@ Rocky Sardinian Cove Clover begins her tour of "Islands of Italy" by downloading a map of specially chosen locations! Italy - Islands We go island-hopping off the "boot" of Italy on Sardinia and Sicily! There is so much for the pets to enjoy here, from the dozens of flawless sandy beaches, vibrant, colourful houses and special flora and fauna. The architecture reflects the melting pot of travellers from ancient empires of Europe, Africa and the Middle East that used the islands as a stopping-off place—the Byzantines, Phoenicians and of course, the Spanish, all of whom have left their mark. The water is perfectly clear, making it ultra-inviting for pets who want to try their paw at snorkling! And there's a banger of a surprise on Sicily, home to Europe's largest volcano, Mount Etna! It's classed as active, but pets need have no fear—that just means it's erupted once since the last Ice Age! Rest assured, your picnics will not be disturbed! Rocky Sardinian Cove With a morning spent in happily sailing the ocean blue around the island of Sardinia, the pets can pull in on the coastline wherever they want to explore. Just remember to tie the boat up firmly, chaps and chapesses, for when you're ready to embark again!
While touring Italy, you met Choose a name.
Clover shook paws with Choose a name the Tabby Cat. They both received one silver mole!
@ La Macchinina Rossa -- Little Red Car “Ooh, it's just starting to drizzle, Clover!” said Amethyst. “Can you hold my gelato and map while I dig out my Pac-a-Mac?" Clover good-naturedly took charge of Amethyst's possessions while she emptied her rucksack of a pack of sandwiches, a Thermos flask, a pair of galoshes, a bag of toffees, a paperback novel, a bottle of mineral water, an address book, some postage stamps, an assortment of different coloured biros, a bottle opener, a couple of old train tickets, a handful of golden and silver moles, a hotel key, some shopping receipts and a selection of rather battered sachets of salt, sugar and tomato ketchup before locating the Pac-a-Mac right at the bottom. This she donned and then Clover helped her put everything back in her rucksack. La Macchinina Rossa -- Little Red Car The Fiat 500 is an iconic Italian design. It's just the job to take a group of pets on a sightseeing tour ending in a picnic in the beautiful Italian countryside!
While touring Italy, you met Amethyst.
Clover shook paws with Amethyst the Midnight Happy Dragon. They both received one silver mole!
@ Deep Blue Sea “Let's practise saying 'hello' in Italian," said Sassy. "That's an easy one—Ciao!” said Clover, beaming happily. "Mm—yes, and mmm—no," replied Sassy. "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 Clover, somewhat grumpily. "The simplest thing to say to friends or strangers to greet them is Salve!" replied Sassy. Deep Blue Sea Whether you chose to visit Sardinia to check out Phoenician or Roman ruins, or just to soak up some sun and enjoy some excellent Sardinian wines, you're sure to have a great time.
While touring Italy, you met Sassy.
Clover shook paws with Sassy the Black Lovable Labrador. They both received one silver mole!
@ Cagliari, Sardinia Clover was listening enraptured to strains of music reaching them from a street violin player. “My mum used to sing this, get-a-job-bring-me-a-mouse-and-a-20!” she exclaimed happily. "O Sole Mio or My Own Sun. This takes me back!" Cagliari, Sardinia Sardinia is one of the most mysterious places on earth. The oldest landmass in Europe, it has archaeological sites, discovered in the 1970s, that date from between 1900 and 730 BCE (Sardinia’s Stonehenge).
While touring Italy, you met get-a-job-bring-me-a-mouse-and-a-20.
Clover 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 and you found 5 Travel Tokens!
@ Sardinian Haven “Let's practise some Italian phrases, Clover!" said Sugar. "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!'” Clover looked puzzled. "Why do I have to say anything at all, Sugar? 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?" Sugar 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 ...!" Sardinian Haven Sardinia is undoubtedly best known for limpid turquoise sea and exquisite beaches on the Costa Smeralda, but there are plenty of those elsewhere on the island too. Food and wine is just as important here as well – the island is a designated ‘Blue Zone’, a region where the people live longer and healthier lives than anywhere else on the planet.
While touring Italy, you met Sugar.
Clover shook paws with Sugar the Brown Badger. They both received one silver mole!
@ Royal Olive Oil "It's turned a bit hot, Clover. I'm going to put my sunhat on," said Liliana. "Good scheme! I'll dig mine out as well," said Clover. Royal Olive Oil There are over 400 varieties of olive in Italy! Each Italian region has its own special cultivars. For example, Ortice from Campania is one of the oldest olive trees in Italy dating back to 539 BCE; spicy and slightly bitter with elegant and well-balanced tones of fresh tomatoes and vegetables.
While touring Italy, you met Liliana.
Clover shook paws with Liliana the Lilac Daydream Unicorn. They both received one silver mole!
@ Sardinian Seaside Delight "I've bought so many souvenirs already my backpack's almost full!" said Skiddles. "Me too!" said Clover. "It's great on this tour, isn't it?" Sardinian Seaside Delight About a quarter of the island of Sardinia is designated as either a National Park or other protected reserve territory, so much of the environment is unspoiled. The naturalists in your family can have a great time trying to spot incredibly rare creatures such as the Sardinian Fox or the Mediterranean Monk Seal!
While touring Italy, you met Skiddles.
Clover shook paws with Skiddles the Baby Skunk. They both received one silver mole!
@ Sea Glass Fragments Clover was listening enraptured to strains of music reaching them from a street violin player. “My mum used to sing this, Fancy Face !” she exclaimed happily. "O Sole Mio or My Own Sun. This takes me back!" Sea Glass Fragments Sea glass is essentially pieces of glass ground smooth by the action of the sea. Taking anything from 20 to 100 years to complete the process, the end results can be exquisite. Jewellery made from sea glass will be absolutely unique.
While touring Italy, you met Fancy Face .
Clover shook paws with Fancy Face the Dauntless Dolphin. They both received one silver mole!
@ I saw one ship go sailing by "Italian pets talk with their paws an awful lot, don't they, Jasper?" remarked Clover. "You know, I was talking to the tour guide about that, Clover. 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!" I saw one ship go sailing by Sardinia presents a huge range of activities for a holiday. From the sunbathing perfection of its Mediterranean beaches to the exploration of sites such as Su Nuraxi di Barumini - a building structure dating from the Megalithic period - there is something to interest everypet.
While touring Italy, you met Jasper.
Clover shook paws with Jasper the Black Feisty Fox. They both received one silver mole!
@ Lavender Shop "I'm going to have me a hazelnut gelato at the hotel tonight, Flicka!" announced Clover. "I can never decide what my favourite flavour is! I love the pistachio, also the chocolate mint, and the vanilla is fabulous, too!" responded Flicka. Lavender Shop While strolling round idyllic Sardinia you may come across this delightful little shop offering all things lavender! You will find plants, bath foam, perfume sprays, fragrant sachets and more!
While touring Italy, you met Flicka.
Clover shook paws with Flicka the Green Rapid Dragonfly. They both received one silver mole!
@ Turquoise Surf "Otto," gulped Clover 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, Clover!" said Otto 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." Turquoise Surf Enjoy the crystal clear waters of Cala Gonone, Italy. Who'll be the first to get their surf board out?
While touring Italy, you met Otto.
Clover shook paws with Otto the Red Feisty Fox. They both received one silver mole!
@ Canopied Café Ziggy was distracted by the sounds of loud rustling as Clover unfolded a very large tourist map, in the course of which she succeeded in knocking Ziggy’s hat off. “Put that away, do!” said Ziggy, 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!” Canopied Café A romantic setting for an outdoor café terrace area, where one can sip delicious coffee or indulge in an ice cream under a canopy of vine leaves.
While touring Italy, you met Ziggy.
Clover shook paws with Ziggy the Midnight Happy Dragon. They both received one silver mole!
@ Cheer Me Up Tiramisu “Let's practise some of these Italian phrases in our brochure, Clover. I'll ask you what your name is! Come si chiama, Lei?” asked Jubb Jubb. “No, my name isn't 'Lei'," replied Clover, somewhat irritated. "Why are you asking that? Anyway—Mi chiamo Clover." "It doesn't mean, 'What's your name, Lei?'" responded Jubb Jubb indignantly. "The whole thing means 'What is your name?'" Clover seized the phrasebook. "Doesn't make sense, going round asking pets if they're called 'Lei'", she grumbled. Jubb Jubb sighed heavily. "Let's try another one instead." Cheer Me Up Tiramisu Tiramisu is a coffee-flavoured Italian dessert. The name comes from the Italian tirami sù, meaning "pick me up" or "cheer me up". This luscious pud is made of sponge fingers dipped in coffee, layered with a whipped mixture of eggs, sugar, and mascarpone cheese, flavoured with cocoa. For that finishing touch, sprinkle with chocolate shreds and a sprig of fresh mint!
While touring Italy, you met Jubb Jubb.
Clover shook paws with Jubb Jubb the Midnight Happy Dragon. They both received one silver mole!
@ Cala Gonone "Italy—the perfect choice for our travels this summer, Clover!" enthused Katrice. "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 Katrice. Clover unwrapped a torta al cioccolato pastiglia for herself, popped it in her mouth and offered the packet to Katrice. "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." Cala Gonone An Italian seaside town in Sardinia. Due to the quality of its waters, Cala Gonone is a popular tourist venue.
While touring Italy, you met Katrice.
Clover shook paws with Katrice the Stardust Unicorn. They both received one silver mole!
@ White Peacock Half way through Clover's tour of "Islands of Italy", she finds a special prize! Bulrush Field If you're needing a place to relax and forget about your troubles, spend an afternoon resting among the bulrushes. White Peacock The white peacock fans out its snowy train to display its feathers of cloudy magnificence. The all-white color of a peacock is a trait of beauty among a species of beautiful birds. A white version of an animal can be found in nearly any species, but the white peacock is not an albino.
While touring Italy, you met Isabella.
Clover shook paws with Isabella the Pink Jay. They both received one silver mole!
@ Let's Go A'Sailing “Let's practise some Italian phrases, Clover!" said Fanny. "Tell you what, hand me that postcard, will you? Grazie!” Clutching the postcard, she looked at her friend expectantly. “That's your cue to say Prego—which means ‛you're welcome!'” Clover looked puzzled. "Why do I have to say anything at all, Fanny? 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?" Fanny 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 ...!" Let's Go A'Sailing Here's a splendid little sailing boat all ready for a group of pets to jump aboard and go for a fun afternoon sailing around the lovely island of Sicily!
While touring Italy, you met Fanny.
Clover shook paws with Fanny the Holstein Friesian Calf. They both received one silver mole!
@ Sicilian Town "It's turned a bit hot, Clover. I'm going to put my sunhat on," said Lilly. "Good scheme! I'll dig mine out as well," said Clover. Sicilian Town A charming jumble of colourful houses is to be found in this Sicilian town.
While touring Italy, you met Lilly.
Clover shook paws with Lilly the Pink Forest Spider. They both received one silver mole!
@ Sicilian Boating Trip “Let's practise some of these Italian phrases in our brochure, Clover. I'll ask you what your name is! Come si chiama, Lei?” asked Guaca. “No, my name isn't 'Lei'," replied Clover, somewhat irritated. "Why are you asking that? Anyway—Mi chiamo Clover." "It doesn't mean, 'What's your name, Lei?'" responded Guaca indignantly. "The whole thing means 'What is your name?'" Clover seized the phrasebook. "Doesn't make sense, going round asking pets if they're called 'Lei'", she grumbled. Guaca sighed heavily. "Let's try another one instead." Sicilian Boating Trip Hire a sailing boat with a skipper; anchor offshore to take a dip in the clear waters. We suggest to diving pets and those who love to explore the underwater world to be equipped with snorkels so that they can admire the various species of marine life that populate these waters, like scorpion fish, morays or starfishes!
While touring Italy, you met Guaca.
Clover shook paws with Guaca the Merry Mole. They both received one silver mole!
@ Mural Apricot Clover was listening enraptured to strains of music reaching them from a street violin player. “My mum used to sing this, Smoochy!” he exclaimed happily. "O Sole Mio or My Own Sun. This takes me back!" Mural Apricot A sun-baked wall in warm apricot where the sage green shutters provide the perfect complementary colour. While the town drowses in the afternoon heat, this house interior looks invitingly cool.
While touring Italy, you met Smoochy.
Clover shook paws with Smoochy the Cupig. They both received one silver mole!
@ Sicilian Sea Holly Clover and Rianna shook paws, said “How do you do?” and posed for a souvenir photo. “Why am I always on the left?” grumbled Clover. “Let’s change sides.” “No,” said Rianna. “This is my best side.” Sicilian Sea Holly This is a fine specimen of sea holly (Eryngium maritimum) found in the Mediterranean. This spiky beauty changes colour from blue, green and brown depending on the season.
While touring Italy, you met Rianna.
Clover shook paws with Rianna the Bashful Badger. They both received one silver mole!
@ Tricolour Pig Clover and merlin were entranced on reaching this Mediterranean viewpoint and eagerly posed for a picture standing on either side! Tricolour Pig I'm a tricolour pig, de diddly dee I'm not very big, de diddly dee My appearance is trig, de diddly dee And I'm dancing a jig, de diddly dee!
An Italian pig, de diddly dee I don't give a fig, de diddly dee For truffles I dig, de diddly dee As blythe as a grig, de diddly dee!
While touring Italy, you met merlin.
Clover shook paws with merlin the Midnight Happy Dragon. They both received one silver mole!
@ Land Ahoy! “Let's practise some Italian phrases, Clover!" said Wuzzy. "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!'” Clover looked puzzled. "Why do I have to say anything at all, Wuzzy? 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?" Wuzzy 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 ...!" Land Ahoy! Such fun for everypet to take a sailing boat on a trip round Sicily in Italy!
While touring Italy, you met Wuzzy.
Clover shook paws with Wuzzy the Green Beautiful Unicorn. They both received one silver mole!
@ Couture Boutique "Italian pets talk with their paws an awful lot, don't they, Nermal Stingray?" remarked Clover. "You know, I was talking to the tour guide about that, Clover. 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!" Couture Boutique This modest Sicilian frontage conceals the fact that behind its walls is an amazing ladies' fashion establishment. Check out their Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/ElioFronterreAtelier45
While touring Italy, you met Nermal Stingray.
Clover shook paws with Nermal Stingray the Grey Playful Kitten. They both received one silver mole!
@ Strombolicchio, Sicily “Let's practise saying 'hello' in Italian," said Autumn Fall. "That's an easy one—Ciao!” said Clover, beaming happily. "Mm—yes, and mmm—no," replied Autumn Fall. "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 Clover, somewhat grumpily. "The simplest thing to say to friends or strangers to greet them is Salve!" replied Autumn Fall. Strombolicchio, Sicily Strombolicchio is a sea stack of volcanic origin 2 km (1.2 miles) to the northeast of the island of Stromboli in the Aeolian Islands of Italy. Its name in the Sicilian language means Little Stromboli.
While touring Italy, you met Autumn Fall.
Clover shook paws with Autumn Fall the Screech Owl. They both received one silver mole!
@ Italy “Wouldn't it be lovely to live in a lighthouse like this one pictured in our itinerary in Genoa? So romantic!" mused Clover, sipping a leisurely espresso. "Well, I don't know," said pRINCESS. "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." Clover considered this. "Mine would be a luxurious, converted, non-operational lighthouse, then." Italy Italy, southern Europe, is a boot-shaped country is one of the world's most popular travel destinations for a number of reasons that include art treasures, trendy fashion, stunning landscapes, passionate people and top class cuisine.
While touring Italy, you met pRINCESS.
Clover shook paws with pRINCESS the Tabby Cat. They both received one silver mole!
@ Tuscan Delicacy "Here's another bit of trivia for you, Lilly!" called out Clover. "The Villa del Balbianello on Lake Como has featured in which two well-known films?" "I don't know, Clover. Which films were they?" "The James Bond film Casino Royale and Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones," responded Clover. Tuscan Delicacy Figs have been in Tuscany for centuries and the town of Carmignano, just outside Florence, is famous for its desiccated figs. Only available from September to October, the delicious fruit is still sought after in modern-day Italy. In fact, so entrenched it is in the Italian language that it originated many sayings and proverbs.
While touring Italy, you met Lilly.
Clover shook paws with Lilly the Pink Forest Spider. They both received one silver mole!
@ Mediterranean Diet Clover and Adriana were entranced on reaching this Mediterranean viewpoint and eagerly posed for a picture standing on either side! Mediterranean Diet This delicious looking snack contains cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and basil leaves. The colours echo those of the tricolor, the Italian flag.
While touring Italy, you met Adriana.
Clover shook paws with Adriana the Fox’Maid (Ariilina) . They both received one silver mole!
@ Heavenly Hibiscus "I've bought so many souvenirs already my backpack's almost full!" said Roby. "Me too!" said Clover. "It's great on this tour, isn't it?" Heavenly Hibiscus This gorgeous hibiscus with its large, showy yellow petals and crimson centre is found on the isle of Sicily. The hibiscus flourishes in warm and tropical climates.
While touring Italy, you met Roby.
Clover shook paws with Roby the Multi-Functional Robot. They both received one silver mole!
@ Cream Terrace Munchkin was distracted by the sounds of loud rustling as Clover unfolded a very large tourist map, in the course of which she succeeded in knocking Munchkin’s hat off. “Put that away, do!” said Munchkin, 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!” Cream Terrace This Sicilian terrace, drowsing in the sun, offers an ideal spot to rest and relax over ice cream at a café or to sample the local cuisine at a cosy restaurant. Time to get those holiday postcards home written, perhaps!
While touring Italy, you met Munchkin.
Clover shook paws with Munchkin the Corgi. They both received one silver mole!
@ Salina Islands, Sicily As Clover's tour of "Islands of Italy" comes to an end, she rests under a shady tree and looks back on a perfect day. False Harvest Floral Display It's not time for the autumn season yet, is it? These flowers may make you second-guess yourself as their hues are more commonly associated with the changing of seasons. Don't let that turn you away, these full blossoms thrive in any environment. Salina Islands, Sicily Salina is an Aeolian island, where small vineyards produce white wine, a riot of colourful flowers climb joyously among picturesque village houses, and visiting pets enjoy laid-back holidays away from tourist hubbub, underneath the island's twin green peaks—extinct volcanoes! This is the island for losing oneself in authentic island life, for strolling through village lanes, eating delicious meals made from local produce as well as sampling the sweet Malvasia wine. Clover has completed their tour of "Islands of Italy"! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also tour part of Italy!
While touring Italy, you met Reese.
Clover shook paws with Reese the Sugar glider. They both received one silver mole!