This isn't in the guide books!

Yesterday was a great day- and a very spontaneous one! We went from lazing in our PJs to packed into the car and on the road - to find an Aqueduct that I knew wasn't too far away. I had seen a picture of it and knew it was near Caserta. I also knew that, along with Caserta Palace, it has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage sight. So off we went to find it!

This is the Vanvitelli Aqueduct.

It actually pretty easy to find and it kind of stuns you when you first see it! Just how something so entirely massive that has been around for a couple of thousand years can be missed is surprising! But this is really not a tourist destination. I'm totally stunned as the history here is just amazing and it must have the most amazing story to tell.

Kyle was very excited to see it and had some questions that I still need to look up the answers!

We also drove up the hill by the aqueduct to the Sactuario di San Michele and found some breathtaking views!

It was a beautiful, but cold (10 degrees celcius) day. It was perfect for a Cormick adventure!

Halloween

This Halloween was very different for us! It was the first Halloween we've ever experienced when you don't have to worry about how to fit several warm layers of clothing underneath the costumes or how to show off a costume covered by a rain coat! It was "cool", but even that is relevant. It was 20 degrees celcius when we were Trick or Treating at 7pm! Nevermind that we carved our pumpkins on the 29th in shorts!

Even our Trick or Treating was very different. Although Italians enjoy Halloween it is very unusual to see Trick or Treaters. We were invited to join our friend Brandy and her son, Donovan, and attend the USO Halloween celebration and go Trick or Treating on the US Naval Support Site on Oct 30 (other activities were planned for the military community for actual Halloween). We saw many of our friends and even had dinner at Applebees on the base! Kyle really enjoyed all the festivities even though he wasn't feeling 100%. However, it was Vika that really stole the show while Trick or Treating. She quickly figured out that she wanted whatever they were offering in their bag or bowl. She had no idea what it was but she though it was great to grab it and run! Then turn around and see if she could go another round! Kyle had a great tiem with his friends, but I have to day, Peter Pan wasn't quite as brave as I thought he would be when he came across Captain Hook (turns out he was Jade's dad). (I just had to include a picture of Wall-E. It had to be the best costume we saw - and it was all homemade!)

For the third year in a row Kyle was Peter Pan. He absolutely loves being Peter - and has been practising his sword fighting for months! It was fortunate that I had picked up a Tinkerbell costume for Vika as her planned costume didn't arrive in the mail until a few days after Halloween. Vika's Tinkerbell dress is actual a size 3/4 night gown! I bought it on sale and altered it to fit! Maybe she'll want to be Tinkerbell for the next 2 years?

October 31st was a bit anticlimactic. Guess that's what happens when the Trick or Treating is already done with! The Halloween highlight for me was getting to visit Kyle's class and carve a Jack-O-Lantern with his class - most who had never even seen one! It was really interesting to see all the kids in costume. Italians have a much more "traditional" view on Halloween costumes. There were 5 witches, 5 pumpkins and 4 devils! No princesses! The only Disney character was Kyle (Chef Linguini). In the evening I ended up walking the kids to Dominic's (our favourite pizza place) and Dominic madly ran to the convenience store so he could give the kids some candy! :) Then we met up with Brian and went to a local restaurant that advertised Halloween festivities. Well, I guess Italians consider Halloween decorations festivities as nothing took place -and the kids were the only ones in costumes! Oh well, we had fun and Kyle certainly enjoyed showing everyone his Peter Pan moves!

The moms group that I belong to here hosted a late Halloween party the weekend after Halloween. It took place at Carney Park and we were able to rent a cabin and spend the night along with 5 other families (although there were 50 people at the party!). It was much cooler inside the crater than we were used! It was a great deal of fun - and games! Families were encouraged to dress up, and since Vika's costume had finally arrived (but was MUCH too big) we went all out! Kyle was Chef Linguini, Vika was Remy, Little Chef, I was Chef Colette, and Brian was Anton Ego, the food critic - all from Ratatouille.

We felt so privileged to spent the night at Carney Park! Kyle was thrilled to be able to run free with his friends (and the big boys!). It really made me homesick and made me realize just how much I miss the parks, open space and being able to go camping or even on a day outing to "wilderness".

And amidst the Halloween chaos we celebrated Brian's birthday. We had dinner at Dominic's - Brian's pick - no surprise there! But I did surprise him with a homemade double chocolate meringue cake. His reaction:"Nah - uh!!!!". I love it when I can truly surprise him!

I would say Halloween was a big success this year!

Grandma Phyllis and Granddad Les

We were so excited to have Phyllis and Les come from England to spend a few days with us in October! I think I was the most excited out of everyone! It was the first time they got to meet Vika. And of course, Brian had to be sure he had his wits about him as the sarcasm and digs fly when he and Phyllis are together!

Both the kids absolutely adore Grandma and Granddad. It helps that neither of them act their age (that's Les and Phyllis). They were wonderful with the kids and seemed to have an endless amount of patience for our kids who have an endless amount of energy! They were not bothered by morning wake up visits or construction safety tape being strategically placed throughout the apartment.

Phyllis and Les are very independent and were very easy house guests! They ventured on their own to Pompeii. Vika and I took them to Montecassino and Sorento, and Kyle joined us on a day at Herculaneum. We were even able to celebrate Les's 79th birthday with him at a wonderful little Italian restaurant in our village. We really had a spectacular visit with them! Lots of laughs and smiles and generally good times!

Les - Kyle says "TTFN Capt'n"