La Sorgente del Po

I feel like a tourist; we have been taking my Mom to see the sights here in and around Torino. Later this month we will be in Toscana, visiting Pisa, Florence, Sienna, San Gimignano and others, but almost all will be day trips from Florence so that we can pack in as much touring as we possibly can during M's brief vacation time.

In pregnancy news, I am doing very well, everything is progressing normally as I enter into my 24th week today. I am trying to follow my midwives instructions on napping each afternoon for two whole hours at a time, but usually I can only make it for an hour. My blood pressure has remained low since the last episode where I had to go to pronto soccorso, so I am feeling much more relaxed. Also of great relief to me is that nearly all of the awful morning sickness that I was experiencing has gone away, and I have just learned to breathe through my mouth when around smokers which means I don't smell the smoke, hence no nausea! All of this means that after months of being housebound because of nausea in the beginning of this pregnancy I am now revelling in my freedom to go out and about.

On Saturday last week end we went to La Sorgente del Po, the source of the Po river. It was especially fun for my son Gabriel who had gone on a class trip to see the Delta of the Po just a few months ago on a class trip. We left a hot and humid Torino and felt very fortunate when we arrived high in the mountains to feel refreshingly cool air. The vista was clear and expansive, the air pure and fresh, just the way I love it! We had bought bread, mayonnaise, some really great Toma cheese as it turns out, some salame and some prosciutto for sandwiches which we packed up the hill on the trail to the source. Between watching our dog Delta splash and swim in the creek wending its way down the hill, and the expressions of the boys as they soaked their shirts in the icy water and then put them back on, it was entertaining. Why is it that dogs who go swimming wait until they are right next to you before shaking?

Oh, and la sorgente del Po? I have just fallen in love with another part of Italy.

Bellissima, no?

A Day Trip to the Piemontese Wine Country

My Mom is here visiting us for several weeks this summer. She left her weaving and her beautiful vegetable and flower gardens in Oregon and is instead spending some time with M and I and her grandsons. We have gone on several little excursions here in Torino, but this weekend we wanted to see the verdant hills of the Piemontese wine country. It feels hot and dry this time of year, and yet the fields are green and vast, extending up and down rolling hills. This country reminds me of parts of Toscana, but more lush and green. When we stopped at a cantina to buy some wine, one of the sellers told us that for nearly a year they had received no significant rain, which means this years' harvest will yield grapes that are small, and strong flavored. This will mean a smaller harvest, which probably will bring the price up.

When we left Torino we were all packed in the car, even Delta who loves to go on day trips. Our first destination was Mombaruzzo, home of the most delectable amaretto cookie I have ever tasted. The boys loved going on a journey with amaretti as the prize. After walking through winding streets we bought our amaretti and realized it was lunch time. We had packed a picnic lunch, and we found a shaded place to eat near a playground. Perfect. We ate and the boys and Delta romped around the playground. Here is Delta playing, and then getting a caress from my mom.

After digesting a while, we drove around and saw a duomo in the distance. This is the chiesa in Fontanile framed by someone's vines in a field I walked into just for this photo.

Grapes!

We strolled through Fontanile, another pretty and quiet hill town. This next photo was taken by 10 year old Matthew. My children are very proprietary over their photos, and like credit where it is due!

Our next destination was the scalding hot fountain of Acqui Terme.

We found the piazza almost deserted, and the fountain was visibly steaming, even on such a hot day.

Gelato! The perfect way to end an outing.

And I almost forgot! Credit for this photo goes to Gabriel.