CIAO! BELLA!

Well, we made it to Italy and back in one piece! :) What a fantastic vacation. The kids had a fantastic time shouting CIAO to each other, saying GRAZI to the venders and shops, but most importantly, eating Gelato. We went swimming in the Mediterranian Sea--- The kids got boogy boards and had fun riding them. We got appropriately TOASTED... since our poor bodies haven't seen the sun hardly this year here in Germany. We got to go to the Leaning Tower of Pisa--which was a lot smaller than I'd imagined...still neat, tho. I bought a fantastic leather purse there in the market square--soft leather and smells so heavenly! (Is it weird that I spent the rest of the night petting and sniffing my new bag???) We hiked the Cinque Terra's-- 5 small villages cut into the mountains near Le Spezia....and we swam at the hotel pool every night. We went to the market that Italy is famous for--- huge market place filled with everything from kitchen accesories, shoes, purses, fine linens,to knifes, tools, and toys. It took almost 2 hours to get through it. The smells and sounds are almost overwhelming, but so much fun. We shopped, walked and slept---and I didn't have a single caffienated beverage. For a whole week. Hmmm. Very Relaxing. Now it is back to real life (ugg) until the 14th when we go to Mallorca (Or Majorca--depending on who's spelling it)...an Island near Spain for his belated birthday present! :) In the meantime, starting Monday--we'll do a little school to try and finish out this school year