German Christmas Markets

Finally! A girls' weekend! It's been at least 2.5 years since the last one and this one was completely different! I got to go, with my friends Nancy and Tina, to the German Christmas Markets. We flew into Zurich where we had a long enough layover to have lunch at a beer hall and shop the Zurich Christmas market before we caught our flight to Nuremberg. At the Zurich market is a monstrous Christmas tree covered in something like 6000 Swarovski crystal decorations! In Nurnberg we stayed with very good friends of mine, Darryn and Martina and they gave us fabulous hospitality! They took us to THE Nuremberg Kriskindl Christmas Market. (Thanks for shopping with us Darryn!) We explored aisles and aisles of glass ornaments, nutcrackers, Nurnberg prune people, and gluhwein and Nurnberg sausages. The rain held off for the most part. (Umbrellas should not be allowed! Dangerous! Unless the person carrying it is over 6 ft and willing to share with the shorter people!) It was a bit chilly especially for our southern Italian blood! That evening we were very fortunate to have received an invitation to join Darryn and Martina at their friends' home for Gluhwein and cookies. The next day we left Darryn and Rhys behind and Martina took us to Rothenberg (of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang fame) to the local Christmas market there. It is a medieval town that is still surrounded by it's original walls and towers. It's law that all shops posting a shop sign must do so in the traditional gilded fashion. It is also home to the biggest Christmas store in the world: Kathe Wolfarht. And when I tell you that that store goes on and on and on and on I'm not exaggerating! (Think Small world at Disneyland!) Of course we had to try the local "cookie balls" before we could leave! (Does anyone actually eat a whole one?)

Everywhere we were was incredibly festive and ready to celebrate. Garlands and lights everywhere! Every shop was decorated - no matter what they sold.

With a bit of faith all of our good just fit into our suitcases and carry on bags! (OK, so I did buy a Venetian feather mask there and I did carry that separately!) And no reports of breakage on the way home!

It was a fabulous weekend and I think the only thing that would have made it better would have been a little snow instead of rain! We had lots of laughs and too many scares with motion sickness - and they weren't me! lol I think we're thinking of Venice next?...

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"

Fresh Fish

A few days ago Vika and decided to take advantage of the nice weather and go for a walk. The Holiday Inn is only a 20 minute walk so we walked there. We went through the center of town and walked along the marina towards the Holiday Inn. Our village is not the prettiest village but there is definitely lots to look at. We walked along the rows of docked boats and then towards the entrance of the marina. Across the water at this point we checked out the machinery that has started to build the new port. (Soon we'll have ferries from our village to Ischia and Capri - but probably not in the time we'll be here.) Then we had to watch the fishermen perched along the edge of the marina inlet. It was particularly exciting when I realized that one had a fish on his line. I took Vika close so she could see it. I wasn't hooked quite the way I expected; it had one hook of a three way hook gauged into it's side. Lovely. He reeled it in and I was telling Vika about it. Then I realized he was speaking to me. He was telling me to show Vika. He released the fish onto the ground RIGHT in front of us. That poor fish (at least a foot long!) was a flipp-floppin all over the place! And Vika DID NOT like that. She screamed - as in hysterical screams! I instantly tried to sooth her (flip-floppin fish still going at it) and then I picked up the fish to show her that she didn't need to be scared.

At this point the fisherman is talking away to me and I'm not understanding a word. I'm still
working to sooth Vika. The fisherman has walked over to his buddy and returns with a plastic bag. Next thing I know he has bagged the fish and put in the bottom part of the stroller - yes - it is still flip-floppin. Of course he is feeling great that he has shared his catch and I really do not want to offend him. I'm not sure where sharing fish falls into Italian culture and certainly don't want to become the "American that didn't appreciate it!" (No one recognizes me as Canadian here) Soooo....on our way we go. Of course the plastic bag was one of the really crinkly kind and made a lot of noise every time it flipped or flopped. As we walked away all I could do was smile - and try not to laugh aloud!

As we continued on our way I gave Brian a call and asked him if he was up for teaching Kyle how to gut a fish. That question through him off a bit! I told him the story but as I'm telling it, I'm starting to wonder if I really want to be eating a fish from the marina in our village (polluted water from boats, leached toxic waste from illegal garbage etc). Hmmm...maybe we won't have fish for dinner.

Even though there will be no gutting of the fish, or eating it either, I think Kyle would want to see it - and the stray cat that live sin our yard would probably quite like it for dinner. So in the fridge the fish goes. (It is no longer flip-flopping) I'm thinking that Kyle and Brian can take a look at it in the evening. No such luck. That fish spends another 24 hours in my fridge.

The next evening Brian and Kyle take out the fridge and put it in the garden for "Kinky" the cat. Yes - I will be rid of that fish in just a few minutes and Brian has agreed to bury any remnants. On problem - Kinky is absolutely uninterested in fresh (OK, day old) fish). I give up - leave the fish in the garden maybe she'll eat it later. At bedtime I still have a fish staring at me from the garden. I expect it will fish parts I'm viewing from the kitchen window in the morning.

Thankfully in the morning the fish - and all signs of it are gone.

A grandparents' fix

Here's a few photos of the kids taken over the summer. Just thought I'd share as it seems to long since we've seen so many of you! This are strictly snapshots but I think they're important because so many of them really show the kids personalities!

Another good bye

This morning was a tough good bye. After having Rick and Marilyn here for three weeks it was time to see them off. Kyle had a very difficult time with this as he has lost a favourite story teller (Marilyn) and a very important playmate (Rick). He will miss his morning visits upstairs in the apartment ensuring everyone's safety by tying safety tape to every possible piece of furniture and then some! Vika might not understand the fact that it will be Christmas before we see them again but she did understand that this was a big good bye: she kept waving until their car was around the corner and out of sight!

Our time with Rick and Marilyn was capped off with a wonderful four day road trip to Florence and Assisi. Both places were amazing. Having had studied art history and taught history I was particularly interested in Florence, the birth place of the Renaissance. It lived up to everything I expected! I did have somewhat skewed expectations as traveling with a 1 yr old and a 4 yr old does that to a person. I knew I'd only be able to see may be two museums and perhaps that many churches. I must know my children! In Florence we saw two museums, the Accademia and the Leonardo Da Vinci Museum and one church - and one gelato shop - twice! Oh - and two trips to McDonald's (over the whole weekend).
The Accademia was the highlight of the trip for me. To actually see Michelangelo's David is truly amazing. I just waited for him to take a breath and move! What made it even more special was the level of interest Kyle had in David. I guess I should know how much power the idea of a hammer and chisel will have with Kyle! I bought a children's book about David and we read through parts of it while looking at David. Kyle was full of questions and has decided he will not be a sculptor when he grows up.
I'm sure the highlight for the kids was the Leonardo Da Vinci museum - a hands on exhibition of many of Da Vinci's machines that he had sketched. Kyle LOVED the crane! He asked at least 15 times when we're going back there! (Personally this museum can be skipped if you don't have kids!)
Another fun moment was when we accidentally came upon a wine tasting festival! Obviously it we didn't get too involved with the kids but it was fun to have a couple of tastes of the over 60 wines there from Tuscany!
Assisi was a beautiful city - of course known for St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Clare. Our first day there did not impress me. It was a good thing we went back the next day so I could see Assisi when the temperature was more than 13 and the bitterly cold wind wasn't blowing. It's actually a very nice place! Although, you'd think after all the travelling I've done I'd know better than to show up at such a famous basilica at noon on a Sunday! We certainly saw the crowds!
In Assisi, or rather, just outside of town, we introduced Rick and Marilyn to one of our favourtie things about Italy - Agriturismos. These are like inns on farms. The one we stayed in here was a working Olive farm. Agriturismos are so peaceful and friendly and such an easy way to keep the kids happy!

The trip back home even went well! Rick and Marilyn went their own way and explored at least one hill town and we drove straight through - with two sleeping kids!

Now we have a full 18 days until our next guests arrive!