Connection to Photos

Connection to the photos we have taken on our trip

Assisi-Perugia www.gomobilus.com/Europe_Web/index.htm
Rome www.gomobilus.com/Europe_Web_Rome/index.htm

Sophie, J'ai vu ton ami en Rome

Regard Sophie, Tom c'est passer chez Silvana's et Paolo's!

Back home in SanFrancisco

Back home and glad to have slept last night in our own beds! Thanks to Cynthia and Ally who picked us up at the airport - thank goodness or we would not have made it home! More photos later today!

KB

Off to Airport

All our bags are packed...beautiful day here so hopefully should have a smooth 9 hour flight to Miami then 7 hours to San Francisco...next blog entry from San Francisco!

Paris on Friday

We leave tomorrow! Sigh...but will be happy to be home! Merci Sophie and Gratie Barbara for your comments - fun to hear all perspectives!

Was very busy today in Paris with the holiday and we poked around for a few hours on the Champs d'Elysees and the neighborhood around the Paris Opera, Coco had her picture taken with some French Military Service men on a tank...she was thinking it was pretty cool to crawl up on that tank - she uses her repetoire of French words unfailingly - if she visits Gioavanna and Marc and cousins next summer with Jacquie in Paris - she will be bilingual as she is without fear!

Hot and tired we headed back to hotel near the airport and packed. Kids in the pool now swimming we will hit the sack relatively early and head out tomorrow. Thanks for reading our blog - will sumit the final chapter from San Francisco and add a few more photos as well.

Hugs - Bonjour - Caio - KB

Geneva-Thursday

Wow - Geneva is beautiful- reminds me of Victoria, Canada, set around the harbor at the base of Lac Lemon, Geneva in this portion of Switzerland, is a little inroad into and surrounded geographically by France, the harbor area has low story buildings strung to form a U around the harbor. We explored old town Geneva with its chocolate shops as regular as every corner or more and little alleys with windows framed by red geraniums. Often we have found fountains have a spigot with the phrase "potable water" above so you can reach under with your hand and cup some water to refresh yourself. We heard French, German and Italian though little English. We took a tram which did a portion of the U and ended up at the English Gardens where we had lunch outside. The restaurant manager reminded us very much of the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland as he flew around the restaurant late apparently for a most important date. Interestingly also I am reading Mary Shellys Frankenstein and Jacquie is reading an Agatha Christie, both set in Geneva... Geneva was all good....however...two days in Geneva was more expensive than 5 anywhere else...next time the girls pay...ha!

By 5 we hit the road towards Paris and thought we would overnight in Dijon, but felt great that we decided to press on and in fact had booked a hotel near the airport for Friday night before our flight home, so just headed there and by 11:30 we were checking in - no need to move on Friday then - a treat!

It is Bastilles Day - French Independence on Friday - so as we took the ring road around Paris to the Charles de Gaulles airport...there were fireworks going up all around us as we passed communities - it was a spectacular welcome home to Paris. The hotel is just splendid after a long drive. Internet, play station and movies in an ultra modern and large lobby.

Tomorrow we will pack then do two things, explore Marcos neighborhood of his youth then head to the Champs Elysees (Sophie..., je ne peux pas mettre l'accent sur Elysees en tant que pour une fois pas un clavier français... mais je sais que c'est là !)

It has been such a pleasure travelling around and seeing Marco's family and Europe. We are also though, very happy to be heading home! On Saturday! Thank you, Thank you Cynthia in advance for picking us up - tried to call you today - spoke with Ally to confirm - will call you today or email me! Hugs - KB

Website of Montelapiano

One of Marcos cousins Barbara did this wonderful site of Montelapiano and it can be seen at www.comune.montelapiano.ch.it

Wednesday thru the Alps

We woke early and breakfasted in the hotel. Most hotels include breakfast in the price. Croissents, coffee, cereal, fruit, jam, yogurt, often cheese and ham, really wonderful then we were on our way. Alas today we left the Autostrada as we exited Italy and for a piece returned into France. We headed thru the 11+km tunnel under Mont Blanc into Chamonix and towards Switzerland. The views are spectacular and we stopped to snap many a picture. On to the Swiss border and Geneva.

Geneva is a town of 400,000 people and surrounds the southern edge of Lac Lemon. It is a major conference centre with many ads for beautiful watches! There is a gyser in the middle of the lake, the "Jet d'eau"...which we don't fully understand but will research tomorrow as we wander around. Prices are VERY expensive here. We went into a little shock... with the 380€ for two rooms quoted...then we realized in swiss francs...so roughly 65% of the cost of a euro...never the less we found more reasonable accomodations, a laundry, and internet cafe and will soon go to dinner. Aurevoir from Geneva...nice to be somewhere where I can speak the lingo again!

Day in Venice

Day summary: Really for Coco, it was all about the pidgeons at Piazza San Marco eating out of her hand- that and the water taxis...pretty much made the day...the frescos...at this point she had seen so many, there was a movement away from the art of the painting to the art of the moment...a good day for Coco.


We had so much fun in Venice, the girls fell in love with this beautiful town. When we arrived to the parking lot to catch our water taxi there were these fellows trying to steer us wrong...but pre-warned by He who Shall Not be Named...Rick Steve...we got out of the tangle and headed to the real Water taxi or vaportto. From then on was charming...the ride to the Piazza San Marco was wonderful....it takes about 40 minutes and you get to soak in your introduction to Venice. You pass under the Riato Bridge (right) then continue on. The first floor of buildings were intended as the comercial level, 2nd for public meetings, greetings, the current day living room and the upper floors were the private family residence. The carvings and faded frescos speak of such a romantic time past.


The Gondoliers go by singing...for up to 200€ you can partake for an hour...we declined and watched from the shore, preferring to save our euros and walk through all the most intriguing side twists and turns in the alleys. Near San Marcos it is crazy busy, but possible to get a quieter taste of Venice if you try to get lost - being an island you are not at risk...so I let Marc navigate...ha!

Masks are everywhere as is Vencian Glass, Murano Glass, many leather stores and lots and lots of other stores. In Piazza San Marco you can buy a bag of dried corn for 1€ and the pigeons land on your hand and shoulders it is quite a charming experience...pidgeons have very warm feet it turns out...and they peck very gently! The picture below is from corfu-pictures.com and really shows the Piazza San Marco from a wonderful angle. San Marcos is the white building on the right. We stayed until 7 but knew we had to get on the road - we had hoped to make it to Geneva but with the late start, we knew we would not go thru the alps at night. We past Verona and Milan then about 30minutes past Milan we tired and found a hotel for the night. By midnight we were sleeping - a very full day!

Trip to Venice

Up the Adriatico yesterday to Venice actually just beside Venice, Mestre....he who shall not be named...(Rick Steve, American travel book writer that I have quoted too much this trip and who has proven to be right more than Marco, is now a banned name in our vocabulary, like Voldemort, we cannot speak of Rick without Marco cringing...) so anyhow, RS says don't stay in Mestre except to park, but we have a car and so staying in Venice was more than we could handle lugging all our stuff in the vaporetto (water taxi)...so we stayed in Mestre...the first bad hotel experience of the trip. We had not pre-booked hotels so we could travel at will...we tried to go for quaint...now mind you everyone else thought the hotel was fine...I thought Scooby-Doo...(American cartoon) and expected the scary music to start any minute and the luggage to disappear.

The trip up Pescara, straight up along the green beautiful Adriatic to Ancona, Pesaro, Rimini (super beautiful vacation spot) then we cut over to Bologna and then up to Padua then Mestre. We made it thru the night, no one disappeared...when I asked the hotelier last night for a map of Europe as we are heading to Paris thru Switzerland...he said Map (he spoke english) I don't have no map...wait until 11:30pm my colleague, he knows everything...and he went back to reading his book, clearly not succumbing to the Karen Burke charm...

Off to get the water taxi and go to the cafe recomended by my uncle OJ!

Hugs - KB

Marco and his Uncle Galizio, his dad's brother

View from Montelapiano, Italy

The shed at the bottom of the hill and more musing

Marco's Grandfather's barn which Vincenzo and his son Gabriele (cousin from Fallo), Piero (cousin From Rome) and Paolo (From Rome) are renovating. Tools his grandfather used and basket he made, who knows how long ago, we put outside to photograph.

Musing.. on email....I remember when a friend of mine from University travelled around the world in the early 90's - I had to post mail to the Canadian Embassy where she and her husband would be planning for the mail to arrive before they were in those cities so they could recieve their mail...It is very fun to be on the road posting stories and hearing back from people almost instantaneously!

Musing on the potty...more potty talk, my Italian cousins were amused with the potty talk on the blog and told me stories of going to Canada and life without a bidet..which they sorely missed...we also laughed about all the variety of Italian flush modes...one almost got me the other day...no way to make it flush - so I gave up and started washing my hands...when I bent down to pick up my purse there was a tiny tiny little button under a shelf...could that possible be it...I could not resist and tried it...heaven above if the darn thing didn't flush...and today in the autostrade stop called...yes my favorite autogrill this time...outside Padua...autoflush...but be careful there is this sanitizing spray and I wasn't quick enough...spritz on the... ahhh what they don't put in guide books...

KB in Venice

In Fallo, Italy

In Falo, Italy with Marco's aunt Clara, his father's sister.

At Zia Fruzinella's house in Montelapiano

Sunday, Montelapiano

So you know when you think you understand...then you don't really? Such is the case with my Italian...a little too sure of myself and get myself in trouble...so I thought we were leaving at 8am, taking a jeep down the back roads to the vinyard...no actually we were hiking down which was fine...but up...would I ever make it... I gave Marco and oral will as we decended...I was getting nervous but Vincenzo and Gabriele were confident...off we went...straight down...it took 30 minutes. Marco said his grandmother would bring his grandfather lunch, down the mountain and then up...to which I replied - I would have suggested he bring a bag lunch had he wanted to eat lunch that day...!

So cool down there , Vincenzo, Gabriele, Paulo and Piero are renovating the "cazetta", and you do need a guide to get down - last summer they fixed the roof. Pretty neat got to see it all and beautiful vistas and some tools of Marco's Grandfather Domenico and several baskets he had made were still there....and now the up...honestly I was worried...how would I get up...we went halfway up and saw the cemetary where several of the DeFrancesco's were rested then up we went...I kept hoping for a nimbus 2000 to appear (Harry Potter's broom) but before I knew it we were up, that was amazing! Actually the steep down was harder on my knees, I guess maybe took an hour to get up with the stop at the cemetary.

We went to Zio Galizio and Zia Delfina's for an amazing lunch (showered first!) then to Lanciano to shop a little, back and met up with another wonderful Aunt Fruzinella, who was married to Marcos uncle Antonio who passed away. She, like me, keeps and loves photographs. We spent such a pleasant hour reviewing all sorts of wonderful pictures and she gave us some to give Ennio, and in this photo, the little guy in the middle in the dress like get up , yup Marco with his cousins and Zio Galizio. Children left to right: Maria-Rosaria, Marco, Giovanna, Dominique and Carmen


Any question what we were doing as of 8 pm? What all of Italy was doing-watching the game! Good game...but Zidane...what happened to you my friend...did we put too much pressure on you? Needless to say that I was rooting for France was not the most popular local choice. However the Italians succeded and won. We went outside and looked at the towns around, there were some fireworks and we could hear horns going off from all directions.

Another wonderful day in Italy.

KB

Montelapiano, Italy

Such a pretty town, this view is from halfway down the mountain looking up.
The town is at the top!

Montelapiano, Saturday July 9th

Marco's Aunt and Uncle, Zia Galizio and Zia Delfina, her daughter Giovanna and husband Marc and daughters Laure d'anna(far right) and Chiara (left).
Saturday we woke up and showered in this teeny tiny little bath shower and were ready to explore! A knock at the door and you would swear Ennio DeFrancesco was there, but it was his brother, Galletio (please forgive the spelling!) was there with the girls cousins to walk us around the town. So we explored with a guide for 1.5 hours and ended at his house for a little refreshment. He built his house in the 60's as a summer home and still spends most of the summer there with his wife and family and their families! It has an incredible view over the valley and Villa Santa Maria which is the town at the bottom of the hill and has about 1000 residents I believe. Montelapiano has about 65 year round and maybe that goes up to 150-200 in the summer. This is the town where Ennio my father-in-law grew up with his 7 siblings. It is the coolest little town, so beautiful, a little breeze always, about 2100 feet in elevation. There are no stores but one bar and a fruit-veggie-bread truck comes around once a day and beeps if you want to purchase anything. The town is on a hill so if you go down to visit someone...you must plan on the upward journey!

We visited Villa Santa Maria then came back for Snacks at Tia and Tio's. Joavanna and her husband Marc were in from Paris with their two girls. So the 4 girls went off and we drank coffee!

Then another cousin, Vincenzoo (forgive my terrible spelling I am sure...) came in that Marco played with as a kid and chat chat chat and off we are going to Falo (spelling?) down the mountain and accross then a litte up the next mountain. This is where another one of Ennio's sisters lives. It was nice to see her and chat then on to Vincensios to meet his wife, who spent 7 years in South Africa so spoke Italian and english with a south african accent. We had a great time and then went out to dinner. Then they were so kind as to go down their mountain and climb ours so we could find our way back home - gratie!

Ahhh, sleep! We are meeting tomorrow to climb down to the vinyards where Marcos Grandfather Domenico worked the fields.

Friday Night Montelapiano, Italy

Montelapiano, Italy! http://www.comuni-italiani.it/069/053/mappa.html That is a map to the location. Alice you are right...I need a map to illustrate! So in deference to you - click on the attached link above. Zoom out to see where this is exactly in Italy ...but basically go east from Rome until if you continue driving you get wet because you drive into the Adriatic, that is Pescara, then you go south a little and inland for 50km or so...the last 20km by the way are straight up with switch backs. Add a little fog, rain and one swearing Italian and presto you are on your way to Montelapiano! All our wonderful Roman relatives suggested to us, wait until Saturday am, the holidays for Italy begin today...but we decided to venture forth and cousin Mario, gratie Mario, lead us to the Autostrada and with Coco and him in his little volkswagon bug, her hair flying out the window we ventured fromRome, we pulled over and hugged just before our exit and were off! The fog, rain and swearing came later...ha!

We made it, with a little magic we actually made it! Zia Carolina had described where to park the car, then on foot, wind our way thru the streets to find her door, which was accross from Marco's Grandfather's house...only he couldn't remember exactly where that was...because it had been 35 years...so as we stumbled around in this sleepy town a Seniora appeared like Juliet on a balcony - Marco was wondering a few streets away...so I am trying to say, I am Ennio DeFrancesco's Daughter- in-law...not sure I got that together so went for Marco DeFrancesco's wife...I actually told her I was his fiance but close enough...luckily he showed up and we were RIGHT in FRONT of Zia's door!!!!!

Sleep wonderful sleep! Till Saturday....did I mention Zia lives next door to the church, so you always know the time. The clock rings every 15 minutes, deeper bongs for the hour and more treble ones for the quarter, so for example 11:45pm would be 11 deep bongs and yes 3 high ones...all day...all night - that was so funny, Coco would do a mime every time the clock bonged...that was alot of miming!

KB

Arrivederci Roma...

I have been waiting to sing that...but now that it is here we are all depressed about leaving. Marco has met so many of his cousins, we wish we could spend more time. Bonifacio's flat has been an absolute haven from the humidity and busy times in Roma.

Today we went to the bank and took a number 115, they were serving number 78! We went out walked around for 40 minutes came back, and still had to wait 30 minutes! All to cash travellers checks! Note to self forget the travellers checks, a royal pain in the you know what! Use the ATM!

It is the first day of holidays here so we suspect the reason for the lines.!

Off to Montelapiano, the tiny town of 65 that swells to 450 in the summer where Marco's dad grew up and Marco spent some time, actually most summers. His cousins, aunt and uncle are all currently there and we are staying at Aunt Carolina's (from Perugia) at her house.

Jacquie's a little better but still a small fever and sore throat.

Will be out of touch for a bit as likely no internet until Venice on Monday night.

We miss ROME already. WE are definitely coming back!

Off to hit the autostrada and get my diet coke at the Autogrill!

Ciao! KB

The Villa Borghese, at the northern end of Via Veneto, was founded at the beginning of the 17th century by Cardinal Scipione Borghese Caffarelli. The Cardinal was a great patron of the arts, and commissioned many of sculptures Bernini's most admired sculptures. We saw Bernini's most famous masterpieces "Apollo and Daphne", "Pluto and PersePhone" and "David" this morning after a short metro ride. We found the Metro today, much faster than the bus. There are no bags or cameras inside so you are free to wander with your audio guides. Alas Jacquie does not feel well so we headed back to our apartment and hope to go out tonight to see some of Marco's cousins south of the city.

This statue of David was amazing as well there was an exhibit of Raphael that was currently at the museum so we got to see this travelling show of masterpieces, this photo from the museum website. The sling-shot as he is just about to release to kill the giant is impressive.

Bye the way...we of course had to climb 150 stairs to the painting floor (Coco counts for us), and equal that to get out of the metro...lotsa, lotsa stairs in Rome!

Walking tour of Rome in a day...6.5 hours actually

In Front of St. Peters, where we started our day.


Marcos amazing cousin Mario took his motorcycle and came to us here on the west side, he lives on the east side of Vatican City. By motorcycle 30 minutes, by car, 90 minutes! He then proceeded to tour us in 6.5 hours of the Rome highlights (we took a 30 minute lunch break!) - he knew back ways and romances, intrigue and scandals as well as the history to most of the places we were, except the three bumble bees in the stained glass in the church on Capital Hill, that is evidently my job to find out! We went up stairs (124 at a time at Capital Hill), down stairs, ramps, circled fountains and avoided the ever present vespa, which does not bye the bye have to stop at red lights... The girls walked without complaint! Coco even got her gellato!

Coco and Mario refresh themselves at the water fountain.

On the Potty

Actually on the subject of the pottys or WCs or toilettes here in Europe. We lead a boring life in North America I have discovered from travels this year, our potty life is somewhat predictable...here, there is always a challenge to sort, a button to find, a lock to decipher. What excitement, new neural pathways created daily. In Paris you pay a euro, sometimes for a nasty bathroom, then sometimes it is free, the public street bathrooms, but then you have to wait while they do an automatic full shower sanitize between each person, don't get stuck inside on the rince cycle...ahhhh...you enter, it is clean but dripping...on the roadside stops, sometimes they are the bowls in the ground that you crouch and aim, luckily Jacquie and I had training in this earlier this spring in Japan. Don't call them bathrooms or washrooms when asking, they will look at you strange and assume you want a bath, as both rooms are separate here, toilet from bathroom. The ever present bidet, always a source of interest quite frankly to moi.

The most interesting is the actuators. You could push a small dicrete button, pull a chain, pull a metal rod, push a rectangular box, almost flush with the wall behind the potty basin. Then there is my favorite...many have the big button and the small button...are you with me? For big action or small action.

Ahh the cultural things we learn when travelling...my happiness is with all the water we are drinking, they are plentiful! From Roma....chaio...KB

Rome Wed July 5th

Dinner with Silvana and Paolo
We are heading out with our tour guide Mario. Into the blazing heat...note to self: come to Rome in December next time....

Italy Won last night! The streets went mad - hours of honking, shouting, cheering, fireworks...canàt wait till they will on Sunday....ha! Alas though my favorite player Zidane would loose (France) so I guess either way I am happy...of course this assumes Frances wins tonight!

Spice market in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Provence.

Wierd bugs

Seeing some wierd bugs...

Butterflies

There are many here the same and also different ones than I see at home. Enjoying that! This is an adult swallowtail butterfly.

Mucca the dog from France

Mucca - our favorite French Bulldog - Dominque and Sophie's dog - we miss you Mucca!

KBs picture

My favorite picture of me...Coco took this outside Louvre...as photographer usually like to be behind the camera but Coco caught my mood with this one! Chaio!

Coco exploring Assisi

Pisa

The leaning tower without all the tacky tourist vendors....couple from Chicago took this for us. Lots of Americans, Brits and Germans we have run into. Also many Canadians.

Jacquie and Coco appreciating Italian Art...the cultural duo using bottle caps as monacles...

Photo - Road to Rome

Fields of sunflowers on the road to Rome.

Rome traffic

Oh my gosh - Rome traffic is so bad, so bad...beyond what I could have imagined from all of our travels, lanes appear and disapear at will, vespas scoot by, lights generally attended to, pedestrians breeze confidently thru it all. To find Marcos cousins place was a miracle! It is a flat a mile from St. Peters in a piazza that is quiet. Alas Bonifacio has to be in Milan and we only saw him last night here and at his cousins for dinner. (Photo of his flat to left)

We arrived and unpacked then were scooped off to Silvanas and Paulos for a lovely light dinner and conversation. I mostly understand what is going on but it is so frustrating not be be able to respond in Italian, so I respond in English and they mostly understand me. Add wine, as we had some last night, and all flows amazingly well! Paulo is a long time Roman and an avid history buff. Particularly as it related to coinage and the military. An interesting collection and varied. He let us hold 2000 year old Roman coins and had a fantastic sword collection that Coco had her eye on. It was a perfect meal for Jacquie - vegetables and fruit! She was in heaven.

We slept and slept and are just up now. Marco drove Boni to the airport as the taxis are on strike - Italian politics and inefficiencies, a frequent topic of conversation for the locals! Mario, another cousin, is retired and has promised to be our tourguide of Rome, what a delight not to have to deal with what we saw of traffic. He will come over later and we will plan our day. For now for me, a computer, for the girls Boni has Shrek 2 that they are watching, Marco went out to get a coffee and I am about to shower. Life is very good! Happy July 4th to our American friends and Coco! We celebrated Canada day on the road but met people from Victoria in an Autogrille and celebrated a bit with them!

Also Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad we thought of you on the 30th!

Hugs- here for 5 days and will be on email regularly should you need to post a message here or via my email. Chaio! KB

Perugia, Assisi, Derutta

Made it to Perugia using a mapquest version for Europe called Mappo which Marco and I call Crappo now...as it has lead us astray several times! We circled Perugia and then went up to the hilltop town looking for his aunts place...we keep circling, circling and voila...eventually we find it! This was also the case with Tia Carolina. Her condo is beautiful with tile floors and high ceilings. They have lived there since 1984, she is alone now and kept up a steady stream of Italian. She is fun and lively and so acomodating. Niente she says all the time. Like no big deal, dont worry about that spill. Perugia is built on a hillside and was a fortress in the mountain, much of the town was in the mountain. You park below and take 4 very long elevators to get to the Piazza. You are inside this amazing fortress, currently they had a photo and music expo from South Africa inside. We toured around then had some pizza of course!

It is hotter than heck, we drip sweat when we sleep!

side note: We had forgotten, or I had forgotten my toiletries bag in Lucca, we had so much going on at departure it just got left, so they are forwarding to Rome, no problemo, more Italian hospitality.

Assisi is the most wonderful place. It touched me greatly. St Francis has always been my favorite of the saints, so to be here and walk where he walked and hear his story again, so touching and humbling. I lit candles and said prayers here for friends and family. Mount Subasio is the location of the double basilica expresses the message of St. Francis. A weathy son from Assisi who turned away from worldly goods to be attentive to God, man and all of creation. The cathederal is 3 layers, one on ground level and one above and his crypt below. Alters in all three layers are perfectly aligned. An earthquake in the last 10 years damaged the upper cathedral somewhat and some of the frescos are missing portions. The Italian gothic style of arcitecture is so much more light and heartfill than cathedrals we saw in France.

Photo from historicdocuments.com

On then to Derutta. Derutta is a locale that specializes in the Derutta style of Italian ceramics. One of Marcos cousins Pino and his wife Silvia own a ceramics manufacturing facility here. Silvia's father was one of the artists taught this style from a travelling Russian and from this russian an industry and town was born. We bought many things and spent many euros here! Pino is shipping it for us directly to San Francisco thankfully! They toured us of the plant and Silvia showed us how to paint in the style. They let Coco paint a plate - she was in heaven! Also had the best coffee ever as Pino is evidently known for his coffee - he says he has something to retire to...a barista! They work 7 days a week and dont seem to stop much.

From their website http://www.maiolichepeccetti.it/

Off to Rome!

On the road to Pisa

Coco with Cheese in Lucca
We left Lucca and headed down the road to Pisa. About 45 minutes away - the road construction is crazy in Italy - Marco swears in Italian frequently! Lines and exits disapear at will, detours that seem to peter out are frequent then you follow your gut and eventually get back to the Autostrada - the super freeway (toll freeway) thru Italy. Frequently there are Autogrilles on the Autostrade, diet cokes assured! I have one a day and split with Marco as my navigatorial reward! Truly please my brother Kevin certified me as a 5 star navigator years ago...seriously part map, part instinct, having a sense of the sun and prayer is a powerful package!

Pisa was funny - after Lucca it was a tourist trappo a go go...the Duomo and tower were wonderful but surrounding the square are so many tacky booths and hawkers - crazy - we always try to find an out of the way restaurant to eat and it was harder to do in Pisa but we managed. About 110 degrees - so we each drink up to 2 liters a day of water, that is all we drink - Marco and I avoid wine or we would fall asleep immediately!

Then driving to Perugia to Marcos aunt Carolina.

On the drive the fields and hills are many colors in blocks. Yellow hay, silver green for olive trees, deeper green for oaks, medium green for grape vines. Often we turn a corner and there are miles and miles of sunflowers - they follow the sun so sometimes they are camera shy as Coco says, facing away from the road and other times they great us bobbing their top heavy heads.

We are listening to an Italian pop star Tiziaro Ferro recomended for Jacquie and bought the newest of our favorite Zucchero, called Zucchero and friends, he plays and sings with Miles Davis, Cheryl Crow, Sting, BB King etc. We are enjoying all being together and gently teasing what has become evident as each of our unique foilables.

Coco has picked up an amazing number of italian words and uses them regularly. Her favorite...gellato!

Hugs KB

Lucca picture

Street scene Lucca

Friday in Lucca

Marco and I wandered into Lucca early in the am to do our laundry and could not bear to pack up and hit Pisa today - just too tired so decided to stay in Lucca and just enjoy. When we fished the laundrey we headed back to get the girls ( a 5-10 min walk, we could not take car inside the walls of Lucca - impossible to park - so stayed just outside walls) They were happy and we walked back to Lucca and rented bikes (2.5 € for 1 hour each) and rode around on the walls of Lucca - there are 3 walls from various years of fortification - they have turned this into a beautiful walk/bike path that is as wide as a road and we had time to circle the city twice in an hour. You get a great overview of the city this way. But after an hour we were ready for lunch and water! Photo on wall looking towards interior of Lucca

We shopped some in the pedestrian mall and the girls and I climbed the 220 stairs up the clock tower and had an amazing view of the city. Marco had done Sacre Coeur and was ready to not climb tiny staircases to dizzying heights! Top of tower overlooking Lucca

They headed back to the hotel but I wanted to see the Museum of the Cathedral in Lucca. There were achitectural finds which according to

"Archaelogy in Europe - unearthed evidence of a Roman presence long before the traditonal date of Roman settlement in 180 BCE - corroborating Roman historian Livy's account of the great Carthaginian general Hannibal passing through Lucca in 217 BCE ."

It was amazing and very spooky to be under the cathedral with just another French couple looking at a tile floor from 735 A.D and column elements from 100 B.C. The DaVinci Code in mind I was spooked enough to high tail it up to the main floor after I realised the French couple were no longer down in the dark digs with me! (Photo by Art Serve as no cameras allowed in Cathedral)

Back home to watch the first soccer game, then a swim then out for dinner.

It was so fun to watch Italy play in an Italian restaurant in Lucca - everyone get so excited and with Italy winning well...the car horns were beeping.

Today to Pisa then to Perugia as we have nixed Florece - could not get reservations in any of the museums we wanted and think we will just move on - maybe add Venice in at the end since we have more time. Plus will be fun to see Tia Carolina and be in a house again.

Chaio from Lucca - KB

In Carpeneta - Sitting in center Marcos Moms sister, her daughter Lisa to her right and behind in red is Sabrina. Beside her to her left is her Marcs moms brothers daughter.

Thursday in Lucca

Spent the am with Marcos Aunt and Uncle and cousin. We visited his uncles wood working business and saw some of the amazing wood doors they make. Lunch was then the best food ever, aside from my mother in law - her sister in law is an amazing cook also - fresh pasta ravioli stuffed with spinach and cheese - yeah baby as Coco said.

Their house is beside Marcos grandfathers house where Marcos mom grew up so took some pictures, also of the church in town. There was lots Marco remembered about growing up and spending his summers here so he really enjoyed it. Coco enjoyed playing with the dog next door and wandering around.

We then drove to Lucca which is south east of where we were last night, about 4 hours. We found via Rick Steve's book Hotel San Marco (how could it not be a good hotel with that name...!)
It is totally cool just outside gates of Lucca - we are going to bike ride the walls around Lucca tomorrow and visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa tomorrow as well. Pisa is about 20 km away from Lucca. Florence is also close but turns out we needed to make reservations for some of the museums in Florence a month ago - ha- so might be fun just to wander around Florence and see some of the lesser known stuff if we cannot get in. Plus molto tourists and so we are not much into that scene after braving it in Paris and knowing it is coming our way in Rome!

Coco has an angel following her as she frequently looses or forgets things and as we drive away from the hotel or gas station invariably some wonderful italian gentleman runs after us and hands us something she forgot!

All for now!

Hugs - KB

From Carponeto, northern Italy

Wednesday June 28th we woke in Finale and breakfasted at the hotel - it is a residence type hotel for many who then spend the days at the beach 400meters from the hotel. So they have asigned tables and leave their highchairs for children or favorite water or wine at the table to have from meal to meal.

We hit the beach and rented two chairs and an umbrella for 6.5euro ($7.8) well worth it as not only hot so umbrella welcomed but then in a quieter part of the beach. There is a part where you don't pay and that is packed, a spot for dogs and then a spot where you pay. As you sit there these guys come along and have T-shirts, hats, sunglasses, purses to hawk. Not too invasive though. A little boy came by playing the acordian for money and the lifeguard jumped off the chair and kindly sent him on his way for disturbing us - though we were enjoying it - but he might have been 10, not very old. It was a beach where tops were worn but if you needed to change tops or rearrange things very liberal to take off one top and hunt around in your sack for another top then put that on. Tan lines are not encouraged so they kept tops off while lying down.

We found a grocery store and bought bread and fruit for the drive to Northern Italy where we are going to see Marcos aunt and family. It is so beautiful while driving - many vistas of the ocean, houses on hills and many immense green houses - not sure what is grown there. Off to meet the family!


Thursday June 29th - In a tiny town in northern Italy south of Milan - Marcos Aunt and her two daughters and his Uncle and family live here. We met all last night - his cousins speak quite a bit of english so I got along fine - he was doing so great in Italian - but he was sweating up a storm he said remembering words - sure sounded great to me! This is Marcos Moms family. They loved the girls and his Uncle went out and got 10 varieties of gellato since Coco said she liked them all so she could try a little of each! We stayed at a hotel Wed night with AIR CONDITIONING aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh very rare but had best sleep ever.

Today going to Marcos grandfathers house to see it and then on to Pisa (leaning tower for sure!) and Lucca and then Florence before seeing his aunt in Perugia and cousins in Rome.

chaio! KB

Alice thanks got your note re house, thanks for update, Susie thanks for your update that Alice was having a party every night.... and god love Sitto taking care of vagabond, run away Chance - gratie KB

Ligurian Sea, Gulf of Genova, Finale Italy

In Finale ...which is just past border into Italy on the coast - went thru Nice and Cannes today - crazy neat scenery - these miles of aquaducts... er I mean viaducts... as you enter Italy - funny because now cannot speak the lingo---but lots of english at least a little -found a cute hotel with a 5 inch long key that includes breakfast and beds for 4 for $120 euros so a good deal.

Didnt talk about soccer yet - it is what everyone eats, sleeps and breathes. Anyone on the street can tell you the score at any time and who plays who next , every restauant and store has a TV brought in and plays is - at a goal the waiters stop and cheer or jeer or dance - it is crazy! Less hot that Avignon the 110 degrees was getting to us down to 95

Andiamo ...chiao KB

Tuesday

All well - we got to call Canada on Carmens phone as she has wireless service thru the world - so Dot was surprised to her from us yesterday! Thanks Sitto - we hear Chance is a houdini of a dog - thanks for going to get her at the vet! Taran we hope you had fun at your birthday party! Hope all well KB

Sur le pont d'Avignon

Girls dancing on the Pont D'Avignon...So we made it to the pont - it is like a million degrees - we drink water constantly and badoit - the favorite French sparkling mineral water - this walled city has spectacular views - the Palais des Papes was the residence of the papacy during the Italian wars in the 13th and 14th century - it is beautiful and cavernous - you hear all languages and on the streets the girls are looking to find all European Community license plates before leaving Europe- a competiton of sorts on who takes the most variety of digital shots of those license plates - they are neck and neck at the moment - Jacquie scored with the Netherlands and Coco nailed Belgium first.

After the Palais we took the tour and walk of the Pont - the Rhone is quite beautiful - green, wide and slow flowing.

We shopped for some Provencal fabrics and bought a linen table cloth which Marco was kind enough to haul around for the rest of the day.

Sophie and Dominiques middle daughter looks very much like Elise DeFrancesco in Ottawa so we took a photo to email Elise.

We are going to eat with Carmelle DeFrancesco, Dominiques sister then head out tomorrow for a little touring, by way of Nice then cross into Italy late in the day.

My french improves daily and I realise there are many word I do not know... like turret and cornice... ha...

Coco says hi to her friends ...a demain...

Entraigues Sur La Sorgue, France

Ahhh starting to relax. It is interesting to stay at someone's home who is of similar age with children of similar age. Perhaps there are learnings here as Dominique and Sophie don't seem to be running themselves raged dragging kids to activities. The school day is longer, till 5 or 6 if in highschool - kids get 2 hours for lunch, Wednesday afternoons are for all your activities. On Saturday we did....nothing... and their kids did nothing... with us... no friends...activities...it was relaxing...concept.

After a day in the pool Sunday we headed to Isle sur la Sorgue, a super cool walled city that evidently Johnny Depp lives in with his wife (Vanessa Paradis) though we looked in some cafes he remained elusive and Jacquie did not get her photo with him. But the entire town turns into a market on Sundays so we wandered and I bought some oilcloth of Provence design and Jacquie managed to find some shoes! We went next to la Fontaine-de-Vaucluse and walked around and had lunch under the massive trees by the river. There were punt races in the river that we watched - it is the season of festivals in many towns in Provence and so each town has their own specialities. This site is famous as a source of water, the second largest in the world. Cousteau attempted to discover the source in a dive and could not. It was quite low at the moment but a cool respite to be close to the water. It is also a famous location for printing paper and we watched them make it with an old pulverizing machine designed hundreds of years ago.

We also saw in the distance the famous Mont-Ventoux - famous if you are an avid Tour de France follower as Marco is - so that was fun.

Tomorrow actually today - Tuesday- we head to Avignon to the Palais des Papes - as the pope was here before the center of the Roman Catholic church was moved to Rome - a fact that had long eluded me - however is to be interesting. Aurevoir!

girls at the base of La Tour Eiffel this was the only thing Coco wanted to do in Paris: we waited an hour to get to first floor; 30 min to top hung out for a while then 30 min to get down! A bit crazy! Oddly 3 different people we talked to in line we then met again in 3 different locations in Paris the next day!

ON heat in Seb

Alice/Susie you can turn on AC slide lever to right ...just make sure windows closed and turn off when you leave - thanks for taking care of everything!

we ,made it to Avignon

Versailles
what a couple of days ...paris was fun but we were happy to leave ...we travelled to Versailles then down to St- Etienne in fact Feur where we found a charming hotel with two rooms left and they opened the pool for the girls...then we went to the restaurant next door; they were closed but took pity on us and said we looked tired and hungry so they could make us salads - which we gladly accepted.
We travelled to Avignon from St Etienne this am but alas marco put unleaded in the diesel gas tank as it was not marked...en panne!So we chugged to the little town and stumbled upon the police station ...they helped us find the Avis number and called for us ...an hour later the tow truck came...then they sent a taxi to the Avis location....we got a new car and were on the road.....zut alors...no air conditioning!!!! We had to turn around....unload again.....and get a third car...four hours later....we were on the road again! We arrived here and Marcos cousin had food and wine waiting....and to Cocos delight...a pool!!!! Tomorrow we explore some castles!

On Chance and Hamlet

Susie on cat food - yikes we filled the bin to the brim - I wonder if those racoons got it - we have the Costco kind - sorry to add to your toubles. Cynthia on Chance thanks - we say hi and on chair - oh my god hysterical!

Hugs - KB

Tuesday in Paris

Well it turns out that there is not a cyber cafe on every corner in Paris - but I hunted down a cyber cafe are in Les Halles near centre Georges Pompidou - and the fam dropped me for half hour so I could cyber chat. Having a great time - alas Marco still sick but he is hangin' in there. Kinda hot and sticky but drinking lots of water.

We have seen the Eiffel Tower, Trocadero, Centre George Pompidou, Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur, Les Invalides and Musee D'Orsay (view of Rodins by Coco at left) - our feet are a little weary. Today woke up feeling like we had adapted somewhat to the time. Coco's photo of Notre Dame, Jacquie is in a bit of the shot.

Many Canadians, Americans, Brits here - we hear lots of english. Also Italians and Germans. We are on Rive Gauche close to a train station so we are getting around quite easily. Girls fond of the bakery on every corner!

Time is up so gotta dash - take care - KB

Off we go - Cynthia is picking us up tomorrow at 8 am - think of us flying - cause KB hates those take offs...but will hold Coco's hand...and Marco's...and Jacquie's...

Posting from Coco

Greetings fellow readers...I am excited and sad to be leaving Sebastopol for a month. The reason I am excited is because I am going to Europe! The reason I am sad is because I am leaving my friends. Read my later comments...later! Coco