Ciao a tutti!!

Hello from Italy!! I don't know where the time is going. We have been here for one week already and my head is still spinning. We have done sooo much in one week. I will give you just a little recap:

1. Hit all the gelateria's in town already. Best one is found in Oratino, about 15 minutes from our home town of Campobasso. By far THE best gelato in all of Italy. My favourite flavour - coconut. Just melts in your mouth. Just melts...

2. Have done some shopping and have purchased shoes; purses; and jewlery. Check, check, check. I also found an Italian soccer jersey for Ethan. Gorgeous. I am still in the hunt for a few more things. Good thing we are here for another few weeks. Each store seesm better than the one before. They are amazing. I have not gotten my fill of window shopping yet.

3. Have toured churches and ruins that date back to 2nd century B.C. And these are local. Don't have to travel more than 20 minutes before finding another church that is older than dirt. Amazing.

4. Have walked the ruins of Pompei. Can't even begin to describe to you the awe that filled me. FYI - I am a history major. My first degree is in the Ancient World to the First Century. I literally cried when I entered Pompei. Cried. I was so happy to finally walk the ruins that I had studied for years and years. Seriously one of the top 10 experiences of my life to date.

5. We have been to several "festas"(parties) - and they don't start early. They all start at 9 or 10 pm. And you eat and listen to music and eat some more and drink and then eat again. Fun, but sleeping afterwards - not fun. This is taking some getting used to.

6. I have eaten the MOST amazing pizza in Naples. I have eaten home made gnocchi that brought tears to my eyes. I have eaten pastries that are worthy of being your last meal on this earth. I seriously don't know how I am going to go back to "Canadian" food...

7. I watched my cousin teach my son to drive a 50 year old tractor while my grandfather looked on and laughed. Then I watched as my cousin so patiently guided my son around the vineyard while he drove this tractor - just for fun. Filled my heart with so much love.

8. I have found scorpions and lizards in and around the house. NOT fun for me. But really fun for my kids.

And this is just a snipet of what has gone on. We are headed North this week and then to Rome and then to Capri. More to come after those adventures.

Ciao all. It is "dinner" time.

Ready to go...

I have been busy packing, cleaning, shopping, re-packing, changing my mind and packing again! And I am still not done... I can pack a full suitcase for a weekend getaway. Don't even get me started on a month long vacation... But I have made progress and I am now starting to get really REALLY excited to leave. I miss my family. I am excited to see them. But I am really excited to eat gelato. Let's be honest here. And, FYI, the stuff that is over here is now where near real gelato. No where near! Don't kid yourself. And I am sorry for you if you have never had REAL gelato in Italy. You must. Put it on your "Bucket List".

I have also been very busy creating. I made a mini scrap book for one of my aunts of the kids, spanning birth to just last month. I am very happy with how it turned out. It took me a few weeks to get together, but it was worth it. And now I hope I can pack it properly so it will arrive in one piece... Hmmm.

Well I am off to spend the last few hours of my last weekend in Canada with my kids and a movie and a snack.

Ciao tutti!