Andiamo al mare!

Question, how can you tell that it is July and August in Italy? Answer.... countless old men in speedos and Italian women dressed to the nines who sit in the sun all day. I have no idea how they do it.... the women, well and the men I guess. No shame thats for sure.


I am quickly learning what it is like to be on an Italian holiday. The Rivas have a cabin at the beach where they house all of their things. In addition they have several chairs both of the sitting and lounge variety. It is a very nice set-up. We have been going about twice a day. Lulu loves to be in the water and laughs so much that choking is now a regular occurence. There is only so much that you can do to prevent her laughter besides tell her to chuiso la boca!

I love people watching there, not in the creeper sense, but it awe of how the people interact. Its fun and sometimes sad to see how the families are together. Thankfully because Claudia is a single mother she does not have the entitled attitude that most of the women have. Monday through Friday the seaside is speckled with mothers, children and ta-tas but come the weekend the men flood in to get some face time with the kids. I was sitting in the park today and saw so many Fathers chase the kids around thinking well 2 out of 7 days, I guess that they can put that much enegery into it.



Lets see to update since I have been here we have ventured to an Italian Circus. Nothing spectacular just a few scary men in tight, shiny, spandex pants juggling a variety of objects and overcharging to see their act. We have been to a few very nice restaurants, well nice in the sense that it has been some of the best eating of my life not cloth napkins and suited waiters. I am going to start to add the recipes that I am learning from Claudia to my updates to stay tuned... they will arrive shortly.

Each night Claudia makes an incredible meal. It ranges from a variety of cheeses to pastas and sauces. Several types of local wine that a friend made or she knew someone who loves this type ect. Also, everything and I mean EVERYTHING is cooked, coated, dipped or dunked in olive oil. Oh how I love thee.

A few days ago I was fortuante enough to meet up with a friend from college and her friend in Cinque Terre to escape bottles and diapers and speak some much needed English. We stayed in Riomaggiore at a place called Edys (Rick Steves special) in an apartment. Upon meeting Kassey and Jennie we immediatley headed out for lunch (foccacia, local specialty) and then started the hike around 3pm. The trek from Riomaggiore to Manarola also called Lovers Lane was 1km and well paved, a nice afternoon stroll if you will. The venture from Manarola to Corniglia also 1km had a little suprise at the end of about 380 steps to climb.... but ok we could handle this. Lies. The following segment from Corniglia to Vernazza was 4km, not paved and included hundreds of steps. Hahaha, we finally realized why people say the hike is hard. However despite the heavy breathing and dust the views were indcredible and upon entering into Vernazza we were welcomed by a free beach and cafe. Not like people were literally waiting to serve us but the option was there. It took quite of bit of enegery to get us out of our chairs after a espresso but risotto called our name from the next town over, Monterosso. 3km to go! This last bit was the most difficult having to go from sea level to mountain high quite rapidly but the idea of a Kodak moment and the impending sunset pushed us on. Finally at 8:30pm we descended into Monterosso legs wobbling but with a feeling of great accomplishment.

Can I please tell you about this risotto... well of course, its my blog. I had been hearing about this ristorante for months from Kara a coworker who, upon hearing of my location in Italy told me about a place who served not plates, but VATS of the most amazing risotto. I mean what carb, cheese lover could turn down that? After a few failed attempts and wrong turns we made it to the ristorante and were seated immediately. Risotto ai funghi e vino rosso per favore. Thats all it took for me to enter into gastronomic heaven.

It has been nice to finally feel a bit more situated and comfortable in someone elses home. I know that it will take time but I am learning more Italian and feeling more like a regular than foreigner. I am so excited for upcoming adventures... Tuesday we head to her mothers house outside of Rome for another seaside outing. Thankfully there is another American ta-ta with whom I am hoping to shares stories and memories with. Who knows!

A dopo!

Jenny the ta-ta

Also, if you would like to see photos you can look at them through this link: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2424702&id=3203327&l=76438f2ad6

TA - TA?

To some this phrase may have no meaning at all but to those of you that are aware of the need to "save the ta tas" as a girl in my sorority did, I would like you to know that in Italy the nanny is known as a ta-ta. Yes each day, several times a day I am reminded of the need to save people from breast cancer. It is quite a good start I think.

We have made it to Casella a commune di Levanto (think Cinque Terre minus the tourists). Claudia refers to her house a tower becase there are three levels. The bottom level has the 2 bedrooms. One in which I share with Ludovica and then Claudia has the other. The next level is the living room and my personal bathroom. The last is the kitchen and outdoor terrace. Imagine walking out to a fountain, tiled patio that overlooks an olive grove on one side and hillside towns on the other. I feel like a mute because all that I want to do is look out on the countryside and stare at the cars. I make Lulu sit on the floor and look for buses--- yes I know that I am creative but hey she likes it because I let her "play" with my hair.

We have not had a chance to go to the sea because the weather has been bad however I have had a chance to see the town. Last night we went to a small ristorane in town to celebrate my arrival and the one year anniversary of Claudias divorce. Close your eyes and imagine this meal (sorry to those of you that are reading hungry.... this is mean I realize). We sit outside facing a small garden with fountain, and are served a variety of bread. I order a salad and then ravoli with a walnut sauce... a local specaility. The appetizer were large, fried anchovies... yes, anchovies and I ate them, well hoovered might be a better term. Who knew that the slimy little canned fish could grow so big and offer so much enjoyment. I am now a believer. Of course we had to have sparliking wine to toast with (chin - chin) and then after dinner it was grilled peaches with caramel and gelatto. Oh, yes, and limoncello. Phew.... roll me home.

Today the sun was also hiding but we went to town anyway. Claudia went to the park with Lulu and I got a chance to walk around. The castle, church, shops and my favorite - the grocery store. I must have looked like a well dressed homeless person because I just walked and looked at the fresh pesto and cheese. No drool thankfully.

Currently I am enjoying the benefits of looking after a little one because she is napping. Hopefully later we can go to the sea because despite the cooler temperatures it is still humid and I need to be in the ocean. It was torture to see all of the people in the water... well, also torture to see all of the old Italian men in speedos. It was a quick refersher course in seaside wear.

I hope all is well and that this message brings you a bit of joy. Until next time-

Jenny the ta ta.

Burn baby burn

Sometimes you have to take a step back and realize that things are just just meant to be. On the way out of Davis and to SFO we had quite the stressful journey. First when we got on the 5 we somehow just missed a huge traffic back up only to hit a 5 mph slow down a few miles up the road. After a nail biting 15 minutes we passed a semi truck full of wood that had caught fire. Phew... then once we hit the lovely, hot spot of Stockton a large black cloud similar to Eyeores friendly partner decided to stick with us and meet our car at the front of a traffic blockage of yet another car engulfed in flames. We arrived just before the fireman and had the lovely opportuinty to watch them put it out. Ok fire two, check. All along my goal was to reach the airport by 3:30pm but at this point things were looking quite grim. As if I wasnt stressed enough as is about leaving I now had the lovely "missing the plane "detail to add. Thankfully our car was being watched out for beacuse when my Mom turned off the engine outside of my gate the clock read 3:30pm EXACTLY.
The night I spent in Chicago and the next day at the O Hare airport ready to board. 9 hours and 15 minutes later I touched down in Rome ready to head to Cinque Terre only to discover that there had been a train wreck, and FIRE on the route that I was susposed to take. Go figure. So now I sit and write to you from Claudias fathers office in Bologna. Full of pasta, gelatto and fine Italian beer. Little Ludovia keeps running in here screaming things in Italian and laughing.... I laugh back but am secrectly a bit worried about what the heck she is saying. Man its going to be in interesting two months. Tomorrow we head to the sea for a summer beach time. I sure hope that I can survive.

ciao tutti!

What is it about moving that reveals your worst habits? Oh, right..... it must have been all of my possessions sprawled across the front lawn of my house and all of the people driving by wondering how much they cost. hmmm, a bit embarrassing. After hours of moving, the two SUV's packed to the brim and "trailer" filled with furniture we made it to my cousins house. Thank goodness for family and friends to help (and hopefully not judge me too harshly) through the moving process and storage of all of my crap.

After an exhausting week of packing, unpacking and then repacking, followed by practice walks around the house with my full pack (it has a small pulse... a human can fit in it) I think that I am as ready as I will ever be. 40 hours of travel time and plenty of airline germs await my ingestion tomorrow as I head from SFO to Chicago and then onto Rome late Monday. I am going to become Steve Martin as I experience all that the mobile world has to offer - planes, trains and automobiles. I hope that my large hand gestures will come in handy when I arrive in Italy ready to find the "village" that the family lives in. It is so small that they don't have addresses - all that I need to know is that it is an orange house with rooftop terrace. Oh joy.

Until next time. Ciao!

Italian Summer, T-13 Days

An all too familiar site, imagine with me if you will: countless boxes scattered across the house, dust bunnies you thought had fled the coop and the pointless attempt to use the last of the canned food you thought would be a good idea to stock up with in the winter.... Yes, it is time to move again. However this time, fleeing the country is a bit more accurate.
I am leaving in less than 2 weeks for a summer in Italy and Eastern Europe. Am I excited? Yes. Anxious? Yes. Drooling over the memory of amazing food and wine - well that goes without saying. Bologna, Cinque Terre and Perugia are going to fill the first 2 months, a holiday with the Riva family. It will be an adventure to share a room with a three year old little girl-a chance to revert back to playing house and tea party with a new twist, the language barrier. I hope that I don't get too many paper cuts trying to translate pre-school slang in my dictionary.
After the latest version of adventures in babysitting comes a visit to an old friend in Southern Italy and then 10 days in Greece. Who knew that I would be able to star in my very own version of Mama Mia and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Maybe... Mama Mia's' traveling Pants? Or Sisterhood of the Traveling Mama? No.... too far.
I'll try to paint a picture of my adventures here - who knows where they will take me. I am ready for a new start; a reinvention of Jenny if you will. Time to begin the journey. Stay tuned.