Friday, March 28, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Easter in Italy
I always think of Easters at home as wet. And Italy has proven no different.
Easter in Italy has many traditions. Of course for the Catholics there is the Pope and Mass. There are the wonderful Easter cakes that are sold by the hundreds in the stores - and come in boxes, often with very cute ribbon handles. There are the traditions that make it a family day and there is Pasquetta - literally translates to "little Easter". On Easter Monday you are to pack up all the leftover food and take your family for a picnic. It's supposed to be good to eat the leftovers and enjoy nature and the sun. Hmmmm, no one told us what happens if it rains. (Sorry kiddos - Easter egg hunts are not part of the traditions here.)
Our Easter began with Kyle not feeling all that well. Of course that did not stop him from being excited when he discovered that the Easter Bunny did indeed find him and Vika at our Agriturismo ("inn on a farm") in Tuscany. The kids woke up top find chocolate eggs scattered all over the table and a note saying there were more treats back home. As well the Easter Bunny had not forgotten to hide eggs for an egg hunt (Guess he wasn't the Italian Easter Bunny). However, it must not have been raining when he hid the eggs. It certainly was when Kyle went to find them. A little (lot of) rain did nothing to dampen Kyle's Easter spirits. (If you're familiar with Robert Munsch's Easter story just think, "CHOCOLATE BUNNIES!")
The kids exchanged small gifts. Kyle gave Vika a stuffed cow (I think that's what it is) and Vika gave Kyle a Playmobil garbage man and garbage can. Needless to say Kyle was thrilled!
Then we all packed up (Margo was still with us) and we headed to Pisa. The drive was a little longer than we had expected and very much curvier! (NO I didn't get sick - I drove! lol) Pisa did not give us a picturesque welcoming but we enjoyed the Duomo and the Leaning Tower anyway. (That's pretty much all there is to see in Pisa.)
We napped in the early part of the night only to pack up the car and get on the road at 12:30am. we dropped Margo off at the airport in Rome at 3:30am and then continued home - and straight to bed.
Vika and I were up first so Vika got her Easter Bunny gift. She loves her new stacking toy. As soon as Kyle woke he felt the magnetic pull to the giant Kinder Surprise Egg waiting for him at the table. Inside was a little Hot Wheels race track. Kyle has since discovered that he doesn't actually like Kinder Surprise Chocolate. (Too much good Italian chocolate I guess.)
SO our Easter was dragged out for a couple of days. Of course it was very strange to be so far away from family for it. Although we miss everyone we still managed to have our own Easter with some of the family's favourite traditions.
Easter in Italy has many traditions. Of course for the Catholics there is the Pope and Mass. There are the wonderful Easter cakes that are sold by the hundreds in the stores - and come in boxes, often with very cute ribbon handles. There are the traditions that make it a family day and there is Pasquetta - literally translates to "little Easter". On Easter Monday you are to pack up all the leftover food and take your family for a picnic. It's supposed to be good to eat the leftovers and enjoy nature and the sun. Hmmmm, no one told us what happens if it rains. (Sorry kiddos - Easter egg hunts are not part of the traditions here.)
Our Easter began with Kyle not feeling all that well. Of course that did not stop him from being excited when he discovered that the Easter Bunny did indeed find him and Vika at our Agriturismo ("inn on a farm") in Tuscany. The kids woke up top find chocolate eggs scattered all over the table and a note saying there were more treats back home. As well the Easter Bunny had not forgotten to hide eggs for an egg hunt (Guess he wasn't the Italian Easter Bunny). However, it must not have been raining when he hid the eggs. It certainly was when Kyle went to find them. A little (lot of) rain did nothing to dampen Kyle's Easter spirits. (If you're familiar with Robert Munsch's Easter story just think, "CHOCOLATE BUNNIES!")
The kids exchanged small gifts. Kyle gave Vika a stuffed cow (I think that's what it is) and Vika gave Kyle a Playmobil garbage man and garbage can. Needless to say Kyle was thrilled!
Then we all packed up (Margo was still with us) and we headed to Pisa. The drive was a little longer than we had expected and very much curvier! (NO I didn't get sick - I drove! lol) Pisa did not give us a picturesque welcoming but we enjoyed the Duomo and the Leaning Tower anyway. (That's pretty much all there is to see in Pisa.)
We napped in the early part of the night only to pack up the car and get on the road at 12:30am. we dropped Margo off at the airport in Rome at 3:30am and then continued home - and straight to bed.
Vika and I were up first so Vika got her Easter Bunny gift. She loves her new stacking toy. As soon as Kyle woke he felt the magnetic pull to the giant Kinder Surprise Egg waiting for him at the table. Inside was a little Hot Wheels race track. Kyle has since discovered that he doesn't actually like Kinder Surprise Chocolate. (Too much good Italian chocolate I guess.)
SO our Easter was dragged out for a couple of days. Of course it was very strange to be so far away from family for it. Although we miss everyone we still managed to have our own Easter with some of the family's favourite traditions.
Monday, March 24, 2008
What a week!
What a week! There's just no way I'll be able to put this all into writing! Too much and too amazing! On March 13 my bff Margo arrived in Rome and we spent three days there at a fantastic B&B near the Vatican. We spent a whole day at the Vatican (and that area), the next day in Ancient Rome (Colosseum, the Forum, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain etc) and the next day we wondered to a variety of places. After Rome we came to our place and on Monday we dropped Brian at work and then heading to Pompei. Tuesday we wondered around our village. On Wednesday we went to Sorrento (Almafi Coast) and Thursday we were able to leave Kyle with Brian in the afternoon (nap time) as Brian was working from home and we went to Casserta (the Royal Palace and to the mall!). Friday we packed up and headed north to Tuscany. The weather was horrible but the sightseeing was great. We managed to pack in Siena, Pisa, MonteRiggioni, Colle Valle D'Elsa and a whole lot of countryside.
I could spend a whole day writing on each experience but I'm not about to do that right now! Here's the highlights:
First - the kids LOVE their Auntie Margo. Although we only dropped her off at the airport this morning I've heard at least five times from Kyle "I don't miss her, but I sure love Auntie Margo." I was a real gift for me to have an extra set of hands and eyes around to help with the kids. They're great little travellers but it does take some coordination to get them packed each time we head out!
Rome - WHAT AN AMAZING CITY. There is truly no way to tell you what I saw. The size of things is so unexpected. All the history I've taught did not prepare me for the size of things. (Those textbook pictures just don't cut it!) The Colosseum is bigger than today's hockey arenas; it held 75 000 people and sure was much easier on the eyes than any modern day stadium/arena. The Sistine Chapel, again, words can not do it justice. The colours were much brighter than I expected and there is so much more to it then those textbook pictures show. And those who know me know I've travelled and know that I have seen churches - churches, cathedrals, temples and mosques. Many of them leaving me struggling for words. But St Peter's Basilica stopped me in my tracks. One of the best ways to describe it is in my Rick Steves' guidebook, "The most impressive church on earth." "To call it vast is like calling God smart." It makes your heart skip a beat - and it has nothing to do with religion (I can't imagine what it does to a Catholic!). It can hold 60 000 people for mass. And the art is equally as stunning as the size. Even Margo who said she had no interest in the Pope was impressed by the emotion and atmosphere when we saw him giving Mass in St Peters Square on Palm Sunday.
Our days in Rome tended to start with us out of the hotel by about 9:30 and returning no earlier than 9:30pm. (Told you our kids are good little travellers!) It gave us the chance to see things in the evening. The Trevi fountain and throwing our coins in with the wish that we will return to Rome was a highlight for me. Kyle certainly enjoyed this - and only threatened to fall in once. Kyle and I had seen the fountain on TV before we moved and it was a must see for the both of us. And again - we were not prepared for the size. It "grows" out of the back of a building and just dwarfs the crowds that surround it.
The Roman Forum was something that I had not expected to interest and intrigue me the way it did. Kyle took the kids so Margo and I could make a quick visit to these ruins in the heart of Rome. The were the social, political and religious heart of ancient Rome. To teach history is one thing, to stand in the exact place it happened is such a different experience. Margo and I were both pretty struck by this. We would repeat things over and over - especially when we saw where Julius Cesar was cremated - the spot still has people putting fresh flowers on it every day! And the size - just how did they build on that scale without cranes? (A questioned pondered by Kyle many times. His final answer, "They really had a crane - but just one and they all had to share it because there just wasn't enough scaffolding.")
On our last day in Rome Kyle took the Kyle to a playground that we found (this was the first real playground we've seen since moving to Italy) and Margo and I had time to wonder with Vika. The playground was, by no surprise, on Kyle's list of highlights, but when he finished there the only two other things were The Metro and Gelato. (And more gelato and more gelato and more gelato! - Pistachio is his favourite flavour)
I'm just too tired to write more now so you'll have to wait for Tuscany, Sorrento and the great car key experience. Ciao!
I could spend a whole day writing on each experience but I'm not about to do that right now! Here's the highlights:
First - the kids LOVE their Auntie Margo. Although we only dropped her off at the airport this morning I've heard at least five times from Kyle "I don't miss her, but I sure love Auntie Margo." I was a real gift for me to have an extra set of hands and eyes around to help with the kids. They're great little travellers but it does take some coordination to get them packed each time we head out!
Rome - WHAT AN AMAZING CITY. There is truly no way to tell you what I saw. The size of things is so unexpected. All the history I've taught did not prepare me for the size of things. (Those textbook pictures just don't cut it!) The Colosseum is bigger than today's hockey arenas; it held 75 000 people and sure was much easier on the eyes than any modern day stadium/arena. The Sistine Chapel, again, words can not do it justice. The colours were much brighter than I expected and there is so much more to it then those textbook pictures show. And those who know me know I've travelled and know that I have seen churches - churches, cathedrals, temples and mosques. Many of them leaving me struggling for words. But St Peter's Basilica stopped me in my tracks. One of the best ways to describe it is in my Rick Steves' guidebook, "The most impressive church on earth." "To call it vast is like calling God smart." It makes your heart skip a beat - and it has nothing to do with religion (I can't imagine what it does to a Catholic!). It can hold 60 000 people for mass. And the art is equally as stunning as the size. Even Margo who said she had no interest in the Pope was impressed by the emotion and atmosphere when we saw him giving Mass in St Peters Square on Palm Sunday.
Our days in Rome tended to start with us out of the hotel by about 9:30 and returning no earlier than 9:30pm. (Told you our kids are good little travellers!) It gave us the chance to see things in the evening. The Trevi fountain and throwing our coins in with the wish that we will return to Rome was a highlight for me. Kyle certainly enjoyed this - and only threatened to fall in once. Kyle and I had seen the fountain on TV before we moved and it was a must see for the both of us. And again - we were not prepared for the size. It "grows" out of the back of a building and just dwarfs the crowds that surround it.
The Roman Forum was something that I had not expected to interest and intrigue me the way it did. Kyle took the kids so Margo and I could make a quick visit to these ruins in the heart of Rome. The were the social, political and religious heart of ancient Rome. To teach history is one thing, to stand in the exact place it happened is such a different experience. Margo and I were both pretty struck by this. We would repeat things over and over - especially when we saw where Julius Cesar was cremated - the spot still has people putting fresh flowers on it every day! And the size - just how did they build on that scale without cranes? (A questioned pondered by Kyle many times. His final answer, "They really had a crane - but just one and they all had to share it because there just wasn't enough scaffolding.")
On our last day in Rome Kyle took the Kyle to a playground that we found (this was the first real playground we've seen since moving to Italy) and Margo and I had time to wonder with Vika. The playground was, by no surprise, on Kyle's list of highlights, but when he finished there the only two other things were The Metro and Gelato. (And more gelato and more gelato and more gelato! - Pistachio is his favourite flavour)
I'm just too tired to write more now so you'll have to wait for Tuscany, Sorrento and the great car key experience. Ciao!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
From the mouth of Kyle
I was telling Kyle he might get to meet some more new friends tomorrow:
"Kyle you might get to meet some more new friends tomorrow"
(He scrunches up his face)
"I don't think I should really do that mom"
"You don't want any new friends?"
"I think I'm allergic to new friends now. I have Jade."
A little while later:
"Kyle, I think you have a crush on Jade."
"Oh I do mom! And every time I crush her she laughs!"
"Kyle you might get to meet some more new friends tomorrow"
(He scrunches up his face)
"I don't think I should really do that mom"
"You don't want any new friends?"
"I think I'm allergic to new friends now. I have Jade."
A little while later:
"Kyle, I think you have a crush on Jade."
"Oh I do mom! And every time I crush her she laughs!"
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
I swore I never do this!
Blogging was not for me! Great for people that have all that extra time in their day, but I have much better things to do than to air my thoughts on feelings on the internet for everyone in cyber space to see! (OK, I will admit I have been known to read a few blogs.) Yet, here I am...blogging.
With the move to Italy I just get too many requests for updates. So this is my way to keep all of you up to date. If you choose to read my blog then great (and it'd be nice to get a comment or email back!) and if you choose not to read my blog then don't ask for an update! :)
Our Italy is not quite the Italy one views in romantic movies. It is chaotic (driving here is slightly better than Ukraine), dirty (the garbage strike/situation is not even close to being resolved, not to mention the air quality around Naples), and there is more poverty than you'd think for a developed country that belongs to the EU.
Our village is quiet and safe - two unusual qualities for Italy. We are two very short blocks from the beach (but the beaches have yet to be cleaned for the tourist season and the Mediterranean possesses much more garbage than you'd like to see.) We live in an area of houses all built within the last few decades. Thus there are not the winding streets that resemble small canyons with laundry strung out overhead. However, I think Kyle appreciates the lizards and the walls much better than laundry overhead.
I walk daily with the kids. We have to check out the beaches, buy our bread and a few groceries. Our favourite stop is surely the local "deli". This is where we can buy things like bread (always at least 6+ fresh baked varieties to choose from), prosciutto, ham and other meats, cheese (fresh ricotta, mozzarella etc) and premade lunch pizzas and sandwiches. Kyle now walks in first and announces "Boungiourno" or "ciao" to everyone and then proceeds to order what we (he) wants.
We try to spend our weekends on adventures with daddy. Every week Kyle anticipates Saturday with great excitement. He knows on Saturday daddy doesn't go to work. So far we've been tourists in Naples (too cold and windy to do much), did a day trip to the Island of Ischia (spent all our time at Castel Argonese - amazing!), drove south to find some caves and didn't get there until hours after close because we were distracted by the awing Greek ruins at Paestum. We have also had some misadventures; like promising Kyle a "new" McDonalds and, by following the directions on the McD's website, drove for 2.5 hours and then gave up. Only to find the McD's on the other side of the city on our way out of town. (Only Brian would ever have the determination to drive that long to find a McD. Believe me it wasn't McD's that kept him going, it was the inability to give into a challenge!)
With the move to Italy I just get too many requests for updates. So this is my way to keep all of you up to date. If you choose to read my blog then great (and it'd be nice to get a comment or email back!) and if you choose not to read my blog then don't ask for an update! :)
Our Italy is not quite the Italy one views in romantic movies. It is chaotic (driving here is slightly better than Ukraine), dirty (the garbage strike/situation is not even close to being resolved, not to mention the air quality around Naples), and there is more poverty than you'd think for a developed country that belongs to the EU.
Our village is quiet and safe - two unusual qualities for Italy. We are two very short blocks from the beach (but the beaches have yet to be cleaned for the tourist season and the Mediterranean possesses much more garbage than you'd like to see.) We live in an area of houses all built within the last few decades. Thus there are not the winding streets that resemble small canyons with laundry strung out overhead. However, I think Kyle appreciates the lizards and the walls much better than laundry overhead.
I walk daily with the kids. We have to check out the beaches, buy our bread and a few groceries. Our favourite stop is surely the local "deli". This is where we can buy things like bread (always at least 6+ fresh baked varieties to choose from), prosciutto, ham and other meats, cheese (fresh ricotta, mozzarella etc) and premade lunch pizzas and sandwiches. Kyle now walks in first and announces "Boungiourno" or "ciao" to everyone and then proceeds to order what we (he) wants.
We try to spend our weekends on adventures with daddy. Every week Kyle anticipates Saturday with great excitement. He knows on Saturday daddy doesn't go to work. So far we've been tourists in Naples (too cold and windy to do much), did a day trip to the Island of Ischia (spent all our time at Castel Argonese - amazing!), drove south to find some caves and didn't get there until hours after close because we were distracted by the awing Greek ruins at Paestum. We have also had some misadventures; like promising Kyle a "new" McDonalds and, by following the directions on the McD's website, drove for 2.5 hours and then gave up. Only to find the McD's on the other side of the city on our way out of town. (Only Brian would ever have the determination to drive that long to find a McD. Believe me it wasn't McD's that kept him going, it was the inability to give into a challenge!)
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