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!

Burano...

Just as Murano is famous for it's glass, Burano is famous for it's lace and colorful houses. Just a hop, skip and vaporetto ride from Venice, it is a colorful sleepy town bombarded with tourists looking to purchase their wares. Here is a pic of some of the colorful houses...

And goofy me with the umbrella I purchased for Gwen...Hey, a girl's gotta have some shade!

More of the town and yes, that is goofy me again...

More colorful houses...

So that is most of my shopping extraveganza on our weekend getaway!

Ciao a tutti!

Murano...

So, I am a little disappointed in myself...I didn't get too many pictures from the island of Murano...I was too busy SHOPPING!!! I would love to say that I brought home one of those fabulous Murano glass chandeliers...but I think I would have had to sell one of my children to afford one! So I managed to procure a vase and of course some glass beaded jewelry...it was a ton of fun, a ton of walking, a ton of sweating...it was pretty HOT there...the sun is pretty intense...but for those of you who are concerned for my red-headed whiter than white skin...I have yet to get a sun burn!

The streets were lined with little shops that sold everything you could possibly imagine in glass...christmas ornaments, jewelry, vases, lighting, small animals, cups, tea sets, key chains, roses, etc...

I will be honest...I love to shop and I haven't had too much time to do that with the 3 kids...so I REALLY enjoyed my time there!

Ciao a tutti!