Keep your Feet in the Street

Our days have been so full here and we have not been near the internet place. I just want to say we are so fine!

I promise to go back and fill in all the details after I am home.

This morning we met up with Andrea, a private guide for Murano who we found through Nan.Our morning was absolutely wonderful. He took us to the incredible church there from Roman times.
The floors alone were worth hours of gazing and study. Then we went to a couple of glass places.

We were so charmed by Andrea, who leads a gospel (yes, that kind of gospel!) choir in his spare time. He made Murano come alive for us.

I still feel like I am on the boat right now, it was a little rough and I kept thinking Kenny would never have made it!

More blog when I get home.

Kris is really keeping me busy!

Finally made it to Malpensa after a harrowing experience returning the rental car. Waiting for Kris was so exciting--I was jumping up and down when she finally appeared. Susan went to catch the bus as soon as we got to the arrivals area of the airport. We went to Milano Centrale to get our train tickets and the first thing I hear is my name--there was Susan. Kris got her first coffee and proscuitto panino at the station while we waited for the train. The ride was so easy and comfortable. There was barely anyone else in the car with us all the way to Venice.

We were so excited and it was already 7pm when we got off the train. We ran to buy or boat ticket and jumped on the first number 2 we saw. After about 5 minutes I said to Kris "I have a feeling we are going the wrong way" and sure enough we were! Luckily Marco Passi called on my cell and told us just get off and take the first one coming back and he would meet us at Campo San Toma which he did. So happy to be in our lovely Corte Tiepolo apartment, we just quickly washed up and set out for dinner. We ate a Vivaldi, very nearby.

We thoroughly enjoyed our meal there especially the rigatoni with pomodoro and black olives. I had really been in the mood for some tomato sauce! I drank a nice bright Sicilian white and Kris had a half bottle of Lungarotti red. The tables are close there and everyone is very friendly which we loved UNTIL-- a couple came and sat beside us. They were traveling around Italy from Holland. They drove us both nuts! They were so smug, arrogant and presumptuous, as if we would be totally entertained by his political commentary throughout our whole meal. We couldn't wait to say goodbye to them!

Today we went to the COOP and got some basics and have done a ton of walking. San Marco is a total zoo! We are determined to stay on "our" side of the canal from now on.

Right now we are in the shelter of a wonderful air conditioned internet place taking a little break.

Venice is beautiful still, but strikes me as an abused child for now.

I am sitting at Balala having a coffee because my friend Kris' flight to Malpensa has been delayed so I have a couple of hours to kill.

Yesterday I followed Susan, the queen of the trains, on an adventure to Nizza Monferrato. Shortly after we got there, we inquired about the tower (Susuan loves towers!) and before we knew it we had a private guide, Matteo, to climb the 16th century tower. It wasn't too high or frightening at all. The view from the top was amazing! We walked and walked and my photo memory card ran out of memory! We asked about a camera store and were told that they didn't stock my kind of card but for 2 euros they burned all my pictures onto a CD so I now have a fresh card.

We came back and rested our feet at La Loggia and I went for another long walk. I am still finding lovely little surprises here in Acqui. As I came around a corner, the doors to a courtyard on Piazza Levi were open and I saw a beautiful statue of a ballerina!
I was dissappointed I didn't bump into Elizabeth all day. All the stores are having big sales so I bought Kathryn another little gift.

Susan, Birgit, Diana and I had a date to meet for a glass of wine at the Piazza Bolente at 5;30 but Gregorio's new wine bar wasn't open. Birgit cheers--So we get gelato! so we did. I took a great picture of her and another of Diana in the easy evening light. They both looked so beautiful!

Then we went to the wine bar. First I had a Piemontese Rose sparkler which was OK --followed by a nice glass of Arneis which I have really come to appreciate. It is the perfect wine for the hot weather and plentiful, light snacks. We stayed there for a couple of hours while busy Diana ran errands. She came back for a glass of Sangria which everyone was praising. They use brachetto vodka and calvodos in it!

I was really not hungry but I decided to keep Susan company for dinner and I had it in my mind to get one more pesto before I left the area. We went to the Royal Hotel where Susan loves the pizza and I had a really good plate of trofie with pesto. SO SO full, we walked home.

I got toatally packed last night thinking we would be leaving very early but Ken called in the middle of the night to warn me about the flight delay.

One last walk in lovely Acqui. I will really miss it here.

This morning, as I was walking to the internet place, I realized that I really love to stay in one place for 2 weeks, especially if it's a place I really like. I am so comfortable here, now. The faces in the streets are becoming familar as are the streets themselves (no more searching the map). This place has a nice peaceful rhythm and I am feeling very simpatico with it. I am starting to notice so many more details of the buildings, the beautiful doors, the pastel pallette, the 3-D painting around the windows... It is really a beautiful small town.

This morning I went to the cafe in Piazza San Guido. I especially like that one because they have "brioche piccolla"--a small sweet croisant and of course, good coffee. I almost always get a double cafe macchiato. I sat outside this morning and did my homewrok. Prepositions! Yuck!!! The class continues to be very satisfying to me. Yesterday, after the class, Elizabeth invited Susan and me to lunch in her apartment. It is right in town, very near everything. And it is big and beautiful. We were really impressed. It was so nice to eat some chicken--it was just leftover, cold chicken and a salad she put together quickly but we really loved it.

Susan and I took a walk to the train station afterwards and went up to the beautiful gardens "Acqui Birdgarden". ( It was getting pretty hot by then but most of the day was really comfortable as is this morning.) We both took a lot of pictures of the flowers and views at the garden. In the evening we visited Diana and her wonderful friend Birgit. We also met the hysterical, Gregorio, who has recently opened a wine bar in the Piazza Bollente. Listening to his stories, mostly about his 2 years as a waiter in NYC was really entertaining.

Telephone situation was easily resloved. I just took the bad card to the TIM store and they were able to get the money reinstated. I did need to have my passport to show him, for some reason. He advised that, from now on, I just go to the TIM store to get the credit on their computer and not mess with the cards--fine with me. Especially since I expect there will be plenty of stores in Venice, next week.

July First! Amazing!

Today I finallly started language class and I remember how much I love it. It just stirs the right part of my brain. Grazia is the teacher (found through Diana) and she is perfect for me--patient, go with the flow, but teaching every minute. She talked to us a bit about history of Italy and how the war (WWII) was fought right here--what happened to her uncle and mother during it. It makes it so real, much more so than reading a book. There is one other woman, Elizabeth, in my class and she is very nice. We went to lunch together after the class. I am thrilled I am doing it!

Susan, who is reluctant to have her picture taken, arrived yesterday. I drove the three minute drive to the train station to pick her up so she didn't have to roll her suitcases through town. I took her on a little walk right around our place and we got gelato. She was into the pesca (peach) and I tried it and it was fantastic! (Of course, I dripped some on my shirt so I used my "Dash pen" I bought in Ascoli and amazingly the stain came out.) My limone gelato was SO good with the peach--it made me think of my Dad who loved lemon stuff. So many things here in Italy make me think of him...

Susan and I went to visit Diana for a while in the afternoon and that was really nice. I was immediately sucked in to "my" lounge chair there and almost fell asleep. Only the lively conversation kept me awake. It is amazing to observe Diana in action with the workers there. She is shuch a pro! the consumate European woman.

Dinner was at the Trattoria Commercio. I ordered the recommendation of the young waitress--pappardelle con sugo della casa--a mix of pesto, cream and tomatoes, which was very good. With that I had a side of spinach and it made a nice dinner for me. We both drank the mediocre house white wine and both woke up with headaches. this was after I bragged to Susan that I never get headaches in Italy--oh well.

It is interesting how all the Italians are so ready to talk about Obama. As soon as you let on that you aren't for Bush they enthuse about Obama and the new chance for America. I guess they are so used to changing governments it's a big part of their lives.

The photo uploading thing is a mystery to me here so I don't think it will happen until I get home.

The weather is a lot nicer today. Warm but not too hot. I am so glad to be here!

Next stop--I have resolve an issue with my phone. I bought a "ricaricard" and when I scraped off the covering, the code went with it. so I have to go to the TIM store and see if I can get another one.