Italy: One Year Anniversary & Baby-Moon!

Our last airline trip and holiday together before our tiny dancer arrives. What a better place to spend our "baby-moon" then in one of our favorite countries--Italy! Charlie met me in Rome, after the EMA meeting, and we jumped on a train headed South to a sweet little seaside village called Gaeta. The one-hour train ride (from Rome) did not travel straight to Gaeta, so we jumped a 25-minute bus in Formia headed to our dreamy holiday spot. The comune of Gaeta is a picturesque Italian holiday spot, home to a NATO base, and part of the Regional Park of Riviera di Ulisse. We stayed at the il Vecchio B&B which had a killer balcony that looked out over the village and sea and the owner was great!

Sea Grotto at 29-weeks prego.

Our first night we discovered the best pizza spot where all of the locals were eating, Da Emilio. You know it is good when the tables are full and the patrons are all speaking Italian. Charlie ordered the house wine for 7 euro, thinking it would be a glass of wine (he was thinking he was still in Finland because 7 euro is the typical price for a glass of wine). Next thing you know a beautiful bottle of wine appears on our table. Too bad his pregnant bride could not help consume the Italian nectar...and so, our first night we were both in heaven as I ate pizza and Charlie got loopy on house wine. The next few days we laid on the beach, ate amazing Italian food, and hiked Mount Orlando which allowed for spectacular panoramic views of the village, castle, fortress, and sea. It was the perfect combination of everything we love about travel--relaxation, site-seeing, hiking, adventures, local culture, amazing food and drink, and sunshine.What a great way to celebrate our one-year anniversary and life pre-baby!

Another Erasmus Mundus Association Meeting...in ROME!

Vatican, by night!

Antipasto...we are always well-fed at these meetings.

Earlier this year, I was asked to co-lead a working group on the "Future of EMA". The aim of the working group was to strategically discuss the future challenges/opportunities of our association, as there are some potential challenging implications of the EU proposing to streamline all educational programs under one umbrella. One scenario would be that all programs, including EMA, under this umbrella would lose their brand identity. So, one of my tasks at this meeting in Rome was to co-lead a presentation and discussion on our future. It went well and many great ideas came from it.

Yum! Gelato.

The meeting also became a forum for political posturing with the upcoming elections, which is not a strong suit of mine. I decided that I would be my authentic self and not get all political. Who knows if my strategy hurt or helped my campaign. Many EMA friends and colleagues were surprised when they found out I was with child. In fact, this led to some funny questions...one male friend asked, "How did that happen?" I responded, "Do you really want to know?" And, he embarrassingly tried to eat his words. Overall, though, I felt very supported by the community and no one seemed to think that me being pregnant would hurt my presidency nomination, although many said it would make it more challenging for me to actually win. Time will tell!  

Florence, Italy: Naked David!

Florence: our last Italian city before flying back to reality (sad!) We arrived at Kursaal hotel just a few blocks away from the train station and dropped off our bags. One block away was the Italian leather outdoor market. We toured the city stopping for pizza, coffee, and views of the naked David. The David statue is regal as ever even though it is only a replica of the real deal statue--now located in Academia Gallery. This was also the coldest day of our trip as the wind cut right through our bones, so we popped in and out of cafes and stores all day long. After visiting the beautiful Ponte Vecchio (old bridge) we headed back to the hotel, exchanged photos with Dan and Julie and then bid farewell to them as they hopped a train back to Pisa. When I live outside of Colorado, it is always hard to say goodbye to my family members. Normally I get this sinking feeling deep in my throat that reverberates down into my chest and abdominal area (yes, it is a very physical goodbye). In this case, I could not even say, "See you in..." because we are unsure as to when we will be back in the States. Oh well, there will always be Italy.

Siena, Italy: Train strike, laundry, and dance party

It was a BIG surprise when we arrived at the Lucca train station to catch our train to Siena. A train strike?!...which means most trains do not operate. Hmmmmm, what do we do, we have a (non-refundable) hotel booked in Siena. We could:
A.) be ugly Americans and start yelling and screaming at the ticket dude, demanding that "our" train take us to Siena NOW or
B.) set up our own strike, like an "Occupy" protest right there in the train station. Imagine all of our clothes tied together to make a hippie encampment (I have always secretly dreamed of being a hippie) with signs that say, "nobody puts baby in a corner." Awesome...or
C.) turn on the positive vibes and think creatively.
We chose C!  Next thing we knew we were on a bus with very loud individuals, headed to Florence. The bus weaved through town and at one bus-stop a screaming match ensued between a passenger and the bus driver. Charlie and I looked at each other with the same thought in our minds...can we please just get to Siena? We arrive in Florence, without blood shed, and the train station is a mad house--we find out that maybe a train will come and maybe it will not (oh, the joys of an Italian train strike!) I park myself in front of the train departure times and Charlie goes on a scavenger hunt for the bus station. Good news, 15 minutes later he comes back with two tickets to Siena in his hand. Ah yeah, that's my man!

Piazza del Campo

Siena is wonderful; it is rightfully recognized as a UNESCO world heritage centre. When you enter the Piazza del Campo you say to yourself, yep this city totally deserves the UNESCO honor...it is spectacular! When we finally arrived in Siena, Charlie and I checked into Hotel Chiusarelli, our home for two nights. Julie and Dan met us in Siena the following day and shared their train strike story with us (we weren't the only ones stranded). They were supposed to visit Cinque Terre, but no such luck. Boo!

Oh well, we were, once again, all together again in Italy...life was GOOD! Our day was spent walking through the narrow cobblestone streets, doing laundry, eating delicious Italian food with a waiter that very loudly made fun of my very bad Italian language, and Charlie even tried on some beautiful Italian suits. Before dinner we rendezvoused in our hotel room and before you knew it the music was pumping and the crazy Americans (that's us!) were shaking booty--dance party style!

Lucca, Italy: Home of Puccini & Tuscan Food Ecstacy!

A 20-minute train through the Tuscan countryside brought us to the famous city and commune of Lucca; a quaint city known for the Renaissance wall that still encircles the old city center. Charlie and I stayed at the sweetest little bed and breakfast right in the center of town: Al Tuscany, with a host who totally hooked us up with information on where to eat (like a local). I have one word for Lucca: delicious! Seriously, we ate the best meals here...or at least I think so: farinata (cornmeal porridge), zuppa di farro (spelt and bean soup), cannelloni, a savory pumpkin crostata (tart) yummy-ness, tiramisu, and torta di fichi e noci (fig and walnut tart). We went to two restaurants where we ate typical Lucchese cuisine: Trattoria da Leo and Trattoria da Giulio (both highly recommended). It is funny that all I can talk about is the food! Well, considering that we are back in Finland now and I am faced with very limited restaurant options...it is no wonder I am obsessed with the great cuisine in Italy.

 In addition to eating, we relished in good conversation as we walked around the city wall and even climbed the Tower, Torre Guinigi, (all 230 steps) for an incredible panoramic view of Tuscany. After dinner, Julie and Dan went back to Pisa (where they stayed the whole week) and we nestled into our cozy little B&B. Tomorrow: Charlie & I travel to Siena (2 hours and 40 minutes on the train from Lucca).

Italy: The Leaning Tower of Pizza!

We arrived in Pisa late in the evening and made our way to the antiquated and ornately decorated Royal Victoria Hotel nestled right up against the Arno river. (We highly recommend this hotel for it's old-style Tuscan feeling.) The plan was to meet Julie and Dan at their hotel in the morning...woohoo!

Picnic under the leaning Tower of Pisa.

Inside the Duomo (grandiose is an understatement!)

With the alarm clock came sunshine and an amazing buffet breakfast at our hotel. After a joyful reunion with my big sis and bro-in-law we were off to explore the city. First, the leaning Tower! We spent a few hours walking around and before you knew it a photo session ensued (shocker!): jumping photos and trying to straighten the leaning Tower with every body part imaginable (hands, feet, and even the booty). Soon our tummies began talking and we found a typical little Italian butcher shop in the narrow cobblestone streets where we purchased fresca frommage (fresh, local cheese), bresaola, prosciutto, pesto, and melt-in- your-mouth freshly baked focaccia bread (yes, Charlie and I agreed to splurge and go not-so-vegan this trip). We bathed in the sunshine and beautiful blue skies while enjoying a picnic lunch on the greens under the grandiose Medieval architecture of the Piazza del Duomo and the leaning Tower of Pisa.

Dinner was amazing...we just so happened to stumble on a local's favorite pizza place called Officina. When in Italy, eat pizza, pizza, pizza! Tomorrow: the walled city of Lucca.

Venice for Six Days!

Venice for six days, wow where do I even begin...

Let's just make this entry simple. Top 10 memories in Venice:

1.) Getting lost in the non-touristy areas of Venice.

2.) Osteria's! These are little local pubs in the narrow streets in Venice. The best are located in the less-touristy residential areas in Venice. They are cheaper and in my opinion more authentic. You walk up to the bar and order a glass of vino for 1-3€ drink it up and move on to the next Osteria.

3.) Food! Pizza, gelato, proscuitto, salami, cheese and more gelato. Need I say more?

4.) Enjoying the posh hotel, the Hilton Molino Stucky...complete with a FREE Turkish spa, a rooftop pool overlooking Venice, a robe and slippers, and 27€ internet access/day (yikes!)

5.) Vino...

6.) Lazy mornings with no alarm clock!

7.) What a small world! My friend Martina just so happened to be in Venice the same time as we were...so we invited her over for some appetizers and then hit the town.

8.) My partner-in-crime.

9.) The Vivaldi Four Seasons concert. A favorite of mine...right there in Venice.

10.) The park where we spent many relaxing moments.

A Nice Surprise in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy!

We arrived in Cortina, Italy in the afternoon and had a few hours to blow off before catching the bus to Venice. Cortina is the poshest ski resort in Italy (it is the Aspen of Italy)...everyone wears expensive sunglasses and struts around in the hottest alpine style. As we walked through the town centre, we noticed live bands playing on every corner. Lucky us, we were about to experience one of the biggest summer events in Cortina, the Great Festival of Bands. And, the culminating event of this week-long Festival, the parade, was starting in one hour. Woohoo! We hunkered down on some steps lining the parade route, with festival food in one hand and left-over wine (that we had poured in a plastic water bottle) in the other. Oh yeah...and gelato too. The mountain backdrop was the perfect frame for this sunny music-filled event featuring the best bands in Northern Italy. You know you are in a mountain town when the Olympic committee and the local ski and snowboard teams march in the parade. What a nice way to spend the afternoon...

On Top of the World...in an Italian Mountain Hut.

Another bus ride through the Alps brought us to our next destination, a mountain hut high in the Italian Dolomites. At Passo Falzarego (2,105 meters or 6,906 feet) we took the gondola to Lagazuoi (2,762 meters or 9,061 feet) and climbed a steep embankment to arrive at the mountain rifugio, where we would spend the night. The European Alps have a circuit of mountain huts sprinkled throughout the Alps. Actually these mountain huts are more like mountain chalets, as they are beautifully decorated in alpine style and most of them offer full room and board. The Lagazuoi rifugio sleeps 74 in bedrooms or dorm style rooms. We booked the full-board option (including dinner and breakfast) and enjoyed a lovely bedroom complete with a balcony and a spectacular view of the surrounding mountain range, all for 55euros/person. I was feeling a little under the weather, so being nestled in a cozy mountain hut under down comforter duvets was medicine for the soul. After a much needed health rest, I joined Charlie for lunch and we ventured out for a little hike. Being above tree line and as high as the clouds has its advantages and disadvantages. When the clouds roll away, the 360 degree mountain view takes your breath away, but when the clouds roll it can become hard to see a few feet ahead of you. Blue skies, sun, clouds, mist, blue sky, sun...and so one. But, this is what I love about being high up in the mountains, you feel like you are under the guidance and swift control of mother nature.

Dinner was served at 1900 and we sat next to a lively same-sex Canadian couple who reside in France. They were hiking from hut to hut and their tales enticed us to strap on 60 pound packs, forgo the expectations of our everday life, and hike in the serene beauty of the Dolomites. Maybe someday!

Charlie's internal alarm clock woke him just in time for the sunrise. The beauty was too much to take, so he woke me and we braved the 0c/33F degree weather to watch the sun float up over the Dolomite spires. The remainder of our morning was spent hiking around the open air museum of the Great War. It was tough to leave this special place on earth, but more travel adventures await...

Ah yeah...the Italian Alps!

During a leisurely walk to the Verona train station, we suddenly realized we might miss our train to the Italian Alps. Oh no! So, I decided to run ahead of Charlie and purchase our tickets at one of the fast-serve ticket machines. He thought I had gone to the ticket office, so with two train tickets in hand I frantically ran around the train station trying to locate my partner-in-crime. With one minute to spare we miracously met on the train platform and launched our bodies and luggage onto the train, sweaty and out-of-breathe. "We made it!" After a good laugh and a few high fives we were on our way to the sweet valley town of Bolzano. In Bolzano, the gateway to the Italian Alps, we had a quick hour layover before jumping on a bus. We found a park bench and feasted on the cheese and meat left-over’s from the opera.

The bus ride into the Dolomites was incredible! The rugged mountain landscape was enough to propel me into a state of mountain euphoria...a sense of calm set in while the perma-grin prominently displayed my excitement. The bus made its way up and down switchbacks, as we kept "oooing" and "awwwing." We had a quick stopover in a German-inspired mountain town, Ortisei, where we lavished our palette with strudel and vanilla gelato. Oh yeah...there are benefits of being so close to the German border (strudel), yet traveling in Italy (gelato). YUM!

After another scenic bus ride we arrived at our destination, Corvara. This famous ski town is nestled between two mountain passes, the Passo Gardena and Passo Campolongo, and you can only imagine the 360 mountain backdrop. We stayed in the cute Valbona pension, ate pizza, and tried out the bidet.

Verona, Italy

Home of Romeo & Juliet and the third largest Roman amphitheatre in Italy, the Arena, Verona was a perfect locale to start a nine-day Italian sojourn with Charlie. We settled into the sweet Rigoletto bed and breakfast, then explored the city that was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000. We walked the old town, ate our first (and certainly not last) gelato, and climbed the roman stairs for a beautiful outlook over the romantic Italian town. On our way back through old town, we found a little meat/cheese shop and picked up Italian salami, prosciutto, two local cheeses (one of which was infused with wine), and a box of red wine. When in Europe, especially in Italy, this is my favorite type of dining experience.

With dinner in hand, we made our way to the Arena for the Aida opera. Being that I am an opera neophyte, I took great pleasure in the romantic storyline, the melancholy songs, and the incredible theatrics (costumes and staging). As the show opened, the lady next to us was crying and it made me realize the emotional impact opera has on some people...it probably helped that she was Italian and could understand the song lyrics. Charlie and I did not cry, rather we bit off chunks of cheese (see video) and drank from the box of red wine while enjoying the lovely sounds of opera bouncing around the ancient arena. It was one of those heavenly travel moments. But, heaven does not last forever…Charlie started dozing off; he became victim to Mr. Jet-lag. Considering there were four intermissions already and it was midnight, we decided to forgo the ending. Our first dreamy night came to an end as we walked back to the B&B.

My Adopted Italiano Famiglia!

In a small town in Northern Italy, Caldogna, there is a sweet Italian family, the Breccas, who live a simple Italian life. I first met them 14 years ago, when my father took us kids on a European adventure. Some of our family friends back in the U.S., the Minch family, rented a house from the Breccas when they lived in Italy. The Minch family encouraged my dad to stop in and meet the Brecca family. We met them with the intention of only staying one day, but our stay quickly turned into three days as the Breccas welcomed us with open arms and homemade pasta.

On this trip, I spent 24 hours with the Brecca family and had another lovely visit. The father has died since I saw them last, but otherwise the family has expanded with more spouses and babies. Luca, who is my age, is the only one who speaks English, otherwise I have learned to communicate with the other family members by means of an Italian dictionary and animated hand and body gestures. Luca visited us a few times in the U.S. and loves America (more than I do!) He owns a BIG red American truck and listens to American rap music. He has a beautiful daughter, Elenora, and is getting married to Miriam in June. Luca and his brother, Diego, own a meat shop of which I was honored to get a full tour of the beautiful (and busy) shop. During my stay, I visited all of the family members...the grandparents, the cousins, and even the spouse's family. It is always funny (and amazing) how the entire extended family is involved with our visits. Grazie Breccas! And, Rosetta...next time I will stay longer for your homemade pasta.

Bologna, Italia: an Important City for European Higher Education

The University of Bologna is the oldest higher education institution in Europe. The date of conception is uncertain, but the historians believe it was founded around 1088. In 1999, Bologna was also the location of the famous meeting whereby 29 European education ministers voluntarily signed the Bologna Process (a higher education reform aimed at harmonizing the European higher education systems). As you can imagine, the word "Bologna" rolls off my tongue often when discussing European higher education and I have looked forward to stepping foot in the place I speak of so often. So, the time had come for me to set my eyes on the famous location that is rich with higher education history.

I flew into Bologna, via Ryanair, and arrived at 11 p.m., I decided to grab a taxi from the bus station since it was late and I did not know the city. However, when I showed the driver the address he proclaimed, "walk" (in Italian and with his two fingers making a walking gesture). I pressed and asked, "Cuanto cost?" (How much?) He said eight euros. NO WAY.

I decided to walk across the street and ask the hotel if it was safe to walk and sure enough he said, "Si!" So, I walked about 10 minutes to the quaint little Holiday Hotel.

The next day I toured the city and the university. The old university, just one small building, is located in the city centre, whereas the newer university buildings are located on the outskirts of town. The old university includes the anatomy theatre which has a huge table located smack in the middle of the room for dissections. There are various wooden sculptures on the ceiling depicting the zodiac and carved heads of professors line the wall (let's hope they are not stuffed heads, after all this room was the dissection room.) The entire medieval building is quite ornate and seeping with the pursuit of academic knowledge. It put a little extra kick in my step.

Ryanair: A SCREAMIN’ Deal!

Ryanair is a cheap, no-frills European airline that I have a special love affair with. Yes, the seats are cramped, the bright yellow seat covers are over-the-top, and the “free-seating” makes for long, pushy lines of impatient people. BUT…it is such a frugal way to travel throughout Europe, you cannot help but smile as you deal with an overall lack of customer service and a no-frills flying experience. The way they make their money is by charging high prices for luggage check-in, food on the plane, ground transportation to/from the major cities, and there is a slight possibility the Irish-based airline will begin charging to use the loo, water-closet, bathroom, toilet or whatever you like to call it. During this three-week sojourn around Europe, I am flying Ryanair.

Here is what I paid (including one bag check-in):

Glasgow, Scotland to Oslo, Norway= $36

Oslo, Norway to Bologna, Italy=$28

Venice, Italy to Paris, France= $24

Sister Julie & Papa BOB--

BACK TO AMERICA!!

Oslo & Italy were too much fun, we're tired!

The Leaning Tower of Pisa! After a delightful stay in Cinque Terre, we journeyed to Pisa for a quick overnight and then an early morning walk to the airport (4:45 a.m.). As you approach the leaning tower you see all of these people striking tai chi poses. Then, you realize they aren't working out, they are posing for an action photo: pushing the tower or holding up the tower. It is quite the spectacle and of course, we joined in the madness!! Woohoo, action photos!!!

Cinque Terre...Five Lands

Riomaggiore

Manarola

Corniglia



Vernazza


Monterossa