Morcote, Switzerland

12 October 2007
Morcote, Switzerland

In between guests we took a little half day trip up to a town in Switzerland on Lago Lugano called Morcote. It's only 30 minutes from Varese and is a pretty little place with restraunts and shops along the lakeside.


Wren and Lee Anne in front of a fountain


The church in Morcote sits up on the hillside overlooking Lago Lugano


Descending the steps from the church


a pretty entryway to a home on the path from the church


close up of entryway


a fresco on the path


Looking up at the church


Wren found a playground and had lots of fun on the slide


She loves slides!
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A couple of videos


My first attempt at using iMovie to edit a video

The Allbees visit The Bryants in Italy

30 September - 12 October 2007

Sandy & Brian Allbee were our first non-relative guests and we were so happy to have them! While they were here, we visited Milan, Lago d'Orta, Bellinzona, and Florence. After Florence, Sandy and Brian went on a four day tour of Tuscany before coming back to Varese for their departure from the Milan/Malpensa airport. Wren was so happy to have her godparents for a visit and especially liked when Brian would read DEAR ZOO to her!

2 October
Milano
In Milan we visited all of the big sites - the Galleria, the Duomo, La Scala, The Last Supper (not pictured), Castello Sforzeco, and the famous shopping district called Quadrilatero della moda made up of four streets - Via della Spiga, Via Manzoni, Via Sant'Andrea and Via Montenapoleone. All the major Italian designers have their flagship stores here. Among other names, you can find Giorgio Armani, Dolce&Gabbana, Dior, Fendi, Gucci, Prada, Valentino, Versace and Vuitton.


Sandy and Brian at then entrance to the Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery. Some of the businesses inside are Prada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and....a McCafe!


Milan's Duomo is the third largest church in the world.


A picutre of Sandy from the top of the Duomo.


La Scala, the world famous opera house.


Castello Sforzeco was built in the 15th century


I'm not sure what the purple alligators are all about.


Back at home, Brian fits in a little reading to Wreny Roo


3 October 2007
Orta San Giulio, a town on Lago d'Orta

Isola San Giulio


a view of the town of Orta.


Sandy and Lee Anne walking down the main street of Orta San Giulio.


Having lunch in Orta.


Brian and Sanday on the little taxi boat to Isola San Giulio


Lee Anne and Wren on the water taxi.


The view of Orta San Giulio from the boat.


Sandy, Wren and Lee Anne on Isola San Giulio.


Sandy, Lee Anne and Wren on a dock in Orta San Giulio.


A view of the mountains


4 October 2007
Bellinzona, Switzerland

Brian, Wren, Jason and Wren at Castelgrande looking towards Montebello

Bellinzona is a town in Switzerland about an hour from Varese. The city is the site of three medieval castles which were named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2001. The three castles - Castelgrande, Montebello and Sasso Corbaro – along with the fortifications of the market town, are the only example of well preserved late medieval military architecture in the Alpine area and are just one of four World Heritage sites in Switzerland.


The town centre of Bellinzona from Castelgrande


Castle Montebello, the middle castle


Wren and Lee Anne at Montebello

Jason at Montebello


Wren, Jason, Sandy and Brian at Montebello


The whole gang outside the walls of Montebello.


Castello di Sasso Corbaro, the top castle


A pretty view from Montebello


Another nice view from Montebello.


A view of Montebello from Sasso Corbaro



Wren at Brian at Casso Corbana

5-7 October 2007
Florence

Riding the train to Florence is a 4 hour journey.


The Duomo and the Campanile



In Piazza del Duomo between the Duomo and the Baptistry


A view of Florence with the dome of the Duomo from the Campanile.


Another view of Florence from the Campanile.



Jason, LA and Wren in front of the Baptistry with bronze doors by Ghiberti.


The magnificent mosaic ceiling of the Baptistry


Detail fo Jesus from the ceiling.


The Ponte Vecchio at night.


Wren having her own gelato at Vivoli.


Wren having some pizza in Florence.


Jason and Brian in the tasty restaurant that Sandy found for us.


The exterior of the Uffizi gallery.


Waiting to enter the Uffizi.

Colors

Today, Wren identified colors for the first time! She way playing with the clothespins (which are colored) and she brought me a blue one and told me it was blue and then she brought me two more blue ones. Then she brought me a red one and told me it was red and finally she brought me a yellow one when I asked her. Just little firsts but we are proud of her!