Blogs from Biella, Piedmont, Italy, Europe

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Europe » Italy » Piedmont » Biella October 3rd 2016

Geo: 45.5628, 8.05827Later on in the afternoon, Milena, Zia, Dad, Michael and I went for a drive to the closest, largest town of Biella. Dad had decided that he wanted to buy a cuckoo clock! We went at this time of the day, as the shops would now have reopened from their three house siesta. We walked up and down the main pedestrian street - Via Italia. Above us we noticed many large colourful umbrellas and on this bright sunny day the colours were very bright and stood out. At the end of the street, in between the buildings we noticed the nearby mountains were visible.Dad didn't have any luck with buying a cuckoo clock because the shop that had them was closed today due to it being a Monday! So we would have to return ... read more
02 Colourful Umbrellas
03 Colourful Umbrellas
04 Colourful Umbrellas

Europe » Italy » Piedmont » Biella August 6th 2013

We had had a very comfortable 3 nights in our apartment in Milan but it was time to move on and France is beckoning. The day dawned with that European haze you often see when there is a bit more cloud cover around although it is still warm. With some difficulty I extracted Cindy from the small secured car park where she has stayed for our 3 nights here.The entrance to the back yard car park was very narrow and just wide enough for the car with the mirrors out to pass through.So with Luigi out on the busy narrow road on the blind corner I made it after a couple of attempts to keep the car dead straight in reverse. We wanted to stay clear of downtown Milan as we drove west and with a ... read more
Sala Biellese,Piedmont,Italy
Sala Biellese
Sala Biellese

Europe » Italy » Piedmont » Biella March 12th 2012

I'm now just over two months into my life in Italy as au pair, and time is beginning to pass way too fast. I can't believe it's been three weeks since I broke my wrist, sentencing me to a month without driving. Two months ago I would have begged for this sentence, as (if you remember) i dreaded every day I had to drive standard alongside these crazy Italian drivers. However, these past three weeks have made me appreciate the freedom I had when I could drive. Surprisingly though, I still managed to get out and about thanks to some lovely friends who offered a lift as well as the (slightly unreliable) public transportation. My weekends as of late have been jam packed with friends and food. Shortly after coming back from Switzerland I met a ... read more
sunshine :)
lago di viverone
CS friends on the dock

Europe » Italy » Piedmont » Biella January 22nd 2012

In the week since my last entry, I haven't been to Rome or Florence or Venice. I've been here in Biella adjusting to life in a new place with new people. On tuesday I started my au pair duties which mostly involve being a chauffeur. On tuesday morning it took me 15 minutes to get out of the driveway. During those 15 minutes of frustration I couldn't understand why anyone would EVER want to drive stick (in fact, this is something I'll never understand). I practiced for about an hour before I had to head into town to get Gaia. In that hour I angered A LOT of Italian drivers. I stalled in busy roundabouts and at green lights and at stop signs...just about everywhere, causing all the traffic behind me to stand idle. I really ... read more
Massazza's castle
the "real" Biella
Typical...

Europe » Italy » Piedmont » Biella January 15th 2012

Since arriving in Biella 3 days ago, I've learned a few key phrases such as Mi chiamo Alison (my name is Alison), dove il bagno (where is the bathroom) and Mangio una mandarina (I'm eating a mandarine). This, however, can only get you so far in a conversation, so I mostly just say "no parlo italiano". After my 9 hour layover in London after an overnight flight without sleep, I was delighted to be greeted at the house by two smiling faces, Jacapo (13) and Gaia (6). It was such a warm welcome which involved homemade pizza made by the 13 year old. I don't know any kid his age in Canada who could do that, so in my opinion that's pretty darn cool. For those of you who know me well, you know that pizza ... read more
Frosty rice fields
pet puppy!
Piazza duomo, Biella




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