Bravissima for us!

We are here!!!!!

Here is a link to a slide show of our trip so far:

Italy Slideshow

The air (my hair looks incredible with no blow drying), the sunshine (can anyone spell Vitamin D deficiency?), the old red tile rooftops (reminds me of California), my AUNT (she is the most awesome hostess and guide) and the gelatto (which is amazingly inexpensive).

I'm on my aunt's computer and the place where the apostrophe is usually on the keyboard is an à which is fully annoying as I type making my possessives a bit odd. So if I forget to find the proper place, you will be gentle and understanding, wonàt you? :)

First of all, the flight was wholly uneventful which is just what we wanted. Kids had a blast in the airport running up and down the moving sidewalks. Then we spent time playing games like Solitaire on the airbus computer screens (for hours and hours and hours).

We landed in Paris after a long flight without any sleep. We disembarked and encountered a masterpiece of French engineering tout de suite. To exit our terminal to go to the next terminal in less than forty-five minutes, we had to go through a revolving door that not only revolved but revolved on a machine-run timer. It admitted pasengers from two perpendicular directions which meant that fourteen Air France employees had to man the revolving door to prevent bodies becoming smashed between the airtight glass door and outer frame.

Hundreds of passengers shuffled forward while French voices gave and witheld permission to enter the chamber. Of course, out family of seven didn't all make it in one go. Unbelievable.

Once through, and scratching our heads since said door served no earthly sercurity purpose... we were overwhelmed with what can only be described as a true Parisian smell: sterilzed hot milk and croissant, let me teach you. (A Room with a View reference) I couldn't stop speaking le français!

Oh the torture of running by the crossainterie!

However, that small sacrifice was more than compensated moments later...

We entered the very tiny gate area for our flight to Pisa when my daughter grabbed my arm: "Isn't that Andrea Bocelli?"

I turned my head and stared... graying beard, close cropped, flowing hair, sweater draped around his shoulders... the halfclosed eyes. Oh. My. God. It was HIM!!! We all squealed. Jon, my not-so-shy husband, pulled out the digital camera and three children and took the following picture (blurry due to feverish excitement).



What a great guy! Jon got to chat with Andrea on the plane for some of the flight. Such a wonderful gift. We were stunned at our good fortune.

For those that don't know, Jacob's love of Andrea Bocelli is what got us seriously thinking again about taking the family to Italy after giving up the idea due to living in penury as full time ministry employees. Jacob used to say he was saving his money to go to Italy to see Andrea Bocelli, so this was an amazing coincidence that gave us such a lift!

We flew over the Alps - incredible and landed in a gorgeous sunlit Pisa.

My aunt, all smiles and enthusiastic hugs met us at the baggage claim.

We then pinched ourselves and drove from Pisa to Viareggio:



We were led to our gorgeous little aprtment. The follwing pictures come from the rooftop where we are staying:





We've OD'd on gelatto already:





We've already been to the exquisite beach and have had wonderful strolls at night and during the day. Shevawn is an amazing cook. We've enjoyed two different kinds of fresh ravioli and penne with cheese sauces. Makes American mac 'n cheese look pretty horrid by contrast. Cantaloupe is tasty and in bursting with flavor. I always forget how good produce is in Europe. It's worth the price of the trip, easily.

Tomorrow we go to Cinqueterre. Will report more when I get the chance.

Missing you all (but not too much),

Julie