Beautiful Casoli

Del Dotto When I look at this picture, it is hard to believe that it is a testament to the first day of our Italian Adventure—our life's Adventure together. Since that moment, Michael and I have been traveling to many places from here: Rome, Pisa, Lucca, Firenze, Bologna, Cinque Terre, the quarries of Carrara, and all the way to Venice. Each place holds a special memory, a piece of our shared history and love for exploration. Since we didn't know what to expect at the house in Casoli, we stayed overnight in Camaiore in a heavily scented Airbnb decorated in all shades of scarlet red. Camaiore is the last town before driving 20 minutes up the hill to Casoli. I took this photograph in front of Del Dotto , a Pasticceria, capturing the beginning of our journey, the excitement and uncertainty of what lies ahead, and the joy and the drama of experiencing it together.  The street, chairs, and umbrellas started drying up when we stepped out for breakfast. We had Coffee and learned about...

  As the weather began to improve, Michael and I harnessed our spring energy to take a closer look at our long-neglected property. My father hadn't used the place in years, so it was no surprise to find it more than just a little unkempt. Opening the shutters for the first time in ages, we were greeted not just by the Tuscan sun but by a chorus of disgruntled spiders, scorpions, and other critters launching surprise attacks. Michael's late warnings of "watch out!" barely reached me as I navigated through the barrage of cobwebs and vines. Clearing away nature's curtain, I caught my first breathtaking view of the valley below, and I was utterly spellbound. However, the task of clearing cobwebs and unveiling stunning vistas wasn't the real challenge. It was the deeper journey into my father's past that weighed on me. The property was his legacy to us, and stepping into it felt like crossing a boundary into a relationship that had always been complicated. My m...

Bing'd it!  As we embarked on our journey, our car was a treasury of essentials and oddities alike: pots and pans for culinary adventures, towels and soap for unexpected spills or swims, cleaning supplies for tidying up our temporary abode, and rugged attire fit for the countryside. The silver Peugeot, a recent acquisition for this very adventure, was filled to the brim.  As we set off, Bing Crosby's voice serendipitously filled the air, singing "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay! My, oh my, what a wonderful day..." It felt like a heralding of good fortunes as we began our voyage. With a playful "Choo choo," Michael and I were off, leaving Berlin behind, heading towards the Italian sun. Our journey to Italy was steeped in a mix of excitement and solemnity. In 2015, after my father's passing, Michael and I unexpectedly found ourselves as the owners of a house in Italy—a bewildering fortune that came with little knowledge of either the house or the Italian l...

Please let us introduce ourselves  As traveling artists, we became the rightful owners of Casoli in 2023. This journey began in 2018 when the heirs, my brothers and I, decided to split the inheritance in two.  More out of necessity than anything else, but for now, I shall only dwell on the nearest past. The headache over inheriting my father's art, legacy, and Tuscan farmstead is an excellent story to be told for another time. We are Brian McBride and Michael Dute . We are not only a great team but also husband and husband. Traveling artists with a passion for beauty and glamour. Michael is a renowned painter and has had the excellent chance to leave his legacy on the walls of the most beautiful homes of Napa Valley and San Francisco. My former career was in the hospitality and restaurant business, and I am now a fine art photographer. We both split our lives between Casoli, Berlin, and California.  You'll find a tranquil oasis at our rustic stone house in Casoli, nestle...

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