Italy-Random Stuff

Watching soccer outside...

So, I’ve been trying to be at least semi-entertaining for those who read this, but lately I’ve been having trouble coming up with anything super interesting. We’ve got a regular schedule now. I get up every morning get Camilla dressed, get her breakfast, do some homework with her, then send her to play with her cousins, or her cousins come over. They are always concocting some sort of spectaculo. At around 10:30 we leave for the beach. We stay there pretty much all day. We swim, look for crabs, play foosball, eat lunch, build stuff in the sand, she likes to be buried in the sand…. So far we have only caught one crab. We usually bring our own lunch of fresh pasta, salad, and some sort of fruit. I have discovered a new love of fresh ricotta cheese. It is seriously the best thing ever. I’ve never been a fan of ricotta in lasagna, but this is like a dessert. I eat it with a little olive oil and vinegar. SO GOOD!

It’s nice having her cousins around cause they go and play something which gives me time to just sit there or go float in the water for a while. The water has been really nice lately. Its clear and there are big waves. I’ve been going out there with the kids, holding the air mattress while the waves fling them up and down, a few times the waves have been so strong that they’ve knocked me down too. I saw a small jellyfish today. There are a lot of them further out. I take the kids out with the peddle boat to swim and go off the slide, but we are constantly moving to another place because there are jellyfish (meduse). They are huge, or at least I think so. I would say twice the size of your head.

At around 4 we head back to the house, play for a while, have a snack…Dinner is at 7. They have a special type of zucchini here called trombete. I guess is only grown in this region. I eat it in pasta, by itself, or pureed into a soup. I think im going to try to bring some seeds home, so I can grow it. I don’t think it will throw off the eco-system or anything. We still eat in courses starting with a soup or pasta, followed by a protein, then vegetables or salad, then bread, then fruit for dessert. Almost every night we watch Camilla’s favorite tv show (Veline) at 8:30. (It’s a skanky girl dance-off. There are 6 girls from different regions or even countries. First, they have to do some sort of game. They are really random. Doing gymnastics, quoting a movie, guessing types of fish blindfolded… Then they dance for about 30 seconds and the winner is chosen. We try to guess who will win.) Then she goes to bed at around 9. That’s basically my day everyday.

And speaking of weird tv shows, I saw one the other day. It was a competition between housewives and transvestites. They had different competitions, obstacle courses, pole dancing, and a fashion show. The judges were a crowd of loud rowdy men. The funny part was that the transvestites won the competition for being sexiest. I don’t think that would happen in the US!

Old men playing bocci ball.

Sign from God

So, I experienced a divine miracle on the 4th of July( I forgot to mention it earlier). I had a few hours off in the evening, so I was walking through the crowded shopping street next to the water looking at all the stuff in the windows. I went into a shoe shop cause they were really cute. I saw a couple of pairs I liked but explained to myself that I need to save my money and that i really didnt need them. As I was walking out of the store, the shoe I was wearing broke. I kid you not. I turned around and purchased the pair i was looking at. Although not entirely roman, I would say they are 'romanesque' sandals. Who am I to question the will of God? When He wants me to buy shoes, I just do it. I should go to Rome to get my miracle sandals blessed by the Pope!

Fashion Update/ Random Stuff

So I know that many of you have been asking about the Italian fashion trends since they are a little ahead of the game. The new “in” thing is roman sandals. Im posting a few pics so you will have a better idea. Also, Aladdin-looking pants they are hideous. Sorry no pics, but you can imagine. I am hoping that this trend will not cross the ocean. The teenage girls have long, straight hair with a little tuft of hair cut short at the very top of their head. It’s really weird looking.

For the guys, its brightly colored jeans…corral, salmon, burnt orange….

I could have sworn I took a picture for you, but oddly enough, I cannot find it at the moment. You will have to use your imaginations.

On a random note. I have befriended the owner of this cafe, and he just asked me to saluta tutti . In other words...he says hi.

Jordan, this picture is for you!

Camilla

So if this works, this is a quick video of Camilla and her cousin I dont know how to spell it but his name is "Goo-gee"

I think they are cute, so I just wanted to give all of you a quick glimpse.

Happy Be-lated Fourth of July! I tried to get a hamburger to celebrate, but it was more like a gyro....so much for that idea. Alassio has been good. We've just been going to the beach everyday. Today was nice. There were big waves, so I used Camilla's boogeyboard.

Camilla is learning a little bit of English. We were alone her together for three days, and she was pretty well-behaved. She still has her occasional fits but then she quickly snaps out and is your best friend again. For example: at the beach, she dropped all of her coins in the sand and lost them. She was crying while we hopelessly looked for them. After, she said she wanted me to give her money. I told her I had given her all the change I had the day before, and that she would have to wait for her mom to come. She became very upset and demanded that I show her that I actually had no money. When I refused, she called me liar and said she saw her mom pay me that morning. I said, yes, I have a 20 euro bill, but Im not going to use it. I need to save it. She grabbed my purse, then tried to lock me in the changing room. With my excellent strength, I stopped her from locking it. She went inside, starting hitting and kicking me telling me I was stupid and that she hated me and to get out cause she had "stuff" to do. I said fine, grabbed my purse and went outside. She locked herself in there for about ten minutes wailing and crying. I just sat outside and repeated my new favorite phrase, Chi se ne frega (something like I dont give a rat). She finally came out when the other kids started making fun of her for acting so stupid. Then she was like, Marcie, will you swim with me?

It's rather frustrating at times, but overall, its not that bad.

She now understands the phrase "Im going to tell your mom."

My language skills are increasing in a way I never would have guessed!!!!!

Alassio

So in Alassio, they had a mass in honor of all who have died in the sea. Each beach resort had flowers to throw in the water and the main ceremony was in a church way out on the cliff.

Here are some pictures of Luigi, Paola, Camilla, and Me. After, we went to a church barbeque. I had sausage and pasta and fried zucchini flowers and friend apples and octopus and french fries......it was the best stinkin church barbeque Ive ever been to. St. Anthony's people: take a note!

San Giovanni

So, I’m a little behind in my posts, but I will catch up. Earlier this week in Torino was the festival of San Giovanni, the patron saint of Torino. The entire center of town was shut down to allow music groups, car shows, vendors, concerts…to be set up. Oddly enough, there were two different groups of Native American singers. It was weird to see people wearing moccasins and feather headdresses in Italy.

I got back from Cinque Terre at about 1am. Usually there are a fair amount of people out and about at night, but on that particular night, the streets were crowded with people. There was an Italian rap singer concert going on. I have no idea who he was or what he was saying but it was cool to see. Annamarie and I attempted to stay out all night since she doesn’t have a key to her house, but at about 4:30 we crashed. I felt like a rebellious teenager sneaking in a friend at 5am. I told them about it in the morning and thankfully, they didn’t seem to care.

On the next night I didn’t go out, obviously, but at about 11pm I was woken up by a loud banging sound. I went out on my balcony and saw the fireworks over the river. It was really pretty.

Okay, so I am adding this for the merriment of all who read this: The bus system was mostly shut down during the festival, which was a little frustrating. The bridge I usually take to get home was even closed. The bridges are about a half mile apart so I asked if there was a way to cross without having to walk. The police officer said that I needed to take that bus and that it would take me over the river…easy enough…right? Well, it didn’t take me over the river, it took me back into the center and even further. I got off and jumped on to the next bus headed in that general direction. I was the only person on the bus, so the driver was talking to me and telling me, again, that the bus I was formerly on would take me over the bridge. He even turned off the bus to check his festival schedule. So I start to go back to the next bus stop, and I see one coming behind me. I’m not quite to the bus stop yet, so I start to run. I barely make it to the bus, but just as I am leaping on to the bus the door closes. Now, I am half way in and still in running stance, so I fall to the floor of the bus still wedged between the doors. The doors open, and I roll into the bus; however, I have lost my shoe outside. Staying down on the floor, I manage to grab it out of the gutter before the bus leaves. I just started laughing. I really wish someone would have had a video camera cause it was absolutely ridiculous. People were asking if I was okay….my arm was a little sore after but I think my pride was hurt much more!!!

So this is the Muretto in Alassio. It has a bunch of signatures of famous Italian people. I didnt know any of them. It's a long wall next to a park. The locks in this picture are expressions of love. Ive seen this in Torino too, in random places. You write your name and that of your significant other on a lock and leave it somewhere so you will be together forever. I think it's kind of cute.

Talk to you all later!

Around Torino

torino at night

looks like just a normal fence...
but it is actually recycling at its best and theft protection at the same time.
Finally, here is the Mole

We're going to the seaside for 3 and a half weeks. I haven't found an internet cafe over there, but I will update you as soon as I can.

Feel free to email me whenever. Hope all is well with everyone!