@ Cooknook Buddy begins his 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?
While touring Italy, you met Choose a name.
Buddy shook paws with Choose a name the Tabby Cat. They both received one silver mole!
@ Pizza de Resistance "When we get back I'm going to go to the library and see if Mrs Eucalyptus can recommend a book about architecture," said Abergavenny. "I've realised how little I know about it." Buddy thought about this. "Good scheme!" he said. 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.
While touring Italy, you met Abergavenny.
Buddy shook paws with Abergavenny the Welsh dragon. They both received one silver mole!
@ Roof Invasion "Italy—the perfect choice for our travels this summer, Buddy!" enthused Tommen. "Yup. Pizza, pasta, Prada. I can't wait to get to Milan!" "Oh! I was thinking more of world famous paintings and architecture, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, the Colosseum of Ancient Rome, Venice's canals, Pompeii, the opera. Italy has given the world so much!" said Tommen. Buddy unwrapped a torta al cioccolato pastiglia for himself, popped it in his mouth and offered the packet to Tommen. "Sure! You know me, I love a bit of culture. As long as there's a nice gift shop at the end, I'm happy." 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.
While touring Italy, you met Tommen.
Buddy shook paws with Tommen the Green Beautiful Unicorn. They both received one silver mole!
@ Draped Grapes On disembarking from the tour bus, FINN surveyed the current stopping place. “Would you fancy living here, Buddy?” "Well, it's certainly a bit different to where we live," said Buddy. "But I could get used to it, I daresay!" Draped Grapes Italy is the world's largest wine producer. The most famous Italian wines are probably the Tuscan Chianti and the Piedmontese Barolo.
While touring Italy, you met FINN.
Buddy shook paws with FINN the Emperor Penguin Chick. They both received one silver mole!
@ Camogli, Genoa "What does Benvenuti a tutti! mean, Keira?" queried Buddy, admiring the front of his travel itinerary. "It means 'Welcome, everypet!" replied Keira. 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.
While touring Italy, you met Keira.
Buddy shook paws with Keira the Fox’Maid (Ariilina) . They both received one silver mole!
@ Little Egret "It's turned a bit hot, Buddy. I'm going to put my sunhat on," said Crystal. "Good scheme! I'll dig mine out as well," said Buddy. 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.
While touring Italy, you met Crystal.
Buddy shook paws with Crystal the Swan. They both received one silver mole!
@ Cygnet Rings Buddy flicked through the phrasebook. “The tour guide at the door of the museum this morning said Prego! as she ushered us all in. She said it meant ‛After you'. I asked her especially.” “It's one of those terms that mean a number of things: ‛you're welcome', ‛don't mention it', ‛not at all', ‛after you!'. For example, if I reached for your bottle of orange juice you'd say, “Prego!—meaning ‛Please! Help yourself!” “No, I wouldn't. I'd jolly well tell you to get your paws off it,” grumbled Buddy. “It's very confusing, having just one word covering half a dozen situations.” “Would you rather have to learn half a dozen different phrases, like you'd have in English, to cover each one?” Buddy thought about it for a while. “You may have a point there, Loosie!” he said. 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!
While touring Italy, you met Loosie.
Buddy shook paws with Loosie the Goose. They both received one silver mole!
@ Black-Winged Stilt “Buongiorno, Buddy!” said Aragorn. "That means 'good morning', you know!" Buddy sniffed. "So—can I say it back, or do I have to say a different form of it, or say prego, or something?" “Just say it back, Buddy!" "Well, buongiorno to you too, then," said Buddy. 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!
While touring Italy, you met Aragorn.
Buddy shook paws with Aragorn the Brown Lovable Labrador. They both received one silver mole!
@ Scooter Italiana "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, Luna?" remarked Buddy. "Well, they certainly are amazing, Buddy," responded Luna. "But I'd rather own a little Fiat 500! They are terminally cute!" 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.
While touring Italy, you met Luna.
Buddy shook paws with Luna the Green Rapid Dragonfly. They both received one silver mole!
@ River Rapids "That was a lovely risotto we had for supper last night, wasn't it, George?" remarked Buddy. "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 George. River Rapids This river provides the ideal opportunity to relax on its banks as the sun sinks below the horizon!
While touring Italy, you met George.
Buddy shook paws with George the Brown Funky Monkey. They both received one silver mole!
@ Frutta e Vino “Let's just drink in this scene, shall we, Buddy?” suggested Boycee, sinking down on a convenient tree stump. Buddy agreed it was well worth spending some time there! 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!
While touring Italy, you met Boycee.
Buddy shook paws with Boycee the Screech Owl. They both received one silver mole!
@ Tree in Mist “Let's practise some Italian phrases, Buddy!" said Gentle. "Tell you what, hand me that postcard, will you? Grazie!” Clutching the postcard, he looked at his friend expectantly. “That's your cue to say Prego—which means ‛you're welcome!'” Buddy looked puzzled. "Why do I have to say anything at all, Gentle? If I've performed a very minor service and you've said 'Thank you', do I need to say anything back? It's not like I made you a cake or mowed your lawn. I just handed you a postcard. You said 'thank you'. Couldn't I just smile slightly or something?" Gentle mused for some minutes. "The English language lacks the exact equivalent of prego or bitte schön and similar phrases in use in Continental Europe. Still, when in Rome ...!" Tree in Mist This fine, tall tree looms up out of the misty dawn at the start of another beautiful day!
While touring Italy, you met Gentle.
Buddy shook paws with Gentle the Silver Fox. They both received one silver mole!
@ In Vino Veritas "What are you doing, Jubb Jubb?" asked Buddy, coming across his friend in the hotel lounge, clutching a notebook and pen. "I'm keeping a diary of our experiences on this trip, Buddy. I don't want to forget anything!" responded Jubb Jubb. "Oh, and the tour guide taught me a lovely phrase just now—Dall'Italia, con amore!—'From Italy, with love'. I'm going to use it on my postcards home to my Mum." 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.
While touring Italy, you met Jubb Jubb.
Buddy shook paws with Jubb Jubb the Midnight Happy Dragon. They both received one silver mole!
@ Buon Appetito! "What does Benvenuti a tutti! mean, Rockstar?" queried Buddy, admiring the front of his travel itinerary. "It means 'Welcome, everypet!" replied Rockstar. 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!
While touring Italy, you met Rockstar.
Buddy shook paws with Rockstar the Brown Owl. They both received one silver mole!
@ Watery Perch Half way through Buddy's tour of "Southern Italy", he 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!
While touring Italy, you met whisper.
Buddy shook paws with whisper the Midnight Happy Dragon. They both received one silver mole!
whisper gave you 1 "Blossoms Array (Royal Velvet)"
@ Yellow Corn Marigold “Let's practise saying 'hello' in Italian," said pengo. "That's an easy one—Ciao!” said Buddy, beaming happily. "Mm—yes, and mmm—no," replied pengo. "You should only say Ciao to pets you know very well. You mustn't say it to somepet's grandmother who you haven't met before, and you shouldn't walk into a shop and say it. It's far too informal." “So what do you say then?" queried Buddy, somewhat grumpily. "The simplest thing to say to friends or strangers to greet them is Salve!" replied pengo. 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.
While touring Italy, you met pengo.
Buddy shook paws with pengo the Playful Penguin. They both received one silver mole!
@ Confection Selection “Let’s pose with one of us each side of this attraction and I’ll set the self-timer to take a shot,” said Buddy to Fino. “It’ll be a great souvenir of our time here!” 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!
While touring Italy, you met Fino.
Buddy shook paws with Fino the Black Lovable Labrador. They both received one silver mole!
@ Breathe In! "Po," gulped Buddy apprehensively, "Have you seen this item on the itinerary? We'll be going to see an active volcano, Mount Vesuvius, on the Naples leg!" "Don't worry, Buddy!" said Po reassuringly. "It's not erupted since 79 CE. Admittedly, on that occasion, it did wipe out the Roman city of Pompeii and an estimated three million inhabitants, but today Mount Vesuvius is a large national park that attracts tourists wanting to hike up to the top and take a look inside. The brochure says the trail to the top is beginner-friendly and about a 2½ mile (4km) round trip." 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.
While touring Italy, you met Po.
Buddy shook paws with Po the Panda. They both received one silver mole!
@ Italian Tricolour "That was a lovely risotto we had for supper last night, wasn't it, Ada?" remarked Buddy. "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 Ada. 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.
While touring Italy, you met Ada.
Buddy shook paws with Ada the Astonishing Helper Ant. They both received one silver mole!
@ Rose Dawn “Oh hello, Buddy!” cried Choose a namebecky. “Didn’t we bump into each other in Scotland back in the spring? This is quite the change of scene, isn't it!” 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!
While touring Italy, you met Choose a namebecky.
Buddy shook paws with Choose a namebecky the Black Great Dane. They both received one silver mole!
Choose a namebecky and you found 75 Travel Tokens!
@ Mine's an espresso "It must be so romantic working on a vineyard, Buddy," said Walter Weinachten 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 Buddy. “Then more work throughout spring, leaf pruning later in the year, followed by grape pruning. It doesn’t stop.” Walter Weinachten waved his glass. “I’ll have staff to do all that,” he said. 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.
While touring Italy, you met Walter Weinachten.
Buddy shook paws with Walter Weinachten the Manatee (Brown). They both received one silver mole!
@ Arco san Felice, Puglia “Oh wow, Buddy, there's a butterfly!” Storm cried out. “It looks like a Mazarine Blue," replied Buddy knowledgeably. 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.
While touring Italy, you met Storm.
Buddy shook paws with Storm the Blue Beautiful Unicorn. They both received one silver mole!
@ Bella Italia "Milan is widely considered to be the fashion capital of the world. Many internationally renowned fashion brands are based in Milan, including Dolce & Gabbana, Armani and Prada. Quadrilatero della Moda is the high-end fashion district in Milan that contains luxury brands and exclusive fashion boutiques. It’s one of the most expensive shopping streets in the world," read out Allegra from the itinerary. "We'll have to take care not to go too mad there, Allegra!" responded Buddy. "Perhaps a designer T-shirt!" "Hmm—I think a designer bath cube will be more within my budget!" remarked Allegra. 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.
While touring Italy, you met Allegra.
Buddy shook paws with Allegra the Blue Beautiful Unicorn. They both received one silver mole!
@ Italian Quintet "We'll be spending at least three days in Venice, as there's so much to see, Buddy!" remarked Darkling. "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 Buddy. 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?
While touring Italy, you met Darkling.
Buddy shook paws with Darkling the Baby bat. They both received one silver mole!
@ Is it Italian? "Italian pets talk with their paws an awful lot, don't they, Erzebet?" remarked Buddy. "You know, I was talking to the tour guide about that, Buddy. She said the gestures originate from the Romans who used chironomia, which incorporates hand movements into everyday language. They aren’t random gestures, each one has a meaning; so as a foreign pet, you never really known what they mean!" 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.
While touring Italy, you met Erzebet.
Buddy shook paws with Erzebet the Corgi. They both received one silver mole!
@ Amalfi Sunset "What does Benvenuti a tutti! mean, Skiddles?" queried Buddy, admiring the front of his travel itinerary. "It means 'Welcome, everypet!" replied Skiddles. Amalfi Sunset The spectacular sunsets along the exquisite coastline are known and adored worldwide, and you simply cannot go home without experiencing one.
While touring Italy, you met Skiddles.
Buddy shook paws with Skiddles the Baby Skunk. They both received one silver mole!
@ Mediterranean Splendour "What are you doing, seema?" asked Buddy, coming across his friend in the hotel lounge, clutching a notebook and pen. "I'm keeping a diary of our experiences on this trip, Buddy. I don't want to forget anything!" responded seema. "Oh, and the tour guide taught me a lovely phrase just now—Dall'Italia, con amore!—'From Italy, with love'. I'm going to use it on my postcards home to my Mum." 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?
While touring Italy, you met seema.
Buddy shook paws with seema the Grey Playful Kitten. They both received one silver mole!
@ Capri Sun "When we get back I'm going to go to the library and see if Mrs Eucalyptus can recommend a book about architecture," said Choose a name. "I've realised how little I know about it." Buddy thought about this. "Good scheme!" he said. 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.
While touring Italy, you met Choose a name.
Buddy shook paws with Choose a name the Tabby Cat. They both received one silver mole!
@ Bar Ridente, Sant'Angelo "Italy—the perfect choice for our travels this summer, Buddy!" enthused get-a-job-bring-me-a-mouse-and-a-20. "Yup. Pizza, pasta, Prada. I can't wait to get to Milan!" "Oh! I was thinking more of world famous paintings and architecture, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, the Colosseum of Ancient Rome, Venice's canals, Pompeii, the opera. Italy has given the world so much!" said get-a-job-bring-me-a-mouse-and-a-20. Buddy unwrapped a torta al cioccolato pastiglia for himself, popped it in his mouth and offered the packet to get-a-job-bring-me-a-mouse-and-a-20. "Sure! You know me, I love a bit of culture. As long as there's a nice gift shop at the end, I'm happy." 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!
While touring Italy, you met get-a-job-bring-me-a-mouse-and-a-20.
Buddy shook paws with get-a-job-bring-me-a-mouse-and-a-20 the Grey Playful Kitten. They both received one silver mole!
get-a-job-bring-me-a-mouse-and-a-20 gave you 1 "Italy Passport Stamp" size 10
@ Pizza Oven As Buddy's tour of "Southern Italy" comes to an end, he 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! Buddy has completed their tour of "Southern Italy"! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also tour part of Italy!
While touring Italy, you met Bindy.
Buddy shook paws with Bindy the Brown Funky Monkey. They both received one silver mole!
Buddy has completed the quest of
