Sofia is here

Sofia was born on Wednesday, March 18 at 11:33am. She weighs 9 lbs 2 ozs and is 20.5 inches long. Mom and baby are doing great!

It’s been a while since our last post

We haven’t put up a new post in nearly 2 weeks so we figured it’s time. Over the past two weeks Nonna headed north to Switzerland to visit our cousins and we stayed in Brindisi.

Since we last posted the weather has cooled and we’ve seen rain on three or four occasions. Because it has cooled our time at the ocean has ended, but we certianly don’t mind the cool coastal weather.

Ella has continued to grow and her new thing is to take off her diaper and walk around naked. She still hates putting on clothes (although not as much as before) and may become a nudist when she is older. JK

Ella is also now dancing! It’s so funny to watch. She got a new toy as a gift that makes music and we also bought her a bilingual farm toy that makes music and she dances to both. I mean really dances! She bops her head and shakes her hips. In fact today Arlene just started humming a song and she couldn’t stop herself from dancing!

Lastly as for Ella she still isn’t walking but she is getting awefully close. I think however she may not walk in Italy and save her first steps for grandma and grandpa. Oh and before I forget she finally got another tooth an now has three bottom teeth.

As for us we’ve just been hanging out with all the family and watching our new favorite TV show – Uomi e donni. The show is like The Bachelor but in an Italian style. The major differences is that it’s on every day and there are 2 bachelors and 2 bachlorettes.

Well that’s it for now – we hope everyone is well back home and we’ll be back in the States in less than 3 weeks.

Our Little Billy Goat

We thought it would be a good to try and list all the things our little billy goat (Ella) has eatten while here:

1. Wienerschitzel
2. Lasagna
3. Gnocchi
4. Cheeseburger
5. Stacchioddi
6. Hot dogs
7. Czech food (can’t remember the name)
8. Polish sausage
9. Muscles (actually I stopped her right before she bit off a bite)
10. Frittella
11. Cornetti
12. Risotto
13. Mozzerella di Bufala
14. Ravioli
15. Tortellini
16. Pasta al forno
17. Prosciutto
18. Mortadella
19. Pizza
20. Gelato
21. Crostata
22. Crossiant
23. Brodo
24. Meatballs
25. Cutlets
26. Salty ocean water (she loves it!)
27. Lotion (why I don’t know)

The answers – Part II

For those following along at home here are the answers to date for the question “Where in the world is Isabella?”

Loc 1: Los Angeles
Loc 2: Philadelphia
Loc 3: Zurich, Switzerland
Loc 4: Vaduz, Liechtenstein
Loc 5: Munich, Germany
Loc 6: Salzburg, Austria
Loc 7: Vienna, Austria
Loc 8: Bratislava, Slovakia
Loc 9: Budapest, Hungary
Loc 10: Krakow, Poland
Loc 11: Oswiecim, Poland
Loc 12: Birkenau, Poland
Loc 13: Prague, Czech Republic
Loc 14: Zurich, Switzerland (again)
Loc 15: Geneva, Switzerland
Loc 16 – 116: Ticino, Switzerland (see post for details)
Loc 17: Venice, Italy
Loc 18: Brindisi, Italy
Loc 19: Napoli, Italy
Loc 20: San Angello, Italy
Loc 21: Sorrento, Italy
Loc 22: Postiano, Italy
Loc 23: Capri, Italy
Loc 24: Brindisi, Italy (back again)

Our last train ride?

After a nice stop in Capri we boarded possibly our final train of the trip back to Brindisi. But before boarding Nonno was hungry for a cheeseburger so we once again ate at McDonald’s! This time even Ella ate some as we’ve yet to find a food she doesn’t like.

Fortunately, this time as passed through Napoli no one was robbed and we even had an air conditioned train most of the way.

For the final 4 weeks of our stay we’ll now stay in Puglia and visit the mirad of small beautiful cities that are within an hour by car.

Location 23 – Paradise Island

Today we headed back to Sorrento to grab the ferry boat to Paradise Island (rather than mountain) – Capri. While waiting for the boat we ran into the same Norwegian family from the metro.

After a 20 minute ride we were on the island. Despite it being the “off season” the island was packed with tourists who were trying to hide from the Neapolitan sun. After a nice lunch and a stroll along the ocean we had to say a quick goodbye to Capri and head back to Brindisi. Although our stay was short we happened to shoot a number of great pictures.

Location 21 & 22: Paradise?

This morning we made the quick walk to Sorrento and boarded a nice air conditioned bus (public transport as it should be!) to the Amalfi Coast. Within minutes our bus driver sped away and we began navigating the famous winding roads that make you question your sanity and pray for the driver to not lose his attention for even a second. After driving for about 10 minutes we had to slow down for a bit as the bus driver couldn’t pass a truck -you should’ve seen him ride his tail. It is amazing on the roads a single car can drive – much less a bus passing cars with traffic coming both ways!

Along the way Papa felt like he was being transported to paradise. But one man’s paradise is another man’s (or woman’s) hell as Mom got sick because of all the twists and turns. But in the end the proper route (via bus) to Positano was well worth it.

Although the drive to Positano was beautiful the actually city was even better. How anyone would dare dream such a city, much less build a city on such a hillside is amazing.

After we walked down the steep and winding stairs into the city we stopped for a nice lunch overlooking the ocean. We then strolled the city shops and tried our best to keep cool.

We then decided to head in different directions as the bus ride wasn’t kind to Arlene. So the Nonni headed another hour up the mountain to Amalfi and we headed back down with a stop to see a view of the Sorrentine and Amalfi Coasts in unison.

Location 20: Italy as it should be

We arrived at our hotel in San Agnello and were greeted by the owner’s son of this small family run hotel. Upon arrival we decided to cool off in the pool and Nonno and Nonna headed off to the police station (see prior blog post for details).

Swimming instantly cooled us off and Isabella had a blast splish-splashing in the pool. After swimming Nonno and Nonna hadn’t returned so we decided to get a pizza while relaxing in the hotel’s garden. After a while and still no Nonni we headed up to our room and all took a long nap. After we woke up and STILL no Nonni we decided to head out for dinner. While on our way to dinner we ran into Nonni.

After finding a great little Sorrentine restaurant Nonna recounted the hassles of calling all the credit card companies and we had fabulous plates of gnocchi and other typical Sorrentine food.

Walking the streets here it feels like how Italy should be. The streets are clean and filled with Vespas, the atmosphere is storybook and the entire setting is both peaceful and full of energy.

Experiencing all Naples has to offer!

This morning we woke up early and boarded the regional metro for the Sorrentine peninsula. Once on-board we began talking with two nice ladies from Japan who were going to go to Puglia and loved Isabella. Additionally, our steaming journey was made quicker as we had a nice time talking with a Norwegian family.

Once we arrived at our destination I told everyone to exit. However, Nonno was busy trying to grab their luggage and wouldn’t let Arlene out. So I then tried to pry the doors open (ignoring the signs) but to no avail. Fortunately, the metro only had one more stop before turning around and we meet up again a short while later.

However, once we met up Nonno was in a panic as he had been pick-pocketed! Apparently (or likely) while Nonno was shoving himself on the metro (we walked on just fine) he fell victim to a Neapolitan specialty – the pick-pocket. Fortunately, he was the only one who experienced all of Naples.

Location 19 – Molto Italiano

After resting up over the past 9 days in Brindisi we hit the road again, this time with Nonno and Nonna.

This city is known to many as the “City of Thieves” and is visited by many Italians to remember when Italy was really Italian – Molto Italiano!

In order to fully experience the Italy of yesterday we ignored the advice of many and boarded a steaming hot train to the city. After a brief stop in Pompei (Ella actually got ash in her hair from the currently erupting Vesuvius) we entered the chaotic city and instantly questioned why we dared to come to such a “casino” (Brindisino dialect translation: big mess!)

Surprising despite the chaos and intense heat we easily found our hotel and instantly cooled down with a cold shower and then cranked the AC.

After cooling down we walked along the infamous Spaccanapoli and in once typical Italian style were sold anything and everything from fake Gucci purses to fake iPhones to real cigarettes.

After an altercation between Nonno and a group of guys in a car (crossing the street here takes guts and makes Rome’s streets seem sane) because they didn’t stop for the baby we arrived at the port. There we stepped inside a beautiful restaurant and had typical Neopolitian pizzas with fresh buffalo mozzarella. The pizzas were perfectly thin and outstandingly good. While inside Nonno was sweating and questioning why the restaurant doors weren’t closed to keep in the cool AC air, then moments later a Sicilian couple came in a was seated near the AC vents, however they requested to be moved as they felt it was too cold and asked to be moved! As they said “we’re used to the heat”.

We then strolled along the port and remembered the Brindisi of old (when it was a huge tourist and port town). Afterwards, we then went looking for gelato however unlike typical Italy we couldn’t find it anywhere. But Nonno and Nonna were persistent so we walked in what seemed as dozens of stores – all with no luck. Then they insisted the train station had some and we said we’d give it a shot since it was so close – but again no luck. Then they saw a McDonald’s and after more than 4 weeks of avoiding one, we ate there and all had American gelato – McFlurries!