Daddy, Buon Compleanno!

Missing the best daddy in the world today!

Happy Birthday Daddy! I hope you have the greatest day, and miss me while you are at it. I will see you soon.
(P.S. There is a gift on the way!)

Italy Top 10

My Top Ten from Living in this wonderful country:

10. Proximity to other countries. Within two hours you can be in about 25 different countries with completely different cultures. If you want a well rounded education...Europe.


9. Fashion. How many designers are from Italy? (Point made.) Walk down the street, how many people do you see in sweat pants? Multiply this number by 300. The answer...0. (Point made again.)


8. History. My country is about 300 years old. Italy is about 3000 years old. Through the ages, they have been a huge power and influence on the world. Where do you think the toga party started? Thank you Romans.


7. Wine. Ask a friend where the best wine in the world comes from. Even if they have never tasted wine, they know the correct answer is Italy.


6. Cities. Name the most romantic and visited cities in the world. Ok, how many were in Italy? Exactly.


5. Scenery. Watch any good chick flick. Where is the getaway? The Tuscan countryside.


4. Lifestyle. Morning coffee. Slow pace to work. Friendly faces. Huge delicious lunch. Delightful afternoon in an old yet lovely city. Meet friends. Wine and apertivo. Fantastic dinner. Stroll through a orange lit street.


3. Art. All of the Ninja Turtles were named after Italian artists. How much more proof do you need?


2. Food. Pizza. Pasta. Gelato. Wine. Tiramisu. Limoncello. Olives. Cheese. Bread.


1. Romance. Italians are in love with love. And when you love the way Italians do, there is no better way to say it than Ti Amo.

Shakespeare in Love

A weekend away with my wonderful boyfriend. His idea. A new art exhibit in the city of love. Yes, I think it is a brilliant idea.

Verona. This is the city of three of Shakespeare's wonderful plays. The most famous, of course, being Romeo and Juliet. Heard of it? Of course you have. Tragic love story where teenagers make decisions about life and death far too quickly. But set in a beautiful city.

So how did this romantic  getaway go. Well, it started with us hitting a person on the scooter before we left Pisa. His fault, and after waiting for the insurance to come and check it out, we got a pretty late start on this road trip. Luckily, this gave me time to create a play list for the car. Unfortunately, the flash drive did not work. So three and a half hours to talk to one another. A man who's first language is not English, a girl who speaks basically no Italian. And what a spectacular trip it was. We can talk, and do it well.

Arrive in Verona, and accidently get the best parking spot you could get....score! Rain. Rain. Rain. One umbrella, so I stay close...(let's just pretend that is because of one umbrella.) The evening we arrive we enjoy the city, see the Arena (breathtaking), visit and wonderful piazza, and venture to 'Juliet's' house. Yes, I saw her balcony and squealed a little to be in such a pseudo romantic spot with a truly fantastic person.

The next day we stand in line for two and a half hours to see an amazing exhibit. Monet and impressionism. My favorite period in art, and a romantic one at that. (Van Gogh is my favorite!)  I loved walking around fantastic art, wandering into new rooms, and looking around to see if Marco was looking at me or a painting.

We toured a ancient arena. Roman. Old. Fantastic. Where the best operas in the world are held. Seriously, the rain could not affect how perfect this city is.

Arena

Lights from the rain

Juliet's balcony

Love locks

When Marco had the camera

 

So world travelers. Visit Verona. It is a special city. Even in the rain it is beautiful. Even if in any other circumstance the weekend would have been horrible, when the allure of a lovely Italian town hits..it hits hard.

 

As Shakespeare says in Hamlet

 

Doubt that the stars be fire, doubt that the sun doth move. Doubt truth be a liar. But never doubt my love.

 

...in a travel mood.

La Vita e Bella

 

La Vita e Bella. This is a well known film, filled with the romance of things that matter most. Italians are proud of this film. Americans enjoy this film. The truth is, it's just plain good. And it also happened in Arezzo. My last travel destination.

The piazza from the film.

 

Although we planned to go to Verona, our plans were delayed due to motorbike week held in the city of love. Really, the two just don't go hand in hand. So, although we will still make it to Verona, this week we stayed in Tuscany.

 

I am glad we did. The day was perfect. The weather amazing, the city beautiful, and the company is quickly becoming my favorite.  We walked around the city at a slow comfortable pace. We took a late lunch of café e pasticceria (which Marco ate more of, since I am vegan.)



We viewed fantastic art, and rich history. We talked all day. We stopped on the way home for drinks with friends and dinner together. The romance of Italy is really kicking. Days become perfect, but go by to quickly. If only the best parts lasted for ever. Like the foam on the cappuccino.

La Vita e Bella



 

Not Exactly a Snow Day

I scroll down the newsfeed on my facebook. Back home, it looks like two weeks of no school due to -20 degrees F. Cold. Much snow. No one can drive due to mountains of snow. Kids jump for joy. Adults go out in this treachery to make a living.

Then there's Italy. No snow in Pisa. It's really not even that cold. It rains. Italians are terrified. Rain, o my. Yes, you will probably melt. Students here do not get the joy of a snow day.

But today, I woke up, got ready for work. Ate my vegan breakfast, and made my way to the bus stop. Early morning dread. Find out by a nice lady walking past...buses are not running. Story of my Italian life. Great, now I have to walk to work, and there will be no time for cappuccino di soia. Walking, walking, walking. Half way there, I get a call from my boss. Guess what, Italians are so afraid to get wet, the mayor said due to flooding, nothing can be open. I jump in the air. Do a small dance. Shout something only Americans would understand as spectacular. Walk back home.

No, in Italy, you will never get a snow day. But...you may get a rain day.

You are Not Nothing

Recently, at my work, I have had conversation classes with (one of) my favorite students. He is the first student I  met when I received my job, and for good reason.

In conversation we have been able to discuss Mark Twain, Italian poetry, antique art, faith, and life in general. He just so happens to be very insightful with his Italian state of mind.

Today, after discussing the Bible and our beliefs, we had general conversation about life.  After quoting a famous author, he told me, American have the right idea.  If you want to achieve something you can.  There is enough time (life is not too short as the saying goes...even if we sleep one third of it away.) If you work at it, you can be absolutely anything you want. The main issue is, you must have a specific target. Then he said, "You don't."

Well, dear student, you are absolutely correct. The problem is I am so easily influenced.  Usually by men, I forget to make a target for myself. It is happening again, even if under the microscope, with my new man (that I am enjoying being with very much.) I am, yet again, influenced.

So I asked him to tell me how can you set a target and go without influence.
"I don't know. I am old and have achieved nothing."
"Ok. Tell me what your target is?"
" I don't know. That is why I am nothing."

With this, my heart broke. How can he say he is nothing? How can he actually believe that? The conversations we have mean much to me. I am very blessed to have such a student.

Dear student, you may not realize the influence you have, but even 'normal people' are special to others. You are not nothing.

* I love my job. I love Italy.

Volterra...with a Double 'R'

The Hills of Tuscany from Volterra.

 

This is the only photo I took when in Volterra. The only one. Sorry. For those who have travelled with me, they know I must take my Canon Rebel T7 to get the best photos of the best places, to relive/make others slightly envious of my worldly travels. Well, I was a bit too distracted to do this. Reason: went with an Italian guy. Any good 'in Italy' movie will tell you-- pick one up while here. "When in Rome..."

 

As much as I am enjoying the company of this Italian gentleman, I must admit it really shows my lack of Italian understanding, pronunciation, and knowledge. Driving home from a day trip to Volterra, he asked "How do you say grass in Italian?" I missed pronounced the first syllable, but he pretended not to notice. "Ok, how do you say sky?" (Hmmm, well I say sky, but I think in Italy they have a different word for it. Man, this is hard. It's such a simple word. I really should know this one..)--"I don't know."

 

Lucky for me his knowledge of English is very high. I can actually communicate. Pity for me, my knowledge of Italian is basically non existent. Should I be hitting the books??? I will think of it over a TV show in English.