Aosta

Saturday, March 17, 2007

We stayed near Varese this weekend and just took a day trip over to Aosta. Aosta is called the 'Rome of the Alps' because of all the Roman ruins in the area.


Enjoying a fountain in Aosta.


Wren loves to play in the water.


On tiptoes.


Jason in front of the Roman Theatre


The Arco di Augusta dedicated to Caesar Augusto in about 25 BC.

Italian Riviera

Friday, 9 March - Sunday, 11 March
Santa Margherita, Portofino, Rapallo, Genova


Family photo in Portofino

Click here to see my video!

This weekend we drove to the Italian Riviera. We started out our trip by driving about 2.5 hours to Santa Margherita where we had booked our hotel. Santa Margherita is a nice little town on the sea and about 15 minutes down the coast from Portofino. It's a bigger town than Portofino, with more restaurants and hotels. We spent Friday exploring the town and had pizza for dinner in a nice little trattoria across from the harbor.

Saturday we made our way by bus (a ferry runs in the summer) to Portofino and it is just as pretty as I thought it would be. We took a little hike to the church, castle and lighthouse where we had great view of the town. We had a picnic lunch of foccacia while sitting on the ground in front of the boats in the harbor.

Saturday evening we made our way down to Rapallo. Rapallo is a town not nearly as quaint as either Santa Margherita or Portofino. BUT there was a yummy Chinese restaurant there where we had our dinner. It was my first Chinese meal in Italy.

Before heading home on Sunday, we drove to the aquarium in Genova. It is the biggest aquaurium in Europe and while it was nice (and very crowded), I didn't think it beat the Atlanta or Chattanooga aquariums. Wren enjoyed her visit though.


Santa Margherita


Boats in the harbor of Santa Margherita


Portofino is lovely


view from the castle


west side of the Portofino harbor with the Mediterranean sea behind


Gelato is yummy!

at the aquarium

Wren and Daddy


Wren loves her daddy!

Carnevale in Varese

February 25, 2007

Carnevale in Italy reminds me of a cross between Halloween and New Year's. It reminds me of Halloween because all the kids (and a few of the adults) dress up in costumes. It reminds me of New Year's because everyone throws confetti and blows horns. The big Carnevale festivities happen in our area of Italy on the Saturday before the first Sunday of Lent. This is different from everywhere else where Carnevale is normally celebrated on the Tuesday before the first Sunday of Lent (Fat or Shrove Tuesday). This is because the Archdiocese of Milan follows the Ambrosian Rite whereas everywhere else follows the Roman Rite.

The Carnevale parade in Varese was yesterday in the Varese centro (downtown). We took Wren dressed up as what else - a bunny! I hope you enjoy our pictures.


Wren as a pink bunny


The crowd at Piazza Grappa


A pirate float


duh na nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh Batman!


Whale float - he spouted confetti out of his blow hole!


Indians are not politically incorrect here


Bunny close up

Carnevale in Ivrea

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Today we visited Ivrea, a small town about an hour from Varese and near Torino (you know - where the 2006 Winter Olympics were held), to see their Carnevale (Mardi Gras) celebrations. Unlike in the U.S. where Mardi Gras is only held in a few cities, every town in Italy celebrates Carnevale. I know the whole thing about the big blow out party before the 40 days of Lent starts, but it really reminds me a lot of Halloween. The kids dress up, people throw candy...okay, so I guess the smilarities end there. But it STILL reminds me of Halloween. Anyway, the Ivrea Carnevale celebration is a bit different in that they throw oranges. Yes, I said oranges. Why go to the more famous Carnevale of Venice when you can go to the Orange Battles in Ivrea?! I hope you enjoy our pictures. Click here if you want to read more about the Storico Carnevale di Ivrea (Historic Carnival of Ivrea). Also, check the videos on the right to see some clips of the festivites.


Entrance to the Carnevale. Notice all the red hats. They are worn not only so the wearer won't become a target during the Orange Battles, but also to show that the wearer is part of the celebrations.


Jason in front of just a few of the oranges.


Flag guys


Some of the team members. I think the green and yellow guys are from the Scorpion team.and the red guys are the Ace of Spades team.


The Battle!


The ground covered in oranges after one of the battles.

Sicliy

February 9-13, 2007

We had a whirlwind tour of Sicily this last weekend. We arrived in the morning on Friday 2/9 and left on the evening of Tuesday 2/13. We went to Palermo, Cefalu, Syracuse, Noto, Piazza Armerina, Agrigento, Selinunte, Erice, and Segesta.


Family shot (we are very small) in front of Temple E in Selinunte


Jason & Wren sitting inside Temple E.


Another family picture in front of a temple in Agrigento.


This is a picture of the town of Cefalu.


Wren and LA in Cefalu. You can see the cathedral in the background.

Lago d'Orta

We took a day trip on Sunday to Lago d'Orta (Lake Orta). It's a lake just about an hour west of Varese. My favorite place was the town of Orta San Giulio with the little island of L'Isola di San Giulio right off the banks of the town and connected by a small ferry.


Piazza Motta, the main square of Orta San Giuolio


detail of the Palazzo della Comunità della Riviera in the piazza. It dates from 1582.


from the piazza looking towards the island


Jason and Wren


Jason on a street in Orta San Giulio


view of the lago


Jason buying bread in a local shop


pasta shapes sold in the shop - notice the first one!


neat tree (this was actually in

Miscellaneous pictures

Wren in her outfit from Ms. Linda


Wren in the heirloom Bryant highchair


Bath time!


Just call me Alfalfa


One more bath photo because I'm just so darn cute!


Wren the Raccoon