Wit, Wisdom, & Whining: Italian Adventures (Part 1)

So, we finally got our pictures transferred from the camera cards to the computer. This was more complicated than it should have been since my laptop doesn't seem to like these huge files coming in swarms....of over 1,000 images (at 15 megapixels each). We ended up putting the images on the kids' computer- so this is the second time I started this post...as the first time, a kid came by and closed it without saving it. : (

So, anyway-- Italy.

We left on our trip on September 1 and were gone nearly 3 weeks, coming home on September 20. On the first day, we left our house in the early afternoon and had a 5 pm flight out of O'Hare direct into Rome's Leonardo Di Vinci airport. You know how they say that "getting there is half the adventure"? Well, I think that is true, especially when you are travelling internationally with three small children.

Without children, security is merely a minor inconvenience. With kids, it seriously takes like a half an hour. The whole group had to remove shoes, jackets, and take out all electronic gadgets (including laptop, nintendo ds, etc). All snacks I was bringing for the baby (yogurt, organic juices) had to be swabbed- and since I was bringing them, I was subject to the full security pat-down, because apparently, one sign that a tourist might be a potential terrorist is the fact that they are carrying a jar of baby food AND ALSO a baby for a 10 hour flight. Just getting to the gate was actually such an accomplishment that my mom decided it should be celebrated.

Since this draft beer at the airport was $8, we let her celebrate on her own, but may have snagged a couple of small sips.

So, we board the plane- and Erin soon learns that we didn't actually purchase a seat for Ryan, but instead had developed an (ingenious) plan to put her in Ryan's carseat for take-off, so we could eventually move him into that seat for sleeping purposes-- while she would share Kyle's seat.

She was not down with my plan and screamed at the top of her lungs, "let me out of here" for the first half hour of the flight until a random "allergic reaction to travel" required that I give her a Benadryl strip. At that point she became much more compliant with our requests and slept for the duration of the trip! (Imagine our surprise).

So, nearly 10 hours after starting out, we arrive in Rome. The kids were great for most of the time and my parents weren't too bad either. : ) After heading through the Italian "dogana" or customs, which were quite different than in the US, with "Go through this door if you have something to declare" and "Go through this door if you do not have anything to declare" with NO ONE WORKING at either door, we were greeted by Mike's dad, Byron, and step-mom, Maria.

After some greetings, everyone except me headed off with them in their cars they had brought to pick us (and our stuff) up. I stayed back to wait at the airport for a little adventure of my own with Steve and Brooke, who would both be on one of the next flights to arrive.

Once they cleared customs, we found the local train and took it from the airport to Roma Termini, which is the main train station in Rome. We had a few extra minutes, so we grabbed some paninis, sodas, and a beer for Steve, and took them on our next train ride with us to Chiusi, which my brother fondly pronounced "cheesy", where we would pick up our rental car.

The only thing about trains and beers...you have to bring your own opener, evidently. Steve didn't consider that and after trying everything that Brooke and I had in our purses, gave up in defeat and put the bottle back in his duffle bag, only to have it leak in their on its own the entire time....beer dripped from his bag at the rental car place-- I was hoping they didn't notice. I don't have picture of this, but Brooke does!

So, we get our car, and with a minimum amount of getting lost, that did involve many crazy turns, parking, and driving on streets the width of a stairwell, in a stick-shift Lancia Delta, we made it to our destination: Agriturismo San Gallo in Toscana. The rest of the family was there waiting, and the reunion was great-- the kids were thrilled to see their cousins, and I couldn't wait to see the apartments that I had chosen after only seeing them online...ended up- they were beautiful, and so was the view!

There is nothing quite like the Tuscan countryside- except for a place to view it from poolside with your family and some of the region's best vino rosso!

Brooke and Steve are quick to adjust to the Italian lifestyle, but Steve, upset about his beer on the train, or lack of beer, really, decides a Peroni is his beverage of choice...and he shares with Ryan (well, sort of).

The funny think about this picture is that I have almost the same exact one of him with Kyle when he was this age- only with a Miller Lite in my old living room...going to have to get him this one in a frame to put next to that one.

So, after some relaxation by the pool, and exploring San Gallo, we had a great dinner that Maria cooked- she brought ingredients to make so many good things that we hardly ate out while in Tuscany except for lunches. Since she owns her own restaurant, Vecchia Maremma, and is about the most amazing cook around, we were fine with that. Yum! We had lots of fun visiting before turning in for the night, pleasantly "happy" from red wine.

The kids, thrilled to be with their cousins, were up early the next morning. Here are Kyle and Erin wtih Matthew and Sarah.

Who was with these kids? Nonno. Mike's dad had gotten up to see the farmer for some eggs to make the crew breakfast.

After breakfast, we set out to enjoy the nearby town of Montepulciano-- probably my favorite spot in all of Tuscany, and the one I will go back to every time I visit Italy, regardless of how many times I have seen it. Going there is like entering a time machine-- the stone streets, rock-covered buildings-- nothing has changed in hundreds of years. Lined with small shops selling gelato, wine, sausages, cheese, pasta-- anything you can think of...it is a fun place to spend a day. It is also where they filmed one of my favorite movies....

Contrary to popular belief, it was not Volterra....although Brooke and I didn't know that and went to see Volterra a few days later anyway....that is another story for another blog post.

So, in order to investigate all that Montepulciano had to offer, we tasted wine and toured several wineries. Here are Mike, his brother, Sergio, and our niece, Sarah.

While I was in Italy, I was also on an assignment. When I asked my best friend what she wanted for me to bring her back, I was surprised when she responded with pictures...she is a photographer. Why would she want pictures? But, I accepted my task and took the pictures she wanted-- of doors. I took over 100 pictures of doors all through Italy. But, here is one of the ones I liked best from Montepulciano.

While on our trip, we tossed the diets aside and enjoyed lots of gelato-- so many good flavors, I can't even tell you. I know I had limoncello, nutella, fragola, nociola, fiordalatte, tiramisu, and so many other great ones. Ryan loved it the most I think. He had some of Mike's chocolate and then begged Kyle for some of his too!

Before we knew it, the day was coming to an end. We headed back to San Gallo, taking pictures along the way of the beautiful sunset. We relaxed a while and then grabbed some pizza at a nearby ristorante.

The next day, my parents and in-laws (and Kyle and Erin) spent the day at the terme, or bath, relaxing in a spa-like environment. Mike and I headed out for the day with Steven and Brook (and Ryan) to visit Volterra and San Gimignano. While we were sad to find out that New Moon only used the NAME Volterra, but actually filmed in Montepulciano, Volterra was a beautiful city, famous for its alabaster....which is ironic, because isn't that what Edward feels like? : )

San Gimignano did not disappoint-- with more towers still standing than any other hill town, there were breath-taking views everywhere you looked.

There was also one of the largest Italian beers Steve had seen thus far...he was excited.