Whimsical Salad

Back again, back again jiggedy jig. I just got back from my adventures and it was a fabulous time with great people. I sure did miss my honey though. Who doesn't like a Tolberon? That sweet creamy chocolate with a bit of honey and almond nougat? Weirdos, that's who.  It looks like it takes to have my husband to leave me for these post to actually get posted. I have to fill the boring nothing with something, or something sweet like that.

After I dropped my dearest aunt off at the airport with Sydney Nicole Stephenson and Boyd,  went home and slept. As sad as I was for the, to leave I was also glad because I was very sick that day. I'm surprised I got myself organized enough to leave for Italy the next day. Leo was kind enough to wake  up very early and take me to the airport before he went to work. That's right. Leo was unable to come because his bosses are four lettered words that I will let you choose.

I landed in Bergamo, IT in the morning and took public transportation to where we were staying. We? Yes, we. I was alone at the time but later that evening I had Taunya, her mom Laura, and Katie join me for this set of adventures. We stayed in local people's apartments via air b&b. It worked out a lot cheaper than hotels but still was an expensive trip. I had a grand time exploring Bergamo but was glad when someone who I could talk to was with me.we stay in Citti Alta in Bergamo. It has the old town in it and means, "hill city". We had to take the funicolar to get up to the city. A funicolar is a tram of sorts that goes up hill. Finally the crew met up with me in Bergamo and after we dropped off our bags we had a little walk around.

The next day we had a chaotic set of travels up to where we were staying in Avegno, Switzerland. We stayed in a traditional little grotto. It was very nice and cozy especially with the fire lit. It rained most of our time up there that didn't stop us from getting out and walking about. Taunya and I even wandered into a fire salamander. Wild animal encounters! Don't worry I didn't get poisoned when I picked it up to get a better picture of it. Taunya was no help in this endeavor of getting a good picture. Something about her hands being full because she was holding our umbrellas or something. Excuses excuses. Switzerland is just as expensive and beautiful as I have always been told. I wish I could take you all with and show you all the amazing things I saw.

We had another super fun day of traveling and arrived outside of Venice in the late afternoon. Our host was very informative and gave us some really good advice about visiting Venice. For those of you who don't know, Venice is a large island with a collection of many smaller islands. When we got to Venice, it being a Sunday and Italy being largely a catholic country, there was nothing open for us to get something to eat. This was the perfect recipe for a hangry traveler. I know many of you immediately think of me as the hangry traveler but you would be oh so wrong.  Eventually we were able to eat and all was better with the world but not quite right because the food just had been what was imagined it would be. The next evening, however, was delicious for all. That was also the day of the best gelato. We went to the main island of Venice and visited two other smaller islands, Murano(famous for handmade glass) and Burano(famous for handmade lace and really great cookies!). Venice was an all-round favorite for all.

Florence was the next stop and was also a favorite. We stayed at the top of this tower like apartment. Florence is a small walking city with so much to see. We did a walking food tour and saw a lot that made us want to see more. We had fancy gelato, flakey pastries, and street vendor sandwich. Every thing was great apart from the sandwich. Katie and I got tripe sandwiches and while I can now say I've eaten cow stomach I would rather I couldn't….it was that good. Katie's wasn't so bad because it was nicely seasoned. Mine was tomatoed stomach that tasted like stomach. Delicious. The morning we were leaving, I made my way down to the food market and bought some fantastic olives and focaccia with olives. Horray for olives! If you are thinking what my parents thought, no I am not pregnant.  Horray, olives!

Rome was the next destination. We took it easy the first day and looked at the Trevi fountain and Pantheon. I managed to pick tomato based pasta my last too meals in Rome, not my greatest moments. Taunya made me feel better though when she ordered a scoop of Nutella at the gelato shop thinking it was a type of gelato. The look from the shop lady was priceless. She must think America's really like Nutella. The second day we toured the Vatican museum, St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, Colosseum, and the Roman forum. It was an intense day. The next day we went separate ways as I came home and the rest went down to Naples. We left Rome a little earlier than we had planned because they had a strike that day planned for 8:30 in the morning. I guess the night shift didn't get a choice if they wanted to participate in the strike. While we were at the station trying to figure out what train we needed to get, this dude appeared beside me and asked in Italian to look at my ticket and then proceeded to gesture to follow him. I did so hesitantly to a ticket stamping machine where he tried to take my ticket from me. He pretty much had to rip it from my hands and then stamped it. The whole time I was ready to pounce on him if he tried to make a run for it with my ticket. He then gave my ticket back and had me follow him and pointed to the train I needed to board. After he left me, Taunya said he appeared next to them and did the same thing. It was all very bizarre and Italian.

Leo was glad to have me home and I was glad to have him back in my life. Laura was "lucky" enough to hear him sing to me one of the nights in Rome. He thought the others were far away and couldn't hear him and he sang a song about me coming home. It was an original Leo hit single, never to be heard again. He would tell you he never sings but he is my Marshall. He has a song for everything.

We are still waiting on all of the paperwork to come back to us for Leo's green card. They sure like to take their time with this stuff….but in the meantime I have a new job I will do until we move home. I got offered a promotion to an analyst position. I am very happy and excited about it. We will see if I stay excited about it once I start it ;)

As I mentioned before, Leo is in England right now for some hacking certs. He has a couple of days of 9-5 learning and then testing after. He has another one in January and that will be him ready for a real job because he'll be a virtual boy then. If you would like to visit Italy and Switzerland through my pictures with me, click here, if not cya next post!!