Sunday, December 31, 2006

update! update! update from Italy!!!

I don't want to forget anything from this trip! I'm sure I already have, but I'll try to get down everything I can. A few days ago Nic took me on a bike ride into Santa Maria de Angeli. We rode over the train tracks, past a fountain, and to a pizzeria where Nic is the owner's favorite customer. It was a slight coast all the way there, but all the way back it was slightly uphill and the wind was against us the whole way. Tough ride back, and butt hurt for two days b/c of the bicycle seat.

We've been spending a lot of time in the house, but we went to Orvieto for the Jazz Fetival of Umbria. Good times! One band played a funk parade. Lots of cute shops, street vendors, good art, etc. I bought the Orvietto Classico wine, and turns out I actually like the dry better than the sweet. Who knew?

I've been taking many pictures, and maybe I'll post some when I get back. Tonight is New Year's Eve, and we're a little tired. We walked around Assisi this evening and everyone was out strolling, eating, and setting off fireworks. We ran into Marco, the son of Vincenza and Francesco who live upstairs. They're so sweet! Vincenza brought us a dessert tonight for the new year. They don't speak English, so it's sometimes tough to communicate, but they're wonderful. Francesco looks so much like Uncle Angelo.

Geno just brought out the pizza, so more later. Ciao!

Saturday, December 23, 2006

Awake in Assisi

It's 11:41pm here, meaning 5:41pm in good ole Virginia. Can't sleep. My bag is still missing, but we had a great day shopping and such. Bought a present for mom, one for myself, and some underwear since mine aren't here yet. Blast.

The food remains delectable. The olive oil is amazing and the green olives here are delicious. Yes, I'm eating olives! Every day I eat wonderful fresh fruit, bread, olive oil, cheeses, vegetables, and something with hazelnut and/or chocolate in it. Dee-lish!

Tonight I started drinking red wine again for the first time in a few years, and guess what? No headache! Hurrah!!!!! Tasty, red wine is super-cheap here, too. The orange juice is soooo good. I'm going to miss the food and drink like crazy. I think I might sneak a bottle or two of olive oil back with me. It's just not the same at home. I also need to learn how to make good fresh pasta. I've got the machine. Just need the know-how, time, and practice. A good bread wouldn't hurt me, either. Here's hoping!

Ciao until tomorrow. Or later. Oh! Almost forgot - asked my first full-sentence Italian questions today. Dove es la luce de el bagno? Misspelled and probably stricken with grammatical errors, but I don't care. It worked! I got the lights for the bathroom at the ceramics store!!!!

Friday, December 22, 2006

I'm in Italy!!!!

Buongiorno! My spelling may be off, but I've been greeting, saying please and thank you, and pleased to meet you, etc in Italian. Why? Because I'm in Italy! Visiting the family, and it's beautiful. They rent the bottom half of an absolutely lovely home. Arched entranceways between rooms, gorgeous wooden and glass doors, fantastic tile everywhere. It's amazing. We're in (or just outside of) Assisi, where you can go to a different church for morning mass every day.

I've discovered a new phenomanal candy: happy hippos. They're delish, so I hope I can find them on the web after I get back. And the food here. Ohhhh, the food. Fresh, delicious food every day. The olives, the olive oil, the cheese (mmmmm, cheese), and the fresh pasta! And pastries! Man, it's all good.

There are some tough things, too. No dishwasher, no dryer, and the heat turns off at night, but overall this place is a dream. One other problemo: the airline lost my luggage. The bag with all of the Christmas presents in it. And all my toiletries. And underwear, socks, and bras. And movies. It's a shame. Supposedly they found it in Amsterdam and it's on its way here, but our phone service isn't what you'd call reliable. Dad feels responsible for fixing this, so he's been kind of hard on himself about it, but overall he's crazy happy here.

The kids are having a hard time. They don't know people their age and nobody in the family is fluent, but they get by. The people who own the house live upstairs. Francesco and Vincenza. So cute! And short. And sweet. Our first day Vincenza invited us upstairs for juice. I tried to ask for peach juice, but instead asked for fish juice. Ewwwww. (Pesca = peach. Pescha = fish.)

More soon. Nic''s itching to get back on the computer to play his video game. There's a flaming sword flashing at me right now. Ciao!