Dogs are not our whole lives, but they make our lives whole.

So very true. I wish Jack was here with me. Every city I go to, I think about how much Jack would love to walk in it!! I can't wait to squeeze him right when I get home!! 

Lucca-- Molto Bello!

Lucca was a beautiful town!

I am so glad I decided to up and go, because I almost stayed in the Forte today! (Forte dei Marmi) It was my last Sunday in these parts, so I thought I should go explore. I am glad that I did.

The town is surrounded by a wall that was built in the 16th & 17th centuries. It was to protect them from Florence, and it never actually needed to be there. Sucks for Lucca, cause the walls are massive, and for sure took a very long time to build. You can walk on top of the walls, and it is like a park. It has benches and several trees and beautiful landscaping. You can walk for miles because it is a huge circle. I was having such a wonderful stroll, and I stopped for awhile to read on one of the benches.. Under the Tuscan Sun-- only the most appropriate book for reading in Tuscanny :). Very good book by the way. It pinpoints life in Italy down to small details that are left out if you just come for a short visit. It is much better than the movie and has some awesome recepies included.

I headed home, had a little layover in Viareggio. Nice, but dirty. Lots of resturaunts, but most shops were closed by the time I got there. I came home and am now waiting for my cheesecake to bake! These Italians have cake made with ricotta. I hate to tell them it simply isn't the same.. I can't wait for them to taste a real, authentic, cheesecake!

The family got home late.. really late actually. About 10:30- very strange because the boys are usually in bed by 8:30. I think something is going on but not really sure. They are going to Sardenia next week when I go to Venice, but the Mom mentioned there was a chance the trip would be cancelled. Paulo is a lawyer in Milan, and I guess there is a case that isn't wrapped up yet.. She would not be happy about that-- I guess I will know more in the morning. Don't know what that means for me. I will stay with them but I better get something out of this deal! :) hahah I am too nice. 

In other news... my niece will be here soon! I can't wait to meet her!! I know she will be the most beautiful little babe on the whole planet! Everytime I see little girls on the beach I look at all their features and decide what about them looks like Rob and Cristan! It helps me to see what she might look like. My conclusion= REALLY CUTE!

5 More days at the beach-- I think I can handle it. I have found ways to diverge the idea of building a sand castle.. Maybe this week I will help them, I have been putting it off for awhile, it's only fair :)

I LOVE YOU ALL BACK IN THE STATES!

I miss everyone so much, but I try not to concentrate on coming home that much, I don't want to get wrapped up in it. I don't know when I will be back in Italy, let alone getting paid for it! I think about how I counted down to coming for months and months and months and now I am counting down to come home-- funny how that happens. 

All My Love, xoxoxo Lindsay

Here is the scoop on Italia. Pronto? Via!

Things I Love:

1. Things stay open til Midnight or later. The whole country is like a big taco bell commercial. :) If you need something, you no longer have to go to a 24 hour Walmart.. Dolce and Gabanna, Souvenier shops, All the gelato shops, you name it... all open very late.

2. Holiday. Why work the month of August, really? Parts of Italy practically shut down in August. Milan for example, a huge banking capital for Italy... practically deserted. Everyone leaves and heads for the coast, or somewhere more interesting to say the least. They all get practically an entire month off of work and do what they please. 

3. 90% of people (at least) can speak two languages. Obviously not completely fluent all the time, but they are much more intelligent in the fact that they have taken the time to learn it. Foreign travellers are much better off in Italy than in the US. If an Italian person came in to Panera, they would be shit out of luck, and they would simply have to point. 

4. Cheese and wine! It's good, and there are lots of it!

5. It really is beautiful here. When you take some time to get out of the cities and really touristy parts of Italy, there are some breathtaking views that I am certain are one of a kind. Tuscany has been amazing, and there will be nothing else in my life like Chianti.

6. You can take your dog everywhere. It doesn't matter if it is a grocery store, pharamacy, or clothing store, your dog is for the most part, welcome. Don't get me wrong, I have seen a handful of stores with no dog stickers, but they are rare. 

7. People are much more prone to traveling. I think that Americans are workaholics after being here. These people take tons of weekend trips, and tend to leave their worries behind.

8. Cars. Ferrari, Lamborghini, so what-- their coolness factor is dropping a little, just because they are so common. :)

With all that being said: Italy isn't my favorite place on earth. For one, my family and friends are really far away! That is the worst part about being here, but I get over that one cause I know I will be home soon. Italians have very dry personalities- if they are not dry, they simply don't care about getting to know new people. They have friends, and they have people in their lives, they don't need you. Italian men like American women ( don't ask me why, I don't really see the fascination), but besides that, unless they are trying to sell you something, they just want to know why you are here. I am too outgoing for this country! The country side was my favorite so far! I love the beach, but do not understand how these people manage to go everyday. Everyone does it. They wake up every morning and go to the beach. No questions asked. For the past 25 days, that is where I have been, and I will be there til this coming Saturday (if you are looking for me)! The kids want to do something else, but that doesn't matter- we go to the beach, that's just what we do. Have I mentioned there is no air conditioning? I promise that on my next visit (I will be back), I will be staying at a hotel or it will be winter. There is no reconsidering the previous statement. 

I am so lucky to have seen all the things I have seen this summer so far. I can't believe I have already been here this long. I don't think I will make it to Southern Italy this trip, which sucks, but I have the North covered, and Southern Italy has so much that it could easily be a trip by itself. Starting Saturday the 31st, I have the week off and I am going to be staying just North of Venice. A friend from Johnson and Wales got married to a military guy and they are stationed there. I talked to her today, and I am excited to be able to experience some American things on the base. Italians don't stray much from their own culture, so I have missed some things from home. I will be able to see Venice and explore the east coast!

"After all, things change, so do cities, people come into your life and they go. But it's comforting to know that the ones you love are always in your heart... and if you're very lucky, a plane ride away”

Some days I would like to bring them home with me... some days! :)

Might as Well be a Sauna

You would think that since Willis Carrier was so gracious enough to invent air conditioning, Italian people would be gracious enough to get one. I understand that their houses are really fancy, and are insulated to keep it cool, but seriously-- they have no idea what they are missing. 

Worst part of Italy by far. :) But ehh.. the beach can solve any problems I think. When I come back for round two of this amazing country, I will be staying at hotels-- all of which have good ol AC.

When I was cutting watermelon a couple days ago, I sent the knife through, and when it cut, the remainder of the HUGE watermelon rolled over on the counter. This resulted in me lunging towards a glass that went flying through the air. Now, my cat like reflexes were apparently disabled, and the glass went plummeting to the floor. It shattered everywhere, and I just happened to be barefoot. Immediately, I went to get shoes, but apparently I was too late. Hours later, my foot would randomly have excruciating pains while I was running on the beach playing soccer. They were random, but if I landed on my foot right, I wanted to scream. I knew the piece was small, cause when I examined my foot, the entry hole was little. Yesterday, having only a small manicure kit, I picked off layer upon layer of skin. I thought for sure that the sliver had come out and I must of missed it. I kept pressing and pressing and the pain seemed to only be from me picking. I was excited! This morning, we had been at the beach for hours, and I was walking on the sand and AHHH. There it was again. This time more intense. I decided to tell the Mother that I had stepped on a shell. I know it is a lie, but she is the type that would freak out and automatically assume there was glass embedded in her children's feet. I was saving her the stress, I promise. I told her there must still be a piece in there. She agreed and suggested I take the car to the pharmacy to see what the doctor said. In Italy, the pharmacists are actually Doctors and will come out and examine you and then give you what they believe could be your remedy. Interesting concept... Now- apart from the glass, I have not driven a car in 40 some days, let alone driven a car in Italy. Italian drivers are crazy and I feel as if everyone on a bike is in la la land and could possibly dart in front of your car without warning (probably why the lady here hit a moped driver just two weeks ago). I was nervous, but the pharmacy closed in an hour, and I needed something. I headed out, and made it there safely. I didn't want to stand out as a cautious American, so I parked illegally, and hoped for the best. The doctor in the pharmacy examined my foot. She said that it would indeed be hard to get out. She offered black salve, (thank you Aunt Tess, cause this was her idea that I shut down thinking no way will I find that in Italy!) and a sterile needle for assistance and sent me on my way. Black salve apparently brings foreign objects to the surface of your skin (don't ask me how). It works, It works great!! I lathered it on all day in hopes that tonight I would find the glass. After what seemed like forever, I found the glass!! I only widened the hole in my foot like 8 times its original size, and the healing will most likely take a little bit, but IT IS OUT. I was worried for a bit that I may lose my ability to walk, but don't worry. I will be fully mobile and back to my beach runs in no time.

Terribly hot, but my foot is glass-less, and I drove in Italy. It all works out!! 

We are here for 10 more days! I have some new pics that should be up tomorrow. 

Love and Miss everyone. xoxoxoxo Linds

First Grocery Store Experiance... Perfecto!

So.. I scored the night off :) -- and instead of eating out, I took it upon myself to head to the grocery store and get something for dinner, cause everyone was out of the house til late. I am gonna paint my toes, bubble bath perhaps, and just have a relaxing time. 

To my suprise, it was insanely cheap.

My purchases:

Tortilini

Pesto Sauce

Fresh mozzarella

Small white wine

Liter of fizzy water

& a can of this amazing orange drink they have here..

5.80 euros. A whopping seven dollars in the states. It was awesome. 

Perfect day at the beach today. When we came home for the little guy's nap, Antonio and I painted water colors on some of the seashells we have found thus far. They actually turned out pretty nice. We are going to put them in a jar for his little brother that is on the way :).

Lots of love, I miss everyone terribly!

Pisa!

Leaning tower of Pisa.. you always hear about it. To be honest, before I got here, I couldn't even of told you what country it was in. It was actually really cool. You could climb it, but truth is I don't think it would be that cool from the top, you wouldn't really be able to tell it was leaning, the bottom did just fine for me :)

Besides the tower, there wasn't much to the city. It was pretty dirty compared to other cities I have been to, but I think it seemed that way because there was a lot of construction. There was some pretty architecture, but people had wrecked it with bad graffiti. 

It was terribly hot! Almost unbearable. I wore jeans which was a huge mistake! Oh well, it was too late to do anything so I sucked it up, and went on my way! The train ride was nice, it was about twenty-five minutes and only 3 euros.

Next Sunday-- I don't know what is on the agenda! 

More to come when I figure out what this week has in store.. 

Ciao!

La Spiaggia

I love the beach... I think everyone already knew that :).

Happy we are here because every day includes usually two, but at least one trip to the beach!! We wake up, usually around eight, (I am trying not to jinx it because the boys are sleeping very late today) eat breakfast, make lunches, and head to the beach! Then Ceasere needs a nap so we come back around two, he sleeps til four-ish, and then we go back! This past Sunday I literally rode my bike for 8 hours straight. Went on adventures and checked out all the neighboring towns! Lots to do and see. I will tell you what I won't do anymore.. head to town in my lime green nike shorts and a black tank top to park my bike in front of Gucci! haha It's very fancy here...

Antonio and I :)

Differences I have discovered so far...

1. Kids eat cream cheese with a spoon, not on bread. Very weird.
2. Espresso after every meal & usually in between.
3. Bidet. Why people here don't shower everyday. Refreshing during the day to say the least.
4. Every meal has multiple courses, breakfast included.
5. You finish every meal with fresh fruit, no questions asked.
6. You eat Italian. It is good food, there is no reason to eat foods from another ethnicity.
7. Red wine at both lunch and dinner.
8. Nothing else to drink besides water, fizzy water, wine, and espresso.


... Thats all I got for now.

The beach is awesome. I am very used to going to the beach, or driving several hours to the mountains. Here-- you have both. You look at the water, then do a 180 and their are the beautiful mountains. I have never seen anything like it in my life. I didn't realize just how fancy it was in this town. Amazing Ritz Carlton, and apparently this is where the celebrities and "futbol" players get houses. Works for me... :)  I will take pictures tomorrow. I miss everyone terribly, but at this house my internet is good so let the skyping begin!!

xoxoxox. Ciao!

Not much new... Glad rain is gone--

Nothing too exciting the past couple of days! Today was the first day the sun was out, it has been raining like crazy!! We went for an adventure out in the vineyard! We were out for a walk, but also looking for animal footprints. Apparently, around here, there is a wild, pig like animal that is called a Chingyalley (obviously not how you spell it, but I can’t seem to find the spelling, so I simply sounded it out!) We found tons of footprints, and also some from a lupo (wolf). It was fun to be outdoors cause I was tired of the rain! 

Last night, I finally tried the wine from the vineyard here I am staying on. I am not usually a fan of red wine, but this Chianti is a little less dry then others I have tried. It was good, and I am trying to see how much I can bring home! Any help with all this customs stuff is appreciated! ☺

Next week, Wednesday, we are heading for the beach! Forte de Marmi is about two hours from here and I am very excited. I love the beach, and I think that it will be nice to have the boys without their cousins. The family rents this house every summer for the month. The pictures I have seen look great, and a girl I met told me between Chianti and Forte de Marmi, they are two of the most beautiful places in the whole country. The beach is also very close to Pisa! The leaning tower! Hahaha--- That should be a good Saturday trip!

This weekend is Marianne and Christian’s wedding! I am sorry I am missing it, but I know it will be beautiful! I wish I was there to see everyone from New Jersey, but I will be visiting them very soon after I get back!

Until next time... Ciao!

Saturday- Florence!

Today I ventured to Florence!! I am really glad that I went, but not my favorite part of Italy at all! There was beautiful art everywhere. That was a plus of course ☺, but besides that, I thought the city was very polluted! It is a small city for the most part, and you can get back to the other side in twenty minutes if you are walking at a good pace. I set off with a great guidebook that was a gift for me and I explored! Going in to my trip, I wanted to see the statue of David. When I got there, it suddenly seemed less important. It poured rain for a little while, and the line to get in was very long! I cut my losses and went through some other museums that had wonderful art and more to see. Sadly in the museums, you couldn’t take pictures, but the wonderful part of Florence is the architecture of some of the buildings. I took many pictures outside (from under my umbrella) of the buildings and the statues that were scattered around the city. I got lunch at a little stop where they had fresh sandwiches! It was very good, and the people are so nice. They also had an open-air market with many vendors selling Italian leather goods, and other misc. things from Italy. Many of the things one of a kind or being made right there in front of your eyes! It was fun to watch and go around and see what everyone had to offer.  I bought a few things and was on my way. During my explorations, I also found the high end of Florence. It was a strip of stores, and when I turned the corner, I felt like I was in NYC. Very ritzy, and it was fun to window shop! There were so many different kinds of people in Italy, and it was another great part of the day to just people watch and listen to all the different languages all around me. I ended the day at a gelateria and had some tiramisu gelato. It was awesome! That about ended my trip, and I was glad to return to the beautiful landscape of the countryside.

Pictures!

First Set of Pictures!

Check them out! :)

Ciao!

Radda

Wine anyone?

Friday

Ahh a beautiful day in Tuscany! It was so sunny and beautiful! I taught everyone how to play baseball! I was impressed at how quickly the boys picked it up! They learned the rules as well as how terrible the Yankees are ☺!

For lunch I think I had the most awful thing I could imagine, and everyone loved it. It was like tuna fish and potatoes put together and then in a food processor. YUCK! Everyone dipped it in mayo. It was disgusting but I tried to not be rude!

The boy’s Dad, and the cousin’s Dad are on their way. They come for the weekends cause they work during the week in Milan! I know they have all been missing them!

Tomorrow I am going to Florence to explore! I will have pictures from that for sure. Dinner smells delicious…when I am done, I will walk to Radda to Skype with Sophia, Jack, and Tegan! Whoo!!

Ciao!

Wednesday

Wednesday

Today was day 2 of no diapers for Cesar! Yesterday was a nightmare, we probably changed pants ten times. Nine for bathroom related accidents, one for taking a massive tumble in a huge puddle! Today was much better though. He really likes the candy that he gets for using the toilet, and he seems to really be trying! I am proud of him! I really am enjoying spending time with everyone here though! They have made me feel completely welcome and I am learning new Italian words all the time! By the time I am done here in September, I feel like I may be completely fluent. ☺

Today, in between minor rain storms, Guliana, the four boys, and I took a nice long stroll to Radda. We picked wild flowers the entire way, and we all came back with impressive bouquets that were the centerpieces for dinner. I promise that tomorrow I will take my camera on our adventures, because I haven’t taken many pictures yet! Don’t worry… I still have two weeks left in Tuscanny!

The boys are all amazed that I know how to play baseball. They really are only aware of soccer, as it is the main sport played in Italy! I am going to try and teach them the rules of baseball cause they are all very intrigued. If I can leave here with four new Met’s fans, I think I have served a purpose! I think that all four boys really enjoy our time together. The cousins are great! Lele is the four-year old cousin, and he colors me pictures to hang on my wall in my room!

For dinner tonight we had minestrone. It was completely different from what I was expecting, much different than the vegetable soup I am used to. It is much more minced than the minestrone I have had in the past. It was topped with freshly grated parmesan and a little swirl of the family’s own olive oil! Bravo!

I did not realize that the famous statue of David is in Florence! I am even more excited to go there! In my little guidebook to Italy that the grandmother gave me, it also says they have the best gelato! I think I will test it out and see…

Ciao!

On the way to Radda in Chianti!

Italiano!

So my trip has commenced! So much has happened already and it hasn’t even been a week! The airports were surprisingly simple to get around. Germany people definitely are not the most pleasant by any means. I think I will be ok not visiting there anymore…. Italy was even easier, they are much more laid pack, and didn’t even ask to see my passport! The family I am staying with was right outside the exit gate waiting for me! They were happy to see me, and I was glad they were so easy to find. The language barrier has been kinda hard, but I am picking it up quicker than I thought I would. The two boys are great.  Ceasere is three, and the most difficult. Very smart boys, but he loves the word no, and uses it to his advantage. Antonio is five, and he has taken to me much more then the young one. I think it is because he speaks some English, I imagine this helps a lot. 

For the first two nights we were near Lake Maggiori. This was about an hour away from Milan, and very colorful housing! I began to indulge in Italian food, and it was all delicious! I think the biggest difference is their lack of things like.. salt and pepper. It isn’t available on the table, and wow, I still haven’t figured out how they stay so thin. I have not eaten a vegetable since my arrival (besides tomatoes of course ☺ ). They eat starches constantly! Between the fruit after every meal, and the expresso (café), it must be the mixture that helps them to burn off all the carbs! I really have to thank my dad for setting me up with a German plug adapter! hahaha I guess we didn't know there were different ones for different countries. Luckily the family had a converter from German to Italian. Now my computer charger only sticks one foot out of the wall :).

The boys are really learning to help out, and they were learning to wash the car, rake the leaves, and cut the grass at their Grandpa’s house. (The first house) We also went to a country club where there was a beautiful golf course, and we went to the pool!

Today, we arrived in Tuscany. It is so breathtaking here; I have never seen anything like it. I think everyone should come here because it could be one the most beautiful place on earth. The city of Radda is very close, and you can see it across the vineyard. I think we are all going there tomorrow. If I wasn’t so tired, I would walk there tonight. I still have not completely made up for the time change, but I am trying to stay awake the whole day to adjust. I don’t think I truly knew what kind of family I was with until I came here. Guliana explained on the way that they own a vineyard, and also bottle their own olive oil. They are wealthy to say the least. I am staying in a house overlooking the vineyard now. There are three houses on the property and I am staying in one with my own bathroom. The boys are in the other house, which I am very happy about! They have been waking up early and can be very loud! Yaya is their nanny/housekeeper. She does all the cooking ,cleaning, etc. She will leave at the end of the month for a couple of weeks, but will be back soon. She speaks Italian and Russian and it is really neat to listen to her. The Sersale’s other family is also staying with us in Tuscanny. The grandmother (who speaks better English than anyone ☺ ), sister-in-law, and three cousins (8,6,1). There are two pools here and lots of yard to run and play. Sienna and Florence are right down the road and I think I will go visit there this weekend.

It's Monday- Which means, it's almost Friday...

It is Monday, and it has not quite hit me yet! 

My flight is Friday and I will be off to Italy for a summer of fun! 

Tons of things here that I will be missing, but the best part of all of it-- they will all still be here when I get back!

I think I am ready! Probably some things I am forgetting.. 

Very excited.

Next post will be from Europe! 

Ciao!