The map... Updated

Below is our current Edamame Trip map.  We are plotting our actual stops as we go while adding future destinations as we confirm them.  Visited destinations are marked with solid color markers.  Future destinations are marked with letters.

The Ricciardi Journey

Family, a blood line that gathers strangers into one feeling of belonging...

I don't know how to explain what happened here, in this tiny town, in the hills of La Spezia. So I guess I'll just tell you a story, the way I was able to collect the pieces of this puzzle.

Madrid - Jimenez de Jamuz - San Sebastian - And back to Italy!

We continued to Madrid to visit Lili's aunt, Violeta before heading back towards Italy to see more family.  Madrid is a beautiful city, and Violeta did everything to make us feel at home:

Parque El Retiro:

Plaza Mayor:

Tapas!!!!

We took a side trip to Segovia for some suckling pig!

Once we said goodbye to Madrid, we moved north for more incredible food.  First stop:  Bodega El Capricho.  We headed north  to the little village of Jimenez de Jamuz for the best steak in the world.  I saw this place on a documentary about steaks and hoped it would live up to the hype.  We had steak tartar and carpaccio to start.  For the main event, we had premium chop below.  It came from a 12 year old buey and was dry aged for three months!

The meat was salted and cooked perfectly.  It was even better than it looks and unlike any steak I have had before it.  Yum! 

I spend too much time telling people about this restaurant.  Seriously.  If you are ever nearby...

After lunch, Lili talked to Pedro who turned out to own the farm where much of this beef is raised.  He offered to take us out to meet the cows...

They were HUGE.  We hoped they could not smell their cousin on our breath,

Mimosin took to Lili.  Once pet, he followed her around like a puppy.

Next up, San Sebastian for its famous pintxos.  Maybe we were spoiled after El Capricho, but this paled in comparison.  Still, it was a beautiful selection.

We moved on across France to Domodossola, Italy.  Lili found an amazing boutique hotel on the side of the mountain.  We tried to hike a bit in preperation for Monte Blanc.  Maybe too little, too late.

From here, we got ready for our main trip through Italy.

-  Riggs

Cotê Azur - Mónaco - Barcelona - Valencia

Our road trip continued with strategic stops along theway.

Sanremo to Nimes
For Sanremo I just want to acknowledge the most amazing veal marsala I've ever tasted in my life! Thanks to the restaurant Vela d'oro for such an amazing culinary experience!

We crossed the border of Italy into Monaco and France.  I must admit that driving through Italy is a most exasperating experience.  France was a huge improvement!

On our way to Nimes we drove by Monaco and a beautiful medieval town called Ezê. We took a little walk around Ezê and found a wonderful garden.

NYC --> Europe

New York to Italy!

We left the Bahamas and it's beautiful sharks and landed in New York.

We spent Mothers day with Riggs family and used the time to reflect on the trip outcome and next steps.

The Bahamas Shark Dive

After twelve days rafting through the Grand Canyon our bags were filled with dirty clothes and sand. Awful sand sticking to everything!

Grand Canyon River Adventure

The water was crisp and green like an Emerald 

The Grand Canyon trip was more than we could ever have predicted.  Not only is this an amazing National Park, but the group we happenned to go with made the whole experience absolutely memorable.

We left the canyon inspired and in awe with our sense of adventure awaken thanks to our guides and fellow companions.