Behold! Germany, France, and Liechtenstein

Our summer travels continue as we ventured north, hoping to escape the heat and visit with some friends. The great thing about the military is that when you say goodbye to someone because of a move, it's never goodbye forever. Our wonderful friends were stationed with us at our last duty station and we had a great time visiting them up in the Landstuhl/Ramstein/Kaiserslautern area in Germany. We decided to take our dog with us this time too. Now, that in and of itself is an adventure because he is the only dog I know that gets car sick!  A few days before the trip we took him to the vet's to get some meds to help calm his nervousness, and it worked wonders. Of course he really wanted to visit with the kids somewhere in Switzerland and decided to try to climb over the back seat only to get caught between the seat and the window. Luckily for him, when we pulled over we were at a beautiful lake, so it was worth the stop.

We arrived in Ramstein in time for dinner and enjoyed some delicious German cuisine!  The sausage and kraut hit the spot after a long day in the car. The next day we hit one of the oldest towns in Germany, named Trier, and visited some Roman ruins there. The main city gate is the Porta Nigra, an city gate built by the Romans sometime in the 12th century!  (Of course, the gate doesn't look a day over 500 yrs old.) After my husband and oldest daughter ventured to the top of the gate, my younger daughter and I stumbled upon a scavenger hunt for painted elephants. For a seven year old, this was awesome and kept her engaged during the hot trek through the city. We visited the basilica first. For me, after seeing all the amazing frescoes and art work in the Italian cathedrals, I was under whelmed by the German architecture. In fact, when we entered I just sat down and thought, "wow, this is really, well, boring, in comparison to the Italian churches." But then we visited the Dom cathedral, and this you could tell was indeed Italian. The cathedral of St Peter did not disappoint and I was blown away by the marbled architecture and statues. When you think 'Gothic', this church had it nailed. I enjoyed walking below the church as well to a little cathedral room and some of the older tomb rooms and inside one of the tombs were the old remains of priest housed in a little container. After this stop, we continued on towards the Roman Imperial baths. My kids were in heaven. They really enjoyed traipsing through the underground water tunnels and climbing on the rocks of the ancient ruins. I was amazed at the abundant winding passageways and open spaces that you could almost see the Romans utilizing during their monthly baths. If you sit and think about it, it really is amazing what ancient civilizations created with limited tools, resources, and manpower.

Our second adventure took us on a whirlwind tour of Paris. We took the train from Kaiserslautern to Paris and after a long delay and what felt like a day at the train station in Germany, we made it to Paris 6 hours later than expected. The Eiffel Tower was of course a breathtaking as you can imagine. At night, it is all lit up and every 10 minutes or so, there is a light show that occurs. We walked along the Seine and through a small street fair, then back to a small restaurant for a snack. The next morning we were up bright and early for our grand tour of Paris using the double decker buses. The on/off bus is a great way to view the sites and you can hop on and off as often as you like. For us, with two kids who were already tired and worn, this was a great option. We saw many of the sites Paris has to offer, walked through the Notre Dame Cathedral, Arc d'Triompe, and visited some of the local shops, but by far, our most favorite of the trip was the trip  to the catacombs. Now you might not think that young kids could handle this, ours are 10 and 7, but let me say this, they LOVED it. It is the most memorable part of the trip for them. Once they saw all the bones and skulls stacked high, they couldn't wait to find out what other creepy things were to be found around the corner. Once you exit the catacombs, there is a great shop right across the street from the exit. This shop has everything skull-like you can imagine!  I am sure it does great business in October.

And for the record, the other day I was watching a tv show with my oldest, I think it was Marvel Agents of Shield. There was a scene where they were in Paris, it was quiet and not many cars on the street. My oldest all of sudden blurts out and says, "That is NOT was Paris looks like. It's crowded, the buildings are squished together, and there are lots of cars and people. That is definitely NOT Paris." Out of the mouth of babes.

Stay tuned for Liechtenstein and the Black Forest....

Summertime trips

Recently, an acquaintance of ours asked our girls how their summer has been. When most kids would reply that they attended summer camp, went to the pool and hung out with friends,  my youngest replied, "Great. We've been to Venice, Switzerland, Germany, and Croatia." I mean, how do you reply to THAT? I really hope my kids, when they are older, appreciate the advantages they've had living overseas. I know I certainly do. And I really hope that when they return to school in a month that they are asked to write about their summer adventures because for once, we really have something to write about about other than the normal summer PCS schedule.

Venice: Yes we traveled to Venice. We took the train over to Venice for the day, it's a great 1 hour ride over. Once we got there, we knew we would have to put on our walking shoes and drink plenty of water because on the day we went, there was a transportation strike. Yes, we have lots of strikes here. Transportation and gas strikes are two of the main strikes. It's usually for a day and you are notified ahead of time. From there, you just learn to plan around the strike. Venice being Venice, you pretty much have to walk anyhow, the only problem was getting back to the train station. In the few times I've been to Venice without the family, i have always walked the path to St Marks square via the Rialto bridge. Once there, I embarked upon the Valparetto (water taxis) and rode back to the train station. (It really is a lot of walking). So the tricky part this time was finding our way back. It's simple enough if you know the signs to look for and yes, we eventually found our way back, but with two kids in tow on a warm summer day, the walk was not without complaints from the peanut gallery. However, we did have lunch at the very expensive Hard Rock cafe in Venice (because sometimes you just want a good ol' American hamburger) and we took a ride in a gondola! Now that, I admit, was very cool. It's 80 euro for a ride in the gondola but they take you through the streets of Italy and tell you about the rich history of the city. My oldest daughter's favorite thing was finding Mozart's house along the waterway! (now what kid can say that?) After the gondola ride, we embarked on our long journey back to the train station, all the while stumbling upon the many shops and touristy areas of Venice. The town truly has a wonderful history and terrific culture.

Switzerland: If you ever have the chance, I highly recommend taking a ride on the Bernina Express to Switzerland. It's a beautiful train ride through the countryside and through the mountains and glaciers of Switzerland. We did see the Bernina glacier, or rather what was left of it, and saw some absolutely breathtaking waterfalls and villages. Once in St Moritz, the chilly drizzly rain started and without an umbrella in our arsenal, we trekked through the small town with our hooded jackets. We had a nice, albeit expensive, lunch, and then walked the town. Throughout the town were signs for an antique car show and out driving the streets were some of the most wonderful older vehicles I have ever seen. We also found that St Moritz was the location for many designer shops, including Hermes, Dolce & Gabana, Rolex, and others. Of course we just had to purchase some delicious Swiss chocolates and indulged in some tasty pastry treats.

Garmisch: Edelweiss Resort - This is one of our favorite spots in the heart of the Bavaria area of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. We stayed at the hotel over the 4th of July holiday and took a few of the tours offered by the hotel. My wonderful husband tried his best to keep us moving constantly, but was met with complaints from all three of his lovely ladies. Sorry, but sometimes you just want to RELAX on vacation instead of go-go-go. We did have the chance to go to the top of the Zugspitze, the highest point in Germany. We took a cable car up to the top and the cogwheel train down. My only problem with this trip was that being afraid of heights makes it difficult to truly enjoy the experience. I did conquer my fear though and made it to the top. Once up there, you can see for miles! And at one point, you even cross over into Tirol, Austria. At top of the Zugspitze, we enjoyed some Bavarian pretzels and beer with coke (interesting flavor I might add). Even the girls, decked out in light jackets and capris, enjoyed some sledding.

The next day, we went to the Partnach Gorge. It was another trip set up by the great staff at Edelweiss. We biked to the gorge and on the way stopped at the Olympic stadium from 1930. It was the location of the winter Olympics. It still has a ski jump that was used by the skiers from that time and is still used by the German skiing team. After that little trek, we completed the ride to the gorge. Now, again my wonderful husband posted a picture of me looking rather pissed at the camera and in fact, I was. I was tired from the bike ride which was a few miles from the resort, and a hilly ride at that. (But seriously, but ass hurt from those small seats!) Once we made it to the Partnach, we went on foot to the gorge.Not only am I afraid of heights but am also claustrophobic, and add in a mother's overwhelming fear of losing her child over a large cliff, I was a bit stressed during this trip. The caverns and pathway through the gorge was breathtaking. I have never seen anything like it. Waterfalls fell from above, the water below rushed through the gorge. It's hard to believe that several years ago, this was the place for this logging community and several loggers lost their lives when they were lowered to the water to dislodge the logs. There are even people today who insist on rafting or kayaking through these rapids, which I am sure are a class 5 or 6 rapid.  To each his own though, I just made sure I held on to the children for dear life walking through this area. When we returned from the gorge we stopped at a little biergarten at the bottom. They really had the greatest food desserts!

The next day we went to the Neuschwanstein castle. This gorgeous castle, built by Ludwig II, was supposed to have 60 rooms, but only a small handful were completed prior to his death. The castle was seated closely to his parents' castle, which is impressive itself. The Neuschwanstein castle was the inspiration for Walt Disney's Cinderella castle and is the site for several visitors year round.

Porec, Croatia: Our most recent day trip was to the beaches of Croatia, where topless sunbathing was very prevalent (oh how I love explaining new experiences to my daughters). The town itself was nestled right along the Adriatic sea and the water was a crystal blue color, allowing for visibility to the bottom with out a problem. Croatia just became a part of the EU this MONTH and many of the shops and restaurants still use the monetary Kuna unit used in the country, We had lunch at a little hole in the wall, but the food was delicious and the seafood very fresh. We then headed over to the resort area beaches. Unlike any beach I've been to, these beaches had no sand and the platforms you could sit or lay down on were made of stone. The beach walls were literally right at the water and there were ladders you could use to get into the water. I can say that water shoes are a must as the floor of the sea also had several small rocks. You could also lie down in the grassy knoll areas. In all, the area itself was breathtaking. Although the trip itself on a bus, made for a long day, I am really glad we had the chance to go to Croatia.

The summer isn't over yet and we've got a few more trips planned that I really hope the kids enjoy and can learn from.I only wish my summers were this exciting when i was a kid. I suppose I can always make up for lost time and live vicariously through them!

Cable car to top of Zugspitze

Top of the zugspitze

Ski jump at Olympic stadium

Partnach gorge

Neuschanstein castle

Parents' castle

On the Bernina express

Bernina glacier

St Moritz, Switzerland

Porec Croatia

One year already!

It's hard to believe, but it's been a year since we moved here. I'm not sure where the time went but, wow!  When we first moved to Italy, I was given some advice. "You will adapt to Italy in your own time. It may take you 3 months, 6 months, a year, but you will adapt." How right my friend was. Italy HAS been an adjustment. It's not just adjusting to the lack of my favorite Target or being able to get whatever I like at the grocery store, or even being able to understand what I'm reading without having to translate it first. The adjustment is an adjustment to a way of life and letting go of all your expectations. Simply put, enjoying the sweet life, because really, if you sit back and think about it, life really is something to be cherished and enjoyed.

A year ago I came over to Italy with many expectations and hesitations. Many expectations were quashed within in the first few weeks, and frankly, I really had to take a step back from being a self centered American woman and just embrace what was before me. (But I can honestly tell you, that was DIFFICULT and change is hard.) Once I got my rhythm down and knew where to shop, when to shop and how to shop, life became easier. Once I started learning the language, it was even easier. I'll explain the shopping bit in a few minutes, but suffice to say, Italy is growing on me.

In the last year, I've made new friends and said goodbye to a few friends. We got an Italian dog from Lucca, Italy, and he's a real cutie. We named him Giovanni and he is a real italian love muffin. I really enjoy talking to him in Italian, and he responds to me with licks and butt wags. He and I have come a long way with understanding one another and truth be told, he knows his momma is the leader of his pack. We've been on a few travels and a short deployment. We've enjoyed our time together and missed the time with family abroad. But in the last year, here is what I've learned about Italy.

10. Italians LOVE to be outdoors and exercise. They take family walks in the evening or morning, some times twice a day. They plan Volksmarches with their families, which just a planned hike. They enjoy riding bikes. They enjoy soccer and most importantly, they love to go to the beach.

9. Italian pastries are not like American pastries. They are not as sweet but in some ways, they are better. The ingredients are more natural, so you have an opportunity to taste everything inside the pastry and enjoy the blending of flavors.

8. Driving in Italy is a sporting event. The mopeds and scooters, they ride to the far side of the street so the cars can pass. The motorcycles, they zoom past you whenever and where ever they can, even if it's in the middle of the lane between cars. The bicyclists, young and old, groups or single bikes, they ride along the road, minding their business, holding umbrellas during the rain and talking on their cell phones. It brings a whole different meaning to texting and driving. And lastly, the cars. There are certain cars, like the Fiat and Punto, that you know you will HAVE to pass, otherwise you will never get to where you are going. Then, and I swear this is true, if your license plate is one that they give to Americans (we have two types here) you can be sure that you will be passed. Just expect to be cut off, expect to be nearly run over, and expect to merge where there is no merge lane. You must learn to drive offensively and forget all you have learned from the states.

7. Roundabouts!  When we first arrived here I didn't understand the roundabouts. Basically, Italy doesn't like traffic lights, at least that is my assumption. I say this because where ever there is a traffic light, you will find it replaced with a roundabout within a few weeks. I have to admit, I thought at first, the Italians just don't like to stop their cars and wait for lights. But then I thought, it's a great way to save on gas and the roundabouts are very efficient. It took my husband and I a while to understand that the roundabouts have TWO lanes, not just one and when you get that idea down, and you understand how to drive in the round about, merging into one and getting out of one is a piece of cake!  I have grown to love these roundabouts and really think we should try them in the states.

6. Here's a bit more on driving, but it's very important! Driving; Don't hesitate! If you hesitate while driving you've just given the Italian the driver the right of way and they will seriously, cut you off, mow you down, go around you, or stop dead in front of you and let a sheep cross the road. On top of it, you cannot acknowledge them if they are trying to merge with you. It's a must!!  A gentleman I know told me a story. He was driving one day with his daughter in law and they were in some traffic. It was a roundabout and cars were merging together. so he stayed his course,, looking straight on. His daughter in law saw a car next to them trying to merge in ahead of them and said something to him. His reply, "DON'T LOOK AT THEM, LOOK AWAY. IF HE SEES YOU THEN HE'LL THINK IT'S OK. EYES FRONT, EYES FRONT!" At first I thought, 'No, he can't be right', but damn if is his! Another thing about driving, if you are not Italian, you are driving TOO SLOW. I swear, they just like to pass Americans anytime they can because to be behind you would be horrible! They don't pay attention to the traffic laws, those don't apply to them. They speed around you, drive up close enough to the back bumper to be in the back seat with you, and then have the nerve to honk at you for going only 10km over the speed limit. They're crazy I tell you, crazy. Sad part is, it's starting to rub off on me. Beware US drivers, if you thought my driving was defensive before, you ain't seem nothing yet!

5. Reposo: My favorite time of the day. Seriously, nothing gets done during reposo. Shops are closed, some at 1130, some at 12pm, some at 1230, whenever they feel like it. And the reopening time, eh well that's just a suggestion. It doesn't really mean they will open at 330 or 4pm, it just simply means, around that time. So you really need to plan your day accordingly. You go to the gym either very early in the morning, or during lunch; you clean the house during reposo, because really, what else should you do? At the very least, you watch some tv or read a book, but do not, by all means, try to go shopping or expect anything to be open. This includes the mall!  It's a no shopping zone from 12-3p. (And while we are on the subject of reposo, that's lunchtime as well, so run to the open restaurant because after 2pm, they are CLOSED.)

4. Eating out: Unless you enjoy 8pm dinners, don't bother. The earliest a restaurant opens is 6:30, some not even until 7pm. They know we Americans like to eat early. We haven't quite mastered the European way of eating yet. But let me say this, just because the restaurant, trattatoria, spaghetteria or pizzeria is open, it does not necessarily mean the grill or oven is on. Food is made when it is ordered, and not a moment sooner. So the earlier you are to dinner, chances are the longer you will wait for food.

3. Soccer: The Italians LOVE soccer. Rain, shine, snow, or slush, they are out there playing. Weather does not phase these sport enthusiasts. We have a soccer club near our house and just about every night for about 2-3 hours, the teams are out there, rain or shine, playing soccer. Now seeing how it has been raining ALOT this season, I must say that I admire their drive and determination. If it were me, I would get tired of being waterlogged and start looking for some indoor sport to partake of, but to each is own.

2. Italians are direct, they don't beat around the bush or curb what they mean. They tell it like it is. When they answer the phone, the first word they say is "pronto" which means, "I am ready, speak." It take s bit to get used to but then when you find yourself doing it, you know you've made it in Italy. Italians speak their minds, they tell you how they feel and why you should feel the same, but honestly it's ok. It really is ok to be honest and open about things. Sarcasm is lost on them as are some jokes, but for the most part, speak your mind and you will do fine.

1. Lastly, sit down, relax, enjoy a morning pastry or a cappuccino, read the paper, read a book, or enjoy a nice stroll with your family. This is what Italy is about. It's about family and friends. Last weekend, we had a block party set up by the Italian neighbors down the street. Out little street now has several families and it is still growing. The neighbors came around and invited everyone to join in. Rather than a typical American block party with a BBQ and such, this party was Italian style, we ordered pizzas!  Everyone gathered at the end of the street where some tables had been set up. Wine and beer were shared, and everyone met each other. We enjoyed a large dinner with our Italian neighbors and friends and had a great time. The handmade desserts were delicious and the home brewed wine was spot on! Even the kids enjoyed a little entertainment from one of the men who dressed up as a kids character in costume. The meal started around 7pm and we returned to our homes around 11p. It truly was wonderful and I enjoyed their company. It's nice to finally know some of my Italian neighbors and it was nice to enjoy a great dinner with them.

I can finally say I've adjusted to living in Italy. I've adjusted to the way of life here and I really hope that once we return to the states that we take back with us some of the values we've learned here. Ciao tutti!  Ci Vediamo!

I'm back...and Pisa

It's hard to believe but here we are, February 8th. Where has the time gone? Sorry I have been remiss in typing up my blogs, I've been busy lately. Unfortunately, it's not been much to write about. You see, girl scout cookie sales kicked up into high gear and there were many fiascoes with it. That just consumed my time and created undo frustration. Then of course, with all the holidays, my girl scout schedule got all turned around and it felt like meeting after meeting with the girls, not to mentioned an all day Badge-a-thon at my house. I must have been out of my mind by then! Have you ever tried to teach 9 girls to cook an egg? And how to cook it three different ways? Geesh!  But in all, those girls earned 9 1/2 badges in 6 hours. Quite an accomplishment. I think I might have to do it again, NEXT YEAR. Between that and 3 weekends of sleepovers, my husband's week long trip to South Africa, Murphy's law of things breaking AS SOON AS he leaves, and oh yes, my daughter deciding to run away (although I eventually used my mommy knowledge/psychology techniques to deter her actual leaving), you can see I've been a bit overwhelmed, to say the least.

In January, the fam and I took a weekend excursion to Pisa to see the tower. It was AMAZING! Living over here you have the chance to see things you've only ever read about in books or have seen on the big screen, but to be there, to actually see these wonders in real life, it's just AMAZING. We stayed the night at Camp Darby, a small military post not too far from Florence and Pisa. It was by far, a very tiny post. The next morning we got up and headed to Pisa, in the cold drizzly rain. (By the way, did I mention it's the rainy season and it rains here A LOT? Well it does. I even had to invest in rain boots. And we could have dreary, drizzly days for days on end. I'd be surprised if half the people over here weren't taking Cymbalta or Prozac to keep happy.  ) At any rate, we headed into the Piazza and can i just say, WOW. The architecture you first see is like slap to the senses. The buildings are daunting, they are ornate, laden with frescoes,intricate metal art, stone and gold. And these buildings have been around for years!  The architects of these magnificent structures were pure genius. There was the Duomo and the Baptistry, the crypt and then the Tower itself. Lining the streets were vendors of all nationalities selling Pisa memories, and umbrellas, lot of umbrellas. But it was a quiet morning, not many tourists at all. Even the McDonalds was quiet. (But at 6-7 euros for a sandwich, I can understand why)

We walked into the church which was getting ready for services. The doors themselves were made of aged wood and iron, with intricate pictures depicting stories in the bible. The archways in the church looked like huge wish bones that led up to a second tier. the stained glass windows and oil paintings reminded you that you were in a place of worship. But take one look at the ceiling and you would believe that you were in an art gallery. I have to admit the, the churches in Italy are like nothing I have ever seen. They are so beautiful inside, in fact, i could see switching to Catholicism if I had a chance to see that every Sunday. I mean seriously, how could you fall asleep with all that art? You could count the tiles on the ceiling and still never finish  in one sermon!  Words can't do these works of art justice, you will just have to see for yourself.

February was a short month but seemed to fly by. My schedule became more complicated as I began teaching a college course for the local college here. Two nights a weeks, my family didn't see me and my days all seemed to run together as I prepared lesson after lesson, reading chapter upon chapter. I was in college a long time ago, and took 12 credit hours a semester. But I guess it was easier back then since I wasn't working, didn't have children and a husband, and I certainly didn't have swiss cheese hole mommy brain. I could really retain all that info back then. Now I am lucky to string two sentences together and remember my lecture notes!

February turned to March and we found ourselves still cold, with rain  about 4-5 days out of the week. What is really sad is that the rainy season JUST started. Could have fooled me. I swear it's been raining since October. We adopted a cute dog from southern Italy. He's an English Brittney Spaniel from Italy and now owned by an American family. (No doggie complex there). He speaks Italian and English, or rather i should say, he understands Italian and English. He also understands a bit of German. So usually, I have to cycle through 3 languages to get him to understand one command. It's confusing even for me. But he's been a wonderful addition to the family. He has his quirks. He likes to sleep in my bed, at or on our feet. He enjoys the pack mentality at night. He hates car rides and we have come to realize, he gets car sick. He's definitely not the tongue-hanging-outside-the-window-wind-blowing-in-the-face kind of dog. He loves outdoors and will even throw his own toy to himself. It is quite entertaining to watch him hop and toss the toy in the air. Of course, then he becomes crazy dog and completes about 6-10 circuits in the yard until his wildness has been tamed. And he likes to dig holes. It's an annoying side effect to the dog, but we adapt. Other than that, he's a great dog. Unfortunately, it's been raining ALOT so long walks outside are few and far between and muddy paw prints are pretty common in my house now. Believe me, once it stops raining and the ground becomes drier and firmer, I might consider mopping the floors again. Until then, what really is the point? I could do it in the morning or the evening, but then as soon as the dog goes outside, he brings more dirt back inside. It's an endless cycle. Oh, and he LOVES shoes!  Not a good thing in my house where shoes rarely back it back to bedrooms, let alone closets.One day the kids will learn, but I won't hold my breath.

We celebrated Easter the other day, called Pasqua here. It is not commercialized as in the states. There are no Italian egg hunts or Easter baskets, although they do sell large Kinder eggs with a little surprises in them.  They also have some easter candy but they do not, sadly, have peeps!  They don't know the sugary goodness wrapped in a marshmellow that they are missing! Nor do they have jellybeans!  Thank good for the American commissary! Also in March, we celebrated the International Day of the Woman, or La Festa Della Donna. Flower vendors were busy that day and days leading up to it, selling bunches of yellow Mimosas. It's another really big holiday here and in Europe, but not really celebrated in the states. It's a shame, it was really nice to receive flowers from my boss and strangers! I enjoyed the unity of it all.

So I believe we are up to date now, aside from some other girl scouting adventures in geocaching. So Buona Pasqua everyone and enjoy the holiday!

Buona Pasquette tutti

It's been way too long. As i sit and listen to the bells chiming on this, yet another Italian day of rest, I am reminded that I am indeed in Italy. I've said before how this country is rich in culture and history, but one thing that strikes me is how rich it is in family. Today's holiday is Pasquette, Easter Monday. It is the day of rest. A day that Italians spend time with family and plan family hikes and such. It's a day set aside for family togetherness. I envy this about the Italian culture because frankly, in the US, we do not have such holidays. Everyday, families are out walking and riding bikes along the streets of Italy. They enjoy this time dedicated to family, a time to enjoy each other and truly love one another. This sense of togetherness is wonderful to see and is truly  heart warming. It makes me wonder though, if we had such days set aside in the US, would our families be united? Instead of mom and dad on the computer, kids with handheld electronic devices 24/7, and families sitting in front of the tv, would we actually begin to enjoy our families and would our children be just that much more appreciative of family?

I remember growing up with my Italian stepfather, a wonderful man who I can really call my dad. He often preached to us children the importance of family and I remember us kids, we  just thought it was another excuse for him to make us do something we didn't want to do. But no, this truly is something ingrained in the Italian culture. It is something that has transcended generations, even those that have immigrated to the US. So why then, aren't all families this close? Do they not know what they are missing and is it too late to start this with mine? Sure, my kids aren't saints and there are many times throughout the day where I don't want to spend any time with them, but then I realize, I am missing out on something wonderful. My kids are kids, and they are growing up fast. My 10 yr old girl has hit puberty with a force to be reckoned with but there are times, every so often, where I see in her the sweet kid she is and the superb woman she will become. My 7 yr old girl is following closely behind her sister, but really, she is a sweet kid, very kind and very considerate of others. But what I see in both of them is that the more time I spend with them, the more they enjoy it. The girls really soak up and seem to bask in that time and honestly, I am beginning to enjoy those moments with them.

So perhaps the Italians are on to something. Perhaps a day of rest to enjoy the company of family without the interruption of electronics is a good thing. Perhaps, instead of constantly rushing one kid to piano, another to gymnastics and another to girl scouts, it is time to really embrace their childhood and this time I have been given with my girls. They really are kids only once and I for one don't want to miss it. Italy, you appear to be changing my outlook on life and if I to admit it, that really is not such a bad thing. (And just in case my husband is wondering, no I have not been drinking this early in the morning. Consider it a moment of clarity in the chaos of life.)

Red underwear, a new year!

Posted from a friend of mine:

What’s with this Red Underwear anyway? I don’t know if you have been out and about much in Italian Malls and Markets but if you have, in all the “Intimo” shops or stalls you will see big displays of men’s and ladies underwear in RED. The tradition goes like this, you must wear RED underwear to see the New Year in (you have to be wearing it as the New Year comes in), and it will bring you “buona fortuna”, good luck for the coming year. Here is the catch that I didn’t know before, you have to have it given to you as a present; you can’t just go out and buy it for yourself.

Then on New Years Day you have to eat lentils because they bring money!!!!! I have eaten them on several New Years so far, and I’m still waiting for the money to arrive!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Maybe this year, eh?

Sorry I have been here so many years that I forgot to tell you about something big that is different here. You will have noticed it already by now, but the day after Christmas is not Boxing Day and big sales do not start on that day, in fact the stores are all closed. The day after Christmas is Saint Stefano and it’s a religious holiday.

Sales are another interesting topic. By “legge”, by LAW stores were only allowed to have sales 2 times a year, around Jan 15th and around July 15th, I say around because the dates varied a little, from region to region but around those dates and the allowed dates were released in a schedule announced from Rome. The sales could last for about a month and varied from store to store in duration.

Over the last couple of years this has started to change. Sorry I don’t know if the legislation has actually changed or if the stores have just got fed up and started doing their own thing when it comes to sales. Having owned small photo stores in Canada years ago, I don’t know how small stores here were able to survive with “sales” being so controlled, it was always my experience that a store owner needs to be able to have sales whenever he wants to balance stock, help cash flow when needed etc. Whatever the law actually says now, I have noticed that stores are starting to have sales at all different times of the year just like home. Today I noticed that while most of the store sales haven’t started yet, I saw a few stores with sales going on already.

January the stores that sell such things, have big “white” sales, bedding, linen and office supplies. Over the years we have bought some lovely sheet sets (bedding), for 50% off at Coin, an upscale department store, in Vicenza on Corso Palladio.

If you have been in any of the large commercial centers you probably also saw lots of “stockings” for sale and signs about “La Befana”, you will see more right after Christmas.

La Befana is one of Italy's oldest and most celebrated legends. Each year on January 6 the children of Italy awaken in hopes that La Befana has made a visit to their house. This is a significant day to Italians because it marks the end of the Christmas season and the day that the three Wise Men arrived at the manger of the Christ child. Over the years the Epiphany (Jan 6th), has been a more celebrated holiday for the children of Italy than even Christmas.

So you see Italy is such a magical place for children that they receive gifts from not one but two mythical figures during the holiday season. First Babo Natale, (Santa Claus) and then Befana (the old witch).

If they have been bad, La Befana, which is an old lady dressed in rags and who carries a broom, brings them coal in their stocking, if they have been good they get a stocking of candy. You can see by the size of the displays that this tradition has grown and grown the last few years as well as Christmas. Many children are also given another gift as well as the traditional stocking. You will find the Fiera dell’Epifania (market), in the main piazza’s downtown from 04 to 06 of Jan.

Prepare yourself for some NOISE. Even if you wanted to go to sleep early on New Years Eve you would most likely be wasting your time. They love their “fuochi d’artificio” fireworks, and any day now you should start to hear lots of loud bangs in your neighbourhood, and all of New Years Eve, ending in big firework displays all over the place. Many people let off little displays on streets and in parks.

If you watch any Italian news you will see large displays of “illegal” fireworks confiscated by the police all over Italy but mainly in the south. These are truck loads of often simple “brown bag” fireworks in all shapes and sizes that have been smuggled into the country. I don’t know about in America but in Canada fireworks have been illegal for private use for many years, and if you watch the news the day after New Years you will see why. Each year many people loose fingers, eyes, etc and it is not uncommon to hear of a couple of deaths as well just from fireworks. So be careful. Once again you will be able to see on the news New Years morning, footage of people standing on their balconies firing off fireworks at each other just for fun. Franca always turns the news on to see what the carnage was like this year. If you have ever let off fireworks like I did as a kid, you will know that those darn fuses are so unpredictable in their burning time

Christmas Markets!

Oh my! I am like a kid in a candy store. I have heard about Christkindlmarkts for a long time. I experienced one in Lancaster PA last year and fell in love with the Kathe Wohlfahrt store immediately since my family and I have a love of The Nutcracker ballet. I even had my very first Gluhwein last year too, a warm mulled red wine drink found at the markets. So when I heard we were going to Italy, I had several people tell my about the Christmas markets. And you know, when many people tell you about one thing you should do, you get all excited and that excitement builds and builds. Your expectations become grand and you  hope that once you go, it's everything you'd hope it would be. Of course, now, having lived here for almost 6 months, I have learned to lower my expectations a tad and just enjoy what Italy has to offer. So far this season, I have attended 3 Christmas markets, all special and unique in their own way, and I hope to visit a few more as the season progresses.

First, a little about Christmas time here. The decorations, and yes surprise, surprise they decorate houses here, do not go out typically, before December 8th. This is the Day of the Immaculate Conception. Traditionally, up until a few years ago, Italy did not celbrate Christmas like we did. Christmas itself, was a religious holiday to celebrate the birth of Christ. The notion of presents and Santa Claus did not exist on this day. It was the Day of Epiphany, January 6th, when the children would hang their stockings out for Befana to deliver gifts. Befana, often confused with a witch, is a little old lady with tattered clothes, long hair and a broom who brings gifts to the children on this special day. She also represents the time when the decorations are to be cleaned up and put away, hence her broom. A few years back though, the Italians moved towards our celebration of Christmas, complete with the religious side and that of Santa Claus, or Bobbo Natale. The day of epiphany is still special and warrants its own festival downtown, but Befana doesn't bring as many gifts on that day. It is Santa Claus who has that pleasure. And at the Christmas markets, you can find him in his Santa hut, waiting to hear from boys and girls of all ages.

Our first Christmas market was up in the mountains in Asiago. The drive up was beautiful as I love the countryside and mountains. However the switchbacks made me feel as if I was on a roller coaster ride. The center of town was home to the market and there sat little wooden huts filled with food, drink and craft vendors. It was very quaint (and yes I mean small) but it was a great experience. We even walked the town for a little bit and enjoyed the shops. The next one we visited was Verona. Verona's Christmas market was larger and located in 3 piazzas. They also had the wooden huts for the vendors but here, Bobbo Natale was present. In addition to this, there was a good sampling of German food, as it was more like a German Christmas market than not, and wait for it....A large Kathe Wohlfahrt vendor in the center of the piazza. I was excited and of course, we came home with an Alpini Nutcracker. I liked this market because it had a good amount of vendors but it was still small. I am used to going to craft shows with 200-300 vendors. Sure they each have their own tables and displays and i may not like everything, it may even be redundant, but after attending craft shows for so long, this Christmas market didn't quite do it for me.

My last Christmas market i attended with a couple of my new friends. We drove about 3 hours north to Innsbruck Austria to enjoy the market there. I was very excited to go and after seeing it online and reading about it, I knew I would be happy. http://www.christkindlmarkt.cc/1-1-Home.html
There were five locations throughout the town and i think we hit about 4 of them. The last one required a ride up a side of a mountain and well, that didn't happen and we were too tired to find it anyhow. But I truly loved the little wooden houses and the Bavarian feel of the market!  We tried some traditional Austria goodness. There were the handmade potato chips and then the deep fried strudel hidden inside a ball of a dough and then dipped in sugar, caramel, chocolate, and other yummy goodness. We also enjoyed some Gluhwein, a warm German mulled wine. It was a bit spicier than I remember and not as good, but we still enjoyed sipping it. But I must say, the highlight of my day was watching the Austrians learn to line dance the cupid shuffle to another song not associated with the cupid shuffle. In all, it was a great day spent with good friends.