Small Victories

Today has been the first day it hasn't rained in almost a week. Danica and I have been going stir crazy. It was sunny and about 45 degrees so we got brave and ventured out into the neighborhood.





First, we went to the post office. I had letters for friends in France and Poland. It seemed to me that postage from one European country to another would be cheaper than mailing the letters from the US Post Office on the installation. I'm not sure if I was right or not since it cost 4.50 Euro to mail three cards. The Post Office works like the DMV. You take a number for the service you need - stamps, passport, etc. - and wait until they post your number and window location on the electronic board. They also call out the numbers, but I can't count higher than 10 yet and my number was 54. Of course, since I can't read the Italian on the sign where you check in and get your number, I got in the wrong queue. One of the benefits of looking like an Americano in Italy is that you can get away with stupid stuff like getting into the wrong queue when you go to the post office.


Since we were out and about already, we took the long way home to explore the neighborhood. Danica and I decided to presume this sign said "Public Park". When we got home and ran it through Google translate - phew! - we were not trespassing. This park is public green space.

Next we went to check out the main bridge in town which, according to this sign, is 422 years old and designed by everyone's favorite 500 year old architect, Andrea Palladio. You can learn more about the Tesina River Bridge on Wikipedia, but the translation to English comes across poorly.



















While we were walking around, I took some photos of some of my favorite houses in the neighborhood.

This estate is next to the Tesina River Bridge. I needed one of those old panorama cameras to capture the whole thing. The garage/storage area on the right goes on for another 100 feet or so.





This house is on our street, via Vicenza. I like the use of color. The golden yellow and dark orange are common combination in this area, but this is the first home I've seen where it's been paired with hunter green. I haven't figured out the primary purpose for the rollie doors over the windows. Many of the homes in the area have them, including ours. They remind me of hurricane protection on some of the homes on the Outer Banks of NC. My best guess is that they are part security and part heat retention.

This is the street sign on our corner. In the background is another example of the rollie doors over the windows.







This home is also on our street, via Vicenza. I love this place. The landscaping, the architecture - this is what Italy looks like in my imagination. The only thing missing are beautiful people in white linen and expensive shoes standing around with glasses of red wine looking bored because they are too cool to be there.




This house is by the park/green space. The balcony is facing towards the Italian Alps. On a clear day, the view must be breathtaking.







Pam Mason, this picture is for you. You can't see much of the house, but the rosemary bush as a landscape feature is terrific. I like the tiny metal flames in the fence.










More photos of our walk around Torri are available in the slide show. Click on the slide show to go to the photo album and see all the pictures and all my snarky comments. :-)

Vicenza on New Year's Day 2011

On New Year's Day, Team Pinkoski ventured out to Piazza dei Signori in downtown Vicenza. Since it was a holiday, the place we nearly deserted. Most things were closed, but it meant parking was a breeze and we had better views of the plaza and the architecture. Click here to see the photos and read the academics I dug up about the place or just watch the slide show with none of that fancy learnin' included.

Benevenuto in MySky HD TV

We're equip with a 40" Full HD DVB-T/Multi System LCD TV and TV digitale satellitare, yet there is still nothing of value on television - mostly. Ron and Ronnie have become completely addicted to Top Gear. If you aren't familiar with this show, it is a riot if you are a gearhead, engineer, or even mildly interested in vehicles. If you can't find it in the States, check their web site or friend them on FaceBook.

Since there are three (tres) kids in the house, and as every parent knows a 2 year old makes most of the decisions in any family, most television hours (except for Top Gear time) are spent on the Bambino channels. Most of the time, you can select whether the voices will be in Italian or English. Some of our standards these days.....




Tre passi speciali......








We get the Al Jazeera Children's television channel.







"Classmates" - I think this is the one where Squidward has to go to Mrs. Puff's boating school with Spongebob.








Google Translate says the translation of "Due fantagenitori" is "Fairly Odd Parents", but I'm not buying it. A trade mark is a trade mark, but "due" means two and "fant" means fantasy. "Genitori" does mean parents.







Who doesn't love la pantera rosa & co? It doesn't matter if I have this channel set for English or Italian. It's all the same. :-)

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!