Blogs from Piedmont, Italy, Europe - page 14

After waking up and having breakfast in La Morra we loaded up and started toward Turin. This is where the shroud of Christ is stored. In the Domo, last time I was here I was unable to see it due to the cathedral being repaired. I hope to see it this time. We arrived within 2 hours; we walked around Turin and had lunch. We saw sights but couldn’t see the Shroud. Not open, so I read about it, I’ll just have to come back another time. Bea suggest we stop at a café and have a Bicerin, you say what it’s pronounced “Bitch Er In”. It’s a coffee that has chocolate and cream. Very rich and unique to Turin. As were leaving we get lost trying to get out of the Turin, I think we ... read more

Today Brian’s and Swen’s birthday, happy Birthday. We won’t forget their birthday any time soon. Clayborn’s is just around the corner and I’m somewhere in there. We get up and have a flash breakfast Kirsten is ready revving the engine. I’m climbing in my seat with a piece of toast with jam as she’s pulling out the drive. We tour the Barolo area villages and vineyards. We visit another WI MU, Wine Museum in Barolo. We stop at numerous cathedrals, Bea remarks, if you seen one you’ve seen all. Hmmmmmm We have lunch in a sleepy village of Cherasaco at the intersection of Hwy 50 and Hwy 17-92. Yea you get the picture. Traffic everywhere. We have antipasto and when we’re almost done Bea says, hey they’re famous for snails. Kirsten says order some. So Bea ... read more

On our way to Isola Bella we passed the small but pretty fishermans island. Perhaps another day we would visit it but today it was our visit to the gardens on Isola Bella. Isola Bella is one of the Borromean Islands. The island is situated in the Borromean Gulf 400 meters from the lakeside town of Stresa . Isola Bella is 320 meters long by 400 meters wide and is entirely occupied by the Palace and its Italianate gardens. Upon Isola Bella we stumbled on the usual stalls selling leather bags, scarves of every shape and colour - scarves I cannot resist , ice creams again something I cannot resist , fridge magnets and T-shirts. And more restaurants and cafes than you could shake a stick at. The castle itself was grim and austere from the ... read more

You all probably already knew this but I have come to realize that I am a procrastinator. My last entry was a looooong time ago and I ended by saying I would be getting back to everyone soon. I lied, but I am pretty sure you might forgive me for this delay:) Debra and I have been up to quite a bit since last we chatted. She is still working, hard, trying to make sure that the Italian's get their F-35 (Joint Strike Fighter) delivery on time and on budget. The Eurozone economic situation has been conspiring to derail that effort but somehow the program remains viable even though the number of total jets has decreased (everywhere including the USA). So, that has kept her busy while I try to write a bit (I have an ... read more

Well all it's 6 weeks today till I move to Feltre for familglia numero due, Can't believe that this time last week I was on my way back from London, feels like months ago now. It was Margherita's birthday this week so we had a little dinner party for her. What I found really strange was that the parents and grandparents also gave presents to the other girls, I guess so they didn't feel left out. But the real world isn't fair, so they should probably get used to it now to be honest as it will save on all the dissapointment in later life! I was also treated to a cheeky little mid-week day-off on Wednesday as it was some kind of Italian holiday called Ferragosto or Assumption Day. Can't say I did a lot ... read more