Great pics and descriptions, Gary I can't believe it's been over a year already. Sure do appreciate you sharing your stories with all. Makes me feel like I'm right there with ya (I wish). Hope you get to tour Switzerland soon. Should be some great photo opps.
What an amazing trip Gary! On Marseille: Kat & I stopped for a day while on the cruise. I heard it wasn't the greatest destination but we were pleasantly surprised. We did the Basillique Notre Dame also, and what an incredible view! (Surprised to see a restored WWII tank on the way down.) Enjoyed Palais Longchamp, the JFK coastal road and Vieux Port along with shopping nearby at Galeries Lafayette. So what's in store for future trips or is it time to get back to work?
The Europeans Have it Right! Great pics and prose Gary, thanks! Vacation for August is the way to go--I wish we had that in the US. Seems like a good way to avoid burning out.
Sonia! We are back in torino now and I still have to post about our stay in Lyon but honestly 3 weels is too much. At least until this Yankee gets used to so much vacation time. I have never taken this much time off and it's weird. The places are cool and all but I still feel that a week or two is all God allows man to have lesiure. That said, if you ever want to visit please let me know and we will accomodate. Torino is a great place to use as a base of ops when you go off to other great Italian destinations.
Ciao and please say Hi to John, Laurie, Bo and anyone else you might see there.
Gary
That sounds familiar..... almost My daughter and I were visiting our cousins and the streets are so confusing. In any case, we (I wasn't driving -- my cousin was) got into a little scrape with another car because both decided to go through a single lane at once. My daughter was slightly traumatized. We drove through fields where suddenly there was a road. It was an experience!
Your Trip Gary, glad to hear all is well with you there in Italy, I enjoy reading about your life there. Keep blogging and I will keep reading, I wish I could find a job opportunity to take me to Europe for 3 years or so. That would be lovely. Take care and God's speed to you and your family.
Awesome pics! Thanks for sharing Gary! Glad to hear you guys are having a great time and getting to experience so much cool stuff! Next time you are in Amsterdam, grab me a shot glass for my collection! I don't have one from there! :-) Keep the blogs coming! We love following them!
Living the Good Life, I See! Thanks for the update and great photos! I'm glad you were able to spend time with Joe--sounds like you've really been getting around. I like your comments about the cycling attitudes and environment--speaking of which, you didn't happen to see the finish of today's (20 July) stage of the Tour de France, did you? It was in Pinerolo, Italy, which, according to Google maps is only 42 km away from Torino.
Your comment about cost of living was interesting too. I saw an article recently about places where you can retire cheaply. It had two places that surprised me, one in Bearn, France (near the Pyrenees) and also Lunigiana, Italy (said it was an hour away from Pisa Airport).
Great stuff, Gary! Really enjoying your blogs. You, sir, are quite a writer. Nicely detailed and descriptive. And the photos! An added treat. I mean, Amsterdam already. You really are expanding your horizons. Basically, all of Europe is yours to enjoy. I see you opted out on posing for the only-tourists-do-it shot in Pisa. You know, holding up the tower with one hand. Good call.
Jim
Into June So glad to hear that your bikes arrived safely. I know that was a concern. Glad to hear you are getting into your apartment too. Today is the 13th, so hopefully you will have hot water and gas by today! Love all the pics you are posting. It looks beautiful.
Great entry Gary Marc and I are laughing about your driving Gary! Glad that Debi had some valium and you made it back successfully. Sounds like you are having a wonderful time adjusting. Keep the entries coming and give our best to Debi.
Arlene
Keeping in touch Hey Gary - thanks for the update. Sounds like you are getting a royal introduction to Italy. I found the driving there to be insane as well. Take care and enjoy your new place!
Wow great progress so far! Gary, Your apartment hunting brings back so many memories for us, both in Japan and Belgium. We too found the real estate broker invaluble in our seraches in such an unfamiliar place. The pics you posted make the apartment you've chosen (tentitivly) seem lovely. Love the veiw up the street and the marble floors! One thing I would recommend would be to find a local neighborhood restaurant / cafe closeby. We had one we loved about 3 blocks from our apartment in Belgium and loved being recognized and treated like a "regular." It was wonderful to have a local place to meet Marc after work for a drink and dinner. Dinning al fresco just can't be beat and we loved, loved, loved it. Still miss it as a matter of fact!
I got a great laugh out of your visit to the church! Finding something that you think would feel familiar and then finding out that it wasn't at all you expected is one of the things we loved about living overseas. Such fun, new opportunites...stay adventurous like that and you will have a great time, and so many wonderful experiences.
Marc and I have been thinking about you both and wondering how things were working out for you. We hope Debi likes her job and that the move goes smoothly. I take it you are keeping the Florida house? When will you be in Italy perminently? Are you shipping much furniture and household goods? When will you be ready for guests??? Ha Ha just kidding (sort of)
Keep the blogs comming, we (and I am sure many others) are living vicariously through you! Arlene
Looks Great! Looks and sounds like you found a very nice place! Just recently caught a House Hunters International in Torino, and was very impressed with your place (especially A/C, garage among other things) after seeing what the folks ended up with on HHI. The mountains look great--I really miss that here. Hope you both ski. And I'm sure the cycling will be great.
Take Care,
Ray
P.S. Loved the Mickey ;-)
I and my best friend and wife, Debra, will be embarking on a journey taking us to northern Italy for 3 or more years. We hope to share most of our adventures with family and friends back in the USA. Debra and I are 55+ years young always looking for adventure and the best this life has to offer. We hope to share what we can with whomever sees fit to take a read. Don't forget to subscribe so you can be alerted to the presence of new entries and you won't waist time seeing the same old stuff. Oh, and pass the word to other mutual friends we may have forgotten to tell about this Blog.
Buona Fort... full info
Jim Stack
non-member comment
Great pics and descriptions, Gary
I can't believe it's been over a year already. Sure do appreciate you sharing your stories with all. Makes me feel like I'm right there with ya (I wish). Hope you get to tour Switzerland soon. Should be some great photo opps.