Nah, we just took a break from blogging for awhile. We are back on-line after a long hiatus as we prepare for a 30th anniversary celebration cruise that leaves at the end of this week. We spent a bunch of time hemming and hawing about how to celebrate this momentous occasion and finally decided to select an inexpensive, "last minute" cruise that popped up on an e-mail advertisement. So, we leave snowy Colorado on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and fly to Los Angeles, then leave the following day, on a two week cruise to Hawaii and back. What makes this particularly crazy, is that in just four months we are making the exact same trip, on a sister ship, to celebrate my mother's 80th birthday. She is hosting her own party and taking twenty of her very best family members on this trip. So, Mike and I are "previewing" the cruise and updating the log so that the group of twenty can follow along.
Given the cost of on-board Internet, we are likely to send our updates when we hit port rather than along the way. So, expect to get your reports of how things are going in batches....we will write more often but only post on port days (December 5,6,7,8 and the final day the 15th). If you have anything you want us to check out for you let us know (Leanne: your juice accessibility 24/7 question reminds high on the list). Mike's most pressing question reminds unanswered: will we be able to see the Seahawks play Monday night football?
Be back soon, Deanne
Monday, November 25, 2013
Thursday, April 15, 2010
We're on our way home
We left Ferrara yesterday afternoon and made the trek across Northern Italy to Milano. Apparently the biggest convention of the year, the Furniture show, has attracted leather couch lovers from around the world and we had a devil of a time finding last minute hotel accomodations. Nevertheless, we did find a place to stay near the ariport at double the normal rate....as Mike says...scalping exists the world over. It is time to get home.
Our flight to NY JFK leaves this morning at 10:30. Then we change planes, go through customs, etc. and fly to Chicago or another plane change to Albuequergue. We will be in around 9:00 PM, which I think means about 20 hours of travel. We left our car there, which we will retrieve before spending the night there and then making the five hour drive back to Mancos, Colorado.
I have a few more photos to post, plus a request to post some photos of the place in Colorado, so don't stop checking in yet. Give me a few more days before we call this trip over.
Love, Deanne
Our flight to NY JFK leaves this morning at 10:30. Then we change planes, go through customs, etc. and fly to Chicago or another plane change to Albuequergue. We will be in around 9:00 PM, which I think means about 20 hours of travel. We left our car there, which we will retrieve before spending the night there and then making the five hour drive back to Mancos, Colorado.
I have a few more photos to post, plus a request to post some photos of the place in Colorado, so don't stop checking in yet. Give me a few more days before we call this trip over.
Love, Deanne
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
OMG- Have we got a restaurant for you!
Yesterday, Tuesday, Mike and I took it easy (as if any other day is hard, stressful work) almost all day while Caitie was in class nonstop from 9:00 until 5:00 (we're glad she is spending our money wisely). Mike read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as if his life depended on it. In fact, while I was out for my walk, I found a bookstore with a tiny rack of English language books and bought him the sequel so that he doesn't suffer withdrawl when he finishes it. I think he will believe my book recommendations in the future. For those of you who have missed it... you are really missing out.
A little after 5:00 Caitie arrived and we visited for an hour until Pietro came to pick us up. Even after the wonderful meal he had served us the previous night, he and his mother had worked on another surprise meal. One of his mother's patients is from a restaurant family. Dad is the chef, complete with white apron and tall hat, and Mom runs the dining room. Patrizia, Pietro's mother had called them and arranged a meal for us; all as another treat from them. We are forever in their debt for the collective two dinners. This was spectacular.
The evening started with Caitie and I piling into the back seat of Pietro's family car for ride into the countryside. Mike rode shotgun while Pietro chauffered us to the seaside. Ferrara is inland about 70 miles or so from the coast, near Venice. Within minutes of leaving our convent within central Ferrara we were buzzing down country highways on our way to the seaside. We stopped for fuel at one point and Pietro filled the car with GPL (I think I got those initials in the right order), which I think is liquid propane gas. This car is rated "green" because it utilizes this low emission fuel, which allows it to be driven on days in which Ferrara is closed to traffic to control emissions. Pietro says that this happens in the winter usually on weekends when the air quality is poor and they want to clean it up. Police locate on the roads leading into the city and stop all cars. Only public transportation, bikes and cars are allowed into the city on those days. He told us that this city is known for its bike travel (which is obvious to any but the densest observer) because the ancient streets are so narrow that driving, and particularly, parking, are too difficult to make car commuting popular.
Our first stop was the tiny town of Comacchio ( http://www.comacchio.it/) which calls itself "little Venice". This little fishing village has canals and bridges that have earned it that designation. Apparently the people there are primarily fisherman who work with the huge migration of eels that breed there, swim through the canals back out to sea, across the ocean to winter in the Gulf of Mexico, then return to breed in Comacchio. In addition to eels, mussels are farmed here and the fisherman go out to sea to bring in all kinds of fish. We parked and walked across a bridge over the canals- enjoying the fresh sea air with whifts of fish, and the beautiful evening setting sun reflecting on the canals. Unfortunately I did not bring my camera, so the photos I have just posted to the blog for Comacchio are borrowed from Luigi, some generous soul who posted his photos in a public site on Picasa. Thanks for sharing Luigi!
We loaded back into the car for our second stop- a little beach resort nearby (sorry- no name). We were clearly visiting a few weeks before the beginning of the season- most of the establishments along the beach were closed. The lido, or beach, had side-by-side beach clubs, gated areas with dressing rooms, eating areas, playgrounds for children, ping pong tables, and sometimes elaborate carnival type activities. Apparently when you visit this area for the summer, you sign on to one of the clubs and sit on the beach in front of them, the area whose access is controlled by the club, charging your drinks, beach access, toy rental, food, etc. which you pay for at the end of your trip. We found an open gate at one of the clubs and parked. Apparently it was not yet open for the season, but someone was there painting and allowed us to walk around and walk down their path to the beach. It was deserted, windy and cold, but Pietro's descriptions of the summer made it come alive with wall-to-wall towels, people and noise. As Mike said when we turned around to leave, "This place can hold a lot of Speedos (in reference to the European men's affection for lycra swimsuits".
We drove through the resort village, which Pietro said his parent's had visited each summer when he and his sister were young, apparently as a right of passage. When the children outgrew the visits his parents admitted to hating the place. It reminded Mike of Jones beach or Coney Island. Worn and tacky but in a great location. We stopped and had a glass of Prosecco (the wonderful Italian sparkling wine Caitie turned us on to) at a deserted, but open Irish pub.
Our final stop was the Osteria dei Colosi (restaurant of the gluttons) in Mesola. Hidden near the beautiful castle in Mesola, the restaurant is amazing- cozy and inviting.(http://www.osteriadeigolosi.it/ ) We were greeted warmly and shown to a private dining room upstairs above the main dining area. Wth slanted ceilings covered in knotty pine, the dining room felt like we were sitting in a special attic dining room. After bringing us a couple of bottles of drinking water, the chef arrived to discuss the menu with Pietro. They had a comprehensive written menu but it was not consulted at all as they decided on our meal. Caitie followed along and provided the voice of reason in portion control, and even with her suggestions we had an enormous meal. The antipasto, or appetizer course, was composed of a wooden platter with small dishes of olives, pickled onions and pickled pumpkin. There was tender and delicious sliced meats. We had a basket of freshly baked bread and another of deep fried goodies that I have never had before, like a risotto-like soft rice ball, but hope to try again some day. All of this was accompanied by a wonderful wine recommended by the chef.
Our next course was pasta - a dish of ravioli and another of tortolini. The ravioli was filled with a tender meat and served lightly in a cream sauce with crushed pistachios on top.. The tortolini had a radicchio filling and was served in a very light butter sauce with shavings of proschuito. Both were wonderful.
As the empty pasta bowls and scraped clean plates were cleared away, two bowls of roasted potatoes and rosemary and two bowls of salad were delivered; the former for the guys and the later for the girls. Anyone who has ever eaten with Caitie knows that she is passionate about her salads. Once the vegetables hit the table, the chef delivered the most amazing beef. It was sliced entrecote with sea salt and rosemary. It was possibly the best beef any of us had ever eaten. The chef told us that after years of working in restaurants throughout Europe and sourcing his beef from places like Argentina and Tuscany, he had finally settled on the best source he had found so far.... Nebraska!
A little after 5:00 Caitie arrived and we visited for an hour until Pietro came to pick us up. Even after the wonderful meal he had served us the previous night, he and his mother had worked on another surprise meal. One of his mother's patients is from a restaurant family. Dad is the chef, complete with white apron and tall hat, and Mom runs the dining room. Patrizia, Pietro's mother had called them and arranged a meal for us; all as another treat from them. We are forever in their debt for the collective two dinners. This was spectacular.
The evening started with Caitie and I piling into the back seat of Pietro's family car for ride into the countryside. Mike rode shotgun while Pietro chauffered us to the seaside. Ferrara is inland about 70 miles or so from the coast, near Venice. Within minutes of leaving our convent within central Ferrara we were buzzing down country highways on our way to the seaside. We stopped for fuel at one point and Pietro filled the car with GPL (I think I got those initials in the right order), which I think is liquid propane gas. This car is rated "green" because it utilizes this low emission fuel, which allows it to be driven on days in which Ferrara is closed to traffic to control emissions. Pietro says that this happens in the winter usually on weekends when the air quality is poor and they want to clean it up. Police locate on the roads leading into the city and stop all cars. Only public transportation, bikes and cars are allowed into the city on those days. He told us that this city is known for its bike travel (which is obvious to any but the densest observer) because the ancient streets are so narrow that driving, and particularly, parking, are too difficult to make car commuting popular.
Our first stop was the tiny town of Comacchio ( http://www.comacchio.it/) which calls itself "little Venice". This little fishing village has canals and bridges that have earned it that designation. Apparently the people there are primarily fisherman who work with the huge migration of eels that breed there, swim through the canals back out to sea, across the ocean to winter in the Gulf of Mexico, then return to breed in Comacchio. In addition to eels, mussels are farmed here and the fisherman go out to sea to bring in all kinds of fish. We parked and walked across a bridge over the canals- enjoying the fresh sea air with whifts of fish, and the beautiful evening setting sun reflecting on the canals. Unfortunately I did not bring my camera, so the photos I have just posted to the blog for Comacchio are borrowed from Luigi, some generous soul who posted his photos in a public site on Picasa. Thanks for sharing Luigi!
We loaded back into the car for our second stop- a little beach resort nearby (sorry- no name). We were clearly visiting a few weeks before the beginning of the season- most of the establishments along the beach were closed. The lido, or beach, had side-by-side beach clubs, gated areas with dressing rooms, eating areas, playgrounds for children, ping pong tables, and sometimes elaborate carnival type activities. Apparently when you visit this area for the summer, you sign on to one of the clubs and sit on the beach in front of them, the area whose access is controlled by the club, charging your drinks, beach access, toy rental, food, etc. which you pay for at the end of your trip. We found an open gate at one of the clubs and parked. Apparently it was not yet open for the season, but someone was there painting and allowed us to walk around and walk down their path to the beach. It was deserted, windy and cold, but Pietro's descriptions of the summer made it come alive with wall-to-wall towels, people and noise. As Mike said when we turned around to leave, "This place can hold a lot of Speedos (in reference to the European men's affection for lycra swimsuits".
We drove through the resort village, which Pietro said his parent's had visited each summer when he and his sister were young, apparently as a right of passage. When the children outgrew the visits his parents admitted to hating the place. It reminded Mike of Jones beach or Coney Island. Worn and tacky but in a great location. We stopped and had a glass of Prosecco (the wonderful Italian sparkling wine Caitie turned us on to) at a deserted, but open Irish pub.
Our final stop was the Osteria dei Colosi (restaurant of the gluttons) in Mesola. Hidden near the beautiful castle in Mesola, the restaurant is amazing- cozy and inviting.(http://www.osteriadeigolosi.it/ ) We were greeted warmly and shown to a private dining room upstairs above the main dining area. Wth slanted ceilings covered in knotty pine, the dining room felt like we were sitting in a special attic dining room. After bringing us a couple of bottles of drinking water, the chef arrived to discuss the menu with Pietro. They had a comprehensive written menu but it was not consulted at all as they decided on our meal. Caitie followed along and provided the voice of reason in portion control, and even with her suggestions we had an enormous meal. The antipasto, or appetizer course, was composed of a wooden platter with small dishes of olives, pickled onions and pickled pumpkin. There was tender and delicious sliced meats. We had a basket of freshly baked bread and another of deep fried goodies that I have never had before, like a risotto-like soft rice ball, but hope to try again some day. All of this was accompanied by a wonderful wine recommended by the chef.
Our next course was pasta - a dish of ravioli and another of tortolini. The ravioli was filled with a tender meat and served lightly in a cream sauce with crushed pistachios on top.. The tortolini had a radicchio filling and was served in a very light butter sauce with shavings of proschuito. Both were wonderful.
As the empty pasta bowls and scraped clean plates were cleared away, two bowls of roasted potatoes and rosemary and two bowls of salad were delivered; the former for the guys and the later for the girls. Anyone who has ever eaten with Caitie knows that she is passionate about her salads. Once the vegetables hit the table, the chef delivered the most amazing beef. It was sliced entrecote with sea salt and rosemary. It was possibly the best beef any of us had ever eaten. The chef told us that after years of working in restaurants throughout Europe and sourcing his beef from places like Argentina and Tuscany, he had finally settled on the best source he had found so far.... Nebraska!
The chef showed up again after the dinner dishes were cleared away to ask about dessert. He conferred with Pietro about affection for gelato (Mike and Caitie) and chocolate (me) and left only to return with profiteroles (Mike and Pietro), frozen rice custard (Caitie) and decadent choclate torte (me). Additionally, we were served two glass bottles from the freezer, with ice on the sides. One with homemade lemoncello (if you haven't ever had this you have to try it... and freeze the bottle, too) and the other with a homemade black licorice liquor. At this point, a clear devide formed...those that love licorice (Pietro and me) and those that don't (Mike and Caitie). We each had a couple of shots of these sweet and wonderful treats and washed them down with our tiny cups of decaffinated espresso.
After this major impressive meal, we were shown to our car without being able to pay. Pietro's mother had arranged to pay for the meal, but it is not clear whether the proprieters would permit her to pay, as they have treated her family to meals in the past. It was an amazing meal and and amzing gift. I suggest that anyone visiting Venice rent a car for an evening and drive out to try this place. Tell them Patrizia sent you. It worked for us!
So now we have sworn off food for awhile. At least for the next half hour until 12:45 when we meet Caitie and four school friends for pizza.
Love, Deanne
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Dinner with the Tebaldi Family
Yesterday: Day of the big Dinner with Pietro's family
Pietro spent the day preparing for dinner, as he is currently on Spring break. Caitie spent part of the day with us, two hours in class and the remaining part of the day at her apartment preparing for her presentation and washing our clothes which she delivered back to us at the end of the day in two wet balls. There are no dryers...you hang your clothes out to dry. Ours are currently stacked up on both the radiator and the bathroom towel rack.
At 7:35 we met Caitie at her apartment, all of us in our better than usual, but still not formal clothes. We drove over to Peitro's home and climbed the steps up to their apartment. Pietro's father met us at the door and escorted us into the living room to sit on the comfortable white leather couches. Along one wall of the home was a library of books and another wall was decorate with photos of the family and fine art photos. The dining table was all set up for dinner for six. We chatted for a few minutes then moved to the dining table.
Pietro's father, Gianni (pronounced the same as our Jonny) speaks English well and kept the conversation going all evening. A civil engineer that works on the public water system, making sure that this city below sea level doesn't flood, he is an engaging host. He has a clever sense of humor and a curiosity about us and life in America. He asked questions about politics and meditation, both of which gave Mike ample leeway to discuss things. He clearly enjoys Caitie, feeling comfortable enough to kid her about her "monster" feet and her passion for salad. Pietro's mother speaks only a few words of English, although she seemed to understand much of the conversation. When she didn't, Caitie or Pietro would explain things in Italian. She is a pediatrician and seemed to enjoy the conversation about the health benefits of meditation.
We brought them each a gift from Colorado; a Hopi Indian necklace and bolo tie. I have no idea if they will ever wear them, but we wanted them to have a piece of the Wild West.
Pietro served a wonderful meal. We started with bruschetta- Italian toast with a tomato salsa on top. Then onto a local specialty that is best described as a family sized pot pie with a sweet tasting pasta and sauce inside. I loved it. Then, the entree was beef with mushroom sauce, potatoes, asparagus, artichokes and fennel. All of it was wonderful. For dessert we had a local cake and strawberries. He sure knows how to put together a meal!
We stayed until about 10:30 then took mercy on these poor folks that had to clean up after us and go to work the next day. All in all, it was a great time and we have new Italian friends!
Deanne
Pietro spent the day preparing for dinner, as he is currently on Spring break. Caitie spent part of the day with us, two hours in class and the remaining part of the day at her apartment preparing for her presentation and washing our clothes which she delivered back to us at the end of the day in two wet balls. There are no dryers...you hang your clothes out to dry. Ours are currently stacked up on both the radiator and the bathroom towel rack.
At 7:35 we met Caitie at her apartment, all of us in our better than usual, but still not formal clothes. We drove over to Peitro's home and climbed the steps up to their apartment. Pietro's father met us at the door and escorted us into the living room to sit on the comfortable white leather couches. Along one wall of the home was a library of books and another wall was decorate with photos of the family and fine art photos. The dining table was all set up for dinner for six. We chatted for a few minutes then moved to the dining table.
Pietro's father, Gianni (pronounced the same as our Jonny) speaks English well and kept the conversation going all evening. A civil engineer that works on the public water system, making sure that this city below sea level doesn't flood, he is an engaging host. He has a clever sense of humor and a curiosity about us and life in America. He asked questions about politics and meditation, both of which gave Mike ample leeway to discuss things. He clearly enjoys Caitie, feeling comfortable enough to kid her about her "monster" feet and her passion for salad. Pietro's mother speaks only a few words of English, although she seemed to understand much of the conversation. When she didn't, Caitie or Pietro would explain things in Italian. She is a pediatrician and seemed to enjoy the conversation about the health benefits of meditation.
We brought them each a gift from Colorado; a Hopi Indian necklace and bolo tie. I have no idea if they will ever wear them, but we wanted them to have a piece of the Wild West.
Pietro served a wonderful meal. We started with bruschetta- Italian toast with a tomato salsa on top. Then onto a local specialty that is best described as a family sized pot pie with a sweet tasting pasta and sauce inside. I loved it. Then, the entree was beef with mushroom sauce, potatoes, asparagus, artichokes and fennel. All of it was wonderful. For dessert we had a local cake and strawberries. He sure knows how to put together a meal!
We stayed until about 10:30 then took mercy on these poor folks that had to clean up after us and go to work the next day. All in all, it was a great time and we have new Italian friends!
Deanne
Monday, April 12, 2010
Ferrara- Continued
The three of us, Mike, Caitie and I, are sitting in the breakfast room of our convent at 4:00 PM. Mike is reading, having finally started The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which I recommended to him, purchased in Seattle, and carried all the way here until it was the final book in his suitcase. Now he is as enthralled with the writing and the story as I was when I read it. Caitie is taking advantage of our free internet to work on some research for a verbal presentation she has to make tomorrow. The assingment is to speak in Italian for fifteen minutes about Sicily, where here class visited recently, or Ferrara where they attend classes. She has chosen to speak about Pietro's family, her offical host family for school, and their ties to this town and region. She has some interesting anecdotes, such as telling the story of Pietro's grandfather who was a prisoner of war during WWII in an American camp. He was made to work on a farm and was paid in American dollars for doing so, which he saved and used to purchase his home here after the war. When he met Caitie, he asked her in English if she was American, which is the only remaining English language he could muster. He apparently has fond memories of his American captors.
In the restaurant adjacent to where we sit, a huge family is celebrating the university graduation of one of their family membors. It is a loud and rowdy party which everyone seems to be enjoying. There is one particular bawdy song that is traditionially sung to the graduate, and they are singing it now. Of course, only Caitie understands it.
We walked around the old town with Caitie today and ate in a small sandwich shop at the base of the castle. It is beautifully maintained as is the wall that surrounds the city. Unlike many of the other walled cities we have visited such as Lucca, this town seems to have many fewer tourists. Unlike such famous cities as Venice which have been more or less turned completely over to tourists and not local housing, the old town homes seem to be lived in by locals here. Only a few places such as our convent are accomodations for tourists. For those of you planning a visit to Italy, this is a wonderful place to see.
Tonight we have been invited to dinner with Pietro's family. I think all of us are looking forward to meeting each other, although perhaps a little worried about how the communication will go. Pietro and Caitie will be under the gun to keep the communication moving along.
Tomorrow Caitie has classes all day so Mike and I will be on our own to tour the city and to write and tell you how the dinner turns out. Stay tuned.
I posted the Lugano photos earlier, and I will post some photos of Ferrara soon.
Ciao,
Deanne
In the restaurant adjacent to where we sit, a huge family is celebrating the university graduation of one of their family membors. It is a loud and rowdy party which everyone seems to be enjoying. There is one particular bawdy song that is traditionially sung to the graduate, and they are singing it now. Of course, only Caitie understands it.
We walked around the old town with Caitie today and ate in a small sandwich shop at the base of the castle. It is beautifully maintained as is the wall that surrounds the city. Unlike many of the other walled cities we have visited such as Lucca, this town seems to have many fewer tourists. Unlike such famous cities as Venice which have been more or less turned completely over to tourists and not local housing, the old town homes seem to be lived in by locals here. Only a few places such as our convent are accomodations for tourists. For those of you planning a visit to Italy, this is a wonderful place to see.
Tonight we have been invited to dinner with Pietro's family. I think all of us are looking forward to meeting each other, although perhaps a little worried about how the communication will go. Pietro and Caitie will be under the gun to keep the communication moving along.
Tomorrow Caitie has classes all day so Mike and I will be on our own to tour the city and to write and tell you how the dinner turns out. Stay tuned.
I posted the Lugano photos earlier, and I will post some photos of Ferrara soon.
Ciao,
Deanne
Ferrara- Caitie's home away from home
Yesterday afternoon we drove into the charming town Caitie calls home. Ferrara is home to about 100,000 people, many of whom live within the standing walls of the old city. The castle marks the center of town with tiny 500 year old buildings and homes lining the narrow streets that radiate from the center. We are staying at an old convent San Girolamo dei Gesuati, which you can check out at their website: http://www.sangirolamodeigesuati.com/ It is a charming retreat near the center of the old town. We have old murals on the high walls near the ceilings and free internet!!
Caitie's apartment is about 15 minutes away by foot; a third floor walk up with high ceilings in the living room that permit a loft bed above the living area, and slanted lower ceilings in the kitchen and bathroom that reflect her position on the top floor. She has a fireplace and a washing machine... both charm and luxury. It is a wonderful place for her to live while doing this semester abroad.
We had a picnic dinner in our room last night with Caitie.
Gotta run; will catch up more later. Photos from Lugano are now on-line.
Love, Deanne
Caitie's apartment is about 15 minutes away by foot; a third floor walk up with high ceilings in the living room that permit a loft bed above the living area, and slanted lower ceilings in the kitchen and bathroom that reflect her position on the top floor. She has a fireplace and a washing machine... both charm and luxury. It is a wonderful place for her to live while doing this semester abroad.
We had a picnic dinner in our room last night with Caitie.
Gotta run; will catch up more later. Photos from Lugano are now on-line.
Love, Deanne
Friday, April 9, 2010
Enjoying Lugano
Today has been a great day. The four of us met for breakfast at 10:00 again (why rush things? We are on vacation and RETIRED so there is no need to hurry things). After learning how things work at the breakfast buffet, we each pounced on our favorites. Caitie got the last whole wheat croissant after losing out yesterday. Pietro got his Swiss hot chocolate made from melted chocolate chunks before they ran out like they did yesterday. Mike and I got our cappacinos right away. We were having such a great time drinking coffee, munching on fruit and enjoying each other's company that we were the last to leave the dining room at 11:10.
We followed up breakfast with a walk down to the lake. On the way we stopped in the plaza to watch two Swiss men play chess on an outdoor board beside the Burger King. I should have the photos posted at about the same time this is posted on the blog so you can see the chess players and Caitie and Pietro watching. Then we wondered down to the lakefront before splitting up for individual activities. Caitie and Pietro went for a walk and rented a motor boat to see the lake. Mike and I sat and people watched and read our books. I went for a walk around the lake and took the Lugano photos of poeple's backs. I know it is impolite to take photos of people without asking, and being language deficient and shy, it was much easier to take photos of people that weren't aware that they were the subject of a tourist's photographic artistry. Enjoy them! The front side of these people were even better.
We are tucked in for nap time (it is 6:00 PM and dinner is not for an hour and a half) then we are off to have pizza for dinner. No $400 dinners tonight! The pizza is wonderful here... thin crust and delicious toppings. Given the company, I think we will have as much fun as we did last night.
Tomorrow we leave for Ferrara, Italy. We will be able to see where Caitie lives (if we can get up four huge flights of stairs), where she goes to school and also meet Pietro's family while we are there. After breakfast here, of course!
Love, Deanne
We followed up breakfast with a walk down to the lake. On the way we stopped in the plaza to watch two Swiss men play chess on an outdoor board beside the Burger King. I should have the photos posted at about the same time this is posted on the blog so you can see the chess players and Caitie and Pietro watching. Then we wondered down to the lakefront before splitting up for individual activities. Caitie and Pietro went for a walk and rented a motor boat to see the lake. Mike and I sat and people watched and read our books. I went for a walk around the lake and took the Lugano photos of poeple's backs. I know it is impolite to take photos of people without asking, and being language deficient and shy, it was much easier to take photos of people that weren't aware that they were the subject of a tourist's photographic artistry. Enjoy them! The front side of these people were even better.
We are tucked in for nap time (it is 6:00 PM and dinner is not for an hour and a half) then we are off to have pizza for dinner. No $400 dinners tonight! The pizza is wonderful here... thin crust and delicious toppings. Given the company, I think we will have as much fun as we did last night.
Tomorrow we leave for Ferrara, Italy. We will be able to see where Caitie lives (if we can get up four huge flights of stairs), where she goes to school and also meet Pietro's family while we are there. After breakfast here, of course!
Love, Deanne
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