Buon Natale

Christmas in Torri was a simple affair this year. A few candles and a hastily decorated tree is all we had time to put together, but that suits the situation. Our things are still in transit, Ronnie and Sammie are not in school, and none of us have adjusted to the local time; we're living bohemian all around.

Here are some common Italian holiday phrases.




l'albero di Natale












A lume di candela









il regalo di Natale - vino!












Babbo Natale








Buon Natale!

So where is Vicenza anyway?

Vicenza is in northeastern Italy on the southern plains of the Italian Alps.
Click on the name for a google map. Our home in Torri di Quartesolo is just outside of Vicenza to the southeast. It's like going to from Norfolk to Virginia Beach (for our Virginia friends) or Crafton to Elliott (for our Pittsburgh friends) or Kingston to Wilkes-Barre (for NE PA friends). If it wasn't for the sign, you'd never know you've changed neighborhoods.

It has been raining since we got here so we haven't ventured out into the neighborhood yet, but we're looking forward to checking out our neighborhood pizza place - Crazy Pizza - when the rain stops.

Observations about Italy that make us smile......





This is the key for the deadbolt on our front door.
It makes me think of living in a castle.








The oven tempeture settings are in Celsius.
We have a cheat sheet conversion chart.





The cabinet for the dishes has a rack and is located directly over the sink. It's bottomless! Wash the dishes and put them away wet.






The post exchange sells only American electric devices. You have to buy converters to plug anything you buy at the exchange into the Italian electrical grid.




Buona Notte, amici.

Buongiorno & Arrivederci or TSA hates children's toys

Hello Friends! We're in Italy, safe and sound. Except for the jet lag, we're no worse for wear.

On the way out of Hampton Roads, I won the TSA pat down lottery at Norfolk International Airport. It's a very public and rather unnerving, nothing like the SNL skit. We were also subjected to a complete bag search of our carry-on stuff and a pat-down for Ron. Samantha's friend gave her a set of playdoh to entertain her during the trip. DO NOT take playdoh in your carry-on luggage. It fails initial TSA explosive screenings which triggers a no holds barred search of your stuff.

A TSA agent took Samantha's picture with my camera while she was checking our bags.

The flights themselves were uneventful. Flying overnight to Europe is the only way to go if you're traveling with children.

The house Ron picked out for us is even better in person. I feel like a poseur in this house. It's so trendy and modern and I'm neither. A trip to IKEA should resolve the conflict.

Samantha and I seem to be suffering from the time change the most. We have both been awake since about 2:30am (8:30pm EST). Everyone else is sleeping soundly.

Buonasera my friends. We miss you.

Time is short

It's our last full day on US soil. The house is on the market. One couple came through yesterday with their agent while our painter/long time friend was there. Thanks to Jay for giving the couple a quick tour of the place in our absence. Next door neighbors Mickey and Mary have been super neighbors for the last 10 years. They've offered to keep an eye on the house for us. All the neighbors on this street look out for one another. It's just that kind of place, but they don't put that in the real estate descriptions.

Ron came home last Tuesday to help with the final arrangements and so I didn't have to try and manage three children on a 9 hour trans-Atlantic flight all by myself. Thank you!

Friday night, The Moaning Lisa's played at AJ Gators and a bunch of us went out to see the band. Three of Ron's friends from DC drove down to Chesapeake to spend a few hours with Ron. Thanks OldGuy, Mark, and Landsman for making the trip. Thanks to everyone else for coming out.

Tomorrow we'll be in the air and on our way. Don't forget the lunar eclipse overnight 12/2o and 12/21. It should look amazing from the airplane. I hope we're on the right side of the plane.

See you on the other side!

Still in the States.....

The kids and I are still here in the States. I'm packing like mad without really packing. The moving company needs to know exactly what they are moving. They don't want the customer to pack anything, but they expect you to segregate everything into "going to Italy" and "going to storage". There are so many other categories: "friends", "charity", "eBay/Craigs list", "trash", "recycling" and "put this on the curb for the Thursday night vultures". The kids and I sort and put things in boxes every evening after homework is done.


Meanwhile, Ron has found us a nice place in Torri di Quartesolo, just outside of Vicenza. Here's a picture....

Torri is just under 2 miles from the installation and the kid's school is in between the house and the base. About the house - The two big doors are for the garage. The round part with the rectangular windows is the spiral staircase leading upstairs. The balcony over the garage leads to the living room. There are three bedrooms upstairs and a study/small bedroom downstairs. Full kitchen (small), AC, and a decent sized yard. It's off the main street. There isn't a lot of closet space but Europeans don't do closets anyway. It's all wood and marble floors, even the stairs.

Here are some photos of the inside......

This place makes me want to go to Ikea. There is one in Venice.
Ciao!
~ Traycie

Welcome to our Italian adventure.

So, welcome to Italy. Thanks to a suggestion by my friend Rick, and encouraged by Traycie, the other key player in this adventure, I'm starting this blog as a way to share our experiences in Italy with friends and family.

I've been in Vicenza for a little over a month, living in the lodge on the base where I'll be working. Hotel livin' ain't the life for me, But Traycie is still back home doing some heavy lifting.  Trying to pack the last 10 years into boxes is no small feat.

We'll be updating the page as time allows and things happen.  Thanks for stopping by the blog.  Come on over and see us if you get the chance...R.