An Adventure in the Valle d' Aosta

Warm sunshine, glorious blue sky at least part of the time, and sweet fresh air, what more could we ask for our mountain adventure? If you have been following my blog recently you will know that it has been very warm here in Torino. We decided we would have to go to the snow, if we wanted to see it at all this Christmas vacation! Gabriel and Matthew were overjoyed at the prospect of spending time outside in the snow. Delta (the dog) acted so silly when she first touched it. She jumped, tried to inhale it, and finally rolled in it. She was so cute.

We met our friends in a little village in the Valle d’Aosta called Extrapieratz, and then we all went to Champoluc, another village, where we ice skated, and later the boys went sledding.

We even saw Santa Clause! I am not sure why he was there in Champoluc, a few days after Christmas, and in a cart pulled by horses, but the children were happy to see him.

It was a lovely day, full of the sound of children laughing, a little vin brule ( hot spiced wine) hot chocolate, good conversation with friends, cold reddened cheeks, sparkly snow, a fantastic home cooked dinner prepared by our hosts, consisting of polenta (thick cooked corn meal... what my mom calls cornmeal mush) with various formaggi (cheeses) and great tomato sauce with salsiccia (sausage) and mocetta (a cured meat traditional of the Valle d’Aosta).

After dinner, we even heard a few songs picked on a banjo by our host! Yee haw! Now that was great!

The views of the Alps were breathtaking. I couldn’t stop staring at the mountains. At night all was dark except a few brilliant stars, lights in the houses nearby, and beautifully lit Christmas trees in the yards. Across a vast valley were lights of houses far away, nestled in the foothills, right below the snow-line of the towering mountains. It was peaceful, majestic, and cold. A moment like this is food for the soul.

click here to see my photos of this fun day!

Enough...

with the food already!
This has certainly been the season for good food, and lots of it. If you would like to give your tongue another exercise (other than eating) try this Italian tongue twister:

Sul tagliere l'aglio taglia
non tagliare la tovaglia
la tovaglia non é aglio
e tagliarla é un grave sbaglio.

*Practice tip* The way for English speakers to pronounce the gli in Italian words is to try to approximate the sound of the lli in "William."

Christmas! Mary and Jesus

Although old and damaged by flooding, this salvaged piece of a painting touches my heart. I took this photo without a flash, and without a tri-pod while holding my breath and trying to stay still. It doesn't do justice to the original (which to my sadness I do not know who painted it) but I am still happy I have this photo. It is much more than a souvenir of some beautiful days spent in Florence. I think the subject, although divine, are portrayed in a much more human objective than the usual Madonna and Christ child. They seem more touchable, or at least more knowable. I love the reality of the baby at the breast. 

To all my friends and family, and readers, and new blogging buddies, I wish you a Very Merry Christmas!

Cheers Babbo Natale!

Dear Babbo Natale,
Today the boys and I were discussing something to leave for you, should you be hungry or thirsty on your travels around the world. Matthew thinks that since all the other children will be leaving you milk and cookies, we should do something different. (He is also concerned that all the milk and cookies you consume on Christmas eve contribute to your portly tummy).
So, I asked the boys what they would like to give you instead, and the verdict is a big ol' plate of lasagne and some beer.
Of course we know this is unconventional, but Matthew chose the lasagne because it would help to warm you up on this cold night. Gabriel suggested some beer for you since you are "like a great Grandpa, and they like beer, don't they?"

So, I hope this explains what you will find in our kitchen.
Cheers!
XOXOXO
Ambra

They're just full of surprises!

I was wrapping Christmas gifts at the kitchen table. The boys were chatting with each other in the living room. They had just come home from school and eaten lunch. I was half paying attention to what I was doing, and listening to the boys, and sort of planning what to cook for dinner. The tone changed. They started getting louder. I got up and spied on them in the living room. They were arguing, gesturing wildly with their hands, eyes flashing, puffy red faces yelling at one another. I didn’t interfere. I wanted to see what would happen. After a little while, Gabriel capitulated and gave his little brother what he wanted. I smiled and crept back into the kitchen. Hmmmm, interesting.
All of that arguing and emotion... and they never once broke into English!

Venezia

There is an allure to Venezia that draws me in... despite the crowds. Had I been a child growing up in her watery streets, I would have counted myself among the luckiest of kids. My youngest son and I spent this past weekend searching for the water nymphs that come to play at night, rising out of the water after the sun sets, finding clothes to cover them, and then joining the people wherever they revel. We also searched for lions with wings, angels and other fantastical creatures. We found them everywhere! Such magic...
While in Venice I can’t pay attention to my tired feet, or hungry tummy. I feel compelled to watch the way the light moves across the water and its' reflections shimmer on old brick and marble houses, churches and palaces. I walk and walk, falling into a stupor accented by an aching back and complaining feet right before sleep reaches out for me in the wee hours of the morning. Each street of Venice beckons me. I want to walk the lengths of them, turn every corner, see each courtyard... become intimately familiar with this city. I am sure that had I lived here as a child, I would have been (in my imagination) a pirate! I would have had my secret hide-out and planned escape routes. Venice would have given me rich historical adventures to draw upon and embellish for my games.
As an adult, I would love to see all of Venice. First and foremost to have the time, then a camera to capture images, a diary to record my thoughts and a sketch pad to release the creativity that I always feel while there. I have never felt this way about any other city. When I admire places, they are invariably settings in the country, except for Venice.

Does anyone else feel so inspired by this city?

Benvenuti Amici! (Welcome Friends)!

Our friends are arriving in Italy today, although not in Torino until this evening. After all the great weather we have been experiencing this fall, it has decided to rain. But my spirits are not dampened. I am happy to say that this morning, after some excellent Italian coffee I am sufficiently awake to begin planning for the day. As for our friends, I think they are somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean right now. I wonder what they will think of Torino? I can't wait to ask them what kind of travelling advice about Italy was given to them. I remember a well-meaning relative of mine told me before I first came to Italy "You don't need to know any Italian, all of them learn English in school." And I believed him. So funny!
On another note, one of my favorite people in the world has translated into English a nice piece about the mythical origins of Torino. You can read about it here .

And copied here:

Le Origini Di Torino Tra Miti E Leggende

Here is something from my history class... translated into English by me!

The origins of Torino are rooted in myths and legends.

First Legend:
Once upon a time there was a humongous serpent who had, I don’t know how many heads, that lived in the woods in the outskirts of Torino and was the terror of the merchants and the desolation of the citizens, many of them were captured and eaten. The Torinese were afraid and didn’t dare to confront the horrible beast. What a shame! However in this city, there was a big bull that one day confronted the monstrous devourer of men, with many horn-thrusts, he killed the serpent and freed the city. The bull received many honors and as a way to be publically recognized his image was put on the flag.
Italian version
C’era una volta un gran serpente, di non so quante teste, che abitava nei boschi nei dintorni di Torino ed era il terrore dei viandanti e la desolazione dei cittadini, poiche’ tanti di loro venivano catturati e divorati. I torinesi sbigottiti non osavano affrontare il terrible ammaliatore.
Che gran disgrazia! Pero’ in citta’ c’era un gran toro che un giorno affronto’ il mostruoso divoratore d’uomini e, a forza di cornate lo uccise e libero la citta. Al toro vennero fatti grandi onori e in segno di riconoscenza la sua immagine fu rappresentata nello stemma.

Second Legend:
In Taurasia, the ancient name of the city of Torino, the population was oppressed by a dragon that lived in the countryside. The farmers, because of fear, did not cultivate the fields and because of this food became scarce, and the inhabitants of the village became hungry and thirsty and had to take refuge in their houses. The desperation increased.
One day a farmer decided to use his thinking cap and separated his bull from the rest of the herd, to this bull he gave a strange red liquid: Wine!
The bull, after drinking his wine, was infuriated and started running around looking for an adversary with which to fight. And the adversary came. The bull advanced with full fury and with his sharp horns he ravaged the dragons’ belly. The bull wasn’t afraid at all when the dragon countered. The fight was long, terrible, truly legendary. The twilight showed the two enemies without life upon the path. The bull won, but with this victory he paid his life. The inhabitants of Taurasia the Torinese thankful for the victory of the bull, to commemorate the event decided the symbol of their village would be the image of their bull. This is why Torino’s flag features the bull.

Italian version
A Taurasia, antico nome della citta’ di Torino, la popolazione era oppressa da un drago che viveva nelle campagne. I contadini lo temevano e non coltivavano piu’ I campi; a causa di cio’ il cibo scarseggiava e gli abitanti del villaggio soffrivano la fame, la sete ed erano costretti a rifugiarsi nelle loro case.
La disperazione aumentava.
Un giorno un contadino decise di usare l’astuzia per risolvere il problema: condusse le mucche nella stalla, mentre al toro diede da bere una strana bevanda rossa: il vino.
Il toro, dopo aver bevuto il vino, si infurio’ e si mise a correre cercando un avversario co cui sfogarsi. E l’avversario venne. Il toro avanzo’ con ferocia e, con le sue corna appuntite colpi’ il drago in pieno petto. Il toro non si spavento’ affatto quando il drago cotrattacco’ la lotta fu lunga, terribile, veramente leggendaria. Il tramonto mostro’ i due nemici che giacevano senza vita sul sentiero. Il toro aveva vinto, ma con la vittoria era arrivata la morte. Gli abitanti di Taurasia, i Taurisci, compiaciuti per la vittoria del loro toro e per ricordare l’avvenimento, decisero che a simbolo del loro villaggio fosse posta l’immagine virile del toro ed e’ per questo che nello stemma di Torino appare il toro.

December Already!

Stepping into the painting... I can hear the soft wind stirring the trees, and the sound of the bells on the horses' harnesses, and the snow muffled clip clop of their hooves. I smell the scent of freshly cut pine tree sap, and the fresh mountain air. The sun is shining on the distant peaks, but not in the valley where I am. Ah. A walk in the snowy mountains sounds refreshing!
But enough day-dreaming! I have a list to make.
I have always been a list maker, if not a list follower. Writing a list helps me to feel organized and navigate more efficiently through the day.
Here is my To Do List for today:
Christmas decorations up? Check!
Nativity scene up? Check!
Christmas tree up? Check!
( Ok, I confess, the whole family did this last week-end, but it is always so much nicer to start a list with some of the things already crossed off!)
Wash the dishes...
Clean the house...
Laundry...
Iron shirts...
Walk the dog...
Then after the boys arrive home from school-
Prepare lunch...
Continue with the laundry...
Help with homework...
Shopping for tonight's dinner and meals for the week-end...
Re-arrange the office furniture...
Walk the dog...
Prepare dinner...
Relax with the family!
If you noticed in the above list, I mentioned re-arranging the office. It is because we will have guests visiting us! They are our dear friends from Nevada, whom I knew before I ever had children. We are so excited that they are coming, and can't wait to show them the things about Torino and Italy that we love. They are down-to-earth kind of people, and I am sure they wouldn't mind sleeping on our living room sofa/bed, and being awakened early in the morning by bouncing boys and a dog! (Well, not too much!) But I know how it feels if you are jet-lagged and need a quiet place to crawl off to and take a nap. So we are making small changes in our office to turn it into a bedroom.
I have a lot to do today, and here I sit typing! Time to get started! Who else out there is a list maker/follower?
Happy Friday!

Move Over Mamma...

...There's a new chef in the house!

Matthew made our dinner tonight. He is becoming quite persistent in asking to cook. He says he would like to be a chef when he grows up. I won't say no to the help! He was quite chatty tonight while cooking, insisting on mixing, frying, layering, and grating the cheese. The only thing he allowed me to do was to cut the onions.

Happy Feet!

Aren't kids great? They have their own beds... but, "Y'know, it is always so much nicer to smell someone else's feet while you drift off to sleep!"

"It is also nice to fall asleep with a puppy on your lap."

"And best of all, is having the puppy wake you up to go play!"

23 Novembre

Of all the reasons I have to be thankful to God,



These are my greatest blessings.




Warm wishes to all!

Where in the world?

This my friends, is part of the lovely town of Susa.



It has this Roman Amphitheater: You can walk into the passageways in the walls. Just like a gladiator may have!

And this Roman Arch: The Arch of Augustus was erected in 8BC.

Susa is only about 30 miles west of Torino. There are only about 7,000 residents, give or take a few hundred, but all of the important amenities for the traveler, such as restaurants, gelaterie, monuments, beautiful scenery and fresh air! It definitely makes my list of places that make a nice day trip from Torino (with children).

You didn't know I was a gladiator, did you?

Le Campane

The buzz of endless traffic could sound like a river, or maybe wind.
I could shut my eyes, and imagine I am alone ... somewhere on a mountain. Or beneath shady boughs deep in the heart of a forest. No, maybe I am in the middle of high desert country with nothing but mile after mile of dusty sagebrush and wide open blue sky. That rushing sound is not cars, buses, and scooters, but the many voices of the wind.

Ok. Who am I kidding? I am in the middle of a big city! But late at night and early in the morning, I hear bells.

It is nice, living in this place, this city, this country, hearing le campane delle chiese. The church bells. I sometimes wake in the middle of the night, when traffic sound is muted and hear the soft splendor of the bells ringing in the distance.
It could be all the historical fiction I like to read, that makes the ringing bells sound romantic to me. It could be the novelty, because I never remember living in a town before where bells rang once an hour at least. Wait, can it really be a novelty after more than a year and a half?

A cake and Marzapane

A blogging buddy suggested that I post a picture here of the cake I made for Veronica's baby shower.
I am certainly not a professional, but I was pleased with how it turned out. Should I be embarrassed to admit that the first thing I did was look for some frosting for the cake in supermarkets? (You know, the kind of easy frosting already prepared and full of preservatives sitting on grocery shelves everywhere in the U.S.) Well this is Italy, and I soon realized that frosting is not commonly used, and certainly not sold in grocery stores. Maybe with unlimited time and patience I could have found pre made frosting, but I didn’t have either. So I did what anyone would do, and made my own frosting; my mom’s best cream-cheese frosting recipe, slightly modified with Italian ingredients. For the light pink color, I used granatina, a hot pink colored, and berry flavored syrup that my boys add to sparkling water for their own home-made soda pops.
Then I searched for ways to make the cake super cute... and found that these sweet little baby booties are easily made with cup-cakes. I still can’t believe how easy they were to put together.
I had ideas of making roses and leaves to add to the cake using frosting, but no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t get the frosting stiff enough to hold shapes. Probably if only I had added more powdered sugar (confectioners sugar) it would have been sufficient. But I had to grind regular table sugar  to make the powdered sugar, because there wasn’t any at our local supermarket. So I only made only the bare minimum. They say necessity is the mother of invention, so I decided I would make the roses and leaves out of Marzapane . I am including the recipe here because it was so easy (and fun) to decorate using Marzapane. The roses were colored using a small amount of the juice of crushed berries, and the leaves were colored with mint and Genepy, a green liquor. As you can probably guess by now, food coloring is another item not easily found here... again, it probably is sold here, but I didn’t know where to find it. The marzapane was easy to create with, and I will be making it again. My kids already want a new batch so they can create rockets and other fantastical shapes with it. I hope it inspires you to make some Marzapane today!

Dumplings!

Living in Italy, I doubt it is possible to ever become tired of Italian food. Everything about it is fantastic, from the appetizers to the dessert followed by a nice shot of limoncello or something equally delicious, followed by coffee. What I appreciate most about Italian food besides the taste, is the opportunity to linger over each course, and talk with my family through long dinners, and long afternoon lunches too, on the week-ends. With all that being said, I was still thrilled to receive the cookbook pictured above in a package to me on Tuesday. (Thanks Mom!)
I know that American food can be nutritious and delicious... it is just that our fast-food legacy makes it appear that hamburgers and french fries dripping in fat is the only thing Americans eat. Not true! My mom has always been a great and adventurous cook. She has always said that a little spice makes things more interesting. I think her way of cooking rubbed off on me, and I like to cook with a lot of spices. I love to cook and I am also looking forward to making some of the great dishes that come from America, such as this chicken and dumplings! As promised, the dumplings were light and floated instead of sinking.  We gave it a thumbs up!

A Mother's musings

The cutest babies in the world are right here in Torino. How do I know? M and I attended the baby shower for Veronica at the home of her proud parents Gina and Deme. It was wonderful to see this sweet newborn, as well as the other beautiful babies at the party.
Veronica is so precious that it is almost impossible to take your eyes off her. Newborns have that special power, the ability to completely captivate our attention while they sleep, yawn and stretch.
I remember with my own two babies. How many hours did I lose, just watching them? Countless.
After being at the party and holding hands with sweet little babies, I went home and looked at my own two boys, so grown up. They are (gasp) halfway through their childhood now. I feel a sense of loss. I wish I could stop time; keep them as they are now, before they grow up all the way. It is ironic that now I am home, while they are at school all day... while in their early years I spent so much of the time away from home working and going to school.
I remember when they were babies, secretly wishing they would stay little. Knowing it was impossible of course still couldn’t stop the wishing. I was also curious to see how they would grow, and I loved them so much for all that they were as well as for their wonderful potential. But still I treasured every moment they were babies, and couldn’t really imagine them as children.
And they really do grow too quickly. In only a couple of years one will be a teenager. How can this be? I feel a little panicky about this. I have so much more to teach them, to share with them, to experience with them before they decide that they know everything. I am lucky. They are still cuddly boys even though they are so grown up. I still get daily “Mamma I love you”, and lots of hugs. My oldest says he wants me to hold him on my lap until they day he is big enough to hold me! It is a nice thought, but somewhere in between here and there he will become a teenager.
Luckily for me we live in Italy. Here children stay with their parents much longer than the typical American child who leaves for the University or to work at the tender age of 18. So... If I am optimistic I can expect to enjoy being around my children daily for at least ten more years!
But I know how much someone can change in ten years. From a tiny baby full of wonder to a vivacious child, full of imagination. What will the second ten years be like, this journey of a child to a young adult?
And will I look back upon today and yearn for it in the way I am now looking back to their first year?

Hunting for Cranberries!

The hunt for the elusive cranberry in Italy:

Last year I was such an innocent. I decided to "wow" M’s family with a real authentic American Thanksgiving meal. Everything turned out fabulous, and they enjoyed the strange food, (a turkey cooked whole in the oven) to name one. But during my planning stages, I was stymied by the hunt for the elusive cranberry. I have heard that in Italy you can obtain cranberries if you "know" someone for example from an American military base... because I have heard that cranberries are specially brought to this country so American military families can enjoy them with their Thanksgiving meals. But I cannot confirm this, since I don’t "know" anyone.
I have never particularly liked cranberries, I mean- I think they are ok, but eating them once a year on Thanksgiving was enough. But, once I started hunting for them here, and the more it seemed I would never find them, the more I started craving them. I am backwards like that. I didn’t appreciate them in the U.S. I had to move somewhere you can’t find them to want them.
But I needed cranberries for my authentic dining experience for the in-laws... so I searched high and low. First I looked in the dictionary. Cranberry = Mirtillo. I looked up Mirtillo and found out that the English equivalent of Mirtillo was Bilberry or Whortleberry. What? Ok. Confusing. But I had already known what a Mirtillo was since I buy them frozen for smoothies. A Mirtillo is a blueberry. So, according to the dictionary, a cranberry is a blueberry. Armed with this knowledge, we went asking the fruit sellers.  Everyone scratched their heads and said "Signora, you are looking for a red blueberry?" Finally ............. I found mirtilli rossi! Red blueberries! They were a tiny package of dried cranberries (confirmed by a taste test) and I had found them near the raisins in Coop. I couldn’t make a lovely cranberry sauce with them, but I bought them anyway for proof! Cranberries can be found in Italy.
I am planning the Thanksgiving feast again this year, but this time I won’t be looking for cranberries. But it’s ok. The craving is over.

November 1, All Saints Day

I wanted to learn about this holiday which I am grateful for because my boys have tomorrow off! Here is the scoop: All Saints day is a festival honoring all the saints, known and unknown. Pope Gregory III changed the date of the festival to November the first.
May 13, 609 was the First All Saints Day and was the very first day that a pagan church was transformed into a Christian place of worship in Rome, and was of all places the Pantheon! (You must see the Pantheon when in Rome)! Pope Boniface IV received permission from the Emperor to change the Pantheon from a temple which had been dedicated to Jupiter, Mars and Venus to a Christian church, which he consecrated to the Virgin Mary and all the Martyrs. What is incredible is that it is said they took sacred bones from the catacombs and placed them under the altar... 28 cartloads of bones! Many early Christians prayed and worshiped God among the graves and bodies of their dead, for they were in hiding from, and persecuted by the Roman Empire, and lived hidden among the catacombs. (The catacombs are another must see when you are in Rome. It is mandatory to see the catacombs as part of a tour group, but it was very informative and interesting. It was probably my favorite tour of Rome. It was very sobering when I looked around and saw the small passageways and grave niches... and thought of the lives of the Christians who had actually lived there).

Il Castello

Imagine that you are a young boy of 8 or 10 years old. You move to Italy and have to go to school there. The first weeks of school are a blur. You spend so much time immersed in Italian that you are exhausted by the time school is over. After school you wake up when you arrive home, and if it is a nice day you go play outside with the neighborhood boys, and if the weather is not nice you play inside. Then you try to do any homework on your own that you can. But you must still go over what you studied and did in school that day with your dad who is Italian and can help you. Then you sit down with the family and have dinner together and talk about the various things that happened at school, and anything else that comes up. If you are lucky you have finished the homework and can relax and play x box or watch a movie... otherwise the studying continues.

I can't really imagine what it is like for a child to be a foreigner, suddenly adapting to a new language and a new set of school rules. It must be overwhelming at times. Several times Gabriel has said the class is too noisy to effectively do work. When I want to hear Italian, I turn on the tv or radio... but I only have patience for this a few hours at a time, while the boys are inundated with this Italian all day long at school. They did not complain as much as they probably had a right to. Last year was full of obstacles, and the feeling of exhiliration as we broke through yet another one... and learned to manage. I am so proud of them! One of the teachers who really made a difference for the boys took all of the foreign students, a few from the U.S. and a few from Germany and England, and started teaching them basic Italian. The students weren't with her for more than an hour each day, but what she taught them was incredible. Once they were able to say some sentences, their life in school changed. Their classmates realized they were kids, not just monkeys in a zoo. They were so thrilled to finally start making friends, but the tightest knit group were the kids in the basic Italian class. One of the projects their Italian-class teacher had the children do was to write a story, design the cover and artwork, using cut fabric and glue, and make a book. In Italian. My children each wrote a story. Here is Matthew showing his, Il Castello:


Now these two boys will always have a keepsake of their first year in Italy. Maybe they will remember the hardships, but I think they will be reminded instead of all the hard work they did, and how good it feels to learn, and to do well! I think they will be self confident when they are faced with new situations, because they have already proven themselves capable. It was a difficult first year... a time of transition. But this year is going so much more smoothly. Full immersion works. I am amazed at how quickly children adapt, but I know they also put in a lot of effort... I am so very proud of them.

chocolate & coffee!

Mmmmm... I just love them. For me coffee is a daily need, and chocolate a special indulgence. They are married in my favorite candy here in Italy. The boys sometimes bring them to their teachers on a Friday... I think it is a nice improvement on an apple! These little gems are no where to be found in the summer months, and believe me I have looked! But come September, they are back in the stores. Ok, I have just shared my favorite candy addiction! What is yours?

Afternoon tea with the boys

Maybe it was because of the scones that the boys and I made last night. I am not certain. But today I was inspired to have "Tea" with the boys rather than give them an ordinary lunch after school. I have been trying to find little ways to brighten their days, ways to show them how much I love them, and am happy to have them in my life. It feels like we have been inundated with homework, and studying, and I wanted to spend a quiet moment with them. A moment in which I didn’t need to urge them to do yet more studying. I put on a nice table cloth, put the saucers and teacups on the table, started heating the kettle, made sandwiches and waited for the boys to come home. They were pleasantly surprised, and it was a nice interlude. They talked about the flavor of the tea, the merit of adding sugar, and various details about their day at school. It is amazing how much more you find out when you don’t say "So, how was your day at school?" I found out how Matthew did on his spelling test, and what Gabriel’s English teacher said when he didn’t have today’s assignment ready. Yes, I know... having tea is ordinary, but we don’t usually do it- and just look at their beaming faces!

Baby girl turns 1!

Buon Compleanno Delta! I am happy to report that the dog lasagne birthday "cake" was a success! I added just enough kibble to it to make myself feel less guilty for giving her all that pasta and cheese in one meal. She loved it, but couldn't finish it all at once. I noticed though, that she finished it off about an hour later.

Our Dog

Delta our doggy princess will turn One year old on Saturday! In this photo taken yesterday, she was sleepy enough to let me give her a kiss. We plan to make her a special doggy lasagne with kibble in it for her birthday cake! We will let you know how it turns out. Also I will be posting here some of the best photos of her first year (the cutest ones!)

Too good to pass up!

Ok. I'll admit it. I have a warped sense of humor. But I just had to buy that frozen pizza when I saw it, at least to have a photo! See, I knew what my family and friends would be thinking when they saw it. And to set the record straight, I am sure that is not a statement on Americans' waist lines, but more of the perception Italians have about Americans' pizzas. See, we do everything big in the U.S.! Pizza here comes on a thin crust (very thin.... if you haven't been in Italy, you can't imagine how thin). And compared to the way it is done back home in the U.S., the toppings are pretty sparse. But, it is good. The pizza here is good, even if it is different. When I am in the U.S. I think the pizza there is the best... for one thing there are all the choices, and strange combos that they haven't heard of here.  But when I am here, I think the pizza is the best! It is done differently of course, but really... this is the birthplace of pizza, and that counts for something!

Crema di Arachidi Tostate

Say Crema di Arachidi Tostate as fast as you can five times! No you won't win a prize but you might actually sound like you do have peanut butter in your mouth. One of the joys about moving to a foreign country with children is hearing them complain about missing some of the things from their past... and sometimes being able to find that very thing here, in your new country! After months of hearing the boys wish for a simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich, you should have seen the whooping and hollering with happiness that occured when we came home from the supermarket here in Torino with our very own jar of peanut butter! I am not sure if you can see from the photo but the label on this jar lists the ingredients in five different languages: English, French, Greek, Italian and I am guessing German. Recently I discovered an item that had me jumping for joy. Gina showed me where I could buy cilantro! I am going to make some fresh spicey salsa. I really have been missing Mexican food. Grazie mille Gina!

Ignorance Is Bliss, Not!

I love the Italian language. Really I do, it is just that it is so time consuming to learn! Italian is rich with words, often there are at least 5 different words with the same meanings. And don’t let me get started on the verb conjugation issue! Just thinking of it exhausts me. But when you listen to Italians speak... it is always a pleasure. The way the words are pronounced, it is like poetry, fluid and moving.
So... as a very naughty student should do after an extended time of laziness, I am properly penitent and am going to commit to studying more. I have decided (after first gauging my ability by reading a few pages) to read this book.

It seems interesting. I plan to read at least three pages a day, and believe me, that is plenty! It will take me a while to look up the words in the dictionary that I can’t figure out by sentence context. And that brings me to this next photo:

This Italian/English dictionary is "the weight of my ignorance." I weighed it folks. This is 2.5 kilos of ignorance! It equals many many long hours of studying. I will need to keep it near me while I read the other book. The only danger is getting sidetracked. I know from experience I will look up a word, and then out of curiosity look at the next... and soon I am in my own little wordy world. I probably shouldn’t admit to occasionally reading the dictionary... I am afraid I sound like a vocabulary geek, but ... Italian is so interesting!!! Here are some eloquent words as an example: sospiro - sigh, amore - love, sussurro - whisper, baci - kisses, piangere - cry. Don’t they just sound poetic? But Italian can be tricky... even if it sounds beautiful to your English speaking self. Doesn’t Ascella sound like an elegant or exotic name for a woman? It’s not. It means armpit.

A Good Example

I guess this was part of someone's bicycle once. Of all of the great pictures I could have taken today while I was out and about town, this is the sole photo I came home with. But it is a good example of how not to chain up your bike. The chain and lock looked strong, and looking at the bent tire I get the feeling that somebody had a difficult time attempting to remove it. I do feel sorry for whoever owned it.

Straniera

Some mornings I wake up and find myself here, somewhat to my surprise. Often times I am happily surprised, thinking upon all of the blessings in my life. Then there are other times where I ask the question "What am I doing Here?" with a slight tinge of hysteria. I think this is natural, a normal occurrence to anyone who is a straniera a foreigner, in a new land. I am trying to give a balanced description of my life here, being honest about the things that are wonderful and the things that aren’t so wonderful. I think it is also normal for a straniera to notice and highlight the differences between their new life and their old life, even if there are probably more similarities than differences. But in the spirit of honesty, sometimes living here has been challenging. Our house is like a little American island in the big sea of Italy... a comfortable place for the boys and I. Even if we know better, we usually speak English here, not always from laziness, but also for comfort. There are real differences, too numerous to count between life here, and life back in the U.S.A. But we are happy. There are so many things to love about living here; the food, the culture, the art, the new friends and family, and the great opportunity to try something new, just to name a few. Yet in the same spirit of honesty, I must confess that there have been moments of frustration, anger, and a lot of head shaking by me... and muttering under my breath about how strange this or that is! Even if I do seem to complain a lot about the differences, or at least to mention them doesn’t mean that I don’t love this beautiful country. I am sure that if we returned to Oregon tomorrow, there would be things about Italy that I would truly miss. The moments of feeling out of synch with this life here, are thankfully few and far between. 

And just look at this next photo my friends! Where in Oregon could we find a view like this?

Brachetto e Amaretti

In the picture above... A sweet and frizzante dessert wine, and some fragrant amaretti. Notice the cookie I opened, just so you could see how golden and perfect they are? You know I ate it, right? Even if it is technically off my diet.

Yesterday we took a drive in the countryside in the hills of Monferrato. It was so beautiful, I was soaking in the scenery while M drove. I kept thinking "Oh, this would make a nice postcard, oh no, this view is better!" I wish I had taken pictures... but of course how could I ask M to stop the car... every hill we went over offered another wonderful view. Imagine beautiful Italian villas surrounded by bountiful vineyards. Picture sweet little hill top towns and impressive castles and churches. This is an area we will be back to visit, hopefully on a sunny blue-sky day.

We stopped in a village called Mombaruzzo and bought some amaretti cookies. Then later after our lunch we bought some wine in a town called Canelli at the Antica Cantina Sociale.

possibly useful information on bathrooms

It is a rainy Monday morning here in Torino dear reader, and I have decided to share my opinions with you about the bathrooms here in Italy. If you have ever come here as a tourist, you already know what I am about to describe, but if you are one of our friends or family who will come visit us here, I think you should read this.

First of all I would like to differentiate between bathrooms in private homes, and public bathrooms. The former are pristine, spotlessly clean, and comfortable. There is almost always a bathtub and or a shower, a toilet, a sink and a bidet. I don’t know how I lived the first 34 years of my life without a bidet. Perhaps it has to do with the fact I was born and raised in the U.S.A., where no one I ever knew had one. I am writing the next part of this paragraph for fellow Americans who have never seen a bidet - Everyone else can skip it. I think they are such a useful invention. A bidet is a sort of a sink usually next to the toilet. Yes it is useful for washing feet, in warm water with available soap and a fluffy towel to dry, but it is also used for washing other body parts too, after one is finished with the toilet, and before pulling up jeans or patting down a skirt. It is very useful for a boy I know who still at his age has trouble wiping. A bidet allows him to easily clean himself, without taking a shower after going to the bathroom. Sorry, I got sidetracked on the subject of bidets, what I really want to stress is that in a casa here in Italy, the bathrooms are really clean.

On the other hand, there are the bathrooms available to the public. It is easy to find a bathroom in a shopping mall, or in a supermarket, but what do you do when you are walking around in a charming Italian village or city? I used to think that there weren’t nearly enough bathrooms available to the public. Not so. Everywhere you see a bar is a potential bathroom. I have never heard of anyone just going into a bar and asking to use their bathroom- what you should do is to order yourself a caffé, and then ask to use their bathroom. This usually involves some directions in Italian, going outside the actual bar, opening a very large wooden door with a huge key, going inside the courtyard and into a hard to find room attached to the backside of the bar... sometimes the door is labeled "Toilette" or "W.C." When you open the door, look around for a light switch. Sometimes there is a light that turns itself on as you open the door, and mysteriously turns itself off when you are halfway through your business in there. So be prepared for the unexpected.

First rule: Don’t touch anything. For some reason I don’t understand, people do pee in the bathrooms, but not necessarily exactly in the toilets.

Second rule: Don’t expect for there to be any toilet paper. Bring your own, in the form of tissue paper. If you are here long enough you will become really good at remembering the second rule.

Third rule: Don’t expect for there to be a sink. Sometimes there is though, but don’t expect for there to be any hand towels. Your tissues again are helpful for this if there is a sink.

Fourth rule: Don’t expect for there to be a toilet that looks like any toilet you have ever seen before. Sometimes you can find a normal looking toilet, that is simply lacking a seat. Sometimes it will be a "Turkish toilet" pictured later.

Fifth rule: The "flushing device" may be located almost anywhere. It can be a string you pull above your head, it can be located on the tank of the toilet, a button anywhere on the wall, or down on the floor as a sort of button you push with your foot. If you keep a sense of humor, and your tissue paper in your pocket, you can look at having to use the public bathrooms as a sort of adventure. After all, you never know what you’ll find! And, thank goodness you actually found a bathroom when you needed it, right?  Good luck!  ;)



Pictured above: a fairly clean (for a public bathroom) example of a "Turkish toilet."

Miss Italia at our house

If my sons read this entry they may want to take away my computer privileges. At the tender ages of 11 and 9 years old my boys are enthusiastically watching the Miss Italia pageant this year. But they wouldn't want their school buddies to know. Because it is just not cool. Watching half naked men grapple eachother (wrestling) is cool, but watching half naked girls isn't.
At first I thought it was a clever ploy for subverting our newly imposed "Back to school-early to bed" routine. But no, it turns out that each has a favorite or several favorites that he wishes would win. For Matthew he likes a girl named Allessia because she looks exactly like one of his teachers. Gabriel prefers all the girls from the region of Puglia. Last night I was at my pc when I heard excited happy shrieking from Matthew: "Mamma mamma, come quick! Miss Italia is back on tv!" If I understood the closing credits to the program last night, then tonight will be the final Miss Italia episode. Any guesses to what our family will be watching tonight?

An English/Italian & (surprise!) German lesson

My friend Rosy is Italian, and part of her childhood was spent in Germany.  She has been practicing her self taught English with me and the boys. In return she has been helping us learn Italian. We usually have a lot of fun, and base our lessons on conversation and reading. Today a class-mate of Gabriel’s who also speaks German, came over to our house during the time Rosy was here. I already knew he and his sister spoke English quite well. Rosy and he were speaking in Italian, and suddenly they were speaking in German! It was fabulous to hear! So then we started a game, One of us mother-tongue English speakers would speak in English, a German speaker would answer in German, and the other German speaker would translate the German into Italian. And we would answer back in English. We kept the conversation going in this way, and it was so much fun! For the boys and I, our lives have changed so much since we came here, and this is a good example. Gabriel and Matthew are also learning French in school, and continuing their English lessons there too, although all of the other classes such as history and science are taught in Italian.

just wondering

Yesterday at almost 6 pm, I was resting my elbows on the window sill and looking down the street, waiting for the school bus to bring the boys home. Delta was downstairs in the garden playing with her dog friend Oliver, an Irish Setter who lives two floors above us.
An elderly couple was walking by the garden fence with their dog, and Oliver barked at them. The man yelled "Shut up!" to Oliver and then looked up and met my eyes. (I promise that I had no strange expression on my face. It is normal to me- for dogs to bark. Especially at other dogs. If someone wants to say something good or bad to them, so be it). Then he explained to me that they were walking by, the dogs barked and he told them to shut up. I said "Yes, dogs are like this. It is their garden and they probably feel protective of it. When we walk our dog past other people’s gardens their dogs often bark at her too." And he replied. "But they run to the other side of the house and wait for us, and bark again." I smiled and repeated "Dogs are like this." Then the woman said "Very well, it is their garden." and they crossed to the other side of the street. The man looked back and glared at me three times! He looked at me as if I were from Mars. I was thinking-"What did I say that was upsetting to him?" When M came home, I repeated the whole conversation to him in Italian, to make sure that what I said in Italian is what I thought I said! I was also afraid that I said something socially unacceptable. He said that my Italian was perfectly understandable, and he couldn’t guess why they were upset with me. But I wonder...
A few months ago I wouldn’t have even spoken to that couple. I am shy to begin with, plus my inexperience in this new language makes me feel awkward. But... after months of being in this city feeling essentially mute, and unable to easily express myself, I decided that enough is enough! I miss casual conversation. I will speak! Making small talk with strangers, cashiers at the grocery store, people next to me in line, well, that is among the things I miss about Oregon. It was so easy, so natural to smile and talk. Here it requires effort, and sometimes- like yesterday, you aren’t rewarded by another friendly soul. I wonder... how long will it be before I feel like I fit in here? How long until I speak Italian well? Ha ha! I guess I should go study now!

School Shopping Ancora

It looked so innocent... a white paper with the title: Anno Scolastico 2006 -2007, Classi 3 B e 5 B, MATERIALE. Scholastic Year 2006 -2007, Classes 3 B and 5 B, Materials. Then at the bottom of the page: IMPORTANTE: Tutto il materiale deve avere l’etichetta con il nome. Important all the material should have a label with the name. We received the list of school supplies the boys need this year. And so it began... We have gone to a cartoleria, a stationary supply store that carries the necessary school supplies, and several supermarkets over the last several days trying to find each of the items on the lists. It is Sunday afternoon as I am writing this, and we still haven’t gotten everything the boys need. So we plan to go again to another supermarket this evening in hopes that this one will have the last things on our list. Yesterday it was so crowded at Carrefour that we had to stand in line waiting to get to the cash register for about 40 minutes. I should have brought a book to read! This morning we tackled the mountain of school supplies that we already have, and attached a label to everything belonging to each boy. If this year is like last, the teachers will give us more lists a few more times in the next weeks. Now, all of this has to get to the school, and there is no way it can all fit at once in the boys' backpacks (not to mention that would be too heavy for them)... We may have to send them to school with large rolling suitcases. Ha!

Poetry

Proof that children are treasures:

Alla Mamma
by Gabriel age 10

Mamma tu sei la piu bella della famiglia
I tuoi capelli sono seta tra le mie mani
Il tuo volto e scolpito dagli angeli
e mi da speranza
La tua bocca dice solo parole buone,
il tuo sorriso mi da felicita
Sei frizzante come la coca cola
La tua dolcezza e la tua belezza
Il tuo odore e buono come I petali di una viola
Tu sei per me preziosa e io ti ringrazio.
English:
Mamma you are the most beautiful of our family
Your hair is silk between my hands
Your countenance is carved by angels
You give me hope
Your mouth says only good words
your smile gives me happiness
You are bubbly like coca cola
Your sweetness is your beauty
Your smell is good like the petals of a violet
You are for me precious and I thank you.
(What mom wouldn’t cry over this poem)?

A mia Papa’
by Matthew age 8

Mio papa’ e’ molto dolce.
A me piace quando scherza
Quando mi aiuta con i compiti
Quando compra il gelato per me
Lui e’ il papa’ piu’ dolce
e il migliore nel mondo!
A mi piace usare il tempo con lui
I suoi occhi sono marroni come il cioccolato
A me papa’ sembra un bel teddy bear
English:
My dad is very sweet.
I like it when he jokes.
When he helps with homework
When he buys ice cream for me
He is the sweetest and best dad in the world!
I like to spend time with him
His eyes are brown like chocolate
My dad is like a nice teddy bear.

Laundry

Wet. Soaked. Dripping. That describes the laundry left since yesterday hanging outside our apartment balcony. We woke up to a hard rain this morning in Torino. If the rain doesn’t stop soon I’ll go retrieve it and move it all to the clothes lines installed over the bathtub in one of the bathrooms, and later to the dryer. Yes, I am one of the lucky ones who has a dryer! Since moving here I have learned that it is not the norm to use a dryer. I don’t know how my Italian neighbors manage. With a household of four people, I do a lot of laundry! Even with every available clothesline used, inside and outside the house it still takes a long time to dry. Sometimes it takes days to dry in this humidity. Before I had a dryer, sometimes I would use the iron to help expedite the drying process. I never thought I would see myself ironing socks or underwear.... but when the boys needed them dry for school, I did! That brings up a funny memory for me. I was still living in Oregon, and had the opportunity to take an Italian class before moving here. The instructor was talking about ironing... how even now when he goes back to Italy his mother would still iron his underwear... how all the Italian Mamme iron Everything. Well, I rarely have enough free time. But I just have to say, Italian moms will do almost anything to take good care of their children, and make them feel cherished. My hat is off to them.

Not a yellow school bus?

The boys arriving home from school today.

This year the boys are riding to and from school in a van (Read small private school bus). Last year M would take them to school before he went to work, and I would bring them home in the afternoons using public transportation.
I remember when I was a child, riding to school on a yellow school bus daily. Neither of my boys have ever experienced that. First because when we lived in a larger town in Oregon we lived within walking distance of the school and so there was no bus service. When we lived in a very rural community they attended a private school that did not have buses. It looks like this is one common American memory that they won't have.
When the children go on field trips here, they use the public transportation system. Young children are usually brought to and from school by their parents or grandparents etc. and the older ones usually ride the public transportation alone. There are a lot of schools in the city, so it is possible to find the apporopriate one right within walking distance in your neighborhood.
We simply chose a school that is (unfortunately) clear across the city from where we live.

What is for dinner?

Homemade Lasagne!
Ingredients:
200 gram box of ready-to-use "besciamella"
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion
300 grams of ground beef or pork
salt to taste
400 grams of tomato sauce
ready-to-use flat pasta for lasagne (fresh or frozen)
Saute onions in olive oil until they are soft, add ground beef or pork. Cook until the meat is done. Add the tomato sauce and simmer over low flame for one hour. Add spices you like!
How to make the besciamella if you cannot find it. You need: 50 gr of margarine or butter (butter is better) 50 gr flour 1/2 liter of cold milk, salt. pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg
Melt the margarine or the butter and add the flour. Then add the milk little by little, keep mixing to avoid lumps. Add salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Cook for 10 minutes always mixing.
Combine the besciamella with the meat sauce. Add it between layers of the lasagne pasta in a baking dish. Add grated parmesan cheese liberally.
Put in a pre-heated oven at 200°C (that is nearly 400 Fahrenheit) for 20 minutes (bake for 10 minutes covered with aluminum foil and 10 minutes uncovered).
Buon Appetito!
Credit for this recipe belongs to M's mother, Nella.

First day of School!

The boys were so excited last night that they could hardly sleep!

So much emotion! Friends separated for 3 whole months see eachother again!

Last year all of this was unknown territory. A new school, new class-mates, and a new language! This year they know what to expect, their Italian has improved incredibly, and they are so excited to see their friends and teachers. Happy first day of school!!!

Saturday afternoon in France

It was Saturday morning, and we woke up to grey skies over Torino. Looking North, I couldn’t see the Alps. A quick check online showed the forecast was rain in the morning in Torino. However we decided to brave the weather and stick to our plan to drive into the Alps and to France for the afternoon.
Later in the morning the sun peeked out as we were on our way. The views were fantastic, only some very high places were obscured by fog. The first beautiful surprise was within a few kilometers of crossing into France. The fog rolled back and revealed a jewel of a lake. I love high mountain lakes and this one is especially beautiful. We drove on past enjoying the scenery and then down, down, down the other side of the mountains. We stopped on the side of the road to let Delta roll in the clover and romp! She needed it. The air was cool, and the sun warm and the color of the fields and trees so green. The sky was a brilliant blue, and the air was fresh. I felt invigorated. It was nice to be out of the city.
We drove on to Modane, but found no restaurants open for lunch! We turned back and ate in a small village named Lanslebourg. This town was charming! I can almost promise that every window had a window box cascading with bright flowers, and everything was so clean. And strange to my eyes, there were few people walking around. It was so quiet.
While window shopping I found some things I had to purchase, and so went inside the store. As I went to pay, I suddenly realized that I should speak to the clerk in French to at least say: “Here is my credit card, my ID” , and “thank you.” How was I going to do it? I don’t know any French. I smiled a lot, and said, Grazie, Arrivederci! She smiled back at me and said whatever it was she said in French, and off I went with my purchases. So, it worked. Now, whenever I feel nervous about speaking Italian to Italians I shall try to remember this moment! At least I’m able now to have a conversation, albeit basic conversation in Italian.
On the way back to Italy we stopped at a dairy farmer’s shop and bought some cheese. Then we continued on and decided to stop at a small village called Moncenisio. M said that some years ago he knew that it was the smallest comune in all of Italy. It was beautiful. Still and quiet. We took another small walk there and then decided it was time to go back to Torino.

fare la spesa

Todays shopping accomplished: The nearest supermarket is a little store only a couple of blocks away from our house. It is fairly small compared to supermarkets in small town USA, but it is packed with a lot of products. I go there about once a week, usually when the refrigerator starts to look bare, in between shopping excursions  to the bigger supermarkets like Coop or Auchan or Carrefour. Shopping at the open air market on Corso Svizzera is also nice and usually entertaining, but it is better to shop there when you don't have an idea of what you want to cook first. That way the fresh produce can inspire you; that and it is a little difficult to plan meals when you are never quite certain what you will find at the open air market. With a supermarket it is different. I know what GS stocks and can easily bring home in a backpack the amount of food pictured above. Another plus of shopping at the local supermarket is my little secret... I don't love to shop with a crowd, always being bumped into. I prefer to shop while everyone else is at home having lunch. GS around 1 pm is nearly empty, and I can browse uninterrupted.

Olympic Torch

Matthew was among some of the lucky students here in Torino who were able to hold the Olympic torch. This photo was taken after the Olympics , I think in the month of May. He says he was the only boy in his class who held this one - in one hand for the photo, because it was so heavy! He also wishes that it had been aflame! All I can say is ...Lucky boy.

School shopping begins...

Yesterday we started shopping for the boys' supplies and clothing. I was trying to convince them that shopping was fun, but I don't think I succeeded. The only time they really got excited was when they were picking out their diaries. We started yesterday by going to our local outdoor market. Unfortunately you never know in advance what will be there. Yesterday there were a lot of nice clothes, but nothing for boys Gabriel and Matthew's age. So we next went to Coop because we had already seen a nice selection of diaries there. The boys chose their diaries, and a few other supplies and we next went to Auchan. There we found some clothing. I wanted to keep shopping because we were no where near finished, but I started getting some comments like "I'm bored, I am tired, can I go sit down?" To make a long story short we only accomplished a little. Why don't boys like shopping?

I must make a quick mention about the diaries. This is one of the things that I am most impressed about with schools in Italy. Here a child has a diario, it is full of parental contact information, and each day the child must go to school with it. In this way there is daily communication about the child between parent and teacher if need be. Otherwise you simply sign your inital each school day, to signify that you have looked for a nota from the teacher. I love this simple and efficient way of communicating with the teachers. The children also record in their diary any homework they must do, and once again the parent must sign their name. It helps the parent know exactly what is expected of the child at school.

Dormiglione

Matthew age 8, asleep at the table before his dinner arrived. Yes, we placed the wine near him for photo effect - that's what he gets for falling asleep at the table with us! We woke him once his food arrived.
 In the beginning weeks of our life in Italy, the boys had to adjust to a new schedule, including eating dinner often after 8 pm. We did so much exploring and perhaps they were still a little jet-lagged, so often in the evenings the boys couldn't hardly stay awake. They were used to dinner at 6 and bedtime at 9 pm. Fast forward a year, and it is sometimes difficult to get them to sleep before mid-night.

Interview with Gabriel age 11 and Matthew age 9

Q. List some Italian things that you like:
Gabe: "The kids in my class are so good in art.
I have found 2 true friends here.
Our dog Delta
Toscana
Italian food, especially the torta salata made by my grandparents/nonni."
Matt: "Dad, our house, cani, torte, Puglia, fiori, scuola, Nutella, gelato, and pizza"
Q. Name your favorite gelato flavors:
Gabe: "Limone e Cioccolato"
Matt: "Cioccolato e Straciatella"
Q. What do you think is the most important thing you have learned here?
Gabe: "You can’t trust everybody." and "If you want anyone to listen to you in class you have to speak up above the other kids."
Matt: "To READ in Italian! And to speak it."
Q. What is the best part of school here?
Gabe: "Intervallo-break"
Matt: " My teachers!"
Q. What is the worst part of school here?
Gabe: "The class noise level is way to high to concentrate on work easily, but the worst is the lunch."
Matt: "Lunch!"
Q. What do you miss most about life in the US?
Gabe: "How everybody wants to be friends. And hot fudge sundaes!"
Matt: "I miss Spicey, Grandma and Grandpa’s dog."
Q. What is the best part of life here?
Gabe: "Spending time together as a family."
Matt: "Mamma."

Delta in the giardino

The Dora Riparia, an Italian river is born in the French Alps, it flows through the Valle di Susa and enters Torino at the Parco della Pellerina. The northern windows of our apartment look over our yard and then this park, and in the mornings I can sip my coffee while enjoying the view. I love the greenery, and then in the far distance the Alps. The mountains appear a misty blue topped with pink snow in the soft morning light. I know I am in a big bustling city, but these views are lovely.  I am a country girl at heart, and feel most comfortable in wide open surroundings. We have a very big backyard (giardino) by Torinese standards. It slopes away and down from the house toward the park. There are Aspens and Pines, as well as Fig and Cherry trees. The western border of the giardino is a high old brick wall covered in vines that helps maintain privacy. There are some interesting bushes (I don’t know the names), and miscellaneous flowers, including a few rosebushes. There is a grapevine of indeterminate variety and a lot of volunteer grass. I have never seen the grass watered, everything seems to stay green by the precipitation.
The Parco della Pellerina is one of the biggest parks of the city. During summer months it hosts live music festivals. Usually there is live music until 1 am.... or later. The eastern side of the park often has something interesting for those seeking entertainment, such as a circus, a wine or food fair, or a carnival. The rest of the park is well manicured. There are green fields with wildflowers, large trees bordering the river, a pond, and nice biking and walking trails. There are soccer fields, tennis fields and even a public swimming pool.
The boys enjoy playing in the giardino and the parco, but I think our puppy Delta loves it the most!