Dear Friends,
Have you ever written something and then read it the day after and thought, WHAT WAS I THINKING???? I realize I was still a little out of it yesterday and when I said life in Florence was going to be routine, I was just not thinking. I would never imply that it was boring here or that I was not enjoying myself. For example, we were driving home on the scooter yesterday and went over a bridge over looking Ponte Vecchio. There was the most beautiful cloud over the bridge and the sun was peeking out around iits edges, creating a beautiful halo around it.. I was so bummed I did not have my camera. Alex said not to worry and that it looks like that every day. I told him that was imposssible and that that very cloud would NEVER be in that exact spot ever again. Maybe he needs a lesson in rediscovering Florence. I think I was just touching on the fact that I will be working in the shop with Alex and that we will really spend a lot of our time there. But, that is fun too and I am meeting people from all over the world. We are also trying to get his friend Gianni, who owns a restaurant, to let me help in the kitchen now and then. I want to pick up some fun cooking tips!
So. Today I will be walking to the shop again. I have decided i need to do it every morning to ensure I don't become a blimpo! I have been eating gelato a lot more on this trip (is twice a day too much?) Kiwi is my new favorite flavor. Last night Alex and I went to my first real BIG grocery store in Italy. I have been going ot these little stores near the center, but they actually do have supermarkets. It was a little too intense for me, but thank God they had Weight Watchers ricotta cheese. Ha ha. As far as i could see, that was the only weight watchers thing they had for those of you who wanted me to check it out. I bought some Brie instead.
Thanks so much for all the great emails. I am so pleased that you enjoy my sharing. I love bringing it home. To crazy cousin Matt, I always look forward to your insights! To Matt B. Thanks for your kind words. I will DEFINITELY take you up on the boat offer and am so glad you will be in Europe soon. You will really love it. I think it will suit you. To Andrea: I wish we could have seen eachother one last time, but our girl day was a blast and I will definitely give you a call soon. To Lauren H: I will totally check out the sunglasses. I would love to catch up soon. To Kathryn B: Thanks for those importants pointers from yesterday. I needed some reminders on changing my point of view
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Back to the Italy: 6/27/07
Dear Friends,
I FINALLY got to the internet and was glad to see a ton of emails. To Kelly, I can't beleive you are in London. I will be there for one day at the end of my trip and would LOVE to see you. I need to do London in a day, so I will need your help. The day is August 19th. Keep it open and let me know what you are up to!
Anywho. I have settled in pretty well. I landed Monday night at 6:45ish and Alex met me at the airport. he is so Italian. Instead of flowers, I get a beautiful shirt. Beleive it or not, it has been cool enough to wear it. i am actually about to go shop for some jeans. It is really quite cool here, and night time gets chilly. Especially on the scooter. Sorry mom, I know you don't want to hear this, but we did ride the scooter the other night and it was pretty fun. I assure you all that Alex is a safe driver and it is simply an Italian experience I had to have.
After landing, we went straight to the house where I changed and we went out to my favorite restaurant, Acqua al'Due. It was as if they knew I had been gone and dreaming about the petto di pollo al porto all this time. It was the best I had had there and well worth the sleepiness I endured while eating. Alex is friends with the owner and told him I had just flown in and that I insisted on coming by for my first meal. He was so honored that he gave me a free, XL Acqua al'Due Tshirt. I guess he imagined me getting bigger as I eat there over the next two months
Yesterday was interesting. I woke up at 6am and made Alex get up for a day at the beach in the Cinque Terre. We made it to the train staton in time for a quick bite and to catch a 7:51 am train. For some dumb reason I really wanted McDonald's and we spaced out or something and missed the train. For Micky D's. Arrgh! So, we did not get there until noon and it was cloudy and cold. I wore a towel around my shoulders all day, as I had left the house in shorts and a tank top. Silly me for thinking it would be hot in Italy in the end of June. It was beautiful, though. We got the best pizza I have ever had in Italy in Vernazza and then watched the tide come in, creating UNBELIEVABLE waves. We met a nice couple from Maine and just chilled. By the time we got on a train home, the fact I had gotten up at 6AM caught up with me and I became stupid tired. On the train home (which took forever because we accidentally took the intercity train that stops at EVERY stop between Pisa and Florence) I was so sleepy, I snored and my head wobbled all over the place. My neck is hurting a bit.
Today I slept until 10 and unpacked. I then walked the one hour walk to the shop where Alex was working. He did not think I could make it, telling me it would take hours and I would definitely get lost. It took me 55 min and I didn't get lost. I think he now knows he is dealing with a real woman here.
Well, not many exciting things thus far. I am still settling in and getting used to the time change. Alex and I are going to the big mall outside of the center tonight. I guess things are not so different here than home. people still go to the mall to hang out. Wait, I don't really do that at home. Hmmm. That is one thing that feels different about this trip so far. Florence has become so familiar to me that a little of the magic is gone. I see that these two months will be more routine, but fun nonetheless. I have some fun things to look forward to, like Opera in the Park and a visit from Mike and Robin Bratton. I am so excited they will make it out here. I will be showing them around for the day and hope I can make a nice experience for them. So, if any of you want a report on Alex, you will have to talk to them in about 3 weeks!
I hope all of you are well. I would love to hear from you. Thanks to Kathryn for the BCC tip. I am usually sensitive to those things, but hadn't thought of it. I hope I did it right.
Tanti Baci e piu tardi!
I FINALLY got to the internet and was glad to see a ton of emails. To Kelly, I can't beleive you are in London. I will be there for one day at the end of my trip and would LOVE to see you. I need to do London in a day, so I will need your help. The day is August 19th. Keep it open and let me know what you are up to!
Anywho. I have settled in pretty well. I landed Monday night at 6:45ish and Alex met me at the airport. he is so Italian. Instead of flowers, I get a beautiful shirt. Beleive it or not, it has been cool enough to wear it. i am actually about to go shop for some jeans. It is really quite cool here, and night time gets chilly. Especially on the scooter. Sorry mom, I know you don't want to hear this, but we did ride the scooter the other night and it was pretty fun. I assure you all that Alex is a safe driver and it is simply an Italian experience I had to have.
After landing, we went straight to the house where I changed and we went out to my favorite restaurant, Acqua al'Due. It was as if they knew I had been gone and dreaming about the petto di pollo al porto all this time. It was the best I had had there and well worth the sleepiness I endured while eating. Alex is friends with the owner and told him I had just flown in and that I insisted on coming by for my first meal. He was so honored that he gave me a free, XL Acqua al'Due Tshirt. I guess he imagined me getting bigger as I eat there over the next two months
Yesterday was interesting. I woke up at 6am and made Alex get up for a day at the beach in the Cinque Terre. We made it to the train staton in time for a quick bite and to catch a 7:51 am train. For some dumb reason I really wanted McDonald's and we spaced out or something and missed the train. For Micky D's. Arrgh! So, we did not get there until noon and it was cloudy and cold. I wore a towel around my shoulders all day, as I had left the house in shorts and a tank top. Silly me for thinking it would be hot in Italy in the end of June. It was beautiful, though. We got the best pizza I have ever had in Italy in Vernazza and then watched the tide come in, creating UNBELIEVABLE waves. We met a nice couple from Maine and just chilled. By the time we got on a train home, the fact I had gotten up at 6AM caught up with me and I became stupid tired. On the train home (which took forever because we accidentally took the intercity train that stops at EVERY stop between Pisa and Florence) I was so sleepy, I snored and my head wobbled all over the place. My neck is hurting a bit.
Today I slept until 10 and unpacked. I then walked the one hour walk to the shop where Alex was working. He did not think I could make it, telling me it would take hours and I would definitely get lost. It took me 55 min and I didn't get lost. I think he now knows he is dealing with a real woman here.
Well, not many exciting things thus far. I am still settling in and getting used to the time change. Alex and I are going to the big mall outside of the center tonight. I guess things are not so different here than home. people still go to the mall to hang out. Wait, I don't really do that at home. Hmmm. That is one thing that feels different about this trip so far. Florence has become so familiar to me that a little of the magic is gone. I see that these two months will be more routine, but fun nonetheless. I have some fun things to look forward to, like Opera in the Park and a visit from Mike and Robin Bratton. I am so excited they will make it out here. I will be showing them around for the day and hope I can make a nice experience for them. So, if any of you want a report on Alex, you will have to talk to them in about 3 weeks!
I hope all of you are well. I would love to hear from you. Thanks to Kathryn for the BCC tip. I am usually sensitive to those things, but hadn't thought of it. I hope I did it right.
Tanti Baci e piu tardi!
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Back to the Italy: 6/24/07
Dear Friends,
I hope this email reaches you all in good times. As many of you know, I am returning to Italy today to visit someone very special I met on my last trip: Alex. It seems like I am still planning for that first trip last fall, but 7 months have passed and I am off again for a two month stay. It is tough to leave my family and my very pregnant sister, but I will be home before I know it and have a new little niece or nephew to look forward to arriving. I am so blessed at this time in my life! I will be returning to the states on August 20, so if anyone needs to get ahold of me, please email or call at 011393392144192. I will check my email daily and, of course, resume sending my memoirs along. If anyone would rather not receive them, let me know. For those of you who did not receive them last time, I hope you will enjoy my anecdotes and thoughts of travelling abroad. My outlook should be different this time. Last time I was an independent woman on her own. Now I will have someone close to me and will be sharing Italy with him. I look forward to every moment.
I look forward to hearing from you all throughout my journey and hope you enjoy my adventure along with me.
Love to you all,
I hope this email reaches you all in good times. As many of you know, I am returning to Italy today to visit someone very special I met on my last trip: Alex. It seems like I am still planning for that first trip last fall, but 7 months have passed and I am off again for a two month stay. It is tough to leave my family and my very pregnant sister, but I will be home before I know it and have a new little niece or nephew to look forward to arriving. I am so blessed at this time in my life! I will be returning to the states on August 20, so if anyone needs to get ahold of me, please email or call at 011393392144192. I will check my email daily and, of course, resume sending my memoirs along. If anyone would rather not receive them, let me know. For those of you who did not receive them last time, I hope you will enjoy my anecdotes and thoughts of travelling abroad. My outlook should be different this time. Last time I was an independent woman on her own. Now I will have someone close to me and will be sharing Italy with him. I look forward to every moment.
I look forward to hearing from you all throughout my journey and hope you enjoy my adventure along with me.
Love to you all,
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