Montepulciano...

All of a sudden, we are beginning to do the lasts of things...this time it was our last scenic drive through Tuscany. We capped off our time with a quick trip to several hill towns about an hour south of Siena. I really do like the hill towns of central Italy. The countryside is very agricultural in nature (kind of reminiscent of home) and everyone seems to run at a slower pace...kind of nice in the heat of summer.

The gate to the city of Montepulciano...

This is a building in the Piazza Grande (it is actually one of the few squares that are actually square). For those of you who might be Twilight fans...this is the spot that parts of the movie, New Moon, were shot...pretty slick...we were even their as the clock struck noon, bells were going everywhere! BTW I can't wait to see the movie when I make it back to NJ...I already have a date...

One of the many capped wells we see...indoor plumbing rules...

And the church that is on the Piazza Grande...

Well, there you have it...our first stop on our last Tuscan adventure! We had tons of fun, but the tourists are out in force. We have been super spoiled (by so many things I can't even list them all) and for 2 months have felt that we had Italy all to ourselves...not so anymore! We can usually avoid them (being locals and all) but it is still kind of weird to see crowds of people speaking English (I tend think that will be one of the hardest things to get used to when we get back...hearing all the english being spoken...I think my brain might hurt!). It is really easy to spot a tourist on the road...we are passing them and their car has a trunk! We just discovered that there is NO way we are getting all of us and our luggage into our car for the trip to the airport...NO WAY...so it looks like I will take 2 kids and go on the train and meet Tobin at the airport...kind of crazy!

Have a wonderful day!

Ciao a tutti!

Rome, again...

On Saturday, we (me, the kids and Tobin) went to Rome. Tobin had been there only once and we had seen the Ancient Roman sites...so back we went to catch a few sights before our departure...which is quickly approaching. Once again, we take the train into Rome. This is my fourth time on the train and it was shockingly empty. I could actually see the sign that showed which stops were next.

A side note: The train station in Rome is called Roma Termini...this is because all the trains come into it from one direction and stop...end of the line. Well, our train comes in from the north and circles the city on the west side and swoops into the termini (this means that the train is actually heading north or back to Montalto...the train then has to back out of the station). Well, as the train circles the city there are a number of stops in the various neighborhoods of Rome. Usually we take the train to Termini and then walk or take the Metro to where ever we are going.

So, back to Saturday...we are headed to the Vatican...long train ride, a long walk to the Metro, and a Metro ride to the right spot, then another walk...I notice the next stop is Roma San Pietro. Could that be St. Peter's Square? I break out my handy maps and Tobin found the station and we jump off the train. It was a quick 4 block walk to St. Peter's! It only took 4 trips, but what a short cut! I felt like a local! We got there before all the tourists, in the cool part of the day, there was NO line!!!! Go us!

St. Peter's Basilica...notice the line as we are leaving the square...

Walking along the same route as I went with the kids, here is Ponte San Angelo and Castel San' Angelo...

The Four Rivers Fountain in Piazza Navona...

The Pantheon...

Sorry for the duplicate pictures, but some of them were better than the last time I went through. Here is something new...more Roman ruins...

This is the Victor Emmanuel Monument...like the tomb of the unknown soldier...

Trajan's column and some churches...

Trajan's Market...

A quick Metro ride...

And we find ourselves at St. Paul's Basilica...Tobin's favorite so far (you have to ask him why)...

The inside of said Basilica...

And because we are such cool locals we walked through one of the neighborhoods and found another train station to go home on...and Rome's only pyramid...

So there you have it, another crazy adventure through Rome! We even got home in time to make dinner! It is kind of nice to finally start to feel like we know enough to be even more adventurous in our exploring...beyond the 'normal' tourist stuff. I think I will make it to Rome one last time...Pat hasn't seen the Vatican yet...but now I know the short cut!

Ciao a tutti!

Tuscania...

On Friday, we (me, the kids, and Grandma) zipped over to Tuscania (it is only about 20 minutes away if you take the direct route...I forgot my stroller in the car and we had to take the long cut to the job site to pickup the necessary item). It was market day! I am really enjoying the open air markets...one in every town...all sorts of different vendors. This one had a great dried fruits, nuts, and candy vendor. I think by the end we had a taste of everything! I also finally managed to find Case a soccer shirt (I have been looking for a while...his birthday will be in the States and I wanted to bring him something from Italy).

Then we strolled around the castle/centro for a bit, window shopping and visiting some great shops. Here is a great fountain...

We utilized the nearby water fountain (these are thankfully everywhere...it does get a bit warm...no wonder they have a siesta)...

Another fountain that Clayton especially liked...

We made it to the park...who wouldn't want such a helpful big brother...

And even managed to have some coffee and gelato at the nearby bar...

Overall, it was a great way to spend a Friday!

Ciao a tutti!

Beach bums...

Assisi...

I apologize for the lack of blogging this morning! I am in the midst of packing and I have apparently added to our pile of belongings since being in Italy (imagine that!). So, I have been trying to find some things to leave behind...well, there are some books that I brought that I haven't read yet...so I read one today! I read 'Playing for Pizza' by John Grisham...if you haven't read it, DO! It was very humorous to Tobin and I...as we know just what he is talking about...SO TRUE!!! I enjoyed it very much...though I didn't get to the computer...

On to the adventuring...we went to Assisi last week. Assisi is another hilltown in Umbria. We had a beautiful drive (though rainy) on seriously windy roads...again, you haven't experienced an opportunity corner unless you have driven in Italy...

That pic was courtesy of Case in the backseat! Assisi has been put on the map as a pilgrimage spot. Many Catholics from ALL over flock here to see the places that Francis lived and preached. Outside of the old town, is a church that is a bit different than the rest...it has a church inside a church...no joke! They built the church around the tiny church that Francis preached...

Then in the centro is St. Francis Basilica. It looks kind of plain from the outside, but inside it is a whole different story. This one has an upper and lower basilica, with amazing frescos by Giotto...but unfortunately no pictures...apparently the flashes will harm frescos as they are pretty delicate, so no photos to share...

And a nice picture of the town...

Overall, it was a pretty nice day! It rained in the morning so it didn't get super hot (To get into all these churches one can't wear shorts...even the kids...they have a dress code...so on those hot days it can get really hot in pants).

Ciao a tutti!

Via Appia Antica...

Last Saturday, we ALL went to the Appian Way. It was pretty cool, but certainly not what I expected! It is an actual road that people drive, work, and live on...right in the middle of town! Not at all what I was expecting. But we certainly had a good time, great weather, and a nice walk.

The Appian Way was the first and greatest Roman road. It was built in 312 B.C. and at one time was 430 miles long (most of it completely straight) from Rome to Brindisi (where ships sailed to Greece and Egypt). The road itself is lined with christian catacombs. In ancient Rome, law stated that no one could be buried inside the walls of the city...Romans preferred to be cremated, which left christians, who chose to be buried because they believed the return of Christ was close at hand, to find places for their dead. Some wealthy christian landowners offered their land and they built series of tunnels and tombs under the ground (up to 5 layers deep) called catacombs.

The whole gang on the road...

Parts of the Circus of Maxentius (a chariot race course)...

The road itself and I think that is wheel ruts in the stones...

In the area leading into the catacombs...

The catacombs...apparently I wasn't supposed to take pictures...Oops!

We had lunch in this LOVELY park under some orange trees, Case was helping out his brother and sister on the teeter-totter...

This was our last outing with Uncle Shannon...she flew home that day (well, at least boarded the plane for Amterdam that day)...we miss you!

Have a wonderful day!

Ciao a tutti!

Work...

Just a reminder...someone does actually have to work here (that wouldn't be me, if you had to guess). We were invited to a really fun BBQ up at the job site. There were lots of Italians, lots of food, and lots of laughter. We had a great time! Here is the whole motley crew...

On a random side note, Shannon has been all a twitter about the motorcycles here...she REALLY likes them! So there was a guy there with a bike...we made her ask for a ride...doesn't she just look cool...

Anywho...I hope you have an absolutely wonderful day!
Ciao a tutti!

Oh, the craziness...

I am going to take a gamble here, and guess that the vast majority of you have no idea what is happening in Africa right now that has the world glued to their television sets...any guesses? The World Cup! The Italian flags are out in force and everyone seems to be talking about it. I think it will be a national holiday if they actually won the cup (for anyone who cares...Italy won the Cup in 2006). The older men can all be found at the local bars (not the alcoholic kind but the snack kind...think cafe) arguing about all sorts of things soccer. I was at the food store and couldn't pass these up! Frankly, where else would one find these?

Crazy #1...not in age, but willingness to be crazy...

Crazy #2...not chronologically, but because he beats to a different drum and would wear these ALL the time...

And then we have Crazy #3...not because there is wisdom with age, but because he joins in when other do it too...

And we have Crazy #4...because we saved the best for last and I was the one who insisted on purchasing the soccer thingy...

So there you have it...the Crazies!

Have a wonderful day and World Cup experience!

Ciao a tutti!

Immigration...

Apparently we weren't the only ones imported to Italy...the tooth fairy has followed us! That's right, Case lost yet another tooth. The Italian tooth fairy does things kind of funny though...he comes in the middle of the day and left a whole Euro instead of the 50 cents one gets in the States...some things are just strange here in Italy! But we do have one happy boy...to finally get his own Euro! Nice smile...

Have a wonderful day!

Ciao a tutti!

The perfect day...

...at the beach! It was partly cloudy, windy, and cool...the best kind of beach day there is! The beach was almost deserted. The wind was whipping up some really nice waves. Now, even I can enjoy that kind of beach day!

The kids and Uncle Shannon braved the water...which was pretty warm considering how cool it was...

The kids absolutely loved the sand, and the boys REALLY loved the waves...

Doesn't that sandwich just look yummy!

Kids at the beach...I have certainly been enjoying my kids' new love of the beach. So, we have been going quite often...or as much as I can stand it!

I hope you are having a wonderful day!

Ciao a tutti!

On the road again...

This has certainly been a crazy adventure and it hasn't changed much! Ever since we have heard about this job opportunity way back at the World of Concrete in February, it has been an on again, off again kind of deal. It hasn't changed much since we have arrived in Italy. Most days we could take with a grain of salt what was said about when we were leaving. But apparently Kelly and Tobin are too good at what they do, and have gotten the job done earlier than expected or scheduled...so we are headed back to the States.

We are heading back to New Jersey on July 12th to visit for a week and then flying back to Montana on the 20th. I am super glad that Tobin has been a success even here in Italy. He has been able to build relationships, teach people in a different language how to do things that just aren't done here in Italy, and has done this faster than anyone expected. God has been gracious! I am so very thankful for this opportunity, no matter how far fetched it seemed at times. And I am a bit sad to leave earlier than expected, though I recognize that it will be nice to be home again.

Italy, it's people, it's culture, and it's history, now have a special place in my heart. While we are making the last mad dash to get everything done and see every last bit, I am sad to be leaving so soon. I have certainly enjoyed learning a new language (though I am far from fluent and still can't seem to master verb usage at all) and a new way of doing things.

I hope you have enjoyed the ride as much as I have, reading along each of our adventures. Things may be a bit patchy as we do some traveling and packing...but have no fear, I will post all of our fun adventures in due time!

Have a wonderful day!
Ciao a tutti!

Spoleto...

Moving along our Umbrian tour, we came to the lovely town of Spoleto. It's most fascinating feature is the Ponte della Torri (the bridge), built to get to the town on the next mountain...



Three good lookin' kids...



Inside the fortress of Spoleto...



Outside the fortress of Spoleto...

Overall, this was a pretty fun drive through the hills of Umbria. The roads have crazy curves, sometimes you go almost 180 degrees or more...makes for fun driving experiences!

Have a wonderful day!

Ciao a tutti!

Todi...

As usual...I am a bit behind in the old blog! So many things have been happening lately...more on that later! Anyway, 2 weekends ago we had our first real drive through Umbria and we visited a few hill towns in this very mountainous region. Umbria is called 'Cuore verdi D'Italia' or the 'Green heart of Italy'. It is the only land-locked region in Italy and is a very mountainous and green area...LOTS of trees!

Our first stop was the very hilly Todi...

Think grocery shopping up and down this street...

Random fountain...

3 cute kids and a castle...

The entry of the local duomo...

The inside of said local duomo...

Stuck a feather in his cap and called it 'macaroni'...

Have a wonderful day!

Ciao a tutti!