Finally, The Pets Arrive

July 27

It is a long story, but our sweet pets, Shelby and Lily, were not able to make the trip with us.  Thankfully, Mimi and Gramps saved the day by keeping them and shipping them when the stars and moon lined up and they could travel.  Thank you!

After a looooong trip, and a three-hour italian pick-up process, we finally laid eyes on the critters.  It was a VERY happy moment for all.

And they rest...

They did and are doing great!  Glad to have the family in tact.  Next, the Jeep and our stuff!  Don't know when, but hopefully before our tour is over. 

Across The Pond And Still Near Family

July 26

Some of you may know that Will's sister and her family just moved to Rome.  We were headed that way to pick our pets up at the airport and popped in on them for a night.  Hopefully they won't mind me saying that they have an awesome place and are setup for a true Roma experience.  It was great to see them and really great for the cousins to know there is family nearby. 

Thanks for the Aggie stuff Grammy and Poppe!

We had take-out Chinese-italian style for dinner.  They spoke italian, so we thought it was picture-worthy.  I tried not to be in this picture...sigh...

We look forward to many more get-togethers while we are all over here. 

Trial By Fire

July 21

It's Saturday again and time to go explore.  We thought we would check out the market in Caserta, a nearby town.  The markets are where you can get fresh veggies, fruits, cheeses, and stuff on the cheap.  The locals shop markets first, small shops second, and big stores last.  A GPS is the way to get around in these parts (for an American anyway), so I plugged in the coordinates off the internet and we set out. 

...Hmm, this doesn't look like we're on our way to a market.  Wow, this road is bumpy, watch that pothole!  Hey, are those tobacco plants they are hanging to dry?  Yes, we ended up in the middle of nowhere.  I just wanted the family to see how they grow and process tobacco, and what Italian cows look like (for you Grammy and Poppe).  No really, we were lost, the farming italians thought we were crazy I am sure, but as luck would have it, (again) we eventually found the area we were looking for.  We had a bite, because my men don't shop well on an empty stomach, hit the market and realized what a neat town Caserta is.  We'll be back to see the Royal Palace.  This is a picture of one of the streets in Caserta with mountains in the background.   

Oh, I forgot to tell you that this was the day I decided to drive for the first time off base.  I think it was in the grande plan from above that we "took the long way".  I was forced to drive the small streets and back roads, do crazy turnarounds and such.  It was fine, and a big hurdle for anyone living over here.  You just have to do it.  I even got the trial by fire for drivng at night in another town and on the highways after we attended a BBQ.  Whew!  Glad the first time is over with!  P.S.  The mini is soooo fun to drive!  P.P.S.  That doesn't mean we still don't need your prayers for safe keeping on the streets over here.  Keep 'em coming.

Moving Day (out of TLA)

July 17/18

It's been a month since we packed out our house in Florida, and three weeks in TLA (hotel here), so we are ready to move in to our apartment here on base.  We will have what they call loaner furniture until our household goods get here.  We are very fortunate to have gotten a place, and the place we wanted with a view.  While Dad toiled at work the boys and I made a thousand trips in the mini (Jeep appreciation trips).  Here's the mini loaded up. 

Have Wheels Will Travel

July 14

We bought a convertible mini cooper off the "lemon lot" here on base.  We love it!  More importantly we love having a car and being mobile.  The car we shipped isn't due until mid-August.  It's a stick with european specs so we don't have to do math to know how badly we are speeding :)  Soooo, when Saturday came around we wanted to take a little road trip...get out of Naples...explore. 

We know that the mini and the Amalfi Coast go hand-in-hand but not yet, too crowded right now.  Will researched a place in the Abruzzo region in the mountains about two hours away, Pescocostanzo.  Perfect!  Family of four into one duffel bag, squeeze it in, let's go.

Ahhhh, I can feel the decompression as we get out into the countryside and the mountains get bigger.  What a nice drive.  We get to the town, now what?  We know the name of a place to stay, oh, there's one too.  Let's stop and ask where this one is.  Pescoconstanza is a BEAUTIFUL, small village with cobblestone streets, flowers everywhere, rustic buildings, immaculately clean.  It looked like a Hollywood setting.  We stop in the piazza and ask a poor italian soul where this certain B&B is.  She tells us "qua" (here), so Will parks the family in the car and runs down the little hill to see if they had a room.

Did I mention that it was riposo?  (time of day for rest, things close for a bit, all is quiet).  Did I mention that our "new" car has a special alarm system that you have to hold your mouth right to turn off and that Will hadn't shown Paige how to turn off yet?  Well, guess what went off as Will ran down the hill, while we were illegally parked in the piazza (town center, you know, fountain and all)?  Yes!  The stupid alarm!  We're here!  Hey, look at us stupid americans, as if you didn't notice us already.  I must also mention that it is not tourist season here (which is why we chose it).  People flock here in the winter to ski.  Italians vacation here off season too.  Anway, rescue man came running back up the hill and saved the day.  The fact that he said "I'm sorry" to the villagers poking there heads out of the shops instead of "mi dispiace" is a whole 'nother story :)

After our grande entrance we were warmly escorted by the B&B owner to the proper place to park our car and of course they had a room.  In fact, they had two rooms, one for the bambinos, one for the marito e moglie (kids, husband and wife).  Yeah!  After checking in, we set out to walk the town.  Here's some pictures.

    

I think you are going to get sick of seeing our faces in all of these pictures, but notice the flowers is this one.  They were like that everywhere! 

There just happens to be a church there, the Santa Maria del Colle, that contains amazingly beautiful artwork.  Here is the ceiling. 

...and that is just the ceiling!  Well, you get the drift.  We had a great time, saw more of Italy, decompressed, worked out some kinks in our travel mojo, got to know the car, and were so close that we had a relaxing Sunday afternoon at home.   Che bello!  (How nice!)  

 

Time To Be A Tourist

July 10

On the last day of area orientation, all the newbies ventured out with a tour guide into Naples.  We took a bus, train, and funicular (cable car) to get used to transportation methods available.  Remember, I'm not driving downtown!  We first went to Vomero, a nice area with shops and a sizeable outdoor market.  It was fun to look around and get a feel for italian shopping.  We then went into downtown Naples, il centro, the heart of the city.  Among the MANY things right there is the Galleria Umberto I, an architectural marvel named after a monarch, now filled with shops and cafes.  Here's the proof that I was there.

And right across the street from that is the famous opera house Teatro San Carlo.  In addition to operas, this theater also lays claim to having one of the best ballet schools in Italy (that's for you MC).  Couldn't get in (yet), but here's a pic of the outside.

All of this is near the port, where the big cruise ships come in as well.  As I walked around a bit, I realized that our July 4th shot in the dark excursion was right around the corner.  Wow, good job Will!

After an authentic, non-touristy stop for lunch and a likewise gelato, we headed back.  It was hot and we were ready.  Being a tourist takes a lot out of you.  This was also when everything started to catch up with me.  I was glad orientation was over and was in desperate need of some downtime.  

Where To Live and Go Bama?

July 7/8

It is the weekend and we felt like we needed to explore the options of places to live.  Our hotel room was beginning to close in on us.  We had seen a friends house on base, so we called a realtor and headed out.  We saw some towns, villas, parcos, a beach, had lunch at a pizzeria, met some landlords.  We got a basic feel for things.   

I am going to be careful in this discussion, because everyone has their own opinion on the issue of where to live here in Naples.  The bottom line is, everyone has to do what is best for their situation and family.  So, after MUCH agonizing and deliberation, and drinks on the TLA (hotel) deck with fellow newbies, we decided to live on base.  You have to know that this was a hard decision for us because we WANT to immerse in the culture.  We still will.     

Is that bellyaching and groaning I hear?  What about that huge villa with a view for when I visit?  Hold tight.  We'll rent one when you come, in an area of Italy you want to visit.  There is a lot to see here, and not just in Naples...so no worries.  The perfect place does not exist here when you are talking about day-to-day living, so we "pressed the easy button".  We are still in a great launching spot, so come on.  At least you can rest assured that we are safe, our stuff is safe, the boys can roam and play, laundry can be done easily, things will get fixed when they are broken, etc.  Most importantly, we can travel like crazy with a peace of mind.  So there. 

One more thing, for all you BAMA folks out there that we know and love and who befriended us with open arms, check this out. 

Apparently we are in good hands...again :)     

Who Says Don't Drive In Downtown Naples?

July 4th

Of course today is a holiday for Americans here too, so having the day off from orientation, we decided to rent a car and get off base.  Will, being the risk-taker that he is, takes it upon himself to pile us in the car and head out.  Who needs a map, gps, or even a plan?  Not us! Most of you know Will lived in Sicily for three years and that we spent a two-week honeymoon driving Italy, so I had complete faith in my hubby.  It was the Neopolitan driving that I worried about.  It is crazy!  Neopolitans are very good drivers--skilled, assertive, reactive, but crazy.  If you make eye contact you give them the go ahead, forget the road rules we are used too.  The streets are smaller, it is very crowded downtown, and the mopeds are what you really have to watch for.  Even though they whip up from behind you, YOU are responsible if someone gets hit.  Yikes!  I'll be taking the bus downtown.   

So you are not going to believe it, maybe you will, but we ended up in a very beautiful area of Naples-the Castel dell'Ovo (Egg Castle), in the Borgo Marinaro quarter.  Here's a pic.

Yep, that's Vesuvius in the background...again.  We toured the castle, walked around, enjoyed a gelato, and headed back before rush hour hit.  Hope you had a great 4th!

 

BBQ in Paradise

June 30

It is the Saturday after our arrival, and our sponsor invited us to his place out on "the economy" (what you call it when you don't live on base).  He lives in the area of Mt. Vesuvius, the large, active volcano in the area.  Don't be mad, but we did not take any pictures...cringe...gasp.  When I say we were overwhelmed, overloaded, jet-lagged, on autopilot, in zombieland-it is an understatement.

It was beautiful!  The villa was divided into apartments, and was on land that had lemon trees, lots of garden vegetables and flowers everywhere.  The bbq took place under a garden covering overlooking a mountainous and water view, with a mixture of Americans and Italians, the perfect combo.  We ate, socialized and turned in early, but not before leaving with a bottle of homeade limoncello, YUM!  If our gracious friend who drove us didn't have to navigate the roads of Naples we would have enjoyed more of the limoncello right there!  What a great introduction to Italy.  

Since I don't have a picture of Tory's place, I will indulge you with a view from our hotel room, our temporary "home" until we find one.

I know, anti-climatic, but beautiful too.  The larger peak in the back is Mt. Vesuvius.

Kyle's First Pizza Margherita

June 28

We have a general philosophy about travelling--jump right on the time zone you have joined.  Sooo, with a down day before orientation, we had the opportunity to go out to a local pizzeria with a new friend.  It was great and everything we expected...quaint, fresh wine, and great food.  Here is a picture of Kyle enjoying his first authentic pizza margherita, along with an italian coca-cola.

A note about this pizza margherita, as you may know pizza was invented in Naples.  The margherita was named after Queen Margherita, who was presented this type of pizza from a pizzeria back in 1889.  It consists of tomato, buffalo mozzarella, and basil to represent the colors of the italian flag.  Yum!

Here Goes Nothin'

At the advice of the Melanie's in my life I have decided to start a blog about our adventures in Italy. Bear with me as I learn the process. We have been here four weeks and have already learned that our time here will not only be an adventure, but also a journey. We hope you will join us.

June 26

We made it! The flight was long, but comfortable, all went very smooth. We are safe and sound in our "temporary living" situation. We hit the ground running as we had a day to settle in before we begin a week-and-a-half long area orientation. The kids will do summer camp while mom and dad fill out more paperwork, learn a bit about the area, and try to secure a comfortable life here a world away. It is hard to believe we are actually here. I am sure it will sink in more everyday as will the fact of how much we miss our loved ones. We are forever grateful for such a wonderful send off.

To be continued...