Lots to Share!

Sorry I have been neglecting my blog.....but you will be happy to know lots has been happening on the weekends.

The Pritchards, family friends, ventured down to Italy from Zurich and I met up with them. I took the train from Padova to Milan and then took a short train to Lake Como where we met. It was great getting to see them, sort of like a breath of fresh air. The city of Como was beyond beautiful. Everything is surrounded by the lake. We took a trip near the coast to the town of Bellagio. We ate lunch near the water and walked around. I found a partner in crime who loves gelato as much as I do, Audrey, and we had it 3 times in one day!

Last weekend, we went to Bergamo for a birthday party. It was fun to see the family again. The house was beautiful and was up on a hill over looking the city. The brother of Gianmarco, Fabio, grows fruits and vegetables. We picked raspberries and blue berries to take back home.

On Sunday, we went to the town of Monza, which is about 15 minutes away from Milan to a local Formal 1 race. Gianmarco's brother has a friend that is a driver and got us passes. We were able to go where the race cars are stored and near the pit stops. The driver that we met was competing in the Porsche race. We decided to get seats near a double turn because there is guaranteed to be some kind of action. And indeed there was! It was the first lap and when the guy we knew was making the turn, he got hit! But luckily he was able to keep going for 10 or so laps but finally had to call it quits because of the previous crash and the debris that was getting into his car.

I only have 2 more days with the family and then Taylor arrives on Saturday. We are going to be in Venice, Florence, Capri and then Rome. We fly home July 9 out of Rome.

I will take lots of pictures and do a re-cap once I get back home.

Can't wait to see everyone and be back home!!

Weekend Fun!

Hello All!

This weekend was full of fun!

We went to the countryside. The name of the town is San Michele al Tagliamento, about a hour and half away from Padova. The house that we stayed at belongs to the family and was the grandmothers house of Cristina. Her sister and brother-in-law were also there. There is lots of land and cherry trees on the property. It is the season for cherries so they were in abundance. We picked fresh cherries and ate them everyday. There is a beach not far from the house. We went there on Saturday and Sunday. I got lots of tan time in. The water was breath taking. A crystal blue color. On Sunday we had a bar-b-que but not like in Texas. We did grill ribs and other meats, also had grilled polenta!

Overall, it was a great weekend getaway. I am happy to be back in Padova.

Here are some pictures of the beach. Enjoy!

Venice and Milan

I went to Venice & Milano. Here are some pictures from my travels. Enjoy!

Pictures from Milano and the Duomo-famous cathedral.

Outside the Duomo

Here are some pictures from Venice.

View from Per de Rialto
View from Per de Rialto
St. Mark's Basilica

St. Mark's Basilica

St. Mark's Basilica-very famous

Week in Begramo!

Gelato's

2nd Gelato:Fragola:Strawberry(Cecilias favorite)

3rd/4th Gelato:Menta & Cannella: Mint & Cinnamon, the front runners!!!

5th Gelato: Menta, Cannella, Niccola: Mint, Cinnamon & Hazelnut

6,7,8,9 & 10th Gelato: stracciatella, caffe, bacio, cioccoiato bianco, & liquirizia: white chocolate, coffee, chocolate hazelnut combination & licorice.(We bought 1 kilo of gelato and had to choose 5 flavors, it was hard to choose but so fun!)

So these are all of the gelato's that I have had so far and loving evey minute of eating them.

Cristina and Gianmarco are on vacation for their anniversary, so the kids and I are in Bergamo spending time with the grandparents. I have been spending the day with the kids and then staying the night at the apartment. Cristina's sister, Mara, and brother in law, Massimo, have taken me out to dinner a couple of nights.

On Sunday, Mara, Massimo and I went to Lago dei Lecco. The landscape was to die for. On a map, the lakes look like a wishbone; Lecco is on the right and Como is on the left. (Lake Como is where George Clooney has a villa)

And a friend, Lia, took me to the upper city of Bergamo on Monday. It was beautiful. And then the kids, grandparents and I went to the zoo. I forgot how much I love going to the zoo!

I went to Milan on Tuesday. Toured the Duomo and walked around the city center. I did the audio tour guide of the Duomo and learned a lot of great facts.

On Saturday, we are going to a birthday party for Massimo. It should be a lot of fun. Then we will head back to Padova Sunday but not before stopping at the beach.

So here are some pictures from my travels of this week.

Upper city of Bergamo
Upper city of Bergamo
Lago dei Lecco

Lago dei Lecco

Zoo in Bergamo-feels like home seeing this longhorn

Federico and Cecilia at the zoo

Beach

Belgrano, Italy for the Weekend!

CIAO!! Have lots to share from the weekend!

Friday we traveled to Belgrano, about a hour and half away. The family used to live there and still has their apartment. It has more city feel to me and what I am used to. But there is still a small city feel to it like Padova.

We went to his brothers house, which is absolutley beautiful! It is up on a hill that looks over the entire city. He built it 2 years ago. I am sad I did not get any pictures but I think we will go back another weekend. We went there to drop the chicks off because he has some already and lives on land. He also grows strawberries, raspberries and blackberries. Then we went to Gianmarco's parents house. They are very nice, Julia and Julio. I ate rabbit!! It was actually really good. Julio, the grandfather, raised the rabbits himself. We also had polenta, which is starting to become a favorite/standard! We had it with cheese in it which I was told is unique to the region of Italy we were in. Finally, we arrived at the apartment and went to sleep.

Saturday: we woke and relaxed around the house. Today I was going to be shown Belgrano. It was very pretty. Had the cobblestone streets like Padova with shops on either side, with people walking all around. For lunch, we went to Cristina's parents apartment. They were also very nice, Ana and Palo. Reminded me of Nani and Papa. The grandfather dressed like Papa with suspenders and everything. Made me a little homesick. And I discover that my Sandone family and I have been eating pasta scriutto our whole lives, which is the name for pasta with sauce. Later that evening, Gianmarco's family came over to celebrate his birthday. He has two brothers and one sister. This also reminded me of my family and when we get together to celebrate a birthday! It was very fun and everyone was very nice and interesting.

Sunday: today was the day of the festival of Belgrano. Local famers would display their products and animals. Gianmarco's brother, Fabio, had a stand that displayed his berries made into jam. Each type, strawberry, raspberry and blackberry were very delicious. I hope to bring some home. To get to the festival we biked from the house, it was 10 miles total!! The route was very beautiful and the scenery was breath taking. Once we arrived, we walked from each stand and tried the local farmers items: cheese, salami, wine and of course jam. We were at the festival for most of the day and then biked back home. Although it was a relaxing day, everyone was exhausted. We left later in the evening to return to Padova. Cecilia became ill while at the festival, so she will stay home with me on Monday.

Here are some pictures from the weekend. Enjoy!

Stands at the festival
Cecilia-so precious!
Federico laying in the hay



The family and I biking to the festival

Countryside for the Weekend

Today was really exciting! A friend of the families is hosting a girl from Holland. Her name is Japke and she is 19. I went over to her house today and we hung out this morning. She is very nice to talk to and we want to do a lot of the same things while we are being hosted. We plan to go the museums together, explore Padova. She wants to go to Venice and the sea and I can't wait to visit those places either. It's great that I met someone who I can hang out with during the morning time while the children are at school.

Japke and I walked around the palazzo today, went to a book store because I have now finished two books since arriving, went shopping and ate lunch. Here are some pictures from lunch!

We are going to the countryside this weekend. The house is in Belgrano, which is about a hour and half away from Padova. I will take lots of notes and pictures for everyone to see.

Talk to you when I get back on Sunday!

Living Quarters!

Buongiomo!(Good Morning!)

I took some pictures of the house in Padova, my room, living room, etc. Enjoy!

Front of the house

Right side of the Terrace

Left side of the Terrace
Living Room
Entry way/Hall way
My Room
Kitchen