One fine winter day

I can hardly believe it's been five weeks since I left the states. It's good that time is passing quickly, but it also makes me very aware how much I have to grab every opportunity I can before the days pass me by. So today was my "day off" (those happen more by chance, like someone canceling our plans), which allowed me the morning to study and the afternoon to wander. I took my camera and did my best to take pictures but...you really can't do justice to the charm and grandeur of Italy. I chose to live in Vicenza last time I was here because the city just awe-inspires me. Every street you pick to walk down, every corner you turn, every time you look up at the city around you...I just can never breathe it all in to my full satisfaction. My strategy for wandering Vicenza: try and get lost. Wander is the perfect word: don't pick a destination, just see where you arrive. Don't go too fast, don't bother window shopping; the best things to see aren't on display or with a pricetag. I ride my bike because it gets me to centro storico (the historic center, inside the city walls) faster, but then I end up walking my bike all through the city because riding makes it pass too quickly. And that would mean I have to watch where I'm going too. So I really enjoy the tiny streets, and peeking in every open gate that leads to a grand courtyard inside. That's the crazy part. The streets seem narrow and it looks like the buildings are just jammed together, but then you look inside a large gate or arch, where a car is going in, and inside you see their hidden oasis, clean, calm, and not nearly as "jammed" as you'd think from the streets. I also love the parks in Vicenza. There's always other people, but they are always serene, quiet, respectful. It's like an outdoor library, minus the books. Everyone seems to know the silence code. I love it...did I mention that? So here's a few shots for you all to enjoy. I can't express enough to you how much you need to come and see it for yourself though.
I'm off to the mountains with some friends on the 26th, so I will post more fun after that. Have a great week!

Friends

One of the best things about being here is the people, of course. I'm having so much fun seeing "old" friends and making new ones, especially in the English congregation here. Here's a couple shots of some of my buddies-and check out this enthusiastic singing! Gotta love the Africans...

A Girl Runs Through It (the valley, that is)

Welcome to my backyard. So I'm still not a runner (half marathon completed though!), but once again it is one of my only options for exercise. Not that the loop I have here for running is anything to complain about. Valle dei Vicari is literally just behind my house across the field, so where could be better to run? And it's SO much warmer than Watertown this time of year! No checking to make sure it's more than 20°F-yes! Hope you enjoy these shots of the valley-come run with me anytime!

Here's Valle dei Vicari:

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Welcome back!

As if getting a free flight anywhere wasn't enough, flying into Italy is SO beautiful. Even the flight attendant said I had the biggest smile of anyone on the plane-is no one else as excited as I am about living in ITALY?!?! Well then, I'll just keep smiling. Enjoy the view; I bet it will put a smile on your face too.

The start of another journey

Well, I didn't know if it would ever come again, but due to some unfortunate circumstances (Rob bring gone for a year) and always taking opportunities when they come, here I am sitting in the Baltimore airport waiting to board my (free!!) flight back to Italy. Yes, I say back to Italy because it genuinely feels like I'm going home. I can hardly believe its been almost two years since I have seen my "family" and friends, and I am trying not to be too excited because I really want to sleep on the plane tonight. Had to share this highlight that I saw in the BWI airport though; definitely takes the cake for funniest sign I've seen. In case you can't tell, it's right above the bathroom sink. I will take more notes and pictures to send soon, and carry you all with me on my next adventure... :)

Ooo, fun!

Back to California

So I've come to realize that many of my followers are not my California homies! So for those of you who haven't seen me buzzing around the streets of Marin...I'm back. I came back to California at the beginning of February due to my grandfather's health deteriorating quickly. Thankfully, I made it home in time to be with him and share a few more days of love and closeness before he passed away. The next week was spent almost exclusively with family and long-time friends, which was another great blessing. Rob met more of my family than I think he ever intended to in one week's time, and we celebrated my grandfather's life with wonderful memories and beautiful friends. And then reality set in.....

Man I miss Italy! I cried when I left, and though I knew my fairytale Italian life would have to end eventually, I just wasn't ready for it to be now. So as I struggled through California culture shock, I found myself easily sliding back into all my old niches and facing the less-fun parts of life back here (like driving a car-did I mention how much I LOVED never driving in Italy??). I already knew the cappuccinos wouldn't be the same, and I had to remind myself not to speak to the clerk at the grocery store in Italian, but STILL....It's amazing how I could live almost 25 years of my life in this environment and in 8 months forget it and attach so strongly to another way of life. Ahh, I can hardly wait for June. Thank goodness for ACLE.

It has been so great to see so many long-time friends. The kids have all grown-as I knew they inevitably would-the dogs still love me, and it's been great to catch right up with all the great people in my life around here. Time has flown right along and I am ready to shift my life once again, back east this time. I am excited to see more friends, do more traveling, and welcome spring as soon as it will come. What a great life, right?

These are a few pics of my family and some of our time together. And for those of you who don't know, here's my hometown:

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