Famiglia Tranquillo

Summer 2011

2013-05-06T01:23:00.000-07:00

In the Piazza Santa Croce, during San Giovanni. I think this is when Sisi developed her fear for firworks. We walked all the way from home and as we walked we searched for a spot to see the fireworks. It was near imossible and very uncomforable being pushed around by the crowd, finally by the time we got to Santa Croce we decided to head back home and noticed that the bleachers were still up from the local rugby games. It ended up being a perfect spot to watch the fireworks!

Sisi in the sidecar with Gimmy's friend Carlo

San Gimignano

Our friend Dylan came back for another visit in Italy, one of the trips we did was visit San Gimignano

A cute little Piazza with a chuch

The towers of San Giminano

Roof top dinner at La Scaletta

The amazing view from the top

Venezia

View of Piazza San Marco, the Duomo and the Palazzo from the water

The duomo

Venecian traffic ;)

Little Sisi in Venice

Sisi and Gimmy taking a swim on the lido of Venice

Waiting for our cafe at the Florian in Piazza San Marco

On the farie boat

Summer in Pizzo

First day at the beach, Sisi and cousin Mario playing in the sand

Taking a walk from our house to Pizzo

Mini Jane Fonda

Sisi and me, at the best beach for finding sea glass, and also for private swimming since it takes a little effort to get there.

Playing in the waves

Gimmy's nephew, Bernardo, turns 20!

Daniela with Mario and Sisi and me at the beach

Yeah SISI!

Swimming

The family at the beach for a morning swim

Sisi and me, in our crocheted bikini's I made for us

Learning to swim with floaties

The jelly!

My 25th birthday party, opening presents

The family

Sisi, Andrea, and Mario being silly

Cutting the birthday cake

My crazy family and friends

More swiming

Raphaelle holding the ricola (the big fish) and Sisi being very scared of it. ( HAHA, poor thing!)

The 3rd ( and last) black berry pie of the season.

Daniela preparing 4 lasagnas for the mid summer party

Claudio and Gimmy preparing apetizers for the mid summer party

Sisi and Gaia playing with bubble shooters

Badolato
We took a short trip to Badolato to visit Gimmy's friend who spends time at the beach there in the summer.

Caminia

Gimmy swimming in the beautiful waters of Calabria

Taking a boat ride with friends Claire and Alan and their cute little boy to a fun swimming place.

Gimmy and Alan with Sisi in the floatie

Sisi and Mario

Last swim of the season

Collodi

Collodi, the author of Pinocchio birth town in the hills in Tuscany

Playing with puppies

Taking a walk from Massa to Cozzile. Two very small and cute towns situated on top of the hills

It was still quite hot when we returned to Florence so a friend of ours gave us this baby swimming pool for Sisi to play in. She obviously thought it was super fun!

Hard Rock Grand Opening 4th of July in Firenze

2013-05-06T01:22:00.002-07:00

Project Team

At the bar, the VIP guests arriving

Bartenders getting busy!

In Piazza Repubblica right in front of the stage, they are doing sound checks and getting ready for the show while the crowd is gathering

Gimmy at the VIP bar right next to stage. Both Gimmy and bartender looking happy to be there ;)

The crowd in Piazza Repubblica

The smashing of the guitars.
From left to right: Piero Pelu, Gigo, (the smasher), Matteo Reno ( the Florentine Major), and...

Matteo Renzi and Gimmy
Just after Matteo smashed a guitar on stage

The crowd in front of the Hard Rock

the band

Dylan and Gimmy enjoying the music and some drinks

Gimmy, Piero, and me

The crowd behind the VIP secton

Sisi Graduates Aliso Nido

2013-05-06T01:22:00.001-07:00

Sisi's graduation from asilo nido (day care)

Arriving to the school anfd seeing all her friends

Playing games

face painting

Crafts

Sisi recieving her diploma and book of accomplishments during school

Sisi with friend

Gambrinus and the Hard Rock Cafe Firenze

2013-05-06T01:22:00.000-07:00

The famous Gambrinus Theater in Florence, Italy, located in Piazza Repubblica. It is a historic building and was saddly closed for some years... That is until Hard Rock Cafe and local architects came to a conclusion that would please the Florentines and Tourists alike.

The beginning,
Architect Gimmy Tranquillo and Alessandro in front of the old theater. Basically just a sad, abandoned looking building with BIG hopes.

Just inside the front doors to the theater, where there was the old bar, notice the huge chandelier, the big painting on the wall in the back and the marble on the collumns and part of the wall. This is the location of the new coffee bar and Rock Shop.

Inside the theater looking towards the entrance and balcony up above. This is the location of the resturant and cocktail (American Style) bar.

This is a "undercontruction" photo next to the finish product rendering. To be done in 50 days?!?!

View from the roof. Amazing! The Duomo to the left and Palazzo Vecchio to the the right and you can even see down into the Piazza Repubblica.

Some of the crew at the bar, looks like they are the guinea pigs to test some food thats coming from the new kitchen.

View towards the stage and screen, with their moto "LOVE ALL SERVE ALL"... great moto!

Putting up the rock n' roll memorabilia

Getting closer to the finish

Done! And just in the knick of time... the end was looking rather scary with all the different groups of people working, practially stepping on toes to finish. This project went from demolition to complition in 5 months. Remember this was a historical building and there were strict rules as to what could be removed and what had to stay. They had to redo the intire inside without adding or subtracting space, the kitchen was put into the basement ( underground). There was an amazing effort to make all the machanical and electrical work correctly and most efficiently. In the end it all came together and is one of the best designed and most interesting Hard Rock Cafes.

Our daughter Sisi, the first singer on stage!

Piero Pelu and Gimmy, old friends from long long time ago ;)
Piero came to the Press conference during the end of the construction and Gimmy was there, as he was the architect, and they reunited their friendship.

Sardegna Climbing Easter Break 2011

2013-05-06T01:21:00.000-07:00

Sardegna Climbing

We were a group of 10 climbing friends from Florence that planned to go to Sardegna for a climbing trip. From the start of the trip we noticed the weather was not going to be in our favor. We checked out reports on several websites with hope of some promissing weather conditions for climbing... As it turned out, after we drive to the farie, take the boat ride over to the island, drive another 2/3 hours and arrive at the campsite, half of the group ended up going back home because of the bad weather. But as the 5 of us stayed we basically made our motto "lets make the best of what we have".

This was the very first day when we still had everyone from the group. We hiked a little along the coast to a beautiful stop right on the sea. We met other climbers from all over Europe, all determined to make the best of their "Easter Break".

The spot was fantastic and I loved being there even if the rocks were wet and slippery.

Thats me, in this moment telling my friend where its most slippery and where the water is coming from.

Getting ready to climb

View of the sea from where we are climbing.

Since we had succumbed to the idea that it would be difficult to climb in the rain every day we decided to do some touring around also and in between get out our climbing gear whenever possible. One alternative activity we did was hike into a canyon where there were very large boulders and amazing scenery.

We also did a tour of a grotta. Which was fun and interesing. Gimmy and I had visisted a grotta in Tuscany so this was interesting to compare to what I got to see there. We were not allowed to take photos, but we managed to get at least one ;) This is from the top looking down into the cave.

As we were driving around in the rain we noticed the area we were in was known for having ancient ruins. This is one of the ruins we visited. No one knows who made these but they are similar in architecture to the Etruscan style in which they used huge rocks but as far as I could understand its still a mistery.

This is the last place we were able to climb. We tried to climb it one other time during the trip but there was too much rain so we left and hoped we would get back to try it out. This was another, obviously, very beautiful climbing spot right on the sea, and its basically a canyon with bolted walls for about a mile in. We climbing the morning of the day we had to leave and it turned out to be the best climbing we had while we were there. We found a wall that just so happened to be positioned where it was dry from the rain and even dry from the mist of the sea... That is until a huge dark cloud came over and down poured while our friend was finishing up the very last climb of the trip. We all thought that was a funny way to end to our "Sardegna Climbing Vacation".

Easter in Catanzaro and Pizzo

2011-07-13T03:23:00.000-07:00

What a ham!

How many people does it take to brush Sisi's hair?

Sisi and Sara Nonna

Sorry its upside down!

New shoes! Thanks Nonna Sara!

Chocolate Easter Eggs!

On the terraza in Pizzo

Mario and Sisi

Easter lunch

The day after Easter lunch party in Pizzo

The kids table

baby birds!

Spring to Summer

2011-07-13T03:07:00.000-07:00

Sisi loves to paint!

First Spring weekend

walking the Tuscan hills...

At the local fair

Jumping!

Gimmy at the Gabrinus Theater/Hard Rock Cafe

Gimmy's first sailing race with friends, unfortunatly they broke something and they had to go back in early.

Italian Independance for 150 years

Piazza della Signoria

Inside the Salone dei Cinquecento at the Palazzo Vecchio, beautiful!

Santa Croce

YEAH, balloons!

Play Day

We parents have fun too ;)

Sisi hair cut

before...

After!

Sweetheat!

Sisi in bikini!

I croched the bikini bottom (working on a little top!)

Venezia Carnevale!

2011-04-14T03:02:00.000-07:00

We went to Venezia for Carnevale, and it was a unique and amazing experience!

Sisi was supposed to be Little Red Ridding Hood, Gimmy: Capitan Hook (same costume from Halloween), and I was a ... fortune teller/gipsy girl....

We did the gondola ride!

One of the only pictures with Sisi wearing the red hooded cape.

January and February

2011-04-14T01:57:00.000-07:00

Cleaning up the Christmas tree mess... what a disaster, it was sooooo dry!

Gimmy's idea to contain the needles... it worked!

Sisi snoozing

So so, I cant figure out how to rotate the photo..

Walking along the Arno

Sisi's new transportation to school

Out for a coffee at Gilli

Sisi's Mickey Mouses

Asilo (day care)

Work ( Hard Rock)

Christmas and New Years Vacation

2011-02-10T09:44:00.000-08:00

Sisi on her new tricycle, we let her "open" and use before we left for the south.. it was a fun early Christmas present.

Sisi looking at the rest of the present before we packed them up to take to the south.

Sleepy head, so sweet!

Gimmy preparing the lamb for his mother to cook for Chistmas dinner.

After dinner, its now midnight, and we all all very tired...

I opened up a pair of RayBans from my parents! Thanks Mom and Dad!

Gimmy got a new pair of his favorite Reef flip flops

Mario helping Gimmy to give the gifts.

Vincenzio and his daughter Christiana

Sara and Daniela

Sisi with her new toy stroller and red hat

The Nonna, with Babbo and Sisi

Sisi and Mario playing the keyboard! Fun and loud!

Christmas day, Sisi and Mario playing with a new toy.

Pizzo

Sisi!

Sisi and Gimmy at the life size nativity set that was in the piazza in Pizzo

Sisi and me, com'e bello il mare!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-12-01T02:16:00.000-08:00

We celebrated Thanksgivign at our house. I had to order the turkey in advance only a couple days before, he said he got the smallets one which was 13lbs. It looked pretty big to me and it almost didn't fit in the oven! Here is the table set up for 11 people.

Gimmy cutting the turkey, I never got a good picture of the turkley when finished because I was cooking like a mad woman but I can tell you it was very good and looked perfectly roasted ;) It took almost 5 hours to cook, and everyone said they liked it. I admit, was pretty pleased with my first turkey.

Our guests getting ready for the meal.

Sisi, with Auntie Allison (my American friend)

and Allison's mom (who was visiting Allison in Florence from Texas), Gail.

Gimmy still cutting the turkey and Nicola checking it out.

All of our friends at the table with all the food covering every bit of table. We had the turkey, stuffing, wild rice dish, glazed carrots, green bean caserole, sweet potatoe casserole, and the Waldorf salad. For desert we had my Aunt Sue's ~famous~ pear pie, chocolate/coffee date cake, and chocolate gelato pie.

We ate a lot.

After dinner entertainment by Sisi

Sisi with her Babbo

The turkey at the end of the night...we had left overs for about 6 days. We had fun, but I did miss all my family back home thinking they were probably all cooking like mad too. Haha! Until next year!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Halloween

2010-11-02T08:05:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween! Sisi dressed as Tinker Bell. Last minute I hade to add the white pants and sweater to the outfit because it was pretty cold.

I made all of our costumes...Gimmy was Capitan Hook and I was Peter Pan.

I took Sisi to St. James ( American Chruch) where they held a Halloween party for all the American/Italian kids. Sisi is still a little young but she seemed to have fun with the kids, coloring and eating some snacks.

The next day we went to my friend Allison's house for a Halloween dress up party, this is us all ready to go.

Tinker Bell and her magic wand!

Tinker Bell and Capitan Hook

At Allisons house:

Freddy Cruger, Dorthy, Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, and Capitan Hook

Oh, Dorthy!

Dorthy and Freddy

Gimmy trying to calm Sisi because she was really terrified of Angelo's mask and hat... He actually was really scary! Poor thing!

Sisi really didnt like Angelo's costume, but when he took off the mast it was like nothing ever happened.

Sisi and Giacomo, his parents were dressed up as Devils but I didnt get a good photo of the costumes.

Peter Pan

Playing Left Right and Center ( a funny little game)

Sisi and Giacomo, so sweet!

Visiting family in Umbria and EuroChocolate Festival

2010-11-02T07:47:00.000-07:00

We went to visit Gimmy's Aunt Giudita in Umbria, she lives in a little town called Torgiano and is about 2 and a half hours away by car. We took one stop in this cute town on a lake ( Lago Trasimeno) called Passignano.

Passignano

The two island in the lake, one called Isola Minore and Isola Maggiore

Sisi and Gimmy on the pier

Looking towards the town center ( see the tall tower)

One on the "doors" to the town.

Torgiano

Torgiano is a very nice town and also very small. It's center consists of only 3 very short main roads.

Gimmy's family lives in one of the oldest palazzo's in town, they own the entire top floor of the building and have two terrazza's.

This one is the terrazza on top of the roof and has an amazing view. Since the weather had already changed, they were not using the outside because it is much too cold.

Gimmy and his cousin Antonio

View from the terrazza, looking toward a nother little town called Bettona, you can see it on top of the hill and with a tower.

Perugia and Euro Chocolate 2010

Lucky us, the weekend we picked (randomly) to go to Perugia was during the Euro Chocolate Festival!

One of the doors into the city center, this one is called the L'Arco Etrusco ( Etruscan Arch)

View of part of Perugia city.

The front of the Cathedral of San Lorenzo.

Some people climbing up a giant chocolate bar ( I did not do this....)

You can see some tents set up (all selling chocolates...)

The big building in the back is the Palazzo dei Priori

This is inside an Italian theater, there were special vendors for chocolate here and they displayed the chocolates in glass cases like jewelry...

Gimmy and Antonio admiring the pieces for sale.

Yummy and pricey!

In this theater is where we found Cosijns Sushi Dessert Belgian Chocolates. They put together an assortment for us so that we could try all the things they had on display. They were sooo good! They didn't look like sushi as in fish, they looked like chocolate and candies but arranged as sushi is... thus the name, but really good flavors, we were very surprised. Here are 2 photos I found from this website of the chocolate. They said you will be able to buy this chocolate in the U.S.A. in a few months.

Toblerone stand

It were so many people it was hard to get good photos of everything that was going on. It was mostly just tent after tent of chocolate and crazy people bustling everywhere trying to get free samples.

Can you guess what this is? .....

a chocolate kebob. Yes, we tried it and no, it was not great.

The building is part of the duomo and you can kind of see the Maggiori Fontana

( round structure in the lower center in front of arches)

Me, Sisi and Gimmy and the Chocolate festival, happy to have some chocolate to try at home

(after lunch)!

More architectural scenes of Perugia

Assisi

I really liked Assisi. There was just something about this little sacred town that sits on a hill.

Basilica di Santa Chiara

Chiesa Nuova

Chiesa Nouva and the home of San Francesco's parents.

Piazza Del Comune and the Torre Del Popolo

Inside the church in the Piazza Del Comune... and Sisi

Products Tipical of Umbria

Antonio, Sisi and Silvia walking down Via San Francesco to the church of San Francesco

Basilica Di San Francesco

The view from the Basilica

Via San Francesco and the reasturant/bar (behind Antonio and Silvia) we went to to after our visit of the church to have some tea and cookies. (it was COLD)

You are not allowed to take photos inside the basilica of San Francesco but this is what it looks like. Very amazing! Found from this website

Sisi and Silvia

Antonio and Gimmy having tea.

The street that goes from the main square to the Basilica of San Francesco

Walking back to the car, you can see the Basilica of Santa Chiara.

Bettona

Another cute little town on top of a hill,

you can see this town from the roof top terrazza of Gimmy's Aunt's house.

View from Bettona

Sisi's 2nd Year Birthday Party

2010-10-11T05:57:00.000-07:00

Sisi turns 2 years old! Happy Birthday Sisi!

She is going to preschool now, so I brought in cookies for the kids in her class for a littel celebration.

That evening we had a little party with some close friends. Sisi was the only child, she did not mind at all, and had fun entertaining the guests by dancing around to music.

Gimmy helping Sisi open her presents

Sisi opening Mickey Mouse (her new favorite thing...)

Simone, Angelo (in the back) and Ottavio.

Allison and Jacqui.

Simone, Rosita, and Giorgia

Sisi and Allison

The birthday cake, chocolate with marshmallow frosting.

Cutting the cake

Sisi and me with her presents, thanksl for the nice gifts! Sisi really likes them.

Random funny photo of Gimmy and Sisi inside our tent, we set up on our bed to take a measurment of the inside space.

Verona

2010-10-11T03:25:00.000-07:00

We left our new favorite place and took a side street to Padova so that we could pass by the famous Palladian Villas, as we drove saw about eight villas. We knew of the first one, which is show in the first photo below, but it was closed that day so we didnt get to see it any closer that this.

This was another Palladian Villa along the road we took to Padova, then from Padova we took the autostrada to Verona.

Verona, the city of love, is a beautiful city. At least the historical center is very beautiful.

This is the arena of Verona

Palazzo Della Ragione and the stairs shown are called Scala Della Ragione

Chiesa Santa Maria Antica

Along the river.

Chiesa di Sant'Anastasia

Piazza delle Erbe

Me standing in front of Giuliette's house. Its a fake, they used it in a movie, and now it is famous!

You must walk though this tunnel to get to the entrance of the palazzo and to see Giuliette's balconey. All the graffiti on the walls of the tunnel are actually love notes, hearts and names of couples. Pretty amazing.

So, we did it too. but so tiny it gets lost in the mess.

Our little heart is in the center... I bet you can't see it! Even the gate was covered!

Our trip in Verona was cut a little short due to rain, but we walked around most of the historical center and really enjoyed what we got to see.

Venezia

2010-10-11T02:34:00.000-07:00

My funny husband suprised me with a trip to Venice! He asked me the night before.. "how long would it take for you to get ready for a weekend away?" I said, "well, just a couple hours, all I have to do is pack." He said "Ok, great, start packing... we're going to Venice!" Gimmy found this place called Camping Fusina that was designed by a famous architect, it is a camp ground for tents, motor homes/vans/cars, they even had their own little "bungalows" thet we stayed in. They have a pizzeria, bar, restaurant, mini market, and they also have a boat yard. It sits right on the water and is also located near a large shipping route, where we could see the giant ships passing by only about a hundred feet away. It was also the location of one of the ferries that takes you Venice, it was so convenient and nice we plan to stay there again next time we go :)

The first photo below is of the campground and a ship early one morning.

On the ferry to Venice

Beautiful Venice

Sleepy Sisi on Babbo's shoulder

We have landed

The first thing we did was grab a bit to eat then we were off to explore. This cafe was really cute and sat right on the Grand Canal.

Taking a photo from Ponte dell'Accademia

Getting lost in some tiny pathway...

and at the end of the pathway is the water.

Piazza San Marco

Here we are: in Venice, sitting at the famous Cafe Florian in Piaza San Marco, listening to the live band playing classical music. We are drinking espresso and eating special cookies from Venice, and watching the piazza fill up with water.

Ths photo is so surreal... The people at the cafe with no shoes on, the water about 8" the band playing in the background.

Gimmy with Sisi walking through the water.

At one point we both took off our shoes to walk in the water as everyone else was doing!

When in Rome... I mean Venice!

Basillica Di San Marco

Water Taxi passing by. See the yellow sign in the window?

This tower is leaning. I believe everything is leaning in Venice.

I really enjoyed seeing the doors that open into the water, and the pathways that just end right on the canals. In high tide, like how the water fills up in the Piazza San Marco, is does the same in the small streets and pathways. You will see that some entryways have a sliding waterproof door at the bottom of a main door to help prevent the water from coming in the building.

We stepped into a little church to let Sisi sleep just a bit longer and also to give Gimmy a break from carring a sleeping Sisi. We decided to not bring the stroller, and I think it was a good idea, but we did have to carry Sisi a lot of the time but at least we didnt have a big stroller to haul over the bridges.

Inside the church

Vaparetto

On top of Ponte di Rialto looking toward the marketplace.

View from Ponte di Rialto

Me, Gimmy and Sisi in front of Ponte di Rialto, and a gondola

This is a view from the other side of Ponte di Rialto

Playing with Sisi

She liked this statue...

Break for gelato

Walking back over Ponte dell'Accademia

Sisi being silly!

Cruise ship passing by

Santa Maria Della Salute

Another leaning tower

Thin passageway

Gimmy and Sisi in front of Basillica San Marco

We found this really cool pizzeria, called Novecento Jazz Club. It was in a small piazza and there was nothig else but it, it was a great find because there were not many people (about 3 tables of guests, including us), it was quiet and out of touristic hustle and bustle.

View from Ponte Rialto at night

Piazza San Marco, at night and with low tide.

Cafe Florian

From Ponte dell'Accedemia, you can see Santa Maria della Saluto lighted up in the distance.

Volterra

2010-10-11T00:24:00.000-07:00

Volterra is another small and amazing town in Tuscany that sits on top of a hill. As you drive up the winding road to Volterra you are greeted by sheer rock faces and the camoflaged stone buildings propped on top making an even more dramatic appearance. You really feel like your entering a midievel place. This town dates back to Etruscian times, there are Roman ruins including an ampitheater, there is also a prison which we were up for touring until the guard told us "prisoners only".

The center of town. Photo on top right really looks like Palazzo Vechio in Florence, I'm sure its function was for the same reason.

Sisi having fun!

This is one of the main pedestrian roads with cute stores and workshops.

Top on right of photo: cute and tiny church; Botton inside the cute and tiny church

One thing that Volterra is known for is its Alabaster. This man on the bottom is creating works of art from the Alabaster.

This woman uses this loom to make her own fabrics with the rolls of wool yarns and her creations are really beautiful shawls, coats, sweaters, hats, scarfs, blankets. She has a small shop and her work place took up about half of it, it was so neat to see her making one of her creations.

This was a nice day trip from Florence. We came here when my mom was still visiting.

I also found this article from the Florentine:

http://www.theflorentine.net/articles/article-view.asp?issuetocId=6027

Summer Vacation in Pizzo

2010-09-25T07:01:00.000-07:00

First day at the beach!

This is the beach club we went to every day. It was very close to home, you can even see the beach from the house. We would take the car since we had so much stuff and its about a 5 minute drive, but to walk takes 20 minutes and you have to walk along big boulders and some parts in the water. Its fun to do when you are not carrying a bunch of stuff.

At the beath with some of Gimmy's relatives.

Playing in the sand. This beach was perfect for families becuase there was a long shallow beach with only a slight slope to it. It is also small and only one bagno so you cant get lost.

Swimming with Babbo

My Birthday

Vincenzo is getting the bbq ready for my birthday.

Sisi cleaning up the yard

Birthday dinner with all the family.

Andrea, Simona and Sisi

Andrea is trying to give Sisi a kiss....HA!

Mario and Sisi dancing for the audience.

Gimmy's mom Sara, and his aunt Zia Giudita

Nonna Sara pushing Sisi on the swing

Sisi and Andrea

Vincenzo and Daniela dancing

My cake and 24 candles. Im a youngster! ;)

My mom and me, cutting the gelato cake called the Belvedere... sooo yummy!

Opening a gift for Zia Giudita

Yearly tradition of roasting marshmallows on my birthday

Blowing out the fire on the mallow

The Day of the Fish

Raffaele, a fisherman and friend of Vincenzo, caught this monster... I think it weighed about 65 pounds.

Apparenty, this fish was old. They know this because this kind of fish stops growing in length at one point and the head continues to get bigger. That is why the head looks huge and the body smaller in comparison.

Yikes!

Gimmy wanted to see just how heavy it really was...

The Day of the Giants

Now, there is some crazy tradition from which this came from. There were actually 3 days in August in which 2 people dress up in the giant costume, a man giant and woman giant, and run around the beach and through the town along the sea with drummers behind them... it was entertaining.

In the photo below, look between the giants, thats Gimmy and Sisi and if you can zoo in close she has a scared look on her face. Poor thing.

Relaxing

Mexican Night

The night where I make a bunch of Mexican food. It turned into a big party with lots of drinking and dancing.

Gimmy's sister Daniela, Gimmy's cousin Rosalba, and another cousin Antonio

Family friends Francesca and Raffaele

My mom and Sisi dancing

Gimmy and Fabrizio DJing

Shots all around!

Sisi, Mario and Bianca dancing

Antonio and Gimmy dancing with their mothers, Giudita and Sara.

Random Photos

Ahh! Who got my camera???

Sisi playing in the sand.

We bought some flaty toys to play with in the water... come to find out this orca whale I thought would be fun to completely worthless! Bcause it has a round body it keeps rolling over making it impossible to stay upright. Bummer, but it did look fun and make it easy to find out umbrella.

Sisi under the mosquito net

Vincenzo's 50th Birthday!

Fabrizio and Daniela making sangria for the party and Gimmy and I made margeritas.

Gaia, Mario and Sisi

Mario is the uncle of Gaia and the cousin of Sisi.

Men with tattoos and their little babes.

Sisi and Gaia

The ladies, my mom Nancy, Vincenzo's mom Giovana, Gimmy's mom Sara, and Gimmy's aunt Giudita

And yet another party of dancing, eating, drinking and fun!

Bianca and Mario traditional dancing to Calebrese music.

Mario the bartender.

Bernardo (Daniela's son), Roberta (Vincenzo's daughter) and Daniela

Dancing!

Vincenzo and Daniela

Pino.... crazy Pino! He knows 1 line in english: " Oh my god"

The cake!

Maria Teresa

Vincenzo and his family

Vincenzo with his in-law family

The party continues... Crazy Pino and Bianca dancing

The couples: Crazy Pino and his wife, and Vincenzo and Daniela

Camania Beach and a Boat Ride

Sisi with godmother Teresa

Me and Sisi on the boat

Sisi with friends

Gimmy and Gianmarco

Pointing out a place called the Blu bar, a club in the rocks on the sea.

The Blu Bar

Sisi enjoying the ride on the boat.

Gimmy and Sisi

Teresa, Sisi and me

Gimmy with an old friend.

Sisi with her gelato

They both have beards

Fabrizio's Birthday

Mario, Sisi and Gimmy playing soccer

Sisi doesnt quite get the game yet...

The dinner table and the Birthday boy on the right.

Octopus for a starter

Sisi and my mom "Cheers!"

Mario and Sisi choosing the music for the night

Feeding Sisi

Fabrizio opening up come prosecco

Mussels, clams, octopus, and sea bass... all prepared by Fabrizio! It was SO good!

Gimmy and my Mom

Mario and Sisi getting sleepy

The frutta... which was melon an cream on top

Daniela with flippers on her hands trying to kill a hornet, Fabrizio covering his head.

Gimmy... not really sure what hes doing...

The cakes! Chocolate (left) and cream (right) Normally I like chocolate more than I do cream but this cream cake was sooooo good. Dont let looks fool you in this case, they both were good but the cream was extra good.

Another hornet kill with the flippers

Happy birthday Fabrizio!

Maria Teresa and Fabrizio

Me and Daniela

Mario

Fabrizio and Maria Teresa dancing

Last Day in Pizzo

Nonna Nancy and Sisi

Goodbye Pizzo! It was a short but fun summer!

ROAD TRIP Part 5 Finale: Courmayeur, Dolonne, Portofino

2010-09-14T07:44:00.000-07:00

Courmayeur

This is the town on the Italian side of the Monte Bianco. How different a place from Chamonix which is on the French side, which this place is more like a country club than a gym (Chamonix being the gym). There was not a big presence of outdoor activities, although it is for certian they are there. The people were dressed in slacks, polo shirts and a sweater around their neck. In Chamonix people were wearing lightweight technical gear, quick dry clothes and hiking boots. Nevertheless, Courmayeur is a very cute mountain town situated just below the mountains and is a place for great skiing and has a wonderful gondola that can pick you up and over the town to the top of the mountains and over to Chamonix.

Looking over the town and across the river to another littlw town called Dolonne.

Dolonne from the same point as above, I just zoomed in...

Looking towards the mountains were Monte Bianco lives.

Multiuse log cabin.

Dolonne

Located just on the otherside of the river from Courmayeur is Dolonne. A tiny little town on a grassy hill that borders a river. It is a peaceful town, and is very quiet mostly because not many people live there full time and there were several abandoned old structures. This place has interesting buildings made from boulders and lumber. Like in the photo below, there are passageways to get into a center covered courtyard where there are several different passageways to enter into the different homes with hidden doors and windows. This place really felt like a fairy tail.

There are also these newer but classic chalet style homes...

Amazing to see every balconey with flowers!

This is at the top of the village were there is a little fun park, and the grassy hill, which in winter is where the kids learn to ski and snowboard. You can see the lines and 2 gondolas going by the the photo below.

Portofino

From the mountains to the sea... As we left Dolonne in the early morning we decided to swing by Portofino for lunch as a finale to our "road trip". It was a nice ending.

We took the little walk to a nice view point, were you can see the bay the other side of the bay and far beyond to a city in the distance.

ROAD TRIP Part 3: Paris!

2010-09-10T07:49:00.000-07:00

PARIS

We made it to Paris to met our old friends Gloria, Lauren and Michael!

Notre Dame

Sisi and Nonna and the Notre Dame behind them.

Gargoyles

Having dinner near the Boulevard Staint Germain

Zia Gloria and Sisi

I had to put this photo in becuase it makes me laugh!

Zia Gloria and Zia Lauren

The Centre Pompidou, the museum of modern and contemporary art,

is a cultural institution on art, design, music and cinema.

My mom

Nancy and Gloria at the top of the Pompidou

Michael and Lauren, Eiffel Towwer in the distance.

In the escalator.

Sisi playing on the Philip Stark furniture and outside playing in the water near the giant gold pot...

security was mad for that.

The cafe on top of the Pompiduo, see the giant gold pot,

appropriately desiged and decorated for the museum.

The photo on the right is another that makes me laugh, Gimmy pointing, my mom reading a map and Sisi sleeping with her poor little head falling to the side..

Part of the Louvre (building in the background)

A band playing music along the side walk.

Lauren and Michael

Photo on left: Opera House, and a really cool retro scooter.

Photo on Right: Entering the Galeries Lafayette

Here is a photo with part of the dome a decorative architectural elements, and Lauren and Michael checking out the theater style center.

There was a mob of people trying to get into the building at the same time we arrived, which made it impossible to shop or even walk! So we ran to the roof top for some fresh air and to admire the views.

The back of the Opera House

Sisi, Gimmy, me and the Eiffel Tower

Laurens Birthday Party!

Gloria had bought a fresh strawberrys and cream cake from the famous Tanty's bakery

(which was a block away from our hotel)

I cant even explain how amazing tastey that little cake was!

Sisi thinks its for her..

Lauren opening her presents.

Me, Sisi and Lauren

Later than night, Lauren and Michael and Gimmy and me went out to the canals of Paris where it is the new place for locals to hang out in the evening and at night.

We first walked along the canals. At night time there are tons of people sitting along the canal eating a drinking, playing music, games and just talking. It was a cool experiece.

Photo from here

Then we found Chez Prune, by chance, which turned out to be a very popular local bar. We had a few drings and asked the friendly bartender a bunch of questions and he pointed us to a great resturant where we went for dinner.

Photo of Chez Prune

Hotel Du Nord. The resturant were we had dinner, we were the ONLY tourists in the place, the waiter was very nice and the food was delicious! After the dinner, we went back to Chez Prune and talked some more with the bartender.

Photo of Hotel Du Nord from here

Then the next morning, hung over and all, we ( Gimmy, Sisi and I) head out for the next part of our road trip and in the direction of home.

ROAD TRIP Part 2: Chamonix and Auxerre

2010-09-10T06:14:00.000-07:00

Chamonix

Just when I think I found found my paradise, I find a place like Chamonix. Here is a view of Mont Blanc from our hotel balconey. We are spoiled.
This is a town for hikers, climbers, skiiers, snowboarders, white water rafters, paragliders, campers, mountain bikers... you get the picture.

The glacier

Photo 1 of 3 panorama

Photo 2 of 3

3 of 3

This river was running fast and it was very loud, and Im sure very cold also but I didnt test that one.

Walking into town.

The Arve river

A French chocolate and pastry shop.

In the center of town there are many shops, resturants and cafes. And, many tourists as well.

Where we are dinner.

I took several photos of these mountains, I just couldnt help myself.

Sisi found a friend

Auxerre

Welcome to Auxerre,

a small French town that is situated on the Yonne river in the region of Burgundy.

Waking into the center of town.

There were streets and streets of half timber/ tutor style buildings. The real ones, none of those two by fours glued to the side of the stucco... Each home/apartment was unique from another,

the photos dont do them justice.

Of of the main churches

A view of Auxerre from the Yonne river

House boats, fun!

At the local market that we stubbled upon while admiring the town.

The main church

Gothic style, they say its glothic when the ceiling looks like whale bones.

Stained glass windows

ROAD TRIP Part 1: Aosta and Mont Blanc Tunnel

2010-09-09T07:19:00.000-07:00

Here we go on the road trip to Paris!

Driving through the Valley of Aosta are several castels on the hillsides. It is magical to see them in the distance and compare their construction and locations.

We took a stop in the city of Aosta where there are some amazing Roman ruins.

Here is the start of the ruins...

Part of a theater

The mountainous backdrop makes a dramatic setting for the ruins.

In the lower right there is a double arched doorway made out of large stones.

And this is some city goverment building.

Back on thr road,

and we are close to the entrance of the Monte Bianco tunnel

( Monte Bianco when your in Italy, and Mont Blanc when your in France)

Here is the start of the 11.6 km tunnel! You cant hold your breath in this one...

We made in through, this is the French side of the Mon Blanc tunnel.

My mom in front of Mont Blanc.

Dylan and Joe's Last Night in Florence at Castello Di Gabbinmo

2010-09-09T06:45:00.000-07:00

We spent the last night we had with Dylan and Joe at the Castello Di Gabbiano in Chianti for a great final dinner.

This is where the indoor dining rooms are,

but since it was so nice outside we had dinner on their covered terrazza.

Sisi's favorite dog loves at the castel. She posed for this photo!

Sisi, the dog and Nonna

Joe enjoying his last bit of a tuscan sweet.

Dylan with his magical hat enjoying his last bit of a tuscan sweet.

Buon Viaggio! It was nice having you in Florence!

Beach Day with Nonna Nancy

2010-09-09T06:21:00.000-07:00

Here is the only photo my mom allowed me to put on the blog of her at the beach... she is the sillowhette of the hands and feet and the white hat sticking out of the water. Oh mom!

Sisi likes the water fountain

Having schiacciatini from Vale at Forte De Marmi

Visitors! My Mom, Wyatt and Emily

2010-09-07T02:54:00.000-07:00

Wyatt Sweet! Wyatt and his girlfriend Emily came to Italy for a vacation and they spent a few days in Florence. It was fun for me to see a old friend from my home town Lake Arrowhead.

Having lunch at our favorite place in Florence called Zeb.

We had a day or two where all 3 groups of visitors we in Florence, Dylan and Joe, my Mom, and Wyatt and Emily, so I organized at dinner at our house.

Egg plant parmigana and artichock torta.

My Mom, Sisi and Me.