The Further Adventures Of Kate In Italy

Kate · Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 5:40 pm Post subject:

Finally the time has come and tomorrow morning I leave for italy. It's been a whirlwind of excitement and planning here, and dreaming.
I'm leaving my apartement and my kitty in the loving hands of three dear friends and loving people, my neighbor Lorena and my friends Cynthia and Mina. My bags are almost packeed, and I am very excited. It's been almost 9 months since I have seen Guido and I can hardly wait! I look forward to that moment when I get off the plane and realize I am once again in Italy. It's neat to see familiar things, and they bring back memories of past trips.This year there will be new places to add to my memories, the wedding and the trip to venice. I know it won't be my last trip as Guido and I plan to go back for visits when ever possible. He wants to take Erica and I there for Christmas one year.That will be an amazing treat for us both. 2006 will bring a lot of new changes, good changes.I can hardly wait to see whats in store!
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A closed mouth gathers no feet.

Kate · Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 5:40 pm Post subject:

Finally the time has come and tomorrow morning I leave for italy. It's been a whirlwind of excitement and planning here, and dreaming.
I'm leaving my apartement and my kitty in the loving hands of three dear friends and loving people, my neighbor Lorena and my friends Cynthia and Mina. My bags are almost packeed, and I am very excited. It's been almost 9 months since I have seen Guido and I can hardly wait! I look forward to that moment when I get off the plane and realize I am once again in Italy. It's neat to see familiar things, and they bring back memories of past trips.This year there will be new places to add to my memories, the wedding and the trip to venice. I know it won't be my last trip as Guido and I plan to go back for visits when ever possible. He wants to take Erica and I there for Christmas one year.That will be an amazing treat for us both. 2006 will bring a lot of new changes, good changes.I can hardly wait to see whats in store!
_________________
A closed mouth gathers no feet.

Leroger · Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 7:28 pm Post subject:

Kate,,

Bon Voyage,, lol,, that is almost all of my forign language, Smile

Have a great time in Italy,, as i know you will,, after all you are going to be with the MAN,,

Guido what can i say,, you lucky man, but i do know how it feels to travel to see the one you love,

BOth of you, huggles,
take care and have fun,, (dumb thing to say you two)
bye for now

Lee
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Always enjoy the moment, this minute will never be here again, Lee

Kate · Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 3:51 am Post subject:

Thanks so much Lee. I'm the lucky one though (well Guido is lucky too haha) I'll be keeping in touch with eveyone and posting things here. This time tomorrow I'll be on a plane headed to Rome!

Hugs....Kate
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A closed mouth gathers no feet.

guido · Site Admin Joined: Oct 18, 2004 Posts: 381 Location: Italy

Let see....
One hour and twenty minutes to go to the airport...
Half day to find a parking space.... (yep, It's Rome Very Happy

)
I think I should get ready!
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In vino veritas!

Kate · Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 3:57 pm Post subject:

It's Wednesday, I left Monday which was yesterday my time...I'm all mixed up! But I'm here at long last. Both legs of the trip went great, except a mad dash through the airport at Cinncanatti and waiting an hour for my luggage in Rome. The weather is beautiful, very warm and Guido was right, Italy in May is bellissimo! His garden is a riot of fragrant flowers. His jasmine and mock orange hedges fill the air with their perfume.I was greeted with a wonderful lunch yesterday, pasta with proscuitto and peas, roasted turkey and potatoes, tiny green beans .Wonderful sparkling wine and the white pizza bread I love so much rounded out the meal. Succulent strawberries for dessert, the perfect ending. After a nice long nap I felt much better. I was operating on 24 hours with little sleep and getting goofy. Guido is wonderful and it's so nice to be back here with him!
_________________
A closed mouth gathers no feet.

Kate · Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 5:39 pm Post subject:

Today is balmy and cool in Italy and a nice break from the heat. Wednesday night, Guido and myself,his brother Fabio and his bride to be Alessia and two friends, Fabrizio and Monica, all went to dinner at a nice little restaurant. We started with a trio of pastas, spinach gnocchi in a creamy gorgonzola sauce that was incredible, ravioli stuffed with fresh ricotta and smoked provola that was absolutely incredible and a fettuccini bolognese with wild hog that was very good. Everyone ordered pizza after and the crust was so thin it was amazing. Baked in a wood oven...yummmm. We had a big bottle of Coke that was...drum roll, actually in a glass bottle! Water and wine were also served. Fabrizio spoke some english and we talked about the tv show Lost. Here in Italy the first season is just ending and I was answering some questions he had until Guido said no don't spoil it for him haha! It was a wonderful evening and despite the language barriers I had a great time. I love it when Guido goes to translate and speaks to Alessia in english instead of italian.
Tomorrow is the wedding and there is a buzz of excitement in the air, family is ariving tonight from Milan and Fabio raided my american money for $1. bills for tips in Madasgar where they will honeymoon. The smallest Italian bank note is the 5 euro. Fabio said the people there don't want coins and the 1 euro is a coin.
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A closed mouth gathers no feet.

Leroger · Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 6:28 pm Post subject:

When i read about that meal,,, my mouth started to water,, oh to be able to eat out like that here,, oh well small town Onatrio,, just dont have the palces, lol

Hope that the weding goes great,, and that all have fun

huggles for Katem just a little hug for the G man, hehehe

bye for now

Lee
_________________
Always enjoy the moment, this minute will never be here again, Lee

Kate · Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 11:01 am Post subject:

Ahhh Lee I will savor the next meal for you! You should try some of the recipes Guido has posted.The wedding was beautiful! Fabio and Alessia were glowing and the ceromony was filled with love. The reception...was a study in excess. There was a buffet set when we arrived and I filled a plate, throughly enjoyed it and then found out it was only a starter! The staff began placing plates before me and all I could manage was a few bits of each dish.Much wine and lots of laughing. The wedding cake was one hugh sponge cake layer, split and filled with a fruit custard and soaked in liquor...it was delicious!
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A closed mouth gathers no feet.

Kate · Posted: Thu May 25, 2006 10:46 am Post subject:

Life here is so different from the states.Italy hums with a rythm of it's own. They are in a hurry at times as we are, but there's a relaxed feel in the air. At certain times of the day it's not a luxury to stop for coffee and a chat, it's considered a necessity! I can't get used to no toilet seats in public restrooms, even Guido doesn't know why that is, maybe so people don't steal them? Yesterday we wnt into the hill area outside Rome so Guido could visit some customers. Viterbo is a quaint little midevil town built on a hill as are so many of the towns that are very old.During war time it was hard for the enemy to attack, the streets are very narrow and windy. The countryside is filled with beautiful wildflowers, orchards of hazelnut and fruit trees and everything is so green and fresh. It still amazes me to be riding along and see a centuries old ruin sitting in a field. Of course they are protected by the government. We had lunch at a little roadside place Guido likes, cannelloni filled with meat scented with nutmeg, roasted baby lamb that you eat with your fingers , roasted potatoes with rosemary and olive oil, the wine was home made and excellent.The bread was a rustic type with no salt that I found tasteless. Espresso ended the meal. We sat in the car awhile as it was about an hour to our next appointement. Guido napped while I read my book, the da Vinci Code...wow what a great book!

After the next meeting we popped into a mall and browsed around, got a gelato that was sooooo delicious.Here they use real flavors haha! I had hazelnut and pistacchio ( they say pis tak eo) because cch is a hard k sound.There is no k in the Italian alphabet. I'm slowly learning the language and can even have brief conversations. The male female thing still confuses me, if talking about 1 finger it's male, but two becomes female...sigh. The weather has been wonderful, very warm. Today is windy and cooler, a nice break from the heat. Guido's garden is amazing, a lstar jasmine hedge on one side and the rest of the hedge is mock orange, so the fragrance is amazing. Walking in from the street is like entering another world. Guido says the scent is toxic at times when it's really humid.
Tomorrow we leave for Venice and I'm really excited! A long drive but I'm sure there will be beautiful places to take pictures of.
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A closed mouth gathers no feet.