It's Harder When the Family is Here
Blogging is much harder with the family to pay attention to here in this beautiful place. Yes, they arrived! The trip was hard and the upgrade to the Business Class seat was not as comfortable as we would have wished for Gene. He was much more comfortable on the trip from Amsterdam to Rome where there were no Business class seats so he sat toward the back with Reagan. Then there was the whole sick stomach thing. Reagan had been exposed to a stomach bug and Gene may have also gotten it. They did not get out of the airport in Amsterdam because Reagan threw up eight times. They found some of those wonderful recliner seats in the Amsterdam airport and each slept for two hours.
We had hoped to catch one of those sightseeing buses in Rome so Gene could see some of the city but they were just too exhausted to try. We took our 12:30 pm train to Florence and arrived at the villa by 2:30 pm. It was a pretty sunny day so he got to see the villa at its best. After unpacking and getting accustomed to the villa, Gary (Avanti Director) and his two young adult sons showed up to attempt to ride the scooters here at the villa. They had never dealt with scooters or motorcycles so Gene was happy to give them a lesson in started and controlling the bikes. Can you imagine my shock when I heard him say to Gary, "The next time Beckie gets to come for a semester, I think I will come and rent a motorcycle to just roam around these hills and back roads." Later that night we had our first visit to Gallo's and he LOVED the pizza. Then there was that wonderful chocolate mousse for dessert. Gene thinks there needs to be a trip here that just compares all the different types of pizza!
Saturday Reagan and I rode the bus into town to see the Scottish Christmas fair in the Santa Maria Novella piazza. It was the smalles Christmas fair I have ever seen!! Two booths. We did walk around the city and found a store she had wanted to check out called Tuscan Treehouse. It has great things with Tuscan imagines on them. We also purchased our Christmas stockings for the five of us who will be in the villa for Santa's arrival. TAF had some really cute ones for only 5 Euro each. When we got back to Scandicci we picked up Gene and headed to that huge Coop store. We bought some great foods to add to the ones that Julie and her crowd did not finish eating and had supper in the villa.
Sunday we drove out into the hills to look for a couple of places that were having Olive Oil Festivals/Tastings. We found one immediately and bought some of their wares. When they present you with olive oil to taste they pour about a fourth of an inch in the bottom of a plastic cup and you DRINK it. I only tasted one kind because I tend to prefer my olive oil on bread of vegetables. We did not find the second place but that was fine because we drove through some really beautiful country. That night we did take out pizzas from Gallo's.
Robbie arrived back from speaking to a church meeting in Sicily late last night and was at the villa when we got back from cappucino and pastry at Mario's this morning. Tammie and Vivian: Mt. Etna was smoking and spitting ash!!! Robbie wanted to drive us to San Miniato, Pizzale Michelanglo, and Fiesole. We ate at a cute little place in Fiesole. We walked through the Etruscan museum and look out over the ruins. Gene handled the steps ok but I thought that going all the way down to the ruins was pushing his luck too far. It was a great day. The weather was crisp and cool and sunny! Gene loved the Etruscan stuff and the views from all the lookout spots. Robbie needed to come home and paint some so we just hung out and I fixed left overs for supper. Good, good day.
We are awaiting Murr's arrival on Friday, Corrie on Saturday and Tim, Steph and Ellie on Monday. Lots more fun is on the way!!!
We had hoped to catch one of those sightseeing buses in Rome so Gene could see some of the city but they were just too exhausted to try. We took our 12:30 pm train to Florence and arrived at the villa by 2:30 pm. It was a pretty sunny day so he got to see the villa at its best. After unpacking and getting accustomed to the villa, Gary (Avanti Director) and his two young adult sons showed up to attempt to ride the scooters here at the villa. They had never dealt with scooters or motorcycles so Gene was happy to give them a lesson in started and controlling the bikes. Can you imagine my shock when I heard him say to Gary, "The next time Beckie gets to come for a semester, I think I will come and rent a motorcycle to just roam around these hills and back roads." Later that night we had our first visit to Gallo's and he LOVED the pizza. Then there was that wonderful chocolate mousse for dessert. Gene thinks there needs to be a trip here that just compares all the different types of pizza!
Saturday Reagan and I rode the bus into town to see the Scottish Christmas fair in the Santa Maria Novella piazza. It was the smalles Christmas fair I have ever seen!! Two booths. We did walk around the city and found a store she had wanted to check out called Tuscan Treehouse. It has great things with Tuscan imagines on them. We also purchased our Christmas stockings for the five of us who will be in the villa for Santa's arrival. TAF had some really cute ones for only 5 Euro each. When we got back to Scandicci we picked up Gene and headed to that huge Coop store. We bought some great foods to add to the ones that Julie and her crowd did not finish eating and had supper in the villa.
Sunday we drove out into the hills to look for a couple of places that were having Olive Oil Festivals/Tastings. We found one immediately and bought some of their wares. When they present you with olive oil to taste they pour about a fourth of an inch in the bottom of a plastic cup and you DRINK it. I only tasted one kind because I tend to prefer my olive oil on bread of vegetables. We did not find the second place but that was fine because we drove through some really beautiful country. That night we did take out pizzas from Gallo's.
Robbie arrived back from speaking to a church meeting in Sicily late last night and was at the villa when we got back from cappucino and pastry at Mario's this morning. Tammie and Vivian: Mt. Etna was smoking and spitting ash!!! Robbie wanted to drive us to San Miniato, Pizzale Michelanglo, and Fiesole. We ate at a cute little place in Fiesole. We walked through the Etruscan museum and look out over the ruins. Gene handled the steps ok but I thought that going all the way down to the ruins was pushing his luck too far. It was a great day. The weather was crisp and cool and sunny! Gene loved the Etruscan stuff and the views from all the lookout spots. Robbie needed to come home and paint some so we just hung out and I fixed left overs for supper. Good, good day.
We are awaiting Murr's arrival on Friday, Corrie on Saturday and Tim, Steph and Ellie on Monday. Lots more fun is on the way!!!
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posted by BW @ 3:47 PM
4 Comments:
How fun! I'm so glad that Gene is getting to see stuff with Robbie around to show him. He will enjoy being with Robbie...doesn't everyone? I am sorry that we didn't get to see the ashes at Mt. Etna but the smoke was neat. You'll have to get brave and ride on the back of the motorcycle with Gene or ride your own. When it's warm, that will be great fun. Hope Murr gets there ok and all the rest of the crew, too!
Only 2 booths at the christmas market? What a bummer. I bet Gene would have a great time going around on the motorcycle all over Europe...wouldn't that be a great trip? Next time you go to HUF, eh? Much love to everyone at the villa and to those that are coming soon!!! Mario's for EVERYONE!!
Well Beckie, what an answer to many prayers...Gene loving Italy!! We all knew he would. Jon got home last night. Free travel was great for him, not as good for his wallet. They saw many things and he ranks HUF a top experience. Especially the free travel. Thanks for all you did to make it happen. I smiled all through your blog tonight thinking what fun experiences you are all having together.
Hope Murr made it safely!
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