Looking forward to Spring

After my last blog entry, we have had continuous snow throughout the week with a few days of reprieve.  Exactly to the day, one week later, another 10 cm of snow fell.   It is interesting to note that the Lancanese use umbrellas to shield themselves against the snow, or better yet, use it as a walking stick to avoid slipping.  

The next morning after heading down to the Mercato for a cappucino and cornetta, George, Toby and I went for a long walk in the surrounding area.

This week the temperatures started to rise and the snow starting to melt.  So when walking, you had to look down to try to avoid any icy patches or dog poop (no poop and scoop here), or look up for falling snow coming from the roofs, sometimes with individual roof tiles attached. 

Due to the heavy volume of snow we were unable to get out of town.  Many of the roads leading out of town were closed.  

However by Friday, February 17th due to the warmer weather and the efforts of the personnel to clear the highways we were able to take a day trip with the school to Rome. 

Rome itself had been paralyzed by snow forcing us to delay our trip by one week.  We left Lanciano early in the morning with snow still on the ground and drove through the mountains and ended up in Rome.  We were pleased to see on the far side of the mountains in Rome that the warmer temperatures had melted all of the snow.

 Our trip consisted of visiting the Catacombs.  These are ancient Christian burial sites which are underground.  The one we visited has three separate underground levels and consists of over 9 km of tunnels.  Since the ancient Romans did not allow burial within the city walls, the Christians and later the Romans themselves buried their dead.  Imagine a tunnel with the sides carved out in niches large enough to accept a linen wrapped body and then imagine a covering of the opening and you can imagine what it is like in the Catacombs.  Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take any pictures inside the Catacombs.  

Following that we went to the Borghese Gallery  located in the Villa Borghese.  There we saw spectular works of art, paintings and sculpture.  

The students normally have free time to shop and to have dinner.  George and I had dinner at the Campo di Fiori, sitting outside under a propane heater which was delightful.

Today, Saturday George and I took eight students skiing at Rocaroso.  What a beautiful day, bright blue sky, warmer temperatures, great skiing conditions.  

Early to bed tonight, as this has been the first time George and I have been on skis this season and our aging bones are creeping up on us.

Tomorrow we are excited to have Shelagh arriving to visit with us during Reading Week.

Back in Italy

February 3, 2012

It has been quite a while since my last post.  Now that we are back in Italy I thought I would start up again.  George, Toby and I left Canada on January 21st and arrived back to Lanciano, Italy on January 22nd after a long 24 hours of travelling.  As you may recall when we came back last year Toby did not get on the flight.  This year when we went to the airport to check in, the staff at the counter remembered us from last year.  In some ways they even went out of their way to welcome us.  When it was time for Toby to go and check in to his holding area, a representative took him and ensured us that he would be fine and that they would keep him inside from the cold until it was time to load him.  As we were boarding, the same man was waiting for us to tell us that Toby was on the plane, tucked in and settled. 

We arrived back to temperatures of 17 degress and sun. 

I received a new camera for Christmas and just finished taking an online camera course, so hence I will be loading up lots of photographs on my blog.  

Last Friday, the Italian teacher, Vittoria, who lives here turned 30.  She had arranged on Friday night a reception for us and the staff from the school and some of her close friends at a local bar called The Library to celebrate her birthday.  We were treated to prosecco and lots of good food.  We all had a lot of fun that night.  

Out weather has significantly changed since we arrived.  We have had a lot of rain and gloomy days.  Yesterday it started snowing and it is to continue throughout the weekend.  You do not see large snow plows or salt trucks around, so there is a lot of slipping and sliding.  

A view from our apartment this snowy day

The salters are out in full force

Lanciano's snow plow

Today marks the Festival of Saint of Saint Biagio.  During the Fourth Century, he was a physician before becoming a bishop.  It is reputed that he miraculously cured a little boy who nearly died because of fishbone in his throat.  As a result every February 3rd you can get a blessing by the priest by having your throat touched with two candles joined together in the form of a cross.  Today people head to San Biagio Church, that is up the street from us, an old Chuch that is only open for this festival.  As part of this celebration sugar donuts shaped like bagels with anise is sold. I think the significance of this tradition is that anise is soothing for the throat.  In any rate they are pretty tasty.

Sugar donuts in celebration of Saint Biagio

Residents walking to Saint Biagio Church to have their throats blessed

Ischia

May 23rd 

I hope everyone is enjoying their long weekend.  We just finished having a visit from Kathryn for the week.  She arrived last Monday. After travelling to Lanciano and resting up we got busy with our activities. 

On Tuesday we went to Pescara; a beautiful small town with a wonderful beach.  After shopping in the morning, we had lunch while sitting outside by the beach and then we enjoyed some time at the beach.  

Early on Thursday morning, we left with the school for a two day trip to the island of Ischia.  We drove to Naples and took the ferry over to Ischia.  Ischia is a volcanic island in the Tyrrhenian Sea.  We spent the next two days sitting by the pool and not doing much else. 

Christine, Kathryn and myself in Ischia

Ischia

Beach in Ischia

Hotel Continental, Ischia

When we left on Friday afternoon, we took the ferry back to Naples.  At that point George, Kathryn and I took the train into Rome to spend the weekend prior to Kathryn leaving.  We toured around Rome on foot in 30 degrees weather and enjoyed seeing the Forum, Campo di Fiorio, Travestere, Spanish Steps to name a few sites.  

A busy day at the Spanish Steps

Forum

Forum, Colosseum in the background

Victor Emmanuel Building - also called The Wedding Cake

We are now back in Lanciano.  The students are in the their last week of classes before exams.  Prom and Graduation take place over the next two weeks.

This will be my last blog entry as I’m heading home on June 4th.  It has been quite a year.  We have visited many wonderful places.  We also were able to enjoy having each of our children for a visit who were also able to take in many of our adventures.

I hope you all have a wonderful summer.

One of the many fields of Poppies

Visits and Travels

May 15, 2011

Since my last entry, lots has been going on.  I spent the day on April 29th in front of the TV watching the Royal Wedding.  I loved her dress.  

I prepared for the arrival of my sister Jean and our daughter Shelagh on Saturday.  George and I left early in the morning to go to the airport to pick them up.  Their flight arrived on time but we waited and waited for them to come out amongst the many crowds around us.  It was so busy at the airport because the next day was the ceremony for Beatification of Pope John Paul II, hence the millions of people.  We finally made our way out and drove to Lanciano.  All in all a trip like this for us is about six hours of driving in total.  

We had a few quiet days before I took Jean and Shelagh to Florence by train.  We spent two nights in Florence and took in many of the sites, plus shopping at the market and a side trip to Pisa.  If you are ever in Florence, there is a great restaurant called l Latini where we ate one night.  They have two sittings, 7:00 and 9:00.  Traditional food and lots of it, very entertaining and worthwhile.  

Duomo in Florence

Shelagh and Jean in Pisa

On Friday, May 6th, we then took the train to Naples, followed by the local Naples train to Sorrento.  This local train we took runs every 1/2 hour, the crowds were incredible.  We couldn’t even get on the train we were trying for along with many others.  Finally we managed to get on a train and headed to Sorrento, an hour’s trip, stopping along the way.  George was meeting us there.  We were also meeting friends of the Rutherford family, Bonnie and Al Stewart who just finished a 10 day tour of Italy and who was being joined by their daughter who arrived in from London, England for the last leg of their trip.  After meeting up at our fabulous hotel in Sorrento, we sat outside overlooking the cliffs with a view of the sea and caught up we with each other.   

Sorrento

Form our balcony in Sorrento

The next day we took the boat down the coast to Amalfi.  On arrival we only spent 20 minutes there which was enough.  We then took a cab up to Revello which was much more quaint and quiet.  We had a wonderful lunch at Palazzo Sasso overlooking to sea.  This restaurant is part of the hotel.  If you want to stay the night, it would only cost you about 600 euros for a standard room!!!   After a wonderful day we headed back to Sorrento by boat and went out for pizza in the square.  

Amalfi Coast

Family friends - Al, Bonnie, Jean, Me, Shelagh, Kaylee

George, Shelagh, Jean and I drove back to Lanciano on Sunday.  After a day of rest Jean, Shelagh and I took the bus into Rome, a 3 hour trip, did a 5 hour walking tour of the major sites, then took the bus back to Lanciano.  We took it easy in Lanciano for the day then the next day went to Pescara for a day of shopping, lunch and the beach.  

On their last day we did a day trip to the Tremiti Islands which lies near the Gargano Promontory.  It is known as the pearls of the Apulian Adriatic Sea.  It is predicted that these islands were formed after breaking away from a strip of land.  After a wonderful day exploring the islands and sitting on the beach in 29 degrees C weather we headed back to Lanciano and enoyed our evening sitting on a nearby patio having fresh pasta and local wine.

Tremiti Islands

George and Shelagh at Tremiti Islands

Tremiti Islands

Bathing babes 

They are both off heading home and our oldest daughter Kathryn is arriving tomorrow for a week.  

Buona Pasqua - Happy Easter

April 26, 2011

This past weekend has been filled with many traditions in Lanciano.  On Thursday evening, there was a holy procession through the town marking the night of Jesus’ Last Supper and his arrest by the authorities. This was a procession of men wearing black medieval hooded gowns carrying candles.  The penitent man in bare feet carried the cross recreating the passion of Christ. Along the route through the old section of town, the streetlights were turned off. Light was provided by oil lamps installed on the walls.

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday

Good Friday afternoon the school went on a hike near Bocca Di Valle.  Near the end of the walk after a long climb there was a beautiful waterfall.  We took Toby with us. He enjoyed running back and forth all the way and stopping to enjoy the spring water for a drink.  

Toby on the nature walk

Waterfall

In the evening there was a second procession.  This procession was a group of individuals dressed in black carrying a platform with Christ on it.

Good Friday

Good Friday

Saturday, Christine, George and I headed up to Prescara for the afternoon.  We sat in a local cafe by the beach and had a glass of wine, then moved to sit on the beach.  

Saturday at the beach

What we like to do best

Christine - what we like to do best

Easter Sunday was full of pagentry and joyous celebration.  In the main square there was a scene of the meeting of Mary, St. John and Christ.  Statues representing them were carried to the piazza and during the procession Mary learned of Her Son's Resurrection. 

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday - carrying Mary

We had an Easter dinner at the school. The owner of the school asked some of us to make desserts.  So I made pavlova to take along.  One of the main traditional desserts is a cake called Colomba cake which is shaped like a dove representing a symbol of peace.

Istanbul, Turkey

April 18, 2011

Hello everyone,

We just arrived back to Lanciano after spending the weekend in Istanbul, Turkey.  We were attending the Heads Conference for European International Schools.  

When we arrived at the airport we took a shuttle to our hotel.  The security was very tight.  All cars have to go through a security check when entering the hotel.  The guard walks around the car with a rod that shows the underneath of each car looking for car bombs. 

Tulip Festival

Tulips

The population in Turkey is 80 million people, Istanbul alone has 18 million, 95% of which are Muslim.   Getting around the city takes a lot of patience.  You do not want to drive there.  The view of Istanbul is beautiful with the array of Mosques surrounding the city.   Inside the mosques many of the walls are covered in ceramic tiles.  On the outside of the Mosques are minarets which stand at the corners of the mosque.  The purpose of these minarets are to announce the call to prayer.  Today a public address system is used and you can hear the call all over the city from all of the mosques five times a day.

A Mosque

Inside a Mosque

Many Mosques

We visited the Grand Bazaar which is one of largest covered markets in the world with 60 streets and over 5,000 shops.  The shops consist of carpets, ceramics, jewellery, clothing, etc.  

Entrance to the Grand Bazaar

Inside the Grand Bazaar

 I took in a spouses tour which consisted of going to the Spice Market, a smaller version of the Grand Bazaar.  I ended up bying some saffron, pomegrant tea and turkish candy.  After the market we went to a culinary school for a cooking class.  We made three dishes, a beef stew with an eggplant puree, a dish called Borek with Grated Zucchini and Lor Cheese which essentially is a mixture of zucchini, dill and parsley and ricotta cheese in a phyllo pastry.  Dessert we made a dish in which we took dried apricots and cooked them in a water and sugar syrup.  After letting them cool we filled each one with whip cream and then rolled in pistachios.  After we had our cooking lesson we were able to enjoy it with a glass of wine.

At the Spice Market

Nougat

Turkish Cooking Class

Dried apricots with whipped cream and pistachio nuts - Yum

Time to enjoy our finished product

We are back in Lanciano.  Next weekend being Easter we will be having a fairly quiet weekend.  It will be unusual this year for George and I as we will not see any of our immediate and extended family.   Thank goodness for Skype, phones and email.

I wish you all a Happy Easter and to my few Jewish friends as they begin Passover.

Debbie