wordless wednesday (from bolzano)

Bolzano, Italy

Love, Love, Love this sweet little Italian town with an idenity crisis. Bolzano is in northern Italy close to the Austria border. An area with border and citizenship issues following WWII. So now it is an Italian town with a heavy German influence. It is nestled in a valley in the lower alps and has a definite alpine feel. I kept waiting for someone to break out in "the hills are alive......."

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{Photo taken from the train on our way to Bolzano.

There was a dramatic scenery change. Alpine inspired villages surrounded by beautiful snow-covered mountains. Bolzano was a day adventure while we stayed in Verona, so we only had a few hours. Not nearly enough time!}

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{duomo in Bolzano had an alpine look}

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{windows full of pastries and chocolate}

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{Bolzano's main mode of transporation}

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{a wonderful little street market where my sweet hubby bought me a beautiful orange Gerber daisy - my favorite}

{probably my favorite picture of Kenny & I -

enjoying a beautiful day in Bolzano, Italy}

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Oh, and we did see "Otzi" -the Ice Man, the 5300 year old body found in the mountains in the Italian/Austrian border in 1991. It was amazing how well preserved all the findings were from his body, to his gear, to his clothes. I mean, they found pollen on his clothes so were able to determine where he had been before his death and in what time of the year!

The guidebook said Otzi was the only site that merited your time, but I have to argue that Bolzano itself was worth more time than we had.

Verona, Italy

We stayed in a wonderful little hotel

around the corner from the Piazza Bra'

which is dominated by the Verona Roman Arena.

I failed to take a picture of our room,

but the hotel owner described it as the romantic room.

Kenny said we were in the attic. I thought it had wonderful charm.

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{you know we had pizza (several actually) but this local pizzeria was one of our favorite. I had the house pizza which had spicy salami, mushrooms, artichokes, onion, mozzarella and an egg cooked in the middle. Italian pizzas are very thin covered in fabulous ingredients and the best are cooked in a wood-burning oven.}

{Italians frequently eat and drink standing up at bars. There are places that your food/drink costs more if you sit because if you sit you pay a service charge. That might be some of the answer, but I think it is just the Italian way. Our second morning in Verona, Kenny and I had breakfast standing at a bar around the corner from our hotel. Hot chocolate again and a ham/cheese panini on oh-so-yummy foccacia bread.}

{Kenny and I in the street market in Verona. It was a beautiful day and we were able to walk all over Verona including down the pedestrian-only marble street, Via Mazzini which is lined with all kinds of shops.}

I loved this....

and this....

and this...

okay, one more...

Venice, Italy

"I'd rather be in Venice on a rainy day

than in any other capital

on a fine one"

Medville 1857

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which seemed rather fitting

as we entered San Marco square

for the first time with a misting rain

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I was really excited about going to Venice

and I was not disappointed

although it is much different than anywhere

else we have been in Italy.

Probably more accurate is

that it is unlike anywhere else on Earth -

literally a city in water.

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{Some of the best canal views

were from the top of the Rialto Bridge.

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There were boats everywhere from the vaporetto (city bus), to water taxis, food delivery, mail delivery, police, ambulance, gondolas and so on. Remember there are NO cars in Venice not even bicycles. If you don't ride in a boat, you walk.}

{Across the Rialto Bridge was the produce and fish market. Markets are one of the places we love in Italy. Venice's food market was no exception. It was such a vibrant, local experience. Booth after booth of beautiful fresh fruits and vegetables. The fish merchants were so interesting. Colorful tables with magnificent spreads with such variety.}

{we went to the top of the Campanile (bell tower) and were surprised by the breath taking 360 degree view of ALL of Venice. I love the rich colors and how domes and bell towers punctuate the skyline}

{From the balcony of St. Mark's cathedral which was amazing.

On the left is Doge's palace. It is an awesome building.

I could have stayed in San Marco square with my camera all day.}

{Gondola ride, check,

because how can you go to Venice and not?

An evening ride was might pricey

but it was worth it and I am so glad we did it}

{"cin cin" (cheers) from the whole gang

because you know what the saying is

"there is no bad wine in Italy"

Next stop....Verona.

Milan, Italy

We arrived in Milan at 7 a.m. Italy time (1 a.m back home)

after traveling all day (18 hours).

But no rest for the weary there was Milan to see

and only one day to do it!

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{Kenny and I in front of Milan's Duomo - Europe's 3rd largest church.

It was a masterpiece inside and out.}

{the inside of the duomo - 8 story marble columns. It was amazing- mosaics, stained glass windows, statues, and supposedly in the cross with the red light way above the alter is a nail from the crucifixion of Christ.}

{inside the Galleria - Milan's beautiful "open" mall. The glass roof was phenomenal. It was full of lots of pricey shops and cafes - wonderful place to window shop and people watch}

{gelato (Italian ice cream) -

if you have been to Italy and had some, you know.

If you haven't, then you will just have to go

because gelato just does not translate :)

But on every street you can find a gelateria

with a display much like this.}

{by late afternoon (27+hours on the go)

we were all struggling to be pleasant.

Especially as we tried to navigate the subway system

(I somehow managed to not have a single photo of that experience)

We decided that hot showers and pj's sounded like a great plan.

So, we went to a local grocery and bought the fixings for an Italian picnic - salami, cheese, marinated veggies, bread, and wine.

Ever go to your grocery and have to REALLY hunt for a butcher because you have a question. Not in Italy, every market you go in there is a fabulous meat/cheese counter and ALWAYS a smiling, helpful, knowledgeable butcher}

{our first breakfast in Italy - I love how all the little hotels we stay in have little cafe' areas. Kenny and I don't drink coffee which is HUGE in Italy, so we have the barista make us a "caldo cioccolata" (hot chocolate) to go with our croissants. We are looking fresh and ready to hit the ground running after a good night sleep. Next stop Venice!}

the winner is.....

my friend

Keetha!!!

A promise to my sister and sister-in-law,

your names were in the hat. I did give you a chance.

It just wasn't meant to be this time.

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And Jill, compliments always improve your karma

but it must not have been your day either - sorry!

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Keetha, here's a preview of what is coming your way.....

a beautiful pashmina!

Not this one - it is mine, but one very close. I know it is spring but maybe you will have a couple of chances to wear it this year. If not tuck it away for years to come. It can be worn as a scarf like I have it on or as a shawl or wrap. Scarves are very stylish in Italy.

Keetha, keep an eye on your mailbox. It is on its way to you.

I hope you enjoy it!

good mail give away Italian-style

{Kenny and I on the streets of Verona, Italy}

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While shopping in an Italian street market,

I picked up a little something

to give away upon my return.

I would love to send some good mail your way,

so just leave a comment and

I will choose someone at random on Tuesday, April 1st.

"I AM Dorothy Hamill"

Today was the day.

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Today was the day

Carly became Dorothy Hamill.

Well, minus the cute bowl haircut because Carly promptly declared "you are not cutting my hair" not that I was going to.

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for all of you who remember the drama from this day

The day of disappointment

because she did not get our 1st choice of characters...

all that was behind us.

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BECAUSE today

we were Olympic Gold Medal Winner, Dorothy Hamill

with a cute costume, cute hair, some makeup, and surprise ice skates!

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She stood behind the "rope" and when someone stepped on her "button" she said her facts. Parents got to visit the Wax Museum first and hear all the kids in her class. Carly did a fantastic job. She stood tall and said her 10 facts with such confidence.

wordless wednesday

SPT - "eggs"tra special Easter

Lelly's challenge for our Easter weekend....

"while the kiddos are hunting eggs, take a moment to hunt for something *eggs*tra special about your weekend."

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One of the things I love about Easter is family.

My "eggs"tra special thing is time with my family.

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{Carly and I after Easter lunch at Kacey's house}