This is our new Sciabola sword for sabering Champagne or Sparkling wine bottles. According to us this is the best way to open your bubbles of choice always very festive!.

First prepare you bottles by lifting up the wire cage. See photo above.

Every bottle has two seams, find one of them and this is the spot where you strike the bottle, remember to keep you sword flat against the bottle. You do not need to saber too hard, there is already a lot of pressure in the bottle, just a medium tap. Saber your bottle away from your friends, friends should be waiting with glasses next to you or behind.
Bottle should be very cold.

Leslie trying out her birthday present after a recent truffle hunt.

The bottle tops can be sharp, be careful. Below is a link to watch our Sciabola Video. See for yourself the action.

Click for Sciabola Video

Happy New Year! Buon Anno! Sciabola the New Year in!!!

Every Christmas eve in Treiso

The palestra "gym" is always packed with the locals playing bingo before the midnight Christmas Mass.

All one needs to play is 1 euro per card per game, mandarini, peanuts and wine are complimentary.

After yelling "china" a member of the Pro-loco verifies your number before giving you your prize


Leslie won a fresh faraona "guinea fowl" complete with head and feet. Another popular prize is fresh ground salsiccia "sausage".

The day started at the Basilica di Superga

The view from the cat-walk around the dome

Back down the stone stairmaster

Then a quick stop for a look at the updated Museo Automobile it's better than ever

Shopping on Via Roma

Street Performers on Piazza San Carlo Yes he is sitting on a water glass

Piazza San Carlo

The Christmas lights are different on every street

Dinner at our new find "Habanero" a Mexican restaurant

Wow a real good Margarita in Italy

Our first truffle hunt in the snow, yesterday. A little snow is ok but if it gets too deep the dogs can't smell the truffles and truffle season is over for the year.

Leslie with Marco, our truffle hunter, being from Minnesota this was more like a dusting and not very cold for us.

Marco and Rocky his 3 year old truffle dog. Rocky was successful today and found us 5 nice white truffles!


Cotta, our mascot, loves to be in charge and thinks she found all the truffles and wants to be paid with treats too!

Rocky finding a truffle under the snow.

Our biggest find of the day!

Group photo

Where all the best truffles end up, at one of the best restaurants under glass, waiting to be shaved over your dish of choice! Tajarin, carne cruda, fonduta, uova etc...........