E' nato Daniele!!!

Lo aspettavamo tutti come regalo sotto l'albero proprio per la mattina di Natale, ma il nostro piccolino ha voluto farsi attendere ed è rimasto nel pancino di mamma Monica fino alle 18.02 del 28 Dicembre!!!!

Che emozione e che felicità vedere la vita che comincia e la perfezione di un piccolo scricciolino al quale siamo già affezionati!

-Ely

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On Dec, 28th at 6.02 pm our cousin Daniele is born! Welcome in our family! We are so happy to have a new little cousin to cuddle. My aunt Monica is fine and she's waiting to go home with the newborn, just in time to celebrate the coming of the new year all together.

-Mario

Christmas time

Christmas has gone this year, but we had a wonderful time meeting friends and family. I finished working last Friday (Dec, 21st) and I am so happy because I am off work until Jan, 14th!!! Anyway my aunt Monica is having her 3rd child (probably today or tomorrow!!!) and the other 2 (Davide, 7 and Eleonora, 4) are on their way to come to our place and stay with us until Monica has the baby and for the first few days when she will be back home with the newborn. We are all soooooo excited about this new baby! We still don't know the name, but we will update the blog as soon as we'll see him at the hospital! So these days off work will be definetely full!!!

But let's go back to our Christmas time...

Dec, 24th - CHRISTMAS EVE IN MILAN:


For the last day before Christmas, we made it to the big city with Ely's mom Adriana! Shopping in Milan is great! Even if we had already bought almost all the gifts, we just wanted to have a look at the glittering window's shops of Via Montenapoleone and the sorroundings, where are located the best brands and the best shops. We made some shopping for ourselves and we bought the last gifts too.


Ely was so happy, because we also went to Sanrio outlet store (she's a big big biiiig Hello Kitty fan) and to the new Tarina Tarantino boutique.
Milan was full of Christmas lights and in the Duomo square there was a huuuge Christmas tree...

We ended our shoppping day at the Leone di Lonato shopping mall, a big new one not too far from Brescia and our favourite at the moment.

Dec, 25th - CHRISTMAS DAY

This year Ely had to work at the theatre right on Christmas day, because at 4.00 pm there was the "Nutcracker". So we planned to stay in town for the traditional Christmas lunch, while our families (parents, grantparents, siblings and so on) were making it in the mountain, where we are used to spend the Christmas day at our grandparent's houses. My family was in Pieve di Bono and Ely's was in Romeno. We went to Ely's aunt Franca and uncle Paolo house right in the city centre, a few steps from the theatre. Here I am just before the lunch...

The lunch was amazing! Too much food! At the end Ely and I could barely stand up!!
Here we are all together:

But it was late and Ely had to run to the theatre. I drove back home and, waiting to digest, I fell asleep on the couch. Fortunately Ely called me on the phone right on time to let me prepare all the things for our night out at my grandparents in Pieve di Bono. In fact, just after the show, I went to pick Ely up and just after 7.00 pm we were already with my grandparents and we spent a delightful evening together.

Dec, 26th - SANTO STEFANO DAY

We wake up early, in the cold of a winter sunny morning in the Giudicarie valley. We had breakfast with my grandparents and after 10 am we were driving to Romeno, where Ely's family was waiting for us for lunch. On the way, we stopped over in Madonna di Campiglio. It's a lovely village, with great ski slopes and a very nice winter resort location and it's now tradition for me and Ely to go there around Christmas every year. There was snow there and many many people, mostly tourists. We had a short walk around, because we didn't have too much time to spend there. But here are some of the amazing views of the mountain and of the village:

We arrived in Romeno just in time for lunch and we spent a nice afternoon playing Playstation games with Ely, her sister and her little cousin Andrea. (and I won!!!!!! hehehe)
We had to be in Trento for dinner, because we had tickets for the "Giselle" at the theatre. Ely is a big ballet fan but for me it was my first classic ballet show ever. I must say, I liked it very much even if it's a very sad story and I am willing to see other ballets in the future. Thank to Ely I am gaining quite a good theatre culture. (^_^)


-Mario

Lost in translation...

Sorry guys! Lately I have been sooooo busy at work that I had to neglect the blog and I couldn't translate anything of the last few posts written by Ely. She was always in a hurry and didn't have time to translate too...(or too lazy to do it! hehehe). We definetely got LOST IN TRANSLATION this time!!! But here is a little recap of these last few posts.

X-MAS:
This is one of our favourite part of the year! This is our first Christmas in the new house. Last Christmas the house was ready, but we only had the sofa and the Christmas tree!!! We weren't living in because we hadn't bought forniture yet. So we can consider this one as the first Christmas in our house. And it's exciting!!! We have started decorating the house at the beginning of December. We have a little but glam x-mas tree, my aunt Miriam made us a fantastic table decoration (you can see the photo in the previous posts!) and we have decided to collect decorations that represent a snowman...we now we have a table runner with snowmen, a cookie jar, a chocolate snowman and last but not least an Advent calendar. It has the shape of a snowman, but the body is made with several little drawers, one for every day of the month until Christmas. In every one we have put chocolate candies and Ely wrote me a message for every day! How sweet, isn't she???
We also wanted to put lights outside, but we don't have plugs on the balcony, so we gave up for this year.
These week-end we started to make Christmas shopping. On Friday afternoon we went to a big store here in Trento where we found most of the gifts for our families and friends. Then on Sunday we went to the typical annual St. Lucy's fair. It's a big tradition here and we usually go to the fair every year. The things they sell are more or less always the same every year. We usually buy candied peanuts and walk around the stalls...this year we found that very nice table runner with snowmen on it. My mum joined us at the fair. She loves it. She also bought some little things even though lately prices are quite unreasonable. All the shop in the city centre were open and we also could buy some other little gifts. We have quite a lot of packages under our little Christmas tree!!! I only have one gift for me under the tree :( ! I hope Santa will bring some other ones!!! I have been so good this year!!! I SWEAR!!!!!!! (^-^)


LOST:
We are "Lost" addicted. We have just finished to see the 3rd season here in Italy. Finally we have started to understand something, but who knows? At the end something is understandable, but most of the facts are still in the fog! In my opinion, the show is really well done. You are always on the edge, waiting for the next step of the story, the next unpredictable event...and you never stop wondering what's next, what's the meaning of all this and so on! No clues to answer to all these questions now. We just have to wait patiently season 4 in fall 2008. Can't wait!!!!!
For the season 3 finale, we have planned a "Lost party" at Giorgia's house. Also our's friend Valeria joined us. Ely prepared pancakes with apple (you can see the pic in the previous post!) and it definetely was a nice evening. We never stopped making conjectures about interpretations of everything...It was a fun night in good company! ;)

SOME MORE NEW FORNITURE:
Last Saturday we went again to Ikea to buy a closet for the basement (where to put all those clothing that we use less or seasonal stuff, like sky clothing or summer shoes, but also blankets and all that's not necessary at the moment!) and a new chest of drawers for the bedroom. As always, we found some other nice things to complete our house, like a big mirror always for the bedroom and some candles.
Once back home, we found out that the mirror was sktretched in 3 different points and we didn't notice it in the shop, because it was in a cellophane. We are quite disappointed, and we intend to return it to the shop and get a new one in perfect conditions. The problem is that the mirror is big and the shop where to return it is in Brescia!!! :( :( :( :(
Here is the final result of the our bedroom with the new forniture!



CINEMA:
This X-mas there are some nice new movies in theaters...Ely and I have watched some interesting trailers and read some reviews both on local and international magazines and we decided to go to see "Enchanted" and "The Golden Compass". From our choice you can tell we like the fantasy thing. True, but not only. In my opinion for Christmas it's nice to go to cinema and warch a fantasy movie and dream...

What I miss the most of my childhood at Christmas is that magical feeling when I still believed in Santa. I remember all the times I was helped to write the letter with the wish list of the gifts. On Christmas day I was the first one to get up and find all the gifts. Every time I was breathless in front of them. And I was playing in my pijama for the whole morning. It was all a matter of great expectations and big surprises to find out what Santa brought. ;) Unforgettable!!!

Merry Christmas, my friends! ;)
-Mario

Come d'Incanto

Che bello questo film di Natale romanticoso...

Ieri sera io e Mariello, non contenti della lunga scarpinata tra le bancarelle della fiera di S.Lucia, siamo andati al secondo spettacolo del cinema Vittoria...

La sala era deserta il che mi ha fatto temere che il film fosse una mezza schifezza... ma probabilmente era solo colpa dell'ora un po' tarda perchè principalmente questo è un film più adatto ai bimbi (... quindi ho pensato che sarebbe stato perfetto per me :D).

La storia è davvero adorabile, molto romantica ma anche divertente e segue 1 po' la scia del suo antenato "Roger Rabbit" perchè anche qui troviamo la perfetta fusione tra film e cartoni animati!!!

A noi è piaciuto davvero molto e siamo tornati a casa canticchiando i ritornelli delle canzoni più carine... quindi il mio consiglio è... se siete dei mattacchioni come noi e vi piacciono i cartoni animati non lasciatevi scappare questa fiaba metropolitana che vi farà sognare!!!

-Ely

Lost fine Terza Stagione :(

Con immenso dispiacere di tutti gli appassionati, ieri sera la FOX ha trasmesso le ultime 3 puntate della stagione del telefilm "Lost".
Io, Mariello, La Val e la Giò ne siamo tutti grandi fan e così abbiamo deciso di fare 1 Lost-Party...
Ci siamo così trovati a casa della Giò verso le 8 e prima che la serie iniziasse abbiamo mangiato dei gustosi hot-dog e fatto 1000 congetture sul perchè ed il per...come tutti quei poveretti dopo 90 giorni ed almeno altrettante disavventure fossero ancora sulla solita maledettissima isola!!!
L'unica cosa certa di questo telefilm è che dovrebbe essere catalogato tra le droghe leggere... senza nessun tipo di scusante! Se cominci a vederne 1 puntata poi non ne puoi proprio più fare a meno... tanto è vero che anche mio suocero è diventato 1 attento spettatore...
Non mi dilungherò sui particolari eventi delle 3 ore che ci hanno tenuto col fiato sospeso (anche perchè mi hanno detto che proprio ieri sera andava in onda la prima puntata "in chiaro" su RAI2.. e non voglio rovinare le sorprese) ma faccio presente che a differenza dei 2 finali precedenti questa volta sono rimasta piacevolmente soddisfatta dall'epilogo... che lascia intravvedere 1 po' di speranza per i nostri "isolani".
Ad allietare la nostra serata ci sono infine state anche le mie frittelline di mele Tematiche ;)

Ringrazio i mie dolci amichetti per questa bella serata in compagnia...
La prossima serata tematica sarà per le casalinghe disperate???????
-Ely

Profumo di Natale...

Per dirla tutta il profumo non lo sento proprio bene perchè sono super raffreddata... ma il nasino un po' gocciolante fa parte dei giochi quando il Natale si avvicina... e con tutte queste lucine luccicanti sparse tra le viuzze della città... mi sembra che le feste siano proprio dietro l'angolo!!!
Ieri io ed il mio dolce Mariello abbiamo addobbato la casa con in sottofondo allegre musiche natalizie... mancava solo la cioccolata con i marsh mallow..ma dato che siamo solo ai primi di Dicembre abbiamo preferito non esasgerare con le le goloserie...!!!
Quest'anno ci siamo proprio sbizzarriti...
Alle finestre abbiamo appeso candidi fiocchi di neve che la mia nonna aveva fatto ad uncinetto ancora l'anno scorso.. abbiamo fatto 1 piccolo ma grazioso albero di Natale (che presto provvederò a fotografare) ed inaugurato il nostro nuovo calendario dell'avvento (vedi foto sopra). In ogni cassettino abbiamo fatto mettere dei cioccolatini Lindt (i nostri preferiti) e poi ho personalmente aggiunto dei bigliettini con frasi carine per ogni giorno del mese...

Infine la zia di Mariello ci ha confezionato questo delizioso centrotavola fatto con rami di Pino, pigne e bacche di bosco... i girasoli effettivamente non richiamano molto la stagione invernale, ma nonostante tutto trovo che diano 1 tocco di colore davvero carino e divertente!!!

-Ely

The marvellous Place where I work @

After that Mario presented what he usually does at work, I would also like to spend some few words about mine..

My job is only a part time one, because I need to save some time to study (I study Law at the university of Trento) and to clean the house.

I have been working here at the theatre since 2002 and I like it very much because in this way I have the possibility to get to know every day new people and often I have the occasion to assist the shows that we host!

I love the Dance Season and expecially all the big classics, like the Nutkraker and the Swans Lake. They make me dream...!!

My duties here at the front desk are to take reservations and to give information about all our shows and help our customers. Actually this is not the definitive work of my life but I'm happy to be doing this experience because in these last 6 years I could know better how a theatre works and I could learn some new aspects behind the scenes of this incredible world of entertainment.

-Ely

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Credo che tutti i nostri amici made in Italy sappiano perfettamente cosa faccio al lavoro.. quindi non mi dilungherò in noiose specificazioni, ma desidero cmq fare presente quanto io abbia apprezzato (tra alti e bassi è ovvio..) quest'esperienza negli anni dell'università.

Sicuramente se non avessi lavorato qui non avrei potuto fare molte delle esperienze che hanno piacevolmente segnato questi anni della mia vita... come i meravigliosi viaggi avventurosi con la mia dolce metà o il progetto di vivere insieme che finalmente da quasi 1 anno si è realizzato!

Oltre a tutto ciò però devo anche ringraziare questo lavoro perchè mi ha permesso di ampliare i miei orizzonti culturali e di amare ancora di più il meraviglioso mondo del teatro al quale sono sempre stata affezionata!

-Ely

Thanksgiving for the first time...

"Batter d'occhio"

That's the way we say in Italian when something goes by very quickly. Or when time passes fast, that you don't even realize it.
This is how I feel about these last few months. I still have memories of our summer holidays, and everybody is now talking about Christmas. Time flies. And sometimes I would like it was slower, just to let me enjoy every occasion and every day longer.

Many things are on our schedule for the next few weeks before Christmas. But for the first time in our lives, I would like to add a new holiday and a new occasion to meet with friends at our place: THANKSGIVING.

Here in Italy it isn't a celebrative day. We aren't off work. Most of people neither know anything about this typical american holiday, which has always made me curious.
It happened that last spring, on a book stall downtown, I found a very interesting book about traditional food and recipes of the U.S.A., so I bought it. On this book there is a part about Thanksgiving, but I definetely need help to prepare a typical meal for the occasion.

So I make a plea to all our american blog readers: what do you suggest to cook for a perfect Thanksgiving dinner with friends? Do you have any recipes to advice? What do you usually do on that day?

Time goes by in a "batter d'occhio"...and the 22th is just 'round the corner!
Please, help! (^_^)

-Mario

What I do @ work...

Another working week has started and after the long break for the festivity of "All Saints"...it's even tougher to stay at work in front of a monitor and work on...concrete design, which is, in my opinion, the most boring and annoying part of my job!!!!!

It has been months since we started this blog, and Ely and I have never written about our jobs. So here I am, describing what I do on my work days...

As a Civil Engineer, I basically design structures,but it's just one of the many duties I have in the office. Sometimes I also prepare architectural projects, mainly for infrastrucures, but also houses/villas and some restorations of historical buildings. Moreover I follow all the the managerial part of the construction sites we are responsible for all over the region. The project menagement is my favourite part of the job, as you have to go on the sites where we build, directing the works and making the point on the progresses, choosing the best solutions for technological or architectural problems. Sometimes it is difficult, but challenging. Almost you don't remain for hours in front of a computer, as I am doing lately...and probably for rest of the next winter. In fact the winter season, expecially for the low temperatures, is mostly dedicated to stay in office, designing new projects and making "indoor" managment!

I work from Monday to Thursday 8-12.30 and 14-18.30 and Friday morning 8-12. It happens that most of the times I have to stay extra time to finish works as we have frequent deadlines.

It has been 2 years since I have started to work in this office, and I must say that I have learned a lot, expecially thanks to my boss who tought me a lot...Basically I do what I have studied for, but I am not sure it will be a work for life. I think I would like to try something more dynamic, more creative...and...why not? Maybe have an experience abroad. Any ideas, guys?
Maybe a lemonade kiosk on a tropical beach!!! (^_^)

My contract expires at the end of 2008...so I have time to think about it!

-Mario

Ratatouille...

No...dico.. ma l'avete visto? Sinceramente credo sia il cartone animato più divertente e riuscito degli ultimi tempi... Domenica scorsa dopo una fantastica cenetta a base di spaghetti al Barolo in salsa allo Spek... io, Mariello, mia sorella Anna ed il suo fidanzato Davide abbiamo proseguito la serata al cinema allietati dalle spericolate avventure di questo adorabile roditore!!!

Devo ammettere che inizialmente ero 1 po' scettica perchè da brava schizzinosetta non posso proprio dire che i ratti siano parte della top ten dei miei animali preferiti, ma grazie al mio smisurato amore per l'arte culinaria mi sono convinta ed ho assaporato ogni singolo minuto di questo spassosissimo film!!! Se non l'avete ancora visto correte al cinema e non perdete ratatouille... grasse risate assicurate e comprese nel prezzo secondo la formula... soddisfatti o rimborsati!!! :)

One day, carving...

Today we are preparing our Halloween pumpkin...

Phase 1: Mario opened the pumpkin at the bottom and cleaned it. Afterwards designed the eyes and Ely the mouth.

Phase 2: Ely started to cut it...

Phase 3: When done, we brushed its hair (?!?!?) and cuddled it...how lovely!!!! We already love our little spooky pumpkin...

What do you think about our pumpkin? Do you like it????

-Mario & Ely

Friends from USA

This weekend we had the nice visit of some friends from USA. Thank to my dear cousin Linda, we could meet her friends Gilbert, Gloria and Loretta. We spent a great time together here in Trento and we also visited a nice vinery and the Toblino Lake with its castle, where Ely and I would like to have our wedding reception.
Thank you guys for the lovely and unexpected gift that we have appreciated very much. We will use it very soon (and we will post the picture!!!)...
Enjoy your holiday here in Italy...We are sure it will be great and you will spend an unforgettable month travelling around!

-Mario & Ely

L'uomo dai mille volti

Brachetti show sample

Yesterday night me, Mario, my mother Adry and my father Claudio went to theatre to see an amazing show: the most incredible magician and illusionist ever! They say that he's the fastest costume changer in the world (you can see from the video sample above!), whose name is Arturo Brachetti. I have seen him on TV before, but live it's even better.

The show lasted about 2 hours and it really worthed the money spent for tickets...which we have been lucky to get because it was sold out in a few hours!!!!

He's on tour in Italy, but soon probably even around the world. If you get the chance to find his show, don't miss it. It's fantastic!

-Ely

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Lunedì sera io, Mariello, Adry e Claudio siamo andati a teatro per vedere le strabilianti prodezze del miglior trasformista al mondo (o almeno così ci è stato assicurato dal guinnes dei primati 2006).

Lo spettacolo, della durata di 2 ore circa, è stato davvero meraviglioso ed i soldini spesi non sono certo stati rimpianti poichè tutti sono rimasti a bocca aperta per l'intera durata dello spettacolo!Mai in vita mia avevo visto 1 esibizione di questo tipo e sono proprio contenta di essere riuscita a prendere i tanto bramati biglietti!!!!

Con domani il signor Arturo sarà a Milano e poi ancora a spasso per il mondo con il suo tour... che dire.. se ne avete l'occasione non fatevelo sfuggire!!!

Bello!!! Bello!!! Bellissimo!!!

-Ely

Spooooooky!!!

Brrrrrr!!!

It's official: the cold is here and with it, the first seasonal flu! Ely and I both caught some kind of a virus that made us remain in bed for some days this week. We almost could be creative and made some autumn themed compositions with colorful leaves and little pumpkins (we are ready to carve our big one for Halloween!!!!)...

Last week we also had to face some unexpected expenses: a new fridge and fix our car's problems! Our fridge was veeeeery old (almost 30 y.o.) and we had it in heritage from my grandmother Emma. It worked for some months but the other day it stopped working and unfortunately all the food in it had to be thrown away. What a pity! We urged to have a new fridge, because it's impossible to live without it (or you have to go to the market every day for fresh food, which is impossible considering working people tight schedules!!!!). Here in Trento there is the outlet factory of Whirpool Europe, so we could get a very nice new fridge (a side by side one, our dream!!!!!) at a very reasonable price! Here is how it looks like in our kitchen (with some decorations and magnets we couldn't not place on it!!!)

Ely also found some ideas to bake a new cake with pear and lemon cream (I LOVE LEMON!!!)...so here is the result...it was VERY VERY YUMMY!!!!

-Mario

Show must go on...

Nonostante la mia super nonna mi manchi incredibilmente e non ci sia momento in cui io non pensi a lei.. beh a più di un mese dal nostro tristissimo evento sono qui per dire che "La Vita va avanti".
In questi tristi giorni abbiamo cercato di mantenere la famiglia il più unita possibile e tutti si sono stretti intorno al nonno!!!Abbiamo così organizzato varie serate per coccolarlo e godere della sua preziosa compagnia!!!

Lunedì scorso è stato il turno mio e del Mariello!!!Ho cucinato simpatici antipasti, due diversi tipi di cannelloni, crepes al cioccolato e budino ai 2 colori!!!!La serata è poi terminata con 1 simpatica partita a Scarabeo...

Peccato che la nonna non abbia potuto condividere con noi 1 bel momento come questo ma io so che dal cielo lei ci guarda, ci protegge e sicuramente fa il tifo per noi!!!!

Ci manchi tantissimo nonna!!Ti vogliamo bene!!!!

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It's incredible but more than 1 month has passed since my beloved grandma passed away!! All the family is still so sad but now we know that we have to find the strenght to go on with our lives!

During this really bad period we re-discovered the meaning of being a family: we planned a schedule to try to be as near as possible to my grandfather who feels the emptyness that my grandmother's death left more than any other.

So last Monday was my turn!

I cooked 2 different types of "cannelloni"and sweet crepes. Then just after dinner we played with "Scarabeo" (the famous word game!). My aunt Franca and uncle Paolo were also there and we spent a really good time together!!!

-Ely

Summer Summary: Corse

--- CORSICA - CORSE DU SUD ---

- View from Bonifacio -

On Aug, 15th, early morning, we left our friends and took the ferry from Santa Teresa to Bonifacio, in Corse, France. Bonifacio is an incredible town,built on a high cliff, right over the sea. The view is incredible and the town just adorable. We arrived when shops and "boulangerie" were still closed. But the air was fresh and filled with nice odours...expecially those of "pain au chocolat" that later we ate!

- View from Bonifacio -

It was noon when we took the car and drove to Porto Vecchio, where we rented a bungalow in a nice camping near Palombaggia beach. Landscapes of Corse are very similar to those we were used to in Sardegna, but in some way it's wilder...and less crowded.
We used our time to relax on the beach, and we found a great place near the camping, called "Tahiti".

- Tahiti beach -

- Us at Tahiti beach -

We ended our stay in Corse with a nice visit of Porto Vecchio, another very very nice town. We had a walk around the town centre and found a typical "creperie" where we tried some special crepe...YUMMY!!! We also bought the pan to cook crepe at home...very useful souvenir!!

- Ely eating her crepe in Porto Vecchio -

I loved Corse, and it was a shame to have spent here only 4 days. I definetely want to come back again one day for a longer holiday!!!

Summer Summary: Sardegna

---- SARDEGNA ----

After a long and quite strenuous trip, we finally arrived in Capo Testa, that will be our home for 10 days. In Livorno we waited for hours the boat for Bastia, because for an unknown reason, it was 4 hours in delay. So we arrived in Corse much later than what expected and had to rush, without any stoppovers, to Bonifacio to take the ferry for Santa Teresa (Sardinia).
We travelled in Corse by night, so we couldn't see more than the road and the sunrise in the beautiful town of Bonifacio. But we'll be back in 10 days!

It's the first time in Sardegna for me and Ely. We have always wanted to come, and finally this year we could make it, also thank to our friend Valeria, whose grandparents have a property for rent here.

-Lighthouse of Capo Testa -

- Capo d'Orso -

We spent some days at the beach...finding incredible places...

- Budelli Island -

- Budelli Island -

...and some other days travelling around, visiting historical and natural places. Sardegna is famous for "Nuraghe", a pre-historical construction made in particular locations, by stones. We visited "Nuraghe Majori", near Tempio Pausania. We also visited the area of Alghero (westen Sardegna), with the beautiful Pelosa beach and the Costa Smeralda (eastern Sardegna), with the posh Porto Cervo and surrounding beaches full of luxury yachts (sigh!)...

- Nuraghe Majori -

- La Pelosa beach -

- Costa Smeralda -

It was great being in Sardegna and had a very good time with our friends Valeria and Giorgia (thank you for the time spent together!)...!!

Summer Summary: Tuscany

This Summer has almost gone, and it's time to recap the beautiful holiday that Ely and I had in Tuscany, Sardinia and Corse. It's difficult to choose a few images, among hundreds taken and it's difficult to summarize every emotion that a new place to discover gives, only with words.

---- TUSCANY ----

It's always nice to go to Tuscany. I don't remember how many times I have been there, but every time feelings are the same: relaxation, joy, great beauty and extreme peace.
We stayed only a couple of days. At the beginning, we wandered a little bit around the Chianti area, where we met an incredibly beautiful sunflower's field. The nature is so overwhelming here!

Then we spent the night in a hotel near Siena, so we took the opportunity to visit Siena before leaving the area for Sardinia.

- Siena, Piazza del Campo -

- Siena, Torre del Mangia -

In memory of Ely's grandmother Milena

After a long and strenous fight against the illness, on Aug, 23rd 2007 Ely's grandmother Milena (here pictured with Ely and her husband Luigi 1 year ago, for their 50th anniversary of marriage) left this world. It's a difficult and sad moment for all Ely's family. I want to remember her with this post, say how much we will all miss her and support the whole family in this moment of sorrow.
Thank you for all the time spent together and for all the support and good words she always found for me and Ely.
-Mario

Back home!!

Here we are! After a relaxing 2-week holiday we are back home. We haven't sent any posts from France because in Corse, where we were , the connectivity of the cellphone was very bad. Anyway, it was a great holiday and soon we will post the best shots that we took...even with me and Ely!!! ;)

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Eccoci a casa! Dopo una rilassante vacanza siamo di nuovo operativi...e (purtroppo) al lavoro. Dalla Corsica non siamo riusciti a spedire nessun post perchè il cellulare prendeva davvero malissimo e a tratti...per cui abbiamo desistito. Comunque al più presto aggioneremo il blog con le foto più belle e qualche racconto della bellissima vacanza trascorsa.

Day 8: Maddalena islands.

Great boat trip to the Maddalena islands. We spent all day touring with the boat in a beautiful
sea that was of every shade of the blue! We stopped 3 times for a swim! First stop at the Cala Granara on the Spargi island, then second stop at the Spiaggia del Cavaliere on Budelli island (here is the photo!)