolate”

Would you describe yourself as being an optimist or a pessimist? “I think I’m more of an optimist with slight pessimist tendencies depending on the situation. Some days I could be all for see the bright side of things but others are just not really up to those standards. A very one day at a time kind of situation.”

Introvert or Extrovert? "A mixture of both since it mainly depends on the day.”

How do you hope others will see you? Her eyes widened ever so slightly as she took in a breath, “Well,” she began trying to gather her thoughts, “I hope that they see a very caring woman who is doing her best to provide a good and healthy life for her daughter without any aid from others. Perhaps they see a friend and someone they can come to and talk if they need to be heard. I definitely expect them to see one of the best pastry chefs because if not I would like to see who could possibly be my competition.”

How are you seen by others currently? “I... don’t know?” She murmured, face twisting slightly since there wasn’t a way to truly know how to answer that question aside form asking everyone she knew individually. “Perhaps I’ll make a little box and place it outside my home for anyone who enters so they can leave me a little note saying how they see me. Otherwise, I can’t think of any way I can would know.

How do you see yourself? “I don’t mean to toot my own horn but I see a very dedicated mother who loves her child unconditionally, a talented pastry maker who is definitely not at her full potential where she currently works but lost all chances of having her own buisness years ago, a kind person who wishes to care for others and help them feel comforted and safe. That’s only a few of the things I see in myself. I could go on but the boredom would likely set it once I got past twenty.”

How do you react to praise? “How else? Remarkably! It’s always lovely to hear about people liking something that I’ve made because it genuinely make sense my heart warm and fuzzy. Knowing that I could use my talent to bring a smile onto another’s face is exactly why I wanted to become a pastry chef in the first place. That and my love of all things chocolate.”

How do you react to criticism? “What criticism?” She questioned, far too prideful to even accept the fact that not everyone was going to like her or her desserts, “I’ve never received any in my life.” Lies. She just refused to remember any since they affected her ego too much from overthinking the smallest of details.

Do you often make snap judgements or take time to consider? "Typically, I try to take time to consider but sometimes one can’t avoid making snap judgements since people and situations often times warrant that over the other. If I do happen to do so, I try to go back and see if it’s something that I was right about or not.”

Do you think you lead more with your head or your heart? “Heart. I have no idea what it even means to lead with your head since it’s never been in my nature. Everything I’ve ever done has been because my heart has told me to do it, that it was the right thing.”

When was the last time you cried? "Oh wow,” she declared, fingers tapping against her chin as long nails tried to recall if she’d even cried in the last year. “I think the last time I really cried was when I actually had Nicole. I was overcome with so many emotions - far more intense than any normal human mother can experience - that I cried for hours. I was also scared but that’s a story for another day. If you mean a simple tear, it was when Nicole got sick a few months ago with a simple cold.”

What is your guilty pleasure? "I’m not entirely sure if you mean in general or with food but if we’re talking about the latter, I think that it’s going to be breaking up fresh baked brownies and throwing it into vanilla ice cream followed by melted nutella and sprinkles,” she paused, feeling embarrassment creep onto her face, “It’s not something I do often.”

When was the last time you showered? “What?” Gianna asked, bewilderment and offense laced in her tone as her eyes narrowed.

Are you the type of person who talks in the movie theater? “I actually make it a habit to avoid going to the movies because I unfortunately am this kind of person,” she frowned slightly before perking up, “But in my defense, I only go to the movies with my daughter so I have to talk to her to make sure that she’s actually okay.”

Are you more of an indoor cat or an outdoor bird? “A part of me wants to really say that I love the outdoors since my life is meant to be spent in the water but I also want to say that I am more of an indoor person since sometimes I don’t particularly want to leave my home. So... both, perhaps?”

Are you a fan of Harry Potter and, if so, what would be your Hogwarts house? "Oh my lord,” Gianna groaned with a small pout, “I was actually such a huge fan of Harry Potter before I moved to the states but it seemed to simmer away when people started to show how nasty they could be. But if I do recall correctly, I was certainly a hufflepuff.”

Do you like superheroes and, if so, which character is your favorite? DC or Marvel? Gianna deadpanned, eyebrow raised, “I’m not the most versed in superheroes nor do I ever plan to be. I think the movies are interesting - at best - but the lack of diversity in most of them is just killing the appeal. To me.”

Did you used to play Pokemon? And if so, what be your starter Pokemon? "I actually only found out about what Pokemon was recently when I was searching for things to watch on Netflix. It looks darling but I have no idea what a ‘starter pokemon’ is. I do really love all the water ones, they’re precious!”

Star Wars or Star Trek? Or neither? "My father was a very big star trek fan so I guess I’ll choose that one even though I’ve never seen either of those series since they’re far too long.”

If you were in the Hunger Games, what would be your game plan? Gianna blinked a few times as she slowly tilted her head to one side, “You do realize that I can quite literally sing people into trances and murder them with my nails, correct?” Not that Gianna would ever dream of doing that kind of thing but if push comes to shove, she would. No hesitations.

If the zombie apocalypse happened today, how would you defend yourself? Now was one of those moments where Gianna felt so many regrets, a hand went to her face as she shook her head, “Did you miss what I just said or were you never paying attention to begin with?”

What’s the first thing you do when you’re home alone? A laugh left Gianna’s lips since the concept of being home alone seemed far too foreign for her to handle. “When that miracle of a day happens, I actually tend to worry about how Nikkie is doing or I’ll try to tweak some of my recipes so that they can do better. There’s also those rare occasions where I just sleep or go out to socialize with others.”

What is the most overplayed song you listen to? "What that Drake song? The one that is getting people in trouble because they’re dancing next to a moving car?”

Do you believe in a thing called love? "If it’s with the right person, I don’t see why not?” She stated before continuing, “I don’t, however, believe that love should be a word that people throw out like it’s nothing. Consequences can happen and lead to the unexpected, which is why I advise many to be picky with their standards. Take the time to truly know if it’s worth it.”

Do you believe in love at first sight? “I don’t,” she reported with bluntness draped in her tone, “But I do think that some people are destined to have a connection from the moment that they meet. Either it is meant to carry on to a more romantic plane or stay in a platonic one. In short, I do think that there is someone for everyone. Some are more blind than others, some refuse to accept it, it’s all a long process. Not an instant worth.”

If you could travel to any period in time, future or past, where would it be? “I would truly love to see a world where everyone can live in peace and harmony with each other like a society should. Granted, I would never want to leave but it would be nice to know how it was achieved.”

Have you committed a crime? "I was undeclared for quite some time and I am keeping certain secrets about the status of someone close to me so you could say I have. Though to me? I have done no such thing.”

If you could commit a crime and get away with it, what would it be? "I would never willingly commit a crime unless it was sparked by something. Also, speaking about crime could lead to implications in the future which would be rather trivial. Especially when laws would not work in my favor.”

If you found yourself trapped in an elevator with a group of strangers, what would be the first thing you’d do? “Fucking hell, I hate elevators,” Gianna whined as she visibly looked uncomfortable at the questions, “I would probably be too busy having an anxiety attack to even realize that there were other people there, if I’m frank.”

[floraexplorer]

The Best Italian Eco Adventures in Valle di Cembra, Trentino

Have you ever heard of Valle di Cembra in northern Italy?

If you say no, I wouldn’t be surprised.

Valle di Cembra is a beautiful valley in the Italian province of Trentino which has plenty to offer a typical tourist – but it’s not particularly well known. It’s because places like Trentino find it a bit difficult to compete for attention when there’s such a huge focus on Italy’s ‘must-see’ destinations.

For the last few years, over-tourism has hit Italy hard. There are the massive influxes of art-and-architecture-hungry visitors to Florence, Rome, and Venice; the photo-obsessed selfie-stick-wavers in Pisa and Cinque Terre; even the shoulder-to-shoulder sunbathers in Positano, Sardinia and Lake Garda.

Local governments are trying desperately to cope with the crowds, as there’s a very real risk that these destinations will be irreparably damaged: a combination of rising house prices, waste disposal issues, harm to local wildlife, heightened local tensions, and in the case of Venice, there’s a literal danger of it sinking out of sight.

But the bizarre irony is that tourism begets tourism. Outside of the top three Italian cities, most other ‘must-visit’ locations in Italy are so popular purely because they’ve already been publicised as ‘the place to be’. So what’s to say that a new part of Italy can’t be discovered by international tourism?

Enter, Trentino – the Italian province you never knew you had to visit!

If there’s one thing which unites all travel bloggers, it’s that we love a ‘hidden gem’ of a destination (although we try to avoid that cliched term!). So when Traverse announced their annual blogging conference would be held in Trentino’s capital city of Trento, I didn’t hesitate to book my ticket.

After a week spent with my blogging friends at the conference, we split into a dozen different groups and headed out into various parts of Trentino province. The reason? To explore all the unknown parts of Trentino and inspire future tourists to travel in this part of Italy.

For two days, our little group drove up and down the winding switchback roads which rise up from the Cembra valley floor. The higher we went, the lower the temperature dropped – but the more stunning the scenery grew.

The land on either side of Valle di Cembra is steep and mountainous, and the land rolls so much that most machinery has to be used by hand. As Valle di Cembra is a region particularly famed for its vineyards, it’s easy to imagine that the farmers who live and work here might find the necessity of manual labour to be frustrating – but it’s actually the opposite.

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Discovering the surreal Segonzano Pyramids

Our first stop in Valle di Cembra was at one of Trentino’s most popular sites: the Segonzano Pyramids. These natural towers of earth are situated in a forest halfway up the Cembra valley close to Segonzano village and are a geological phenomenon, created by the erosion of loose earth and pebbles over hundreds of years.

Some of the pyramids reach a height of 40 metres, and all have flat stones on top – which explains the local name of ‘omeni’ (literally, ‘homunculi’ or ‘Little Men’, because of their resemblance to a particular male part!).

Although the Segonzano pyramids are the main attraction here, our lovely guide Paolo was keen for us to get a true sense of this serene spot in the valley. He instructed us to put our cameras away (a tough task for a group of bloggers!), leading us down wooden walkways and threading our way through the trees.

Paolo had a keen eye for detail, and every few moments we’d stop to see chestnuts, blackberries, acacia and elderflower blossoms.

When the birds began to sing from the treetops above us, he craned his neck backwards and turned his head to try and identify what he could hear: the sound of a cardinal, or perhaps a chaffinch.

And while he told us the history of the ‘piramidi di segonzano’, Paolo was stringing wild strawberries onto thin stems of grass; something his grandfather used to do.

Herding cows with a local dairy farmer at Agritur Le Mandre

The Le Mandre farm sits high above the valley in Bedollo village. It’s a business which has grown over three generations: Laura tells us that her grandfather used to keep cows up here for decades, which led to her father looking out at the panorama one day and thinking, “I want to build my own farm…” He didn’t have any money and people told him nobody would come to buy cheese from Bedollo – but he persisted.

Today, Laura operates a dairy and agriturismo, and thanks to the farm’s twenty five Alpine Grey cows, they produce and sell milk, a variety of cheeses, locally made ice cream and frozen yoghurt.

But the real star of the show at Le Mandre was Marco the farmer. He appeared out of nowhere as we were touring the farm, dressed in a cowboy hat and denim cut-off shorts and accompanied by an adorable dog named Nubia.

He asked us if we’d like to go and meet some of Le Mandre’s cows and help to herd them – and once he heard our resounding, “YES PLEASE!!” we headed off towards the fields.

The Alpine Greys were chilling in a field just outside the village, contentedly munching on the grass. When they saw us they edged closer, keen to see what food we had to offer – which, sadly, was none.

With little to no training in the art of cow herding, we followed Marco’s example as best we could (and perhaps somewhat exaggeratedly): waving our arms, making various clicking noises and generally trying to make the placid animals move back up the hill towards the farm and away from their incredibly picturesque grazing spot.

Back at the farm, Marco presented us with two heart-shaped cheese boards. As he talked us through the flavours of each sample, I looked around at the heart decorations everywhere: the lace curtains hanging from the windows, the table cloth decorations. Even the fences outside featured little wooden cut-outs of hearts, sheep and cows.

We asked Marco the farmer if he was responsible for the hearts. “Oh, no, it’s all my son,” he said, laughing as he shook his head.

Learning Durer’s artistic history at Castello di Segonzano

Lower down in the valley, we walked through the vineyards towards Segonzano Castle, a thirteenth century medieval fortress built on a cliff.

Today, the castle is mainly in ruins – there’s little more than a singular wall and the remnants of the castle’s prison left standing – but it’s still a fascinating insight into how the area used to look. And Castello di Segonzano is also famous in the art world, thanks to a celebrity visitor a few centuries ago.

Back in 1494, the German artist Albrecht Dürer was journeying from Innsbruck to Venice when the flooded Adige river forced him to divert onto a mountain path. When he arrived at the Cembra Valley he painted a dozen watercolours of the surrounding landscapes of Trentino Aldo Adige – and two of them feature Segonzano castle.

There’s no written record of Durer visiting the area, but thanks to this series of paintings, it’s possible to trace his journey through images alone.

In homage to Durer, we spent a happy few hours attempting to channel our own inner artist and painting watercolours within the crumbling castle walls.

Despite my lack of artistic skill it was a lovely way to spend an afternoon – until a violent wind kicked in and forced us to abandon the castle altogether.

Drinking local organic wine at Cantina dei Baroni

Still buffeted by the overpowering winds, we arrived at Cantina dei Baroni, a family-run vineyard and wine producer close to Segonzano castle.

We sat in a shaded courtyard at a table filled with platters of cured meats and cheeses while the owner (another Paolo!) told us how the Baroni winery’s history is firmly entwined with that of the area – and also with the artist Durer.

In 1936, Paolo’s grandfather was walking by the Avisio river and decided to take a break, sitting on the grass. When he looked up towards Segonzano castle he realised he was in the exact spot that Durer must have painted from, because his view matched the artist’s famous watercolour exactly!

Until that point, nobody had been able to confirm the identity of the castle in Durer’s painting – but thanks to Paolo’s grandfather, Trentino was able to officially recognise the location as a living part of artistic history.

I realised the sudden winds we’d felt at the Segonzano Castle had completely disappeared, and when I mentioned this to Paolo he explained that this area has its very own microclimate. Every afternoon there’s a strong wind called Ora del Garda which blows northwards from Lake Garda, which can be felt all across the Trentino region.

In Valle di Cembra this means overcast skies and the occasional rain shower, but it always disappears after an hour or so and reverts back to sunshine again. This daily shifting of weather creates a perfect environment for the grapes, and contributes to the delicious flavour of the wines produced at Cantina dei Baroni!

Napping with the bees at BeeWellness Contadino

Our final stop was the most fascinating: the family-run business of Gocce d’Oro, which offers ‘a multi-sensory journey into the world of bees’.

Ever since their great-grandfather Peter began to keep bees in 1850, the Andreatti family have made bees their business. Today they look after 250 hives and also cultivate a number of aromatic plants and herbs, which allows them to create soaps, lotions, candles, teas and sweets using honey, beeswax and natural ingredients like chamomile, calendula, echinacea and thyme.

But the real draw is their bee wellness treatment, which takes place in a picturesque little hut a ten minute walk away from Gocce d’Oro.

Inside the hut are four beds made from locally sourced mountain hay. Guests are invited to lie down, close their eyes, and listen to the sound of the bees happily buzzing in and out of the ten hives attached to the outside of the hut.

The ‘therapy’ aspect comes from the low rumble-buzz of the bees: the Andreatti family claim the bees’ particular frequency relaxes your muscles and provides a serenely calm environment.

Over-tourism versus ‘hidden gems’: which is best?

After spending two days exploring Trentino’s Valle di Cembra, it was clear that this area has such a strong passion for the natural world – and it’s a passion which has been passed down through the generations.

The community who live here work the land with their hands, so they’re more in touch with where they come from. And thanks to the calm, relaxed attitude which pervades the valley, Valle di Cembra is a world away from the heaving crowds and constant noise of Italy’s more visited areas; instead, it’s a place where local farmers offer you a bowlful of freshly picked wild strawberries.

I can guarantee that’s never happened to me on the streets of Rome or Paris or London!

As over-tourism becomes more of a pertinent issue, perhaps it’s time to focus on how we can all combat the problem by eschewing the world’s iconic destinations in favour of the unknown instead.

After all, those hidden gems do taste a lot sweeter.

Would you visit Valle di Cembra now? What non-touristy places have you visited recently?

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Disclaimer: I was kindly hosted on this trip by the folks at Visit Trentino and Visit Pine Cembra.

Read more:

– A weekend guide to visiting Arezzo, Italy

– Eco-friendly gifts for the traveller in your life

– Fishing for plastic in London’s canals

– Rural village life in the rice terraces of Bali

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