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.