Musical week

These last few years it started to be a tradition for me and Ely to plan a week dedicated to theatrical musicals at the end of the winter. It all started in 2006 when, for the first time, we had the experience of a great production in London's West End: The Lion King. To tell all the truth, we have considered watching a musical live in theatre before in London and New York, but when we were in these cities the price of the tickets seem too high for a show and gave up buying them. This is probably because we were used to musicals here in Trento, where usually only little production on tour arrive and the level of the show is pretty basic. Later a good friend of mine told me about her experience in watching musicals in London and told me and Ely how fantastic those production are and explained us some musicals she watched before. So we gave it a try and it was love at the first sight!! Since 2006 we regularly plan a short trip to London and go to see one or two different shows.

This year it's all even better, because before to leave for London on Thursday, tomorrow we have tickets for "Cats" here in Trento and this time it's a very good production and we are really looking forward watching it (even if I am not a big fan of musicals in English then translated in another language just for having a wider audience!!! But this is another story!) However in London this week we are watching two fantastic show: "Sister Act" and "Wicked". We are so excited, because it has been months since we started to listen to songs of these musicals and now Ely knows all them by memory! I told her she risks to sing along while watching the show (and even though her voice isn't bad, I guess our neighbors would prefer listening only to the professionals on the stage!!!! hehehe)

Last but not least, we wanted to make it crazy in London, booking also for a concert. This year we feel pretty disco-pop...so what's better than a hyper-galactic Lady Gaga show at the O2 Arena?

It's gonna be super fun!!! :))

February celebrations...

...are in the air. So, as lady Ciccone used to sing lately, "I'm gonna party, it's a celebration" and "let's get this started, no more hesitation"!

YES! It's time for Carnival and today it's also Valentine's Day. HAPPY VALENTINE'S EVERYBODY!! It's time to celebrate love. I must admit that, for me, Valentine's Day is a very commercial celebration, mostly invented to sell more chocolate, jewels, flowers and everything else...but in my opinion it's not one day that makes the difference in a love story. This is to say that , if it's real love, every day should be special and not only February,14th! It's not chocolate or expensive gifts that enrich a relationship, but love in everyday little things, helping and supporting each other, loving and appreciating even those "little" defects that our loved-one has, but whitout those she or he wouldn't be the same person we are in love with. For me it's like this: I love Ely in every little things she does, in all the little attentions she gives me everyday, in her creativity and joy, in her way to live life and do things everyday with passion. My life with her is like a never-ending Valentine's Day!

By the way, it's normal that, especially at the beginning of a love story or when we were teenagers or young adults, this celebration was more like a status-symbol, a way to show to the others that we love, we are loved and feel special. I remember a Valentine's Day with an old girlfriend many years ago. For me it was the first year of college, for her the last of high school. During the week she couldn't go out, so we were usually dating on weekends and basically we didn't know each other very well. We had been dating for about 2 months when Valentine's Day came along, and by that time we hadn't told our families about the relationship, mostly because we were young and didn't feel like make it serious so early. So I had a brilliant idea: why not buying a wooden flower so she could hide it, but still have it? LOL And so I bought her a wooden red rose. Actually, there's nothing like real flowers, but this wooden one was very well made and the shop assistant made a great packaging. I was very proud. So when the day arrived, I proudly gave her my flower and she gave me some chocolates with hazelnuts. Up to this point all sound perfect and pretty normal...but, after the excitement for the gifts, the cards and the date out (I don't remember what we did and where we went)...at the end of the date I took her home but I noticed she wanted to tell me something, but was a little embarrassed. She was there, in front of me with her wooden flower and told me :"Well, it must sound strange, but...well...ehm...I have always hated receiving flowers! And now I have this wooden one, I have this little purse, how can I go back home with this? My parents will do questions about it.... where can I hide it?" I was wild-eyed! What kind of girl doesn't like flowers?!?!? Anyway, we had to find a solution, because , fortunately, the rude option to give the flower back to me or leave it in my car was even not mentioned (but probably considered by her! :) ). So we started to check the structure of the wooden rose, and I found out that it was made by different wooden pieces and it was possible to take it into pieces. Fortunately those pieces fit perfectly in her mini purse and she could go home with her broken wooden Valentine's flower. Anyway, I was nice enough to do not tell her that, at that time, I hated those chocolates with hazelnuts she gave me and, moreover, I was allergic!!! Now I remember with fun that Valentine's. But I can tell it was a real disaster!!!!!!! :))

Do you have a funny episode happened on Valentine's Day to share too? :)

Today Ely and I will do nothing but stay together and enjoy our love like we always do. We will spoil ourselves with a nice couple of little pastries shaped like hearts and full of something good (they are still in the fridge, but they look delicious!) that we bought yesterday. So we will have a little Valentine's celebration...because, beyond all the good words and feelings, it's always a good occasion to celebrate, especially celebrate love!!! Furthermore in about 10 days we will be in London for our musical weekend and that will be like a romantic gateway and another good occasion to celebrate love together! :) Ahhhhhh, l'amour!!!!! (^_^)

Here in Italy Carnival is also a big celebration and we are in the middle of it. For many reasons we aren't celebrating it and our annual trip to Venice for the Carnival was cancelled this time. It should have been this weekend. In fact finally we moved into the new office, we had to work hard the other days to move and reorder all the files and stuff, and so we have to work this weekend to have everything set for next week. I have millions of post-it everywhere to remember all the things I have behind and I can't finish those tasks that my desk is full of other things to do (always, why?!?) urgently! Damn!

The office isn't finished yet though. We have planned to go to IKEA next Saturday to buy the last things we need like shelves, curtains, some decorations, frames and some stationaries. As soon as it will be done, I'll make a post to show you the final result of the "extreme makeover" we did to this space...I should have some pictures of what it was before...it has been long, hard, expensive but we succeeded! YESSSSSSS!

And of course, we won't loose the occasion to celebrate the opening of the new office with a party! Are you coming? ;)

So Let's get it started....yeah...

Ooops, I did it again...

I can't help myself...I did it again: I like to make "travel" surprises, especially to my parents, who like traveling, but are reluctant when it comes to move without a proper guide. Their biggest fear, especially my mom's, is the problem in communication abroad. And even if she has studied both German and English for quite a long time, she doesn't feel ready to communicate without a proper support. Probably she has the skills, but goes in panic when it comes the moment to speak in another language. As far as I am concerned, for traveling it's not necessary to speak the language of the country you are visiting. Obviously it helps a lot if you do. But I personally have survived in countries where I didn't speak any of the native language. For sure my knowledge of English helps because, more or less, everybody speaks some English.

But, returning to my "travel" surprise 2010, I made it. It all started the other day, when Lufthansa sent me a newsletter with an incredible offer. Fly from Milan to other european destinations for only 110 € per couple (tax included). On sale only for a limited period. Suddenly I called my brother and asked if he agreed to plan together a "travel" surprise for our parents in occasion of their 34th wedding anniversary. After some date planning on the calendar and internet surfing, we decided to make it all 6 (Ely and I, my brother and his girlfriend Patty, our parents) to Paris next May. WHOO HOO! So, the same group that last year "invaded" London, will have an adventure in France this year. That is quite unexpected, because I hadn't in mind anything before the Lufthansa newsletter found me, but I think it's a good occasion to spend time together. Even if we live close and see each other almost everyday, sharing a travel experience is something different and unique. I am happy we are going all together again.

Now, we basically have 2 other things to settle:

1 - Find an apartment for 6 in Paris (does anyone have suggestions?);

2 - Decide when telling the parents about this travel (their anniversary will be on May,1st and we are leaving a few days later, but I think it's better to say it before, because they will have time to prepare! What about around Easter? Or do you think it's better a shocking revelation a few days before departing?).

If you haven't understood yet, well..... I love planning trips, not only for myself but even for other people. I love to give travel tips and find the best travel options and offers on the web. Is it a mania? Probably, it more like a passion. So, do you have a trip in mind? Here I am, count on me! :) I'll be your planner!

Some time ago I also had the idea to open a website for this travel planning thing. Then I gave up. There are plenty around the web. But just recently Ely and I have bought a domain where we intend, in the next future, to design and publish all our travel diaries with photos and itineraries, maybe open a blog and give the opportunity to our visitors to get useful information about the places we have visited. The domain name is: http://www.travelnotesmarioely.eu (now empty). But we are open to suggestions, tips and whatever you like to suggest for design, logo, contents, etc... All the ideas will be more than welcome!

In Black & White

Last summer, at Eleonora and Paolo's wedding, the photographer took us a picture with an old camera with a b&w film. This is the result: I LOVE this photo! As soon as I saw it, I wanted to share it with you through this blog.

Life is good, but pretty ordinary and - as usual - hectic. This is why lately we didn't post very much. We miss it, though and we are following all our friend's blogs. We will be back blogging regularly as soon as possible. In fact, just recently Ely and I were noticing how having a blog is, not only sharing life, pictures and thoughts with other people but it is also like having a diary of memories of our life, even in the ordinary things of everyday. And, with great surprise, Ely found out in a blog the link to a website where it's possible to import, edit and print a photo-book of all the entries (or those considered more significative and interesting) of a blog. It's genial. We are considering doing it.