Episodio 1/30

@ Cooknook
Ayashe begins her tour of "Southern Italy" by downloading a map of specially chosen locations!
Italy - South
In this part of the trip, the pets will explore sights ranging from narrow village backstreets to the famous Arco san Felice in Puglia and the Isle of Capri. They will see iconic Italian vehicles such as the tiny Fiat 500 and the Vespa scooter. Along the way they come across Italian flora and fauna, and have ample opportunity to sample the best of Italian cuisine, not only pizza, pasta and delicious gelati but dishes made with freshly picked lemons and grapes! But let's hope they're not kept awake by too much espresso!
Cooknook
Exploring the winding, narrow streets in this Italian town you come across a charming little eatery tucked away in its own niche. Can you resist sitting down at one of the invitingly set tables to relax over pasta and Chianti?

Episodio 2/30

@ Pizza de resistance
On disembarking from the tour bus, Cashmere surveyed the current stopping place. “Would you fancy living here, Ayashe?”
"Well, it's certainly a bit different to where we live," said Ayashe. "But I could get used to it, I daresay!"
Pizza de resistance
Who wouldn't want to have some of this delicious looking cheesy pizza? Throughout Italy, there are traditional regional variations in pizza recipes and production, from the classic pizza Napoletana to the Pizza al Padellino and Pizza Siciliana. The one pictured here is Pizza Tonda Romana, with a very thin, crispy crust. If you fancy a tasty snack on the street, then street sellers provide Pizza al Taglio—served by the slice! In Naples you can buy Pizza Fritta fried pizza in circle or half-moon shapes.

Episodio 3/30

@ Roof Invasion
“Let's just drink in this scene, shall we, Ayashe?” suggested Doctor Hoo, sinking down on a convenient tree stump.
Ayashe agreed it was well worth spending some time there!
Roof Invasion
These sun-baked roof tiles in shades of terracotta, apricot and pink have been complemented by wild flower seeds taking root and flowering in the cracks.

Episodio 4/30

@ Draped Grapes
"... the texture of fairy floss, the scent of fresh grapes and orange blossom and the mouthwatering flavour of lemon sherbet, green apples and juicy peaches. Sounds lovely, doesn't it, fancy?" remarked Ayashe.
"I'm sorry, I missed the first part of what you were saying. Is it a gelato flavour?" asked fancy.
Ayashe chuckled. "No, not gelato. That was a description of Asti Spumante, a delicious sparkling wine from Piedmont. Along with Lambrusco and Prosecco, it's a popular budget alternative to champagne."
Draped Grapes
Italy is the world's largest wine producer. The most famous Italian wines are probably the Tuscan Chianti and the Piedmontese Barolo.

Episodio 5/30

@ Camogli, Genoa
“I can never remember how to spell ‘Mediterranean’, Ayashe,” mused Skye, clutching a postcard and sucking the end of her pen. “Is it two ts and one r?”
“Simples,” grinned Ayashe. “You just need to remember it’s got ‘terra’ in the middle, which is Latin for ‘earth’, and the ‘Medi’ bit means ‘middle’. Put the two together and Bob’s your uncle.”
“Middle Earth!” cried Skye.
Camogli, Genoa
Camogli is a fishing village and tourist resort located on the west side of the peninsula of Portofino, on the Golfo Paradiso in the Riviera di Levante, in the Metropolitan City of Genoa, Liguria, northern Italy. The prestigious naval college "Cristoforo Colombo" was founded in Camogli in 1874, named after the Genoese navigator Christopher Columbus.
In 1880, the former fishing village had, in a population of 12,000, 500 registered as ship captains. Camogli now relies mainly on tourism and is known for its colorful houses that line the beach. The house colors once helped the fishermen of Camogli find the way back to their port.

Episodio 6/30

@ Little Egret
On disembarking from the tour bus, Cuddles surveyed the current stopping place. “Would you fancy living here, Ayashe?”
"Well, it's certainly a bit different to where we live," said Ayashe. "But I could get used to it, I daresay!"
Little Egret
The little egret (Egretta garzetta) is a species of small heron. It breeds colonially, often with other species of water birds, making a platform nest of sticks in a tree, bush or reed bed. A clutch of three to five bluish-green eggs is laid and incubated by both parents for about three weeks. The young fledge at about six weeks of age.

Episodio 7/30

@ Cygnet Rings
"That was a lovely risotto we had for supper last night, wasn't it, Darkling?" remarked Ayashe.
"On our table the waiter explained that risotto is a rice dish with origins in Lombardy. It’s cooked in a broth to make it creamy. It must be made with a short-grain variant of Italian rice, usually Arborio, as this absorbs less water and gives the risotto a sticky texture," said Darkling.
Cygnet Rings
Are these fluffy cuties watching the ripples spread outwards in circles as they try out their swimming skills for the first time? At least mother's there keeping a watchful eye on them!

Episodio 8/30

@ Black-Winged Stilt
"I've bought so many souvenirs already my backpack's almost full!" said Choose a name.
"Me too!" said Ayashe. "It's great on this tour, isn't it?"
Black-Winged Stilt
Striking and unmistakable, with its elegant shape, boldly pied plumage, long pink legs, and its long, very fine bill. The black-winged stilt feeds by wading in water, picking with its bill from the water surface. In flight, its long pink legs stick out far beyond its tail!

Episodio 9/30

@ Scooter Italiana
"We'll be spending at least three days in Venice, as there's so much to see, Ayashe!" remarked Draco. "It says in our brochure it's one of the most recognisable destinations in the world thanks to its unique construction of canals and bridges. It says the main city of Venice is made up of 118 islands connected only by 400 bridges and 170 canals. It’s renowned for its gondolas, flat bottomed Venetian rowing boats that are the equivalent to taxis. Becoming a gondolier is no easy feat as you need a professional licence that’s only granted after 400 hours of training."
"It doesn't sound as bad as London black cab drivers having to take The Knowledge before being granted a licence. That can take three or four years!" remarked Ayashe.
Scooter Italiana
Vespa is an Italian brand of scooter manufactured by Piaggio. The name means 'wasp' in Italian. The Vespa has evolved from a single model motor scooter manufactured in 1946 by Piaggio & Co.

Episodio 10/30

@ River Rapids
"When we get back I'm going to go to the library and see if Mrs Eucalyptus can recommend a book about architecture," said Winter. "I've realised how little I know about it."
Ayashe thought about this. "Good scheme!" she said.
River Rapids
This river provides the ideal opportunity to relax on its banks as the sun sinks below the horizon!

Episodio 11/30

@ Frutta e Vino
“Oh hello, Ayashe!” cried Splash. “Didn’t we bump into each other in Scotland back in the spring? This is quite the change of scene, isn't it!”
Frutta e Vino
This little shop will provide you with fresh local delicacies such as home grown lemons, regional olive oil and wine, and a range of other fruit and vegetables!

Episodio 12/30

@ Tree in Mist
Ayashe and FINN were entranced on reaching this Mediterranean viewpoint and eagerly posed for a picture standing on either side!
Tree in Mist
This fine, tall tree looms up out of the misty dawn at the start of another beautiful day!

Episodio 13/30

@ In Vino Veritas
On disembarking from the tour bus, Toby surveyed the current stopping place. “Would you fancy living here, Ayashe?”
"Well, it's certainly a bit different to where we live," said Ayashe. "But I could get used to it, I daresay!"
In Vino Veritas
Italy is divided into 20 administrative regions (see left), all of which produce wine to some extent, and all of which contain various wine regions. The most significant, when both quality and quantity are taken into consideration, are Tuscany, Piedmont and Veneto. Each region has its flagship wine styles.

Episodio 14/30

@ Buon Appetito!
“Let’s pose with one of us each side of this attraction and I’ll set the self-timer to take a shot,” said Ayashe to Daba. “It’ll be a great souvenir of our time here!”
Buon Appetito!
Enjoy your meal! The Mediterranean diet is reputed to be very healthy, although possibly the high incidence of sunshine in these lands plays its role in the health of their inhabitants!

Episodio 15/30

@ Watery Perch
Half way through Ayashe's tour of "Southern Italy", she finds a special prize!
Blossoms Array (Royal Velvet)
Whimsically understated, the soft velvety petals of this arrangement are alluring to pets far and wide.
Watery Perch
He's very well disguised! A bare rock in the sea to him is a good resting place as he is waterproofed with his feathers, however uncomfortable it may look to us!

Episodio 16/30

@ Yellow Corn Marigold
“Let's practise some of these Italian phrases in our brochure, Ayashe. I'll ask you what your name is! Come si chiama, Lei?” asked Jinx.
“No, my name isn't 'Lei'," replied Ayashe, somewhat irritated. "Why are you asking that? Anyway—Mi chiamo Ayashe."
"It doesn't mean, 'What's your name, Lei?'" responded Jinx indignantly. "The whole thing means 'What is your name?'"
Ayashe seized the phrasebook. "Doesn't make sense, going round asking pets if they're called 'Lei'", she grumbled.
Jinx sighed heavily. "Let's try another one instead."
Yellow Corn Marigold
This cheerful flower, coleostephus myconis, more commonly known as the corn marigold, occurs in the Mediterranean region of southern Europe. It usually grows in grassy fields.

Episodio 17/30

@ Confection Selection
"... the texture of fairy floss, the scent of fresh grapes and orange blossom and the mouthwatering flavour of lemon sherbet, green apples and juicy peaches. Sounds lovely, doesn't it, Peridot?" remarked Ayashe.
"I'm sorry, I missed the first part of what you were saying. Is it a gelato flavour?" asked Peridot.
Ayashe chuckled. "No, not gelato. That was a description of Asti Spumante, a delicious sparkling wine from Piedmont. Along with Lambrusco and Prosecco, it's a popular budget alternative to champagne."
Confection Selection
Get your choice of snack here, from an ice cold drink on a hot summer's day, or a delicious and unique Italian gelato—just the thing to cool you down!

Episodio 18/30

@ Breathe In!
“If there's time at the end when we get back to the hotel, I might do some initial sketches for a watercolour painting," Majestic said, offering Ayashe a chestnut biscotto from the bag and then unwrapping one for herself.
“That sounds like a good plan, Majestic!" said Ayashe.
Breathe In!
The Fiat 500 is ideally suited to the narrow winding streets. It is very economical to drive and holds four occupants. This is an early model, air-cooled with a rear engine. The Fiat 500 is a very popular vehicle not only in Italy but in the rest of Europe and the UK.

Episodio 19/30

@ Italian Tricolour
“If there's time at the end when we get back to the hotel, I might do some initial sketches for a watercolour painting," Woolly said, offering Ayashe a chestnut biscotto from the bag and then unwrapping one for himself.
“That sounds like a good plan, Woolly!" said Ayashe.
Italian Tricolour
The Italian flag is popularly known in Italy as Il Tricolore. The first use of a green/white/red tricolour design for a flag in what is now Italy was in 1796 when it represented a republic in the north. The red and white came from the flag of Milan, and the green from the colour of the region’s military uniform. Within a year, that republic had merged with another—and the tricolor design would be abandoned and re-adopted over the years—but the three colours of green, white and red would remain.

Episodio 20/30

@ Rose Dawn
“Hey, have you seen what the next stop is, Ayashe?” said Zach. "It looks fantastic!"
"I'll get my camera ready," said Ayashe.
Rose Dawn
There's some magic minutes just before dawn when birds stir in their nests and start tentatively chirping their own unique call. Other feathered songsters gradually join in until it becomes a veritable chorus. Imagine being on this stretch of Italian coastline while the sky slowly turns from grey to pinky purple, heralding the new day!

Episodio 21/30

@ Mine's an espresso
"Hey, it says in our tour guide that construction of the 8-storey Leaning Tower of Pisa started in 1173 and took 200 years to complete! It quite puts that two-week delay on your bathroom tiling project into perspective, doesn't it, Bigfoot?" remarked Ayashe. "Also, the name of the architect has been lost in the sands of time. You sort of wonder whether he'd have wanted his name to be linked to a tower that leans so noticeably to one side!"
Bigfoot leaned across to read the description of the famous Leaning Tower. "It's good in a way that we can celebrate such an apparent disaster," he said. "It says here that it's a very popular design for wedding cakes!"
Mine's an espresso
Each of Italy’s 20 regions boasts its own unique coffee culture. Espresso may be ubiquitous, but there are many regional twists to the caffè. In the northern Le Marche, enjoy a caffè anisette for an anise-flavored espresso; in southern Sicily, try caffè d’un parrinu, an Arabic-inspired coffee flavored with cloves, cinnamon, and cocoa.

Episodio 22/30

@ Arco san Felice, Puglia
"A bit of trivia here, Snickerdoodle!" remarked Ayashe, reading from their tour brochure. "Can you name two films that popularised the Vespa as the ultimate way to explore Italy?"
"I don't think I can, Ayashe!"
"Well, to be fair, they were both from before we were born. The 1953 film, Roman Holiday, and La Dolce Vita in 1960. It says the latter is a particularly good film."
"We'll have to see if we can watch them when we get back," said Snickerdoodle.
Arco san Felice, Puglia
A naturally formed limestone arch, this is equally impressive from the sea, where you can sometimes get through, and from the coast road by one of the watchtowers.

Episodio 23/30

@ Bella Italia
"That was a lovely risotto we had for supper last night, wasn't it, nicki?" remarked Ayashe.
"On our table the waiter explained that risotto is a rice dish with origins in Lombardy. It’s cooked in a broth to make it creamy. It must be made with a short-grain variant of Italian rice, usually Arborio, as this absorbs less water and gives the risotto a sticky texture," said nicki.
Bella Italia
Italy has been the source of many inventions and discoveries and has long been a global centre of art, music, literature, philosophy, science and technology--also fashion (including Gucci, Armani, Prada, Versace, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana). It has a large automotive industry, e.g. Maserati, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo and Fiat. Italy is the world's largest wine producer. It is a leading producer of olive oil and exports large amounts of fruit and vegetables. It is known for its quality regional cheeses.
The country extends over 300,000 km2 (116,350 sq miles). The official language is Italian but there are several other official co-languages in various regions, e.g. German in the South Tyrol.

Episodio 24/30

@ Italian Quintet
“Wouldn't it be lovely to live in a lighthouse like this one pictured in our itinerary in Genoa? So romantic!" mused Ayashe, sipping a leisurely espresso.
"Well, I don't know," said pinkguick. "It's not all about drinking coffee and gazing at the sea. You have run up and down stairs to operate the light and the foghorn, and there may be no running water or electricity apart from a generator."
Ayashe considered this. "Mine would be a luxurious, converted, non-operational lighthouse, then."
Italian Quintet
Guitars, drums and romantic Italian vocals against the colourful backdrop of Il Tricolore—what better and more colourful night out could you want?

Episodio 25/30

@ Is it Italian?
"It must be so romantic working on a vineyard, Ayashe," said Darby contentedly sipping grape juice after a hard day’s sightseeing. "Imagine picking the ripe grapes while the sun sets and seeing them turned into wine!"
"Hmm—now imagine being up at dawn in the cold of January and February pruning the woody stalks by hand and crushing them up for compost,” said Ayashe. “Then more work throughout spring, leaf pruning later in the year, followed by grape pruning. It doesn’t stop.”
Darby waved her glass. “I’ll have staff to do all that,” she said.
Is it Italian?
Spaghetti bolognese (sometimes called spaghetti alla bolognese, or colloquially 'spag bol', spaghetti with meat sauce, or just spaghetti) is a pasta dish that is popular outside Italy, but not part of traditional Bolognese or even Italian cuisine in general. The dish is generally perceived as inauthentic when encountered by Italians abroad.
It consists of spaghetti served with a sauce made from tomatoes, minced beef, garlic, wine and herbs. In this sense the sauce is actually more similar to Neapolitan ragù from the south of Italy than the northern Bolognese version of ragù. It is often served with grated Parmesan on top, but local cheeses, such as grated Cheddar are also often used. It may be served with a larger proportion of sauce to pasta than is common in genuine Italian spaghetti dishes.

Episodio 26/30

@ Amalfi Sunset
"When we get back I'm going to go to the library and see if Mrs Eucalyptus can recommend a book about architecture," said Fizzgig. "I've realised how little I know about it."
Ayashe thought about this. "Good scheme!" she said.
Amalfi Sunset
The spectacular sunsets along the exquisite coastline are known and adored worldwide, and you simply cannot go home without experiencing one.

Episodio 27/30

@ Mediterranean Splendour
Splash was distracted by the sounds of loud rustling as Ayashe unfolded a very large tourist map, in the course of which she succeeded in knocking Splash’s hat off. “Put that away, do!” said Splash, irritated. “We’re about to pose on either side of this amazing scene—the picture will all be of your map if you don’t fold it up pronto!”
Mediterranean Splendour
What more beautiful sight can be imagined than the Amalfi coast on a hot summer's day, with the deep blue sea stretching forever and the crystal clear waters of the coastline to explore?

Episodio 28/30

@ Capri Sun
“Would you pass me the binoculars, Ayashe?” said Jack. "I think that's an Alpine swift flitting around over there! They spend most of their lives in the air, you know."
Capri Sun
Capri—an island lin the Tyrrhenian Sea off the Sorrento Peninsula, on the south side of the Gulf of Naples, Italy. It has been a resort since Roman times and was named by those people as "Goat Island".
Some of the main features of the island include the Marina Piccola (the little harbour), the Belvedere of Tragara (a high panoramic promenade lined with villas), the limestone crags called sea stacks that project above the sea (the faraglioni), the town of Anacapri, the Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra), the ruins of the Imperial Roman villas, and the vistas of various towns surrounding the Island of Capri including Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, Sorrento, Nerano, and Naples.

Episodio 29/30

@ Bar Ridente, Sant'Angelo
"It says in our brochure that Italy has produced many luxury sports cars, such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo and Maserati. That's impressive, isn't it, mucki?" remarked Ayashe.
"Well, they certainly are amazing, Ayashe," responded mucki. "But I'd rather own a little Fiat 500! They are terminally cute!"
Bar Ridente, Sant'Angelo
Bar Ridente is a large snack-bar/café located in the village of Sant'Angelo's main square. It has an indoor bar area where you can have a quick drink, or alternatively, a large outdoor seated area where you can sit down to have a snack, light meal or just a drink. There's also a kiosk where you can buy cold drinks and ice creams . Just look at those locally grown lemons!

Episodio 30/30

@ Pizza Oven
As Ayashe's tour of "Southern Italy" comes to an end, she rests under a shady tree and looks back on a perfect day.
Purple Clouds
Have you ever seen a purple cloud? No? Well now you've not seen just one, but a whole bunch.
Pizza Oven
It's not only pizza that tastes fantastic when cooked in a wood fired oven! But to sample the genuine flavour of Italian pizza, the authentic oven is a must!
Ayashe has completed their tour of "Southern Italy"! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also tour part of Italy!