tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87423748435666111212024-02-21T16:49:52.974+01:00An American Girl in ItalyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13710453662263005235noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742374843566611121.post-49926543981858024572013-10-25T10:43:00.001+02:002013-10-25T10:43:29.585+02:00I'm Back + A New BLOG!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGiBpXYpZM9D1B_pRNpMHNBlgoS2HqTHk_SuFpkPsSI3wxBnm1qzJLa-fNwZQax5mShpzESreWxAAOPewJdnja1F2tS0L9AJKtAGqy80h86L_T8Lxrs1FxzRfjChsam4yVLsDSXcAqBo/s1600/blog+profile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGiBpXYpZM9D1B_pRNpMHNBlgoS2HqTHk_SuFpkPsSI3wxBnm1qzJLa-fNwZQax5mShpzESreWxAAOPewJdnja1F2tS0L9AJKtAGqy80h86L_T8Lxrs1FxzRfjChsam4yVLsDSXcAqBo/s400/blog+profile.jpg" width="283" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hello! I am
back! After leaving Italy last year, I returned back to the US and a crazy
thing happened…I realized that apart from family and friends, I did not really
miss all the things I thought I had been missing so much. I found myself
longing to return to Italy and the life I had created there and the lifestyle I
had become accustom to. So after 7 months back in the states, I returned to
Italy last November! This year my boyfriend and I got married and now I can
officially call Bologna my permanent home! Since returning I have taken on two
new work opportunities; I work as a gastronomic tour guide which entails taking
people to see how parmigiano reggiano and Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di
Modena is made and I also teach Italian cooking lessons! Besides the hours I
spend at work, more and more, I find my free time being devoted to food –
whether it is in the kitchen cooking or going to food festivals – therefore, in
order to share everything I am doing related to food, cooking, and travelling,
I am starting a new blog called <a href="http://bellabuonaitalia.blogspot.it/">Bella Buona Italia</a>. Come follow along!</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13710453662263005235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742374843566611121.post-65289544530338749732012-03-30T13:05:00.000+02:002012-03-30T13:05:00.075+02:00Arrivederci<div align="center">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYW5WjXCTKPgIEoobwjEeMe-qm6kU1nB6r0FCQS5iJv7hbHCB2dlslm5vaa58hsyYhRA1e0eVinrd1Nl6Ae5z4i5Z-puvlIXV0tBodu2Ll7TCaNR9G2DV7MH7IHUYMPlrVVVdd83ldx8/s1600/fiorentina0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYW5WjXCTKPgIEoobwjEeMe-qm6kU1nB6r0FCQS5iJv7hbHCB2dlslm5vaa58hsyYhRA1e0eVinrd1Nl6Ae5z4i5Z-puvlIXV0tBodu2Ll7TCaNR9G2DV7MH7IHUYMPlrVVVdd83ldx8/s640/fiorentina0001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Today I am traveling back to the US. </div>
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Due to visa related issues I am no longer able to live and work in Italy. </div>
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I am not sure what the future will hold - a feeling that is both exciting and scary. </div>
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Thank you for reading and following along with me on my adventures. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13710453662263005235noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742374843566611121.post-58613005801322787122012-03-20T14:58:00.000+01:002012-03-20T14:58:02.377+01:00The View from Above<div style="text-align: center;">
San Petronio church in Piazza Maggiore is currently under restoration which means that the whole front of it is covered in scaffolding. A bummer for people who come into the square expecting to see the majestic facade of the church only to be met with scaffolding and an ad for the newest VW car. The silver lining though is that the church has opened the scaffolding up to the public and for a mere 3 euros you can climb to the top and see tremendous, roof-top views of the city center!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3rIQZszfpM6K5suk0QOtZ7mGVKIW6og2bgrq9a9K4n-PH8I3qiH6ZcmhhhVpOoyiAinedYgoBLeLVWOrv_SkTqOQahdmnLz7XODDo5mbXXlWGacPnXmGenF1nS5JJEPTeiZ9OSOQGSUk/s1600/100_3334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3rIQZszfpM6K5suk0QOtZ7mGVKIW6og2bgrq9a9K4n-PH8I3qiH6ZcmhhhVpOoyiAinedYgoBLeLVWOrv_SkTqOQahdmnLz7XODDo5mbXXlWGacPnXmGenF1nS5JJEPTeiZ9OSOQGSUk/s640/100_3334.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Sunday was a clear, beautiful day and so we went up and the views are truly unique, I do no think there is another publicly accessible place in the city where such views are available, and fantastic. This is looking East across the city with the two towers on the left. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBO5_jSrGny7dsKf-G8SkLk8_w5ICqka9bv5G9ocrVffKz0aZGFQs79rVn9BQPSMdCXDKeVj3R5gkqUasmNfqnVPu5DHHTwdACimADaQZZ6ACLoccuqrtDM-qx4SIyV2YaEmsCpWu2Coc/s1600/100_3330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBO5_jSrGny7dsKf-G8SkLk8_w5ICqka9bv5G9ocrVffKz0aZGFQs79rVn9BQPSMdCXDKeVj3R5gkqUasmNfqnVPu5DHHTwdACimADaQZZ6ACLoccuqrtDM-qx4SIyV2YaEmsCpWu2Coc/s640/100_3330.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Palazzo del Podestà and people sitting out at the cafes enjoying the sun. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">It was great to be able to clearly see some of the other towers around the city as well. At ground level it is easy to miss them as they blend in with the rest of the city. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjk14SPBgl22HSiyelRc5I2t2gy__Phm4Lq5QiA3U2XQJk6iCIwGTsXTWGKOdDXpy15rSkXLKEFiMg3SaMgcfelnkjng-HqJxrKChRkCByCRJGqorkJUCNXqyPhhT9bJ1JsE2COoGcEk4/s1600/100_3336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjk14SPBgl22HSiyelRc5I2t2gy__Phm4Lq5QiA3U2XQJk6iCIwGTsXTWGKOdDXpy15rSkXLKEFiMg3SaMgcfelnkjng-HqJxrKChRkCByCRJGqorkJUCNXqyPhhT9bJ1JsE2COoGcEk4/s640/100_3336.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Palazzo Comunale</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNVDtTrkpBxgnJc84bwbTxAdLIcujiw8FdODrMvoD3qG4gL2SswmBflj7MDBpE3l8OHbc6OFyuxs4W1BJvhUaZetq64OwBoPlIvFTaOOH6r4SM3WNmf-4RAz8CMwqnVyNdV7od8SRfXA/s1600/100_3327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNVDtTrkpBxgnJc84bwbTxAdLIcujiw8FdODrMvoD3qG4gL2SswmBflj7MDBpE3l8OHbc6OFyuxs4W1BJvhUaZetq64OwBoPlIvFTaOOH6r4SM3WNmf-4RAz8CMwqnVyNdV7od8SRfXA/s640/100_3327.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We could even see San Luca on the hills just outside of the city.</span> </td></tr>
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One of my favorite parts about being able to see the city from that vantage point was being able to check out all of the roof top terraces and balconies. You cannot see too many in this picture but there were really some fantastic spots. It was fun to day dream about which one I would choose. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuePYalKhUmdCRH5OziQPx3VPWF6pxgt8lwNlESIGBRs3XMV2d9wAfV1ph8hV3J4tXKx4Zs43cROFsrHfrbDY5WHgFeOyHlr8lyLQpzytag6LjxR2A19JCJOI3fe2zg4cbmS0vfldKxCo/s1600/100_3331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuePYalKhUmdCRH5OziQPx3VPWF6pxgt8lwNlESIGBRs3XMV2d9wAfV1ph8hV3J4tXKx4Zs43cROFsrHfrbDY5WHgFeOyHlr8lyLQpzytag6LjxR2A19JCJOI3fe2zg4cbmS0vfldKxCo/s640/100_3331.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">a panoramic view with Piazza Nettuno and the Fontana del Nettuno to the far left, the Palazzo del Podestà in the middle and the two towers to the far right </span></td></tr>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13710453662263005235noreply@blogger.com1Bologna, Italia44.4941903 11.346518544.4035788 11.18859 44.5848018 11.504447tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742374843566611121.post-62370648939434813582012-03-05T18:48:00.000+01:002012-03-05T18:48:24.080+01:00In My Kitchen - Lemon Poppy Seed Bread<div align="center">
I love cooking and the kitchen is definitely my happy place. There is a certain rhythm to cooking that soothes me and provides comfort. There are the tasks that become rote not in a boring way but in a way that signals comfort and a reassuring predictability. This part of cooking is meditative and for a person like me, with a mind that feels as though it is almost always on overdrive, it is a welcome retreat. The other side of cooking is the creative. New recipes, new ingredients, new techniques. It is challenging and stretches my abilities and ideas. I love this artistic side. Most of the time I feel like a creative person without an outlet, I cannot paint or sing, but cooking provides me that space. In honor of my love of cooking, I would like to start a series on the blog called In My Kitchen where I can share recipes and cooking related experiences with you.</div>
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Today, I would like to share a recipe I have made twice now, which says a lot in itself as I do not tend to repeat recipes, and which has become an instantaneous favorite in our house. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBgXcuQeVHJq6zksLP6xR4hO0GGi3feCSNrnKcrChavVgeNrvPAfZfEiTQ3k5-R_OIbAzz_u8cWC1mot-RcRIP13e_M58SsXRUmlKhbdS7JIEWzOQXOYz2z1PHHyyISTqVlp4G18IA9U/s1600/100_3305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBgXcuQeVHJq6zksLP6xR4hO0GGi3feCSNrnKcrChavVgeNrvPAfZfEiTQ3k5-R_OIbAzz_u8cWC1mot-RcRIP13e_M58SsXRUmlKhbdS7JIEWzOQXOYz2z1PHHyyISTqVlp4G18IA9U/s640/100_3305.jpg" uda="true" width="640" /></a></div>
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Lemon Poppy Seed Bread!</div>
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This bread is really delicious! The yogurt in the recipes ensures that the bread turns out moist and remains so even in the days after baking. My favorite part of the recipe is the genius, lemon syrup which you pour over the bread after it is done cooking. This infuses the bread with a bright, tangy lemon flavor.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnQB_pmDCDUXAFBYWwm93mNQwXfU84O4Pa9bGPGplpNsP-OPNmPqVCnI80eL2BWD9Xj8G3BLZMzefH7S83h2ynrYQqH8p3rU664YCJWBi2A6NgZIb5ReImgOeBavbMT5Gb7zTjXCSLcc/s1600/100_3304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnQB_pmDCDUXAFBYWwm93mNQwXfU84O4Pa9bGPGplpNsP-OPNmPqVCnI80eL2BWD9Xj8G3BLZMzefH7S83h2ynrYQqH8p3rU664YCJWBi2A6NgZIb5ReImgOeBavbMT5Gb7zTjXCSLcc/s640/100_3304.jpg" uda="true" width="640" /></a></div>
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Usually, on the weekends we head out to our favorite pasticcerie (bakeries) for breakfast so it says a lot that we happily stayed in and enjoyed this bread on both Saturday and Sunday. </div>
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<b>Lemon Poppy Seed Bread </b><br />Adapted slightly from <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/04/lemon-yogurt-anything-cake/">Smitten Kitchen</a></div>
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1 1/2 cups all purpose flour</div>
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2 teaspoons baking powder<br />1/2 teaspoon kosher salt<br />1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt<br />1 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar<br />3 extra-large eggs<br />Zest of 2 lemons</div>
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1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract<br />1/2 cup vegetable oil<br />1/3 cup of poppy seeds</div>
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Juice of 2 lemons</div>
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Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease an 8 1/2 by 4 1/4 by 2 1/2-inch loaf pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper. Grease and flour the pan.</div>
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Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt into 1 bowl. In another bowl, whisk together the yogurt, 1 cup sugar, the eggs, lemon zest, vanilla and oil. Slowly stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Mix in the poppy seeds. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 50 (+) minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean.</div>
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Meanwhile, cook the lemon juice and remaining 1 tablespoon sugar in a small pan until the sugar dissolves. Set aside.</div>
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When the bread is done, allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before flipping out onto a cooling rack. Carefully place on a baking rack over a sheet pan. While the bread is still warm, make a series of holes in the top of the bread with a toothpick - this will give the liquid a place to go and it will help ensure the bread is evenly and completely saturated. Then pour the lemon-sugar mixture over the bread and allow it to soak in. Cool.</div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13710453662263005235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742374843566611121.post-40294828845081438102012-02-29T18:32:00.001+01:002012-02-29T18:32:33.901+01:00Making Gnocchi<div style="text-align: center;">
The other weekend when pondering what to make for dinner, I looked around our kitchen and saw we had a bag of potatoes and really not much else so I decided to make gnocchi. I looked at the recipe and it seemed doable until I got to the step where I had to add the flour to the mashed potatoes...for the quantity of flour the recipe said q.b. which stands for quanto basta and basically translates to "enough". This is a common notation for measurements in Italian recipes. It is as if the recipes assume that we all grew up in the kitchen helping our nonne (grandmas) and mamme (moms) make pasta and sauces and such. As I did not have any such exposure growing up, I just winged it and as a result my first batch of gnocchi had a much too high potato to flour ratio. They barely survived being cooked in the boiling water and were a mushy mess. Into the compost bin they went. I added more flour to the dough and it transformed into something much more malleable. Rolling the dough into a long, snake like shape and cutting it into small pieces reminded me of so many times during my childhood when I did very much the same thing with playdoh (so maybe I did have a little childhood gnocchi training after all).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_auYKsNDY9YWx1U8Ig8trHFHrznsqpxs3o7v27YsRRjlMRJhj-VMxl2xwF8vPoYMxgpyWaq63BojaEv9z_ssoDdIQHE08lxmDW5OrjZOJ_OeesvLMHH_VjVmhwNRrTwB8bKTTVJixODU/s1600/100_3223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_auYKsNDY9YWx1U8Ig8trHFHrznsqpxs3o7v27YsRRjlMRJhj-VMxl2xwF8vPoYMxgpyWaq63BojaEv9z_ssoDdIQHE08lxmDW5OrjZOJ_OeesvLMHH_VjVmhwNRrTwB8bKTTVJixODU/s640/100_3223.jpg" uda="true" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My gnocchi - waiting to be cooked. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cuoco (chef) and her gnocchi with a much deserved glass of vino. </td></tr>
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Unfortunately, there are no pictures of the finished product. As soon as the gnocchi were done cooking (which is remarkably fast - it takes only 2-3 minutes after being dropped in the boiling water for the gnocchi to rise to the surface signalling they are done) I mixed them with the sauce and served them. Andrea ate his with a tomato sauce and I had mine with gorgonzola (if you are a fan of gorgonzola, the easiest sauce ever for pasta is to heat up a little milk and a hunk of gorgonzola cheese in a small sauce pan until the cheese melts and then pour it over your pasta. Yum!) much to Andrea's olfactory dismay. <br />
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This recipe made a ton of gnocchi and I found the leftovers to be even better the next day - it seems the gnocchi firmed up a little more being left overnight in the refrigerator. I also sauteed the gnocchi a little after cooking them in the boiling water. This gave them a nice, slightly crispy edge and immensely improved the overall texture and flavor.</div>
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I am excited to try these again. Next time, I would like to do spinach and ricotta gnocchi for a lighter take or gnocchi made with squash instead of potato like we tried last year at a restaurant up in the Dolomites. </div>
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I highly recommend trying your hand at this dish. It is an economical dish to make and it gives you an excuse to get your hands dirty and reconnect with childhood pleasures. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13710453662263005235noreply@blogger.com0Bologna, Italia44.4941903 11.346518544.4035788 11.18859 44.5848018 11.504447tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742374843566611121.post-10276507512806865282012-02-28T22:30:00.001+01:002012-02-28T22:30:31.511+01:00Lunch in Florence<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2zaw4_-ADcIryGHhOXB19fmA9It3lnvWf357PoUdZ-rMBOWSQ3XiZCc5iwL-wUYXsfzQUalgWUgfAOS_SxIMcJpC9Hqhr7DdBh5vsRM_payUPQ_cZbA3Ijn8k4wVQY6bp3cLjwNU_Pk/s1600/vienna0001_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2zaw4_-ADcIryGHhOXB19fmA9It3lnvWf357PoUdZ-rMBOWSQ3XiZCc5iwL-wUYXsfzQUalgWUgfAOS_SxIMcJpC9Hqhr7DdBh5vsRM_payUPQ_cZbA3Ijn8k4wVQY6bp3cLjwNU_Pk/s640/vienna0001_1.JPG" uda="true" width="640" /></a></div>
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The other day I had to go to the US Consulate in Florence to renew my passport so Andrea and I decided to make a day of it. </div>
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We strolled around the city and finally ended up at the Trattoria Sostanza. This restaurants second name or nickname is Il Troia which is quite funny as it means the whore. The restaurant is one long, narrow room and as soon as you enter you can see all the way back to the open kitchen where quite often the chef, who also serves as the butcher, is wielding a cleaver and butchering the famous Fiorentina steak.<br />
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The Fiorentina, a Tuscan specialty, is the Cadillac of steaks. It is huge and it is normally served nearly raw and often quite bloody. </div>
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We ordered a quarter of a kilo - the smallest portion it was possible to order and which is normally intended for only one person.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my half of the steak along with the cime di rapa (broccoli rabe) and of course, vino rosso. </td></tr>
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As you can see they leave the steak quite rare in the middle - essentially they just char it on either side and call it good. Although I must say that this was probably the most well done Fiorentina I have ever seen. The taste was incredible! When they cook the meat they only add olive oil, salt and pepper and as a result the taste of the meat is showcased. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After lunch we went to Piazzale Michelangelo above the city to admire the panorama of Florence. The view never fails to take my breath away. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ponte Vecchio is to the left and the Duomo in the center. <br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13710453662263005235noreply@blogger.com1Firenze, Italia43.7687324 11.256901343.677000899999996 11.0989728 43.8604639 11.414829800000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742374843566611121.post-80952055767660057452012-02-24T17:51:00.001+01:002012-02-28T21:19:46.710+01:00Carnevale in Venice<div style="text-align: center;">
When I first arrived in Italy it was during Carnevale. I remember walking around the main piazza in Bologna and seeing children in costumes and wondering what was going on. I had heard of Carnevale but solely in the context of the celebrations in Brazil and I did not realize, at that point, that it was also celebrated in other places including Italy. </div>
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By year two I had figured it all out and I wanted to visit Venice to witness one of the largest Carnevale celebrations in all of Italy. I had heard there would be many people and that some people wore masks and I was excited to check it out but I was not prepared for the reality. </div>
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It was spectacular! The people who dressed up put tremendous amounts of time, energy and passion into their costumes and their characters. They were very serious about the roles they were playing and and they did not break character...even when stopping for a coffee and snack.</div>
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We met the couple below when we <span style="color: black;">stopped for coffee at the beautiful <a href="http://www.caffeflorian.com/">Caffè Florian</a>. They informed us that they had travelled from Spain to be a part of the festivities. </span></div>
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There were many couples elaborately dressed in different kinds of costumes. I loved the details and the colors! </div>
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There were also some larger groups of presumably friends or family all dressed in matching costumes. </div>
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There were even some families with children in full costume as well!</div>
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This little guy made my heart melt. He reminded me of a very young Benjamin Franklin. </div>
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It was such a wonderful experience and I highly recommend visiting Venice for Carnevale if you get the chance. Yes, it is crowded (there were times when we could not move because the small streets were overflowing with people) but it is worth it. It was like being transported to another time and place for a day. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13710453662263005235noreply@blogger.com1Venezia, Italia45.4343363 12.338784445.2560618 12.0229274 45.6126108 12.6546414tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742374843566611121.post-33659313355445243952012-02-19T18:35:00.000+01:002012-02-28T21:24:44.607+01:00Three Years<div align="center">
Monday was my three year anniversary of living in Italy!</div>
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It is bizarre to write that because it does not feel like it has been that long. I remember deciding to come here and how nonchalant I was about it. I had no idea what I was getting myself into and how this experience would change my life. At first, I was to stay here for six months but that turned into a year and then another year and all of a sudden I have lived here for three years. In the end I guess in large part it comes down to expectations. When I came here I had certain expectations (I would quickly become fluent in Italian, I would easily make the transition into the Italian culture and lifestyle) and of course, as it usually happens, the reality was very different. I guess I am still trying to bridge that gap. There are still so many things to learn and challenges to face that it feels impossible that I have been here for three years - aren't I suppose to be an expat, Italian expert by now?</div>
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To commemorate this anniversary, I thought it would be fun to share some excerpts from a journal I was keeping when I first arrived. These are some of the things that surprised me about life in Italy during my first few days here:</div>
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"People dress fancier here than in the US (i.e. no flip flops, hoodies, regular jeans)."<br />
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"Coffee always equals espresso and people drink it like shots of liquor. Nobody gets it to go. You stand at the bar, drink it quickly and leave."</div>
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"The keys to the front door look like they are for a castle."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGH6ssfCrMlHo_sOscVqp36Z3P4geHyRwN1aeriI1aNv3eAs3IiMyKR2I8gRZ-GYS55p8frry2poYh0XNwZ1zzWsyjnIVS5zWnG36BOC4D310N_HIlY5ZsVRaPgD-JYuW52LMbiOKcY_Y/s1600/February+2009+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGH6ssfCrMlHo_sOscVqp36Z3P4geHyRwN1aeriI1aNv3eAs3IiMyKR2I8gRZ-GYS55p8frry2poYh0XNwZ1zzWsyjnIVS5zWnG36BOC4D310N_HIlY5ZsVRaPgD-JYuW52LMbiOKcY_Y/s640/February+2009+004.jpg" width="640" yda="true" /></a></div>
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"Eggs are not refrigerated at the grocery store."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4piNahQF2bn4F5HIZg76fmcCuuog-3Aql74VTJ5ciLe_fFQ7X2YaMD1dtakHAoL8rh19hSpeHMs8lT03z7UR-MQhg2RnM-URhLI1hRBBxgqgldw5hVB_vyvgDEuJTrShUtUwGHVPcLA/s1600/100_3225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4piNahQF2bn4F5HIZg76fmcCuuog-3Aql74VTJ5ciLe_fFQ7X2YaMD1dtakHAoL8rh19hSpeHMs8lT03z7UR-MQhg2RnM-URhLI1hRBBxgqgldw5hVB_vyvgDEuJTrShUtUwGHVPcLA/s640/100_3225.jpg" width="640" yda="true" /></a></div>
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"There are no dryers. You see people's laundry hanging out of their apartments everywhere."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnfDPgNFUkL4Z8TmPW9molBbdIoJVIQMsCw5k0H3c1CyzSpiBYvm0bDsbedKFMd7s7X1yxBfjPa9V1qMvJAz47NhGy_9hE3P2wwIRRrhCbUZ-tVXxprx6tqOs1n2GMX7ImP8hudu4NQg/s1600/100_3230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnfDPgNFUkL4Z8TmPW9molBbdIoJVIQMsCw5k0H3c1CyzSpiBYvm0bDsbedKFMd7s7X1yxBfjPa9V1qMvJAz47NhGy_9hE3P2wwIRRrhCbUZ-tVXxprx6tqOs1n2GMX7ImP8hudu4NQg/s640/100_3230.jpg" width="480" yda="true" /></a><br />
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The funny thing about writing this post is how normal all of these things seem now. <br />
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So maybe in the end I have learned more and integrated more deeply into the lifestyle than I notice or give myself credit for.</div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13710453662263005235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742374843566611121.post-23352188255209979392012-02-02T00:24:00.002+01:002012-02-28T21:22:13.113+01:00Snow!!<div align="center">
It snowed in Bologna!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3BI92MOoiunWVOQWEsTv8ltWXSStkoELrsXBUvrwBuuWT6STu2h553jf7Wka7fiTbss_NZRIBkKjrfTcisqEAUcB2sg-vPUBhhO3kMEbQXoV9Z-OG8CzgTbL6GZiRHwMwooi_KI3nB8/s1600/100_3169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3BI92MOoiunWVOQWEsTv8ltWXSStkoELrsXBUvrwBuuWT6STu2h553jf7Wka7fiTbss_NZRIBkKjrfTcisqEAUcB2sg-vPUBhhO3kMEbQXoV9Z-OG8CzgTbL6GZiRHwMwooi_KI3nB8/s640/100_3169.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This was the scene from our back patio this morning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">This morning, I was dutifully hitting the snooze button and avoiding getting out of bed when Andrea walked in and said, "I have a problem...I don't know if I am going to be able to go to work because there is so much SNOW!". I literally flew out of bed and ran to the window to check it out. Then I threw on my coat, hat and a pair of shoes to go out on the patio to take pictures.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwC3PD1QRyCS8ghLxWrioPg4ihsVNgMhzV2u_Te2lG4ZQqL51e-P1SKiPawj5-91qUMIESR_YkLn6Woo4Z9mkfhOAb4Vnu5VgFPhPGgi9_xB6r_lOonEX5EIynglrpL0hGBH5vESoXwI/s1600/100_3172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwC3PD1QRyCS8ghLxWrioPg4ihsVNgMhzV2u_Te2lG4ZQqL51e-P1SKiPawj5-91qUMIESR_YkLn6Woo4Z9mkfhOAb4Vnu5VgFPhPGgi9_xB6r_lOonEX5EIynglrpL0hGBH5vESoXwI/s640/100_3172.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">For this California girl, who has never really lived anywhere where it snows, it was a pretty exciting way to start the day!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilug4pkBw8ebcpi1hTKi4qhW_OpdzNEzXJXznfPHpIC8yVlCFY1lKQqXzWHJaVvQyGd3oAmmXQpP1kZ8LBZqs64-WkIBmxppwRSbcw35SO-Z49zpM7geuG5MFZzyq71rdc3y9SAN7cVy0/s1600/100_3181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilug4pkBw8ebcpi1hTKi4qhW_OpdzNEzXJXznfPHpIC8yVlCFY1lKQqXzWHJaVvQyGd3oAmmXQpP1kZ8LBZqs64-WkIBmxppwRSbcw35SO-Z49zpM7geuG5MFZzyq71rdc3y9SAN7cVy0/s640/100_3181.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">scooters buried in the snow</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrV3go0X70PKb6s6If9yMv-KbKsWMsFWRPqSp_PPyTKd2lw0dkp1j3dP1Tgsb_QSG7bGE2uLhQuoVG_JfqrWa4Jw-yLOPpRsdWArIyyLCAmub6-yOb7WlGn9wKCV4a9C8lmM0Nresb1Gk/s1600/100_3182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrV3go0X70PKb6s6If9yMv-KbKsWMsFWRPqSp_PPyTKd2lw0dkp1j3dP1Tgsb_QSG7bGE2uLhQuoVG_JfqrWa4Jw-yLOPpRsdWArIyyLCAmub6-yOb7WlGn9wKCV4a9C8lmM0Nresb1Gk/s640/100_3182.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The streets around our house were empty this morning as most people opted to stay home. </span></td></tr>
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It continued to snow all morning and into the afternoon. After lunch, Andrea and I went for a walk in the city center. It is amazing how the snow made me look at the city in a whole new light and with a renewed appreciation and excitement.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpE3VSIKvL84WQ3WsFV3uvNnObnUfB7QC44WCEBOaTFVJEgNVGzaHzJgLUVSy4U3JPwud45L7KEwuZxL5sNvOeNMJefVj57YvHdDF63NUJzXohGD07r21Yw7l_b_JoN1_06lhGRMmtaPc/s1600/100_3188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpE3VSIKvL84WQ3WsFV3uvNnObnUfB7QC44WCEBOaTFVJEgNVGzaHzJgLUVSy4U3JPwud45L7KEwuZxL5sNvOeNMJefVj57YvHdDF63NUJzXohGD07r21Yw7l_b_JoN1_06lhGRMmtaPc/s640/100_3188.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">trees heavy with snow</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYZo8Mb4FhlVF5TQViwyJeaFbMSP0iytBv1-idThEPrqFuBkN5GKbVc2ituRLBXDCs4ITqCy1JR7wm4OybKNQ_7ugWNY1C7828JK_rueUYi2CPSAslF0X596SbDz4orNXJRUR1tcNgSE/s1600/100_3193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYZo8Mb4FhlVF5TQViwyJeaFbMSP0iytBv1-idThEPrqFuBkN5GKbVc2ituRLBXDCs4ITqCy1JR7wm4OybKNQ_7ugWNY1C7828JK_rueUYi2CPSAslF0X596SbDz4orNXJRUR1tcNgSE/s640/100_3193.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">bikes in the snow</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLyVQI5xM_6rIrwpzLPEbnqEBhYyx35B_XzJtW0sj2IAHx6aC-6Zltm-AIjhSO-TzDXqPJ8F02yOC0DlLBtcycoxeVUyPxaZgULDl3YL0uFg6lUsrbcj7wsnvx6zS7ZzEu8DYTm6YpCc/s1600/100_3211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLyVQI5xM_6rIrwpzLPEbnqEBhYyx35B_XzJtW0sj2IAHx6aC-6Zltm-AIjhSO-TzDXqPJ8F02yOC0DlLBtcycoxeVUyPxaZgULDl3YL0uFg6lUsrbcj7wsnvx6zS7ZzEu8DYTm6YpCc/s640/100_3211.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">People flocked to Piazza Maggiore to marvel at and play in the snow. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">There were snowmen being built, snow ball fights in progress and people making snow angels. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOLdvEVDajyLiBIk25cA7Z_n7KWM8nVIClYpb0en8KWsF-Zq2wmN8vcVD0TAExyDH6MUugbD4_6JZrs6FqNrC9CLDqnUhUa7e5FfH7WqxXEivuRXb8EMNMhyphenhyphenElGlqg-tIN6vJpz7d4qo/s1600/100_3206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOLdvEVDajyLiBIk25cA7Z_n7KWM8nVIClYpb0en8KWsF-Zq2wmN8vcVD0TAExyDH6MUugbD4_6JZrs6FqNrC9CLDqnUhUa7e5FfH7WqxXEivuRXb8EMNMhyphenhyphenElGlqg-tIN6vJpz7d4qo/s640/100_3206.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">a snowman standing proud in front of San Petronio </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIK-BnyYnPzJ_vOoehIRI67d7UPHqCBfZeOWbgrBMctoIuXgcmCEQb0rRqM3SYozf40S_dbz5ZKPj0aYRfqklkb6D_5n77KUtzc9QQgyiMX2QvwgkJCRfZ_1rwI5eBjJrlcheQC8Vgks/s1600/100_3208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIK-BnyYnPzJ_vOoehIRI67d7UPHqCBfZeOWbgrBMctoIuXgcmCEQb0rRqM3SYozf40S_dbz5ZKPj0aYRfqklkb6D_5n77KUtzc9QQgyiMX2QvwgkJCRfZ_1rwI5eBjJrlcheQC8Vgks/s640/100_3208.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Neptune covered in snow</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3fQ3nzRR8izt9VAWs4s4ifywJOMEyxg3y8aB8cYcZF-QvprY2d63khHIAlKOowPfo6cqr-Zewu3TEdysU9KXFxw7cVpoThHpOjm1UxKr-pX9FBkMKLXcB69KelOEWKvEFZfPU2dognA/s1600/100_3219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3fQ3nzRR8izt9VAWs4s4ifywJOMEyxg3y8aB8cYcZF-QvprY2d63khHIAlKOowPfo6cqr-Zewu3TEdysU9KXFxw7cVpoThHpOjm1UxKr-pX9FBkMKLXcB69KelOEWKvEFZfPU2dognA/s640/100_3219.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Piazza Santo Stefano</span> </td></tr>
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It was a magical day! The snow has stopped now after dumping a record 45 cm (1.47 feet). I hope that we get at least a little more in the coming days. Bologna truly was transformed into a winter wonderland and it was fun to enjoy the city in a new way and to tromp through the snow without a care and to feel reconnected with simpler pleasures.</div>
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Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13710453662263005235noreply@blogger.com2Bologna, Italia44.4941903 11.346518544.4035788 11.18859 44.5848018 11.504447tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742374843566611121.post-60367466644529739262012-01-22T21:36:00.000+01:002012-03-01T13:50:57.153+01:00La Cova Fumada<div style="text-align: center;">
La Cova Fumada, in Barcelona, is one of my favorite restaurants in the world which I think is saying a lot seeing as I have lived in Italy for the past three years! We discovered the restaurant last year after reading about it on <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/restaurants/la-cova-fumada">Food and Wine's website</a> (FYI <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/restaurants">their website</a> is a great place to find awesome restaurant recommendations). I have to say that if we had not read that recommendation we probably would not have gone in because the outside doesn't look like much...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJS7V9u-8weHcmOkimxDgzTkYcNZF4OH7K0PMbuexqqaxMZTQ0agoF6SFlDqU_Ogvea0Zye1tf7JvJ5uO5Z8y1qe6JzNTZpKiBvZgtRAUDYT41rbkBzX4JVH2L9evw5qk0Q9wittDlsY/s1600/100_1608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJS7V9u-8weHcmOkimxDgzTkYcNZF4OH7K0PMbuexqqaxMZTQ0agoF6SFlDqU_Ogvea0Zye1tf7JvJ5uO5Z8y1qe6JzNTZpKiBvZgtRAUDYT41rbkBzX4JVH2L9evw5qk0Q9wittDlsY/s640/100_1608.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Waiting out front of the Cova Fumada for a table. The wait isn't so bad when they have already served you your first round of beer. </span></td></tr>
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The inside doesn't look like much either, the whole restaurant including the kitchen is contained in one big, open room, but we knew it would be good by the crazy amount of people inside. Every seat in the place was occupied and there was a crowd of people standing around the small bar sipping Estrella Damm beer and eating and another crowd of people occupying any space they could while they waited for a coveted spot at one of the few tables.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRkGL0tIoBl8zfslEzS07-4rB2JRp09XBlqPjVFTDqdJTZRMBKbJuZR55_q69QCOsEKzQVQEarimZyCxIVW32eqgEgIgk9ucJgSQZ9hP3ZS0xoa0WgvhPkpdYT1Qqb8xryYn7xxdSYRs/s1600/100_1610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRkGL0tIoBl8zfslEzS07-4rB2JRp09XBlqPjVFTDqdJTZRMBKbJuZR55_q69QCOsEKzQVQEarimZyCxIVW32eqgEgIgk9ucJgSQZ9hP3ZS0xoa0WgvhPkpdYT1Qqb8xryYn7xxdSYRs/s640/100_1610.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is the entire inside of the restaurant. The kitchen (pictured below) is just to the right and is completely open to the room. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMWhp4ZyzEgcJcp0nK7fXG5AXqTKMVRSlD3vaXkimTf5IVzXE2ttkBSbi9AjVNlagAlsJml88JC1lJAWGpYFHq9_o46lXcLikkhB53LbH8L-rgZunWljIrFg686KU-X5FXToMrMvNp28g/s1600/100_2851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMWhp4ZyzEgcJcp0nK7fXG5AXqTKMVRSlD3vaXkimTf5IVzXE2ttkBSbi9AjVNlagAlsJml88JC1lJAWGpYFHq9_o46lXcLikkhB53LbH8L-rgZunWljIrFg686KU-X5FXToMrMvNp28g/s640/100_2851.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The kitchen - I love the grandma looking lady in the apron. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The beer fridge - packed full with Estrella Damm. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">When you order a beer here you don't say what kind you want you just say big or small. </span></td></tr>
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Our meal was delicious. Like in many places in Barcelona, here they serve small plates of food so you can order and try a lot of different things. I think we must of ordered almost everything on the menu but some of our favorites included the small artichokes cooked alla plancia (the flat grill) and doused in butter (the butter dribbled down my hands and wrists while I ate), calamari also cooked alla plancia and mussels on the half shell served with a dollop of creamy, smooth garlic aioli atop each one. This place is also credited as being the creator of the Bomba - a mashed potato and ham mixture which is made into a ball and fried and served with the aforementioned garlic aioli and a fiery red sauce.</div>
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To finish off the meal and revive us from our food induced coma we always have a Pirata. It is a hot coffee drink created by the crew at the Cova Fumada which consists of a slice of lemon, an espresso shot and I think at least two different kinds of liquor (it was a little difficult to keep track at that point of exactly what was going into our drink).</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The two gentlemen on the outside are both part of the family that runs the restaurant. The man who is second in on the right is named Peni. We met him last year during our first visit to La Cova Fumada and we were able to reconnect with him this year thanks to the man in the blue shirt and some great pantomiming from Andrea :)</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Of course, we had to get a photo with the grandma.</span></td></tr>
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We absolutely love this place. To us it feels like real Barcelona and a place we could easily imagine ourselves visiting with strict regularity if we lived in Barcelona. We love it so much that during the last year, after our first visit to La Cova Fumada, we often found ourselves saying that if we could find a cheap enough flight we would go to Barcelona just to have lunch at La Cova Fumada. In fact, it was at the top of our list of things to do when we returned to Barcelona and on our first full day of our vacation we found ourselves there enjoying a nice, leisurely and delicious four hour lunch.</div>
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If you find yourself in Barcelona, please pay these guys a visit and ENJOY!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13710453662263005235noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742374843566611121.post-69540741594295870102012-01-14T15:56:00.002+01:002012-03-01T13:51:47.783+01:00Catalonia<div style="text-align: center;">
We took a bus from the airport in Girona into Barcelona. As the city came into view I started to look around excitedly and pick out the sights I remembered from last time. There was the Sagrada Familia and the Torre Agbar but then I saw a sign that read, "Benvinguts a Barcelona". Now, I do not remember much from my high school Spanish classes but that did not seem right and in fact it is not Spanish but Catalan. In Barcelona they speak two languages Spanish and Catalan and in our travels we heard a lot more of the latter than the former.</div>
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The people in Barcelona have a strong pride in their Catalan history and consider themselves first and foremost to be Catalonian and then Spanish. In fact, a man we met was quick to point out that Catalan has existed for one thousand years whereas Spain has only existed for five hundred. </div>
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We learned a few phrases and words in Catalan during our trip. Good morning in Catalan is bon dia and it was amazing to watch the way people's faces lit up with warmth and surprise when we entered a shop and said, "bon dia". Next time we go to Barcelona, I will definitely study and learn a few more phrases in Catalan as I felt like it really opened the door into the true Barcelona. </div>
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The feeling of respect and reverence for Catalonia is also evident in the presence of the Catalonian flag. It can be found flying alongside the Spanish and Barcelonian flags in front of every public building. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-O2wFFrzSvEWVQXQ9k_QC60yhQ49YuTk3omqx8LXjhBXbB4t3U8Ms9bNjD5DdU5vGbLm6Nd1ckOPPRcp8JrvB3v75oexulM9N82q-94CCzS5cS-e2u2dB5qshyphenhyphenHH_KSp2kaxvAV0jaU/s1600/flags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-O2wFFrzSvEWVQXQ9k_QC60yhQ49YuTk3omqx8LXjhBXbB4t3U8Ms9bNjD5DdU5vGbLm6Nd1ckOPPRcp8JrvB3v75oexulM9N82q-94CCzS5cS-e2u2dB5qshyphenhyphenHH_KSp2kaxvAV0jaU/s640/flags.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Catalonian, Spanish and Barcelonian flag</span></td></tr>
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The extreme pride and respect for their history and where they have come from is yet another reason why I love Barcelona and its people and why I look forward to returning.</div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">All of the photos on the blog are taken by me unless otherwise noted. This is one of those times so the following are the sources for the above images: <a href="http://www.coneixcatalunya.com/cat/index.php/pueblos-y-ciudades/barcelona/av-meridiana">Photo 1</a>, <a href="http://www.mexicowoods.com/archive1/page1/files/64916c6d77dc78501f6ddef147239739-32.html">Photo 2</a></span></em></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13710453662263005235noreply@blogger.com0Barcelona, Spain41.387917 2.169918741.292614 2.0119902 41.48322 2.3278472000000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742374843566611121.post-91199730787694671952012-01-11T18:54:00.002+01:002012-03-01T13:52:50.851+01:00Serghei<div align="center">
Last night for my birthday dinner we went to Serghei.</div>
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It is a tiny, there are only seven tables in the whole place, family run restaurant. There was only one man running the front of the house and a few ladies in the kitchen - two of which appeared as though they could be the nonne (grandmas) of the family. </div>
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We had heard that the restaurant served home-style (think like your Italian grandma made it), traditional Bolognese food. Andrea had even heard from a local reporter that the tagliatelle con ragù was the best in Bologna. We went hungry and were excited to try this new to us restaurant.</div>
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The inside is decorated with knick knacks ranging from on old radio to a guitar propped in the corner and an old advertisement for a Singer sewing machine and many, many bottles of wine some which appear to be quite old. If the Italian grandma was suppose to be in the kitchen then the dining room felt like grandpa's den.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The decor was warm and welcoming. It immediately made us feel relaxed and at home.</span></td></tr>
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This is one of those types of restaurants that do not have a printed menu, always a good sign that the food will be fresh. Before the waiter even had a chance to tell us any of the options for the first course, we ordered the tagliatelle con ragù (if you are not familiar, tagliatelle are long, flat noodles and the ragù is a meat sauce which outside of Bologna is referred to as Bolognese sauce). We had to try it to see if it lived up to the hype. Apparently, its reputation proceeds it because when we walked in each of the five people at the table next to us had a plate of tagliatelle in front of them. We also ordered the tortelloni di zucca (pumpkin) with a butter and sage sauce (always one of my favorites). And of course a bottle of red wine - a Barbera d'Alba (also a favorite of mine). </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The waiter was very nice and split the two pastas for us (tagliatelle is on the left and the tortelloni di zucca is on the right).</span></td></tr>
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The tortelloni were delicate and refined. The texture of the pumpkin filling was silky as was the butter coating each piece of pasta. The sweetness of the filling contrasted perfectly with the saltiness of the parmiggiano. </div>
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The tagliatelle were perfectly cooked with a bit of a bite remaining. The slight variation in the width of the noodles revealed that they were most likely made by hand by the ladies in the kitchen (fatta a mano). The flavor of the ragù was full and round and it coated the noodles nicely without being oily. </div>
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For the second course, Andrea ordered the roasted chicken and I ordered the stinco di maiale (which is the lower part of the pig's leg).</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My stinco was so huge it absolutely dwarfed Andrea's chicken. </span></td></tr>
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Andrea's chicken was good but not anything incredible. My stinco, however, was excellent. It had been braised in Barbera wine and as soon as I plunged my fork into it the meat fell off the bone. The meat was tender and juicy and full of flavor. The Bolognese know how to do pork!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I was very satisfied with my caveman portion of meat.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRPNGj_LwWNJkro1GeoctfWH2-xZfnQzAPBcCNVpfSh-gFMOBuxp-U52Zd6w-ebHZQYzBdamwT7UNh_fo_AkF-JNd3MidWkXfUYkgyR0hyphenhyphena1PlC8_HbA4dlAEvL8P6k4bdNfAXZDRxOY/s1600/bday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="594" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRPNGj_LwWNJkro1GeoctfWH2-xZfnQzAPBcCNVpfSh-gFMOBuxp-U52Zd6w-ebHZQYzBdamwT7UNh_fo_AkF-JNd3MidWkXfUYkgyR0hyphenhyphena1PlC8_HbA4dlAEvL8P6k4bdNfAXZDRxOY/s640/bday.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A little pause was definitely needed between the second course and dessert. </span></td></tr>
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For dessert we ordered creme caramel and mascarpone with chocolate sauce, crumbles of almond cookie and Amaretto. </div>
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The creme caramel was okay but could not hold a candle to the mascarpone (which actually had a candle in it when it arrived to the table due to Andrea's request). The mascarpone was amazing - perfectly smooth with little bursts of crunch due to the pieces of cookie. The chocolate sauce was rich and a little bitter providing a nice contrast to the buttery, rich flavor of the mascarpone. And then I found the pool of Amaretto, which I guess I had missed the waiter mentioning in the description of the dessert because it came as a very happy surprise to me, at the bottom of the cup and I had to refrain myself from loudly exclaiming "OH YUM"!</div>
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We were very happy with our dinner and we would gladly return again to celebrate another special occasion.</div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13710453662263005235noreply@blogger.com4Via Piella, 12, 40126 Bologna, Italy44.4983741 11.345149944.4969586 11.3426824 44.4997896 11.347617399999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742374843566611121.post-16926405023922368332012-01-10T18:14:00.002+01:002012-03-01T13:53:15.210+01:0026<div style="text-align: center;">
Today is my 26th birthday! </div>
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You know how people often ask, "do you feel older?" Usually, I look at them blankly and reply, "Um, no," but this year I do. For the first time, I really feel like an adult. My decisions feel like they carry significant weight and life feels substantial and not like the game it felt like in the past years. I feel excited about the future but also scared by the reality that this is serious. </div>
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Ok, enough seriousness. After all it is my day to celebrate. Can I share with you my pictures from my birthday last year?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqljQqPLuCen8TJAyiL67TK9EkAk-HCshwMjZT9GHVqA3OJ8lr-9Vo82SNkqr8te2E9vwyusd2GhylwhzqBxr5InqzEtD9vy3lpMn-iyBRQJV16PSuoOMkoBlIY9gxhrDUIxFmEd72ExY/s1600/100_1669.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqljQqPLuCen8TJAyiL67TK9EkAk-HCshwMjZT9GHVqA3OJ8lr-9Vo82SNkqr8te2E9vwyusd2GhylwhzqBxr5InqzEtD9vy3lpMn-iyBRQJV16PSuoOMkoBlIY9gxhrDUIxFmEd72ExY/s640/100_1669.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">We went to Rimini - to the beach!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGxupqd5Sg_nIkdWccSH8qfBKoSbwrTnG6JJDzRAUzy8bYLOx4claxeG4gTebNq0KJG8oeEkSBVkm4ybaopxKO461ZPkRt531lgNi9mPoDnzqsBwq_9TBs9U1yCRMifQtMcIv_UM3OhM/s1600/100_1678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGxupqd5Sg_nIkdWccSH8qfBKoSbwrTnG6JJDzRAUzy8bYLOx4claxeG4gTebNq0KJG8oeEkSBVkm4ybaopxKO461ZPkRt531lgNi9mPoDnzqsBwq_9TBs9U1yCRMifQtMcIv_UM3OhM/s640/100_1678.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">It was foggy and freezing but to me it felt like home. Plus it is nice to go to Rimini and walk along the beach without anyone else in sight and only the noise of the fog horn. For those who have never been to Rimini in the summer it looks like </span><a href="http://affaritaliani.libero.it/viaggi/vacanze_prezzi_invariati_sulle_spiagge_italiane190410.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;">THIS</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">.</span> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90ugkJiBr2mKURIKqYo54Vpfd4v4TAk0iFChH-pu-yOfy1qJVHuumcmaPci1V4WGPyEhIhp1LwLqSQvTju9jLQeO0MbMin8hHT2DGL2bIYH0vI7asHiancNvliaKN8OQEeb6BOFwyx1Q/s1600/100_1702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90ugkJiBr2mKURIKqYo54Vpfd4v4TAk0iFChH-pu-yOfy1qJVHuumcmaPci1V4WGPyEhIhp1LwLqSQvTju9jLQeO0MbMin8hHT2DGL2bIYH0vI7asHiancNvliaKN8OQEeb6BOFwyx1Q/s640/100_1702.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">We were totally encapsulated by the fog. It felt mystical and romantic. </span></td></tr>
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After our foggy walk, we warmed up with a delicious seafood lunch of mussels, spaghetti allo scoglio and fritto misto of fish. And it wouldn't be a lunch at the beach without sparkling vino bianco and lemon sorbet with vodka to finish it all off. </div>
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Tonight, for my birthday, we are going to try a new restaurant in the center of Bologna. I will be back tomorrow with pictures and a review. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13710453662263005235noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742374843566611121.post-58713065047920037352012-01-09T16:52:00.003+01:002012-03-01T14:06:35.607+01:00Barcelona<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love Barcelona! <br />
Andrea and I have been fortunate enough to go there last January and to return again this year for a week over New Year's Eve. </div>
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We were not planning to go on a trip this holiday season but I recently joined a site called <a href="http://www.trustedhousesitters.com/">Trusted House Sitters</a> which as it sounds is a place to find house sitting opportunities around the world. As the house sitter, I take care of the person's house and animals and in exchange I basically get to go on vacation for free. Pretty awesome, right? So I signed up and I have responded to a few people's ads asking for a house sitter but in general the response rate has been close to zero. When I emailed the family in Barcelona I figured it would be the same but to my surprise the family emailed back and within a few days we had a week trip to Barcelona planned. Once there our responsibilities included feeding their cat and dog, Elvis and Roxy respectively, twice a day and taking Roxy for at least one walk a day and in exchange we got to stay in their lovely apartment that was located only 5 minutes walk away from the beach and walking distance or a short metro ride from the center of Barcelona! We felt like we got a double bonus as we got a free place to stay and we got to have these two as our pets for the week...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MOVTQ4QB-H_gt892QFdbhQOdN6FQVXVnsQYSBzZdk2NSecr5Z38gU2oCyfNHOepecUgZkIAr5awh3u9DjmT9yXSelNTmrjnOIBjel5GR8SeJYUSBoxwpmwAI-FukhuaD9Uqcq9NmXj0/s1600/100_2868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MOVTQ4QB-H_gt892QFdbhQOdN6FQVXVnsQYSBzZdk2NSecr5Z38gU2oCyfNHOepecUgZkIAr5awh3u9DjmT9yXSelNTmrjnOIBjel5GR8SeJYUSBoxwpmwAI-FukhuaD9Uqcq9NmXj0/s640/100_2868.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elvis and Roxy</span></td></tr>
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Barcelona is very special to me as I feel like it possesses so many wonderful factors that are rarely found all together in one city. One of my favorite things about Barcelona is that it is truly a city for the people. The city seems to be planned and constructed in such a way that it encourages people to come out of their individual dwellings and to spend time together outside in the city. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3a-RF2TToLQZUrLikt42yhx-m7xCWuTJwu0lRCL_HL3f7WYRluRtDOCCnMsAiRb-_oCYpkiATDygGfTGM237BATSIcu4tA1Jb7iWO93xF-DY-nL5VWdZejUFNnYvcjjhwj5BNUk32IUY/s1600/100_1549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3a-RF2TToLQZUrLikt42yhx-m7xCWuTJwu0lRCL_HL3f7WYRluRtDOCCnMsAiRb-_oCYpkiATDygGfTGM237BATSIcu4tA1Jb7iWO93xF-DY-nL5VWdZejUFNnYvcjjhwj5BNUk32IUY/s640/100_1549.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">There are benches and chairs all over the city (it doesn't hurt that often they are also beautifully designed).</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkWmbMboky7Hp735vP4T82a7UbmIf_aJEGEd7V5tLrpii5jZMg4VoGsgCNvdcBbszaCKtxgZihKvVznH0BAN91EOlR5vnjrep8sL5ocKMvbHsW-iBvAid79qxAFr-5YQrOTloTkzcP88/s1600/100_1615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkWmbMboky7Hp735vP4T82a7UbmIf_aJEGEd7V5tLrpii5jZMg4VoGsgCNvdcBbszaCKtxgZihKvVznH0BAN91EOlR5vnjrep8sL5ocKMvbHsW-iBvAid79qxAFr-5YQrOTloTkzcP88/s640/100_1615.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">There are playgrounds for children tucked all over the city. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtuD8iyNyKaUnqElni1spxcNw5ZngQ5W9-MLN1pn2YQdoLe5IqTcC6rBd05c9ZULWU1QWFAjvUJaw7BaglAFSDB4B1gySlsDIHxNXVYSMB9DU42pwDV0BmfYy3Giib7b_O-4_oL0Jtds/s1600/100_1600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtuD8iyNyKaUnqElni1spxcNw5ZngQ5W9-MLN1pn2YQdoLe5IqTcC6rBd05c9ZULWU1QWFAjvUJaw7BaglAFSDB4B1gySlsDIHxNXVYSMB9DU42pwDV0BmfYy3Giib7b_O-4_oL0Jtds/s640/100_1600.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pedestrian walkways abound throughout the city and are heavily used by walkers, runners, bicyclists and rollerbladers. </span></td></tr>
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There is also a palpable appreciation and respect for art in Barcelona. This trip we did not step foot inside a museum but I do not feel like we missed out as we were still able to experience so much wonderful art by just walking around the city. At times it feels like an art treasure hunt as often wonderfully beautiful pieces of art are tucked away in places that could be easily missed which makes it feel all the more special when you spot it. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrCQGJ1qrkQbhgzXdO0cnsc2aDE8STy43Lrlnl7lc7jfIUM12GGP-YPhfsLpkp5cLqlWRevChLChgBglZysfoRmQGXSzWkmzA_u-PwCzjFl99fIRFWsXb31NbtnLcT99qtMN-vjg1wwg/s1600/100_1516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrCQGJ1qrkQbhgzXdO0cnsc2aDE8STy43Lrlnl7lc7jfIUM12GGP-YPhfsLpkp5cLqlWRevChLChgBglZysfoRmQGXSzWkmzA_u-PwCzjFl99fIRFWsXb31NbtnLcT99qtMN-vjg1wwg/s640/100_1516.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">a little dragon</span> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhq1h4jgECrrwWq9F5l0QBUjQn-GWlF9-pDYe1rsP4HP-RqaDNMTeJZedLv24Lc_tI_2DnhhHd8itO_E1J-VYKpnH_ytFivF2kljQGq89oFWNKeVF4ixz0kvBcyWc2VenwRj4xzxgscEw/s1600/100_1518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhq1h4jgECrrwWq9F5l0QBUjQn-GWlF9-pDYe1rsP4HP-RqaDNMTeJZedLv24Lc_tI_2DnhhHd8itO_E1J-VYKpnH_ytFivF2kljQGq89oFWNKeVF4ixz0kvBcyWc2VenwRj4xzxgscEw/s640/100_1518.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">beautiful stained glass storefront</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbe2k71im6hzj0WiTW3NcqV85RIUgxfweENnwjW2HAFxJYHRaSvXeI2x16IxDK9AhDbBh20VkxXlxa6Lh-0TfNyN-oJlyjdeU8BuaeDuBBAtV8b2iy4Th8sgCa8AxBm8OEUBsmDYndQ8/s1600/100_2929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbe2k71im6hzj0WiTW3NcqV85RIUgxfweENnwjW2HAFxJYHRaSvXeI2x16IxDK9AhDbBh20VkxXlxa6Lh-0TfNyN-oJlyjdeU8BuaeDuBBAtV8b2iy4Th8sgCa8AxBm8OEUBsmDYndQ8/s640/100_2929.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I am not usually one to notice architecture but in Barcelona it made me stop in my tracks. I love the intricate details on these windows. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2eIC7S1V0eK4P4-uRt-SrXS0AZ5Cz2Vo1F-p0n03SALU12oDQ3gVb5LrMIj3LqrC5FLj-ERGsojg-e6OzjJP5Lh-3efKkEqLOi7qNhcIFrRrJUPy9Og758Yz8BosNq5UQjCUc7xPS-s/s1600/100_2885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2eIC7S1V0eK4P4-uRt-SrXS0AZ5Cz2Vo1F-p0n03SALU12oDQ3gVb5LrMIj3LqrC5FLj-ERGsojg-e6OzjJP5Lh-3efKkEqLOi7qNhcIFrRrJUPy9Og758Yz8BosNq5UQjCUc7xPS-s/s640/100_2885.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">a beautiful passageway between two buildings</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9XJcAfj_DIYeFICZuT8GWSdRVuzkSKnhsfzLEn5o2AP1EHL35CK_uKeM1NGPBRweZW56nj-rlxFOfIxXHPg1Ebzdj2avUfV6er7RBmOebCOIi9cjEzJQn3HX7oxzftPLtVKo6XmWX7w/s1600/100_2942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9XJcAfj_DIYeFICZuT8GWSdRVuzkSKnhsfzLEn5o2AP1EHL35CK_uKeM1NGPBRweZW56nj-rlxFOfIxXHPg1Ebzdj2avUfV6er7RBmOebCOIi9cjEzJQn3HX7oxzftPLtVKo6XmWX7w/s640/100_2942.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">a griffin atop one of the waterfront buildings</span> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5t-1hn1CpovortGyP3c3RdeTy1T7yqSrQMIlVQE6F78AArKtJbBMEj2KbKjdcaTb711mLPI7Pu8IMh-PIId3kgLR9tALy7HZwusLOp2ptUSIiKNWujPFwC5vWhhRa7cSpUiMEv7ujFpc/s1600/100_1546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5t-1hn1CpovortGyP3c3RdeTy1T7yqSrQMIlVQE6F78AArKtJbBMEj2KbKjdcaTb711mLPI7Pu8IMh-PIId3kgLR9tALy7HZwusLOp2ptUSIiKNWujPFwC5vWhhRa7cSpUiMEv7ujFpc/s640/100_1546.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Miró's circular tile mosaic on the Ramblas</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSirvITRHpt8DYB-Ev0sYuLQoNbxBJgve1oTNdS2wipuPBHxMsUdQW-IQWAP8AsuW_Vohcr_hHuYijUpaoMANG0BKcfhrYjVx0HcNeizfXD4cHq5IKbhHJ8brgBgEXIolB6pjufoj8cxo/s1600/100_1604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSirvITRHpt8DYB-Ev0sYuLQoNbxBJgve1oTNdS2wipuPBHxMsUdQW-IQWAP8AsuW_Vohcr_hHuYijUpaoMANG0BKcfhrYjVx0HcNeizfXD4cHq5IKbhHJ8brgBgEXIolB6pjufoj8cxo/s640/100_1604.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lichtenstein's El Cap de Barcelona</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NvjgrnBYr4Ld-HCuYTQ6h9Ezvow00ge2NtOcwWnLbjRZGQmNZnIgi4F7yFbsqFibyahrDolTBTnksKfiJ3cmX59scg8SF4R35EBhxJTpsLFvjSUKk-qELeksKNKpEca-tsMzEsdcsSA/s1600/100_1524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NvjgrnBYr4Ld-HCuYTQ6h9Ezvow00ge2NtOcwWnLbjRZGQmNZnIgi4F7yFbsqFibyahrDolTBTnksKfiJ3cmX59scg8SF4R35EBhxJTpsLFvjSUKk-qELeksKNKpEca-tsMzEsdcsSA/s640/100_1524.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The colorfully tiled roof of one of the many markets in the city. </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4yH_1kgx6IWgH1kAzZAvl89askEvjFxqh0J6oDdjrmnjcD5msKxI7LFl4YhtQVs4Sj3Q6q1ZHKGogoZbtJK2VD0TkNipkg262ozcHJql2Qcg5avP9dE78tX40ttFMiZBeordBzdlpLI/s1600/100_1526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4yH_1kgx6IWgH1kAzZAvl89askEvjFxqh0J6oDdjrmnjcD5msKxI7LFl4YhtQVs4Sj3Q6q1ZHKGogoZbtJK2VD0TkNipkg262ozcHJql2Qcg5avP9dE78tX40ttFMiZBeordBzdlpLI/s640/100_1526.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A striking nude in Placa Catalunya.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEini-5zquWuaBjrqkIKulB6SO3MSObrnAIPtdIY-xNrfusWFFvvSo_mHw9xoKBv5jk17sc7HMuLedUmMNbcpEKJ14xR3nuuLK6jS9LEbGXtL35o4qteQ-Di5dj3dbJsRTnfW5R6BNQY5Sk/s1600/100_1527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEini-5zquWuaBjrqkIKulB6SO3MSObrnAIPtdIY-xNrfusWFFvvSo_mHw9xoKBv5jk17sc7HMuLedUmMNbcpEKJ14xR3nuuLK6jS9LEbGXtL35o4qteQ-Di5dj3dbJsRTnfW5R6BNQY5Sk/s640/100_1527.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">staircase statue</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZJWEe7clYrhNvTpRbXwHiChWnDqHmU4wNJRvt1byJj60Rc-hm1J2URLGNRG_KjnRthLPig3MIp-w9l38UL9phmW8plLg6r6OyysaelQLIszuaBAuZvwkGd57rtOjEhf8KK-SsjNb0ew/s1600/100_1509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZJWEe7clYrhNvTpRbXwHiChWnDqHmU4wNJRvt1byJj60Rc-hm1J2URLGNRG_KjnRthLPig3MIp-w9l38UL9phmW8plLg6r6OyysaelQLIszuaBAuZvwkGd57rtOjEhf8KK-SsjNb0ew/s640/100_1509.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The fat cat. It is suppose to bring you luck if you climb on top of him unaided. </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUYRNYGxMbTJagGwCJuMdoKmxu2zAbmo96pDY3cYfpuoPzDKDYgT4fuNIjvTayM-2nwr8razktIxYe3ppFPquAwWB1DiBucUg282REg-7gkMZ4JT2ciHjLuUa54opXVqq8B3eqqcOXCI/s1600/100_1617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUYRNYGxMbTJagGwCJuMdoKmxu2zAbmo96pDY3cYfpuoPzDKDYgT4fuNIjvTayM-2nwr8razktIxYe3ppFPquAwWB1DiBucUg282REg-7gkMZ4JT2ciHjLuUa54opXVqq8B3eqqcOXCI/s640/100_1617.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A completely random but captivating statue in the middle of the beach. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
And then of course there is Gaudi whose work always strikes me as dream like and other worldly.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqIGNMDGWmZD2OkVLdqQ_r0IU_irC8gzngXemBIWe5kE_Qj6zBOaqJTIxnDzCHfZvG_SUQwaueHg4Jss9-6m8hi_mE9d5spn0ctkZcIFjW9IhwVIeA6gWrfksZ5JX7lzrGugXD3FzWVk/s1600/100_1506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqIGNMDGWmZD2OkVLdqQ_r0IU_irC8gzngXemBIWe5kE_Qj6zBOaqJTIxnDzCHfZvG_SUQwaueHg4Jss9-6m8hi_mE9d5spn0ctkZcIFjW9IhwVIeA6gWrfksZ5JX7lzrGugXD3FzWVk/s640/100_1506.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The rooftop adornments at the Palau Güell. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">This was the first Gaudi work I saw on our previous trip and I must admit my first thought was that they had decorated for Christmas. I quickly learned to recognize the playful colors and shapes as part of Gaudi's unique style.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrl_7Hnr1Lv6hBAGIhVRa5vVx1S8CR2YiHfeAqtXBktpZXr3-MpKzsCKbxLUacIKpNiu-AQfkf_FhXCS3MrSHzU-Fcq7eyTfYfMG2P3OAlZGvg3B2E2JGRCoHI8Ej-DWsVdUFhXo-CJQ/s1600/100_1498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrl_7Hnr1Lv6hBAGIhVRa5vVx1S8CR2YiHfeAqtXBktpZXr3-MpKzsCKbxLUacIKpNiu-AQfkf_FhXCS3MrSHzU-Fcq7eyTfYfMG2P3OAlZGvg3B2E2JGRCoHI8Ej-DWsVdUFhXo-CJQ/s640/100_1498.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A Gothic looking creature on the front of Gaudi's Palau Güell.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKpcxq-f5M0At_P720nTED9vOCIIry_BLwWjeuWghkI8FBmbdUueIsbXl3QfdznJ2p02TuAxPi1VCgoIU1mwXXAnTpNPOYx3hnD521rx7LRIBZsMLg01vwuwkz9TrlAGsDHGPnhaLx1E/s1600/100_1556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKpcxq-f5M0At_P720nTED9vOCIIry_BLwWjeuWghkI8FBmbdUueIsbXl3QfdznJ2p02TuAxPi1VCgoIU1mwXXAnTpNPOYx3hnD521rx7LRIBZsMLg01vwuwkz9TrlAGsDHGPnhaLx1E/s640/100_1556.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Casa Batlló </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFOouAaZqyzY3xkHKsd_ni7_Qooj8KRrAsrvWDIptAUVrqh79tQQYQCRn5lw20wF0I2QvKJEqemR0YDeGgfELHocTKduW0ZhqN79MkwFDO3jssStDQ-LiFVHWRSzzUTkwnD04aJqVGRc/s1600/100_1557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFOouAaZqyzY3xkHKsd_ni7_Qooj8KRrAsrvWDIptAUVrqh79tQQYQCRn5lw20wF0I2QvKJEqemR0YDeGgfELHocTKduW0ZhqN79MkwFDO3jssStDQ-LiFVHWRSzzUTkwnD04aJqVGRc/s640/100_1557.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The colors and tiling on the front conjure up an image of dragon's skin. </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8sptDvrFnDQOiZAaT0s0JgAbPUCMZ-GbChBnd-Rj5oauDUqitg4KRN-9pv8hSItZnMIFhiWxtTuvt_TGW5TAQ_N34RDcxRnTCTqG5zgHiLAIpGGp7kvUwxNRTdXQkZ1vxDMKw8Wp05c/s1600/100_2937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8sptDvrFnDQOiZAaT0s0JgAbPUCMZ-GbChBnd-Rj5oauDUqitg4KRN-9pv8hSItZnMIFhiWxtTuvt_TGW5TAQ_N34RDcxRnTCTqG5zgHiLAIpGGp7kvUwxNRTdXQkZ1vxDMKw8Wp05c/s640/100_2937.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The colorful roof of Casa Batlló. </span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSF86X5pszZ0GHckrLQXCQRfXdag5Mh3YDpRyUieyTEPXqD9yCYRnl8gHZbjLYnIIFaBhWuMk6sotUKQUwapBEhU5aai0pMGZ2DtykDimQMkHOKAJ8lfIVzqq3tKc9c0uIDAIywXunQhc/s1600/100_2910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSF86X5pszZ0GHckrLQXCQRfXdag5Mh3YDpRyUieyTEPXqD9yCYRnl8gHZbjLYnIIFaBhWuMk6sotUKQUwapBEhU5aai0pMGZ2DtykDimQMkHOKAJ8lfIVzqq3tKc9c0uIDAIywXunQhc/s640/100_2910.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Sagrada Familia</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">When I arrived in Barcelona for the first time and saw the Sagrada Familia and all of the cranes surrounding it, I thought, oh no it is under renovation. I did not realize that the church, which was started in 1882, was not yet complete. The construction passed the mid-point in 2010 and there is an anticipated completion date of 2026, for the centennial of Gaudi's death, but as the construction relies on private donations the date is tentative. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">It is fun to see the church ever evolving and changing. To me it almost feels as if it were alive - growing similarly to a tree. I like to think that this would make Gaudi, who was largely inspired by nature, smile. </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLR0HEy715R_-I9dD2sCoUP08rQFo9rjnh0w4Zc17ap_hcD64I-ObucvJtawAEkjrIoXgXx2O_ABiM5oZGugtmOuFGFk6VwWXKSVX_pFae6PMaFyl65S04VdsUR0xNc5RxFw0GnKj2Js/s1600/100_1636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLR0HEy715R_-I9dD2sCoUP08rQFo9rjnh0w4Zc17ap_hcD64I-ObucvJtawAEkjrIoXgXx2O_ABiM5oZGugtmOuFGFk6VwWXKSVX_pFae6PMaFyl65S04VdsUR0xNc5RxFw0GnKj2Js/s640/100_1636.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">a close up of the Nativity Facade</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7OJ7_EL_V4OLA4G73IeFCf4uKWSZrDpnLS8d6qlCzoU-or0WiAokX0HyFUG2mWUJFvvF-heLKeE87NYmwj7suyoUHKFI9CKB29Fq73OdhySCdjBXn4Gqb8heyDGlLLd5STXs34Pwh-M/s1600/100_2912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7OJ7_EL_V4OLA4G73IeFCf4uKWSZrDpnLS8d6qlCzoU-or0WiAokX0HyFUG2mWUJFvvF-heLKeE87NYmwj7suyoUHKFI9CKB29Fq73OdhySCdjBXn4Gqb8heyDGlLLd5STXs34Pwh-M/s640/100_2912.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">the Passion Facade</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9IylCIBXLrl3qSRZvU37jaV9gugqgvcRO8sjFOuj1biJl9bnnaZnzbC59EeTzyIe5Lmg8od6pyT-utxnDA3JawCIILSkRZA_uZIwCro8dkeFLm8AokSLWvkey-vprbGNNGewRHfIsiw/s1600/100_1625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9IylCIBXLrl3qSRZvU37jaV9gugqgvcRO8sjFOuj1biJl9bnnaZnzbC59EeTzyIe5Lmg8od6pyT-utxnDA3JawCIILSkRZA_uZIwCro8dkeFLm8AokSLWvkey-vprbGNNGewRHfIsiw/s640/100_1625.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The interior of the Sagrada Familia has brilliant rainbow colored stained glass</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzrSpCh8BHLqTh4lfdUiB7l-lJWs6rdrrMurmA5rvDB2rAcccDrHAgfuVZOTPuBVSGh-Y5gtZk-z1lAatoTZrdyXq0gjmV6Bcld7elbVEldru0hlyNeYTSIdwMSyILybKmq2xzPAoN5A/s1600/100_1630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzrSpCh8BHLqTh4lfdUiB7l-lJWs6rdrrMurmA5rvDB2rAcccDrHAgfuVZOTPuBVSGh-Y5gtZk-z1lAatoTZrdyXq0gjmV6Bcld7elbVEldru0hlyNeYTSIdwMSyILybKmq2xzPAoN5A/s640/100_1630.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">and columns that are reminiscent of trees. To me the interior feels more like a New Age worship center than a Roman Catholic church which was consecrated by the Pope. </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhRCMD2uoqTsCoRT0V-Bojpt-W5OC5xfOTZCmq1T8NwqK0tWixpQk24jl_bfUO8JQPlxtCHA0eziBCosXpM9I3T0X58JUomGbmJat8T9nOBslP_Zc3tliTSMW71Ja-yynd0sP0RBN5Kg/s1600/100_2969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><strong><img border="0" height="480" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhRCMD2uoqTsCoRT0V-Bojpt-W5OC5xfOTZCmq1T8NwqK0tWixpQk24jl_bfUO8JQPlxtCHA0eziBCosXpM9I3T0X58JUomGbmJat8T9nOBslP_Zc3tliTSMW71Ja-yynd0sP0RBN5Kg/s640/100_2969.jpg" width="640" /></strong></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">the main entrance to Park Güell</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhkkgflgUiHMCmzDXCUZ989Zg7KlJPLzJxhGeHO3k2GdFJtO0ycPbi3FlvAo4FjZUg3bFesAI9Oc4u9MLk9xT4huuUrAzI8J_eIScvBxuduFpNY83PvSymOEv302b5tHLDhbRLynB1EA/s1600/100_2967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhkkgflgUiHMCmzDXCUZ989Zg7KlJPLzJxhGeHO3k2GdFJtO0ycPbi3FlvAo4FjZUg3bFesAI9Oc4u9MLk9xT4huuUrAzI8J_eIScvBxuduFpNY83PvSymOEv302b5tHLDhbRLynB1EA/s640/100_2967.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">beautiful mosaic ceiling</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP59gxjX4Fj8Y5TZ0EiZ4eNzGo1teFhymeu-HxtdC9P5gE47FThjFLGWuo318jWjAypQJusBHpfK6ZzybKVYFv5xntEKprx69pWb84dvi4iLNU_qpUoOYOkgLImad0z9q8iRpM4TBtIlw/s1600/100_2960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP59gxjX4Fj8Y5TZ0EiZ4eNzGo1teFhymeu-HxtdC9P5gE47FThjFLGWuo318jWjAypQJusBHpfK6ZzybKVYFv5xntEKprx69pWb84dvi4iLNU_qpUoOYOkgLImad0z9q8iRpM4TBtIlw/s640/100_2960.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">the main terrace of Park Güell with more stunning mosaics </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7S9a0VlCIwJiEFxJ4lMyApC-yXOr15XZp-fS6X_Et6c3QRDruWOIXJhxZ-RMONBX1mmDnfq97zmiM8lV8T6cbSuhxwYSn92wCXxmw7Vod95X_doCW4-1By4Y6Ma6kug0VVqoOrGyOF2k/s1600/100_2958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7S9a0VlCIwJiEFxJ4lMyApC-yXOr15XZp-fS6X_Et6c3QRDruWOIXJhxZ-RMONBX1mmDnfq97zmiM8lV8T6cbSuhxwYSn92wCXxmw7Vod95X_doCW4-1By4Y6Ma6kug0VVqoOrGyOF2k/s640/100_2958.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">the main terrace with views of the Sagrada Familia to the left and the sea</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihz9Zl8aKfUzH-AtLmPvWut6cdv4QTi9NEVkfZw7OHMaC5zrAg48c3DYdjg_Ako_bwof1m1LB_0E07lMegL5kEl2-C8L6q19Scly8juvtKppvt63OAvnqLy3QH4qaS4_SfJ_YplM8D-0Y/s1600/100_2963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihz9Zl8aKfUzH-AtLmPvWut6cdv4QTi9NEVkfZw7OHMaC5zrAg48c3DYdjg_Ako_bwof1m1LB_0E07lMegL5kEl2-C8L6q19Scly8juvtKppvt63OAvnqLy3QH4qaS4_SfJ_YplM8D-0Y/s640/100_2963.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">the view back towards the main entrance from the terrace</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuAxodrbw4_PBqEyIX4c52dO8ZMgnSPxhHI7kk7tQ45UN69XEGHhBeMO9rdoTRyOSfmToIPzCYUF-QWgZBOlJ2ZjAw8ViP-neWz6JTAORO9G7hcEpWc5o-fF4k1_qyO7_0gi4GldcsXc/s1600/100_2946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuAxodrbw4_PBqEyIX4c52dO8ZMgnSPxhHI7kk7tQ45UN69XEGHhBeMO9rdoTRyOSfmToIPzCYUF-QWgZBOlJ2ZjAw8ViP-neWz6JTAORO9G7hcEpWc5o-fF4k1_qyO7_0gi4GldcsXc/s640/100_2946.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I love this structure in Park Güell. It looks like a sand castle which has begun to melt. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Are you ready for my absolute favorite place in Barcelona? Literally, I could spend hours there everyday and be so very happy.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYe3wsMWZzqo_Y4adieOyr5Y0FXknFp4qlDi44QT9g1xMu_azORgmrJXLtShA0xEpwcqneXK8RU6tyMegj3zmttVsYKrg_YNzVQ0rT9mnPXdnIcBJjrA9bQombJZMguLrP2GRv0W5c_nI/s1600/100_2871.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYe3wsMWZzqo_Y4adieOyr5Y0FXknFp4qlDi44QT9g1xMu_azORgmrJXLtShA0xEpwcqneXK8RU6tyMegj3zmttVsYKrg_YNzVQ0rT9mnPXdnIcBJjrA9bQombJZMguLrP2GRv0W5c_nI/s640/100_2871.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Mercat de la Boqueria!</span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
This is the most wonderful market I have ever been to. It seems like there is everything you could want inside from fruits and vegetables, all kinds of meat (probably more kinds and pieces than you want to know about), legumes and grains, eggs (and not only chicken), seafood, the list is truly endless. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XSix02VFFu6RR0p1CQHVeHAb26EtleTtGg2dVA0H4SocOWZ5pSbxjFmFKfxMNWz-M4ege2VAGTsy0mZpo4hHVx1TkR73dvmFqeolV_mQ96K303MSiihe1ZbbpX7xMs1jWHZR0VWk-fY/s1600/100_2872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XSix02VFFu6RR0p1CQHVeHAb26EtleTtGg2dVA0H4SocOWZ5pSbxjFmFKfxMNWz-M4ege2VAGTsy0mZpo4hHVx1TkR73dvmFqeolV_mQ96K303MSiihe1ZbbpX7xMs1jWHZR0VWk-fY/s640/100_2872.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">one of the seafood booths</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqiQHjgDP5qPyr4vtFc9xeoKpm9xAKIWYBh1pi5h6_kAI1mtjh9z1qn7Lmn8FkYd0uuDnyrRfoqRkzMqMBGF2TRSl4oTlrNg6zMgHsfdEWpiKQ-zU86EN-WERd7saqS1fO3P2PCZBST0Y/s1600/100_3036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqiQHjgDP5qPyr4vtFc9xeoKpm9xAKIWYBh1pi5h6_kAI1mtjh9z1qn7Lmn8FkYd0uuDnyrRfoqRkzMqMBGF2TRSl4oTlrNg6zMgHsfdEWpiKQ-zU86EN-WERd7saqS1fO3P2PCZBST0Y/s640/100_3036.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">all different kinds of shrimp</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHuSRf9Nm4me9E5fBN1ObEZFq78AYUG0QPzalq9ZM21Jtp5ZQKI3IGQnj_foXR6AL6JTGbWMFJvIAC9bxGSr3cNPSSr1KkmzwXO6yJj29BhY_LoZXeqmPcif_00PpSdk77KTxdmhtS8yo/s640/100_3039.jpg" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dried chillies, fruits and vegetables.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I loved looking at the booths and seeing so many different kinds of fruits and vegetables that I had never seen before in my life.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH1ub5iGEGY7M0fW7UCrOk5s9EDbajUKOoIcz6w_fPScMk8MeOh3urGxIpMK_-nUu9kGIIYLgfkILmTOAfNQAoRVqiYdgYfXNYlflafDBY7j38jrbp9YsEK0waByWmFcQ7vMPqyQwSxEc/s1600/100_3046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH1ub5iGEGY7M0fW7UCrOk5s9EDbajUKOoIcz6w_fPScMk8MeOh3urGxIpMK_-nUu9kGIIYLgfkILmTOAfNQAoRVqiYdgYfXNYlflafDBY7j38jrbp9YsEK0waByWmFcQ7vMPqyQwSxEc/s640/100_3046.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The market is like a rainbow of colors and smells.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8linEUGnwRp_zkSgyb3pBLAkes-Y_ECilHhyphenhyphenLvkFqEZhNqLIyTH89WBajxuXBgA-ybrmZImQufGuDVNWOztKWsJ_xiHCW_dRKu5vyjIGYlmSyUitL0f0vGYbCGeFeTmV-rBljIZwr6JY/s1600/100_1577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8linEUGnwRp_zkSgyb3pBLAkes-Y_ECilHhyphenhyphenLvkFqEZhNqLIyTH89WBajxuXBgA-ybrmZImQufGuDVNWOztKWsJ_xiHCW_dRKu5vyjIGYlmSyUitL0f0vGYbCGeFeTmV-rBljIZwr6JY/s640/100_1577.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">One of my favorite things to buy at the market is one of the fresh juices offered at many of the different fruit booths. They are only 1 euro and there are combinations like orange mango and coconut pineapple. Yum!</span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Barcelona is a wonderful city because of all of these things and it is made infinitely better by the fact that it is located on a long stretch of coast. There is a great neighborhood called Barceloneta that borders the sea and encompasses the laid back vibe of a beach town while still being part of the large city of Barcelona. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-JkVFqT84VCSG72grL9T4fQzZNWd9hyphenhyphenfq0gwg3YChzOljkpN1xBW7auMTg5ItpWi5LunZJdqVz6BbhhHzskDXvx8TOiKP9nOENbWwAmA4QyQnMj36NWIt5W6hEYj4WE1ewKlhfsrCOCk/s1600/100_1620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-JkVFqT84VCSG72grL9T4fQzZNWd9hyphenhyphenfq0gwg3YChzOljkpN1xBW7auMTg5ItpWi5LunZJdqVz6BbhhHzskDXvx8TOiKP9nOENbWwAmA4QyQnMj36NWIt5W6hEYj4WE1ewKlhfsrCOCk/s640/100_1620.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A street in Barceloneta with the many balconies facing the street and laundry flapping in the wind.</span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Along the beach there is a wonderful pedestrian walkway which provides a direct path from some of the outlying beach neighborhoods into downtown Barcelona. It is also a nice place to stroll and take in the sea breeze and there are plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from if a break or a cocktail is needed.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOx4syAKpSC3sGj_P10M6G5tau3quZHRAdWqu-KM1ts1t4vcpBNSCZofxjJke1ejNgTI438UxQENkigaFGMyzu-cfSSUuIbEJd9KkotdJDqBt56DLuf9GhMU02en3PFE8ubdzvektRMpk/s1600/100_1486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOx4syAKpSC3sGj_P10M6G5tau3quZHRAdWqu-KM1ts1t4vcpBNSCZofxjJke1ejNgTI438UxQENkigaFGMyzu-cfSSUuIbEJd9KkotdJDqBt56DLuf9GhMU02en3PFE8ubdzvektRMpk/s640/100_1486.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Last year, we spotted the ladies in the left of this picture casually walking on their stilts along the walkway.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyI7atfMfcnUj39lUAW7vbtCemnTMonl91z-S9-fCb-WEy-gokNFsM6XbUwzFUlkNGOp0bArosvd1RGa7vNJ_9K_Ti-Ve4kOLgZ_2QGXdeJvpIDoe3Jf4Vtx7KZHTvx-pg7EYTFd_wHHU/s1600/100_1487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyI7atfMfcnUj39lUAW7vbtCemnTMonl91z-S9-fCb-WEy-gokNFsM6XbUwzFUlkNGOp0bArosvd1RGa7vNJ_9K_Ti-Ve4kOLgZ_2QGXdeJvpIDoe3Jf4Vtx7KZHTvx-pg7EYTFd_wHHU/s640/100_1487.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Each day there are people along the beach creating intricate sand castles often complete with flowing water and fire (there was fire coming out of this castle at the top right).</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiweV7OU054viLAu6ZephyphenhyphenrsJ23ZdkkQ3ysbQaZ-4K7B7NhOfD4EXWeS7ZnD70v-5f_eCZg2ZpPg2K8bxT8GS5LY-PwDsxct1iNj3_7JUgoo4FW_3WMoPHCw9TiVpB8hlfGNoJKFrY_-NQ/s1600/100_1660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiweV7OU054viLAu6ZephyphenhyphenrsJ23ZdkkQ3ysbQaZ-4K7B7NhOfD4EXWeS7ZnD70v-5f_eCZg2ZpPg2K8bxT8GS5LY-PwDsxct1iNj3_7JUgoo4FW_3WMoPHCw9TiVpB8hlfGNoJKFrY_-NQ/s640/100_1660.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sunset over the harbor with Montjuic in the background.</span></td></tr>
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Our last evening in Barcelona we took Roxy to the beach. We rolled up our jeans and walked in the water as the sun set in the distance. A perfect close to a very nice, unexpected trip and a great start to the New Year.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VIu_lCkaA1pjfde8-MwYBQKIBba0YfRXVGqbPuvRLRLWix_CNmsew4D7V5D8vJvmQ5SHETLEM3shNFoeHPQdU0Mncr5zgsKqOAhoL1FLkfVEGcqvC8NPC50WtcTH-nTR9ybzv-blq4I/s1600/100_3051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VIu_lCkaA1pjfde8-MwYBQKIBba0YfRXVGqbPuvRLRLWix_CNmsew4D7V5D8vJvmQ5SHETLEM3shNFoeHPQdU0Mncr5zgsKqOAhoL1FLkfVEGcqvC8NPC50WtcTH-nTR9ybzv-blq4I/s640/100_3051.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Check back later this week for a post about our favorite restaurant in Barcelona (and possibly the world) and a post about what makes Barcelona different from other cities in Spain. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13710453662263005235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742374843566611121.post-10520618436805845262011-12-27T22:10:00.055+01:002012-03-01T14:07:36.665+01:00Christmas in Bologna<div style="text-align: center;">
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday with their loved ones. This year my mom came to Bologna for Christmas and I was very excited to take her around and show her all the things I had been telling her about over the past three years (this is the second time she has come to Italy but the first time was only 3 months after I arrived). One of the things I was most excited to show her were all of the Christmas lights! As I blogged about <a href="http://americangirlinit.blogspot.com/2010/12/bolognas-lights.html">last year</a>, Bologna dresses up the town beautifully for the season with thousands of twinkling lights. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDB-bwLWErLcMTi2OI6qu3U-IYAe-DhExuXMwVhLmlWjDtXvSqS0JYCM4PlSkQgzgdm-vZmeY9nBxMFhkRP1QF3mogXueiHFWs1F5gj9Vns4_8Jg2oYyp1zwBvUSwJtLGxRf_LRa3iE2I/s1600/Christmas+2011+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDB-bwLWErLcMTi2OI6qu3U-IYAe-DhExuXMwVhLmlWjDtXvSqS0JYCM4PlSkQgzgdm-vZmeY9nBxMFhkRP1QF3mogXueiHFWs1F5gj9Vns4_8Jg2oYyp1zwBvUSwJtLGxRf_LRa3iE2I/s640/Christmas+2011+017.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Christmas tree in Piazza Nettuno.</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" height="602" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690869863896552578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8Yw10zNsrPCk1g-hoFn9NPit6obIXGvhhdxd5eIlftzHOtiSvckRi0Oy3x5S8BVAUWf_G2QeWhvvVJJ1motokrVPG1JSs_1bchmu9731iv5zG3tlnPLHXecAePN8eNfyFRPVNTWUjSY/s640/Christmas+2011+019.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /><br />
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Christmas trees in the center of the Palazzo del Comune (city hall). <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9-wrQCX5MiG0di-mmteg_GiXyPtEdEwv5JgP64NpkSnCBpvkVIe8fTuorVChz0f001RW1JFhrU1D_Pvf0JHkroHRxQm1r0zXJyNkLveRYFh_nTrQduQMBnyDR4hhwylMrU8q-1XH0PI/s1600/Christmas+2011+027.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400531107957579346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9-wrQCX5MiG0di-mmteg_GiXyPtEdEwv5JgP64NpkSnCBpvkVIe8fTuorVChz0f001RW1JFhrU1D_Pvf0JHkroHRxQm1r0zXJyNkLveRYFh_nTrQduQMBnyDR4hhwylMrU8q-1XH0PI/s640/Christmas+2011+027.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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And their reflection in the window nearby. </div>
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<img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690872203277890674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY1Bhc-egqWXrlxIXpuv7IyK9NYXEPbEzXy_-zOKoDQCTu58-oogAfmAZEDuSGhhjLsX3XYXV6bqu3KOhikO-nJvH07cRC3-B3wk6RaMh_2D4ocxnC6Bld4TJtjsT1KV2jSpodZ3OtJvc/s640/Christmas+2011+001.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /><br />
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A hidden Christmas tree in the courtyard of the Prefettura di Bologna.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBka5YT3K7cOPW2vbfq0j_dbshR7DKCOe7sgXYYjyR09X32fwA3dl3sVWyYuGjPJUt4C8bpZpcpncLkDROowcQdWMjj8eyurePqU6GvC-4M891bDAwtk0vxdnSNnFqaaqoDmubusM_oFU/s1600/tower+with+little+tree.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400531107957579346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBka5YT3K7cOPW2vbfq0j_dbshR7DKCOe7sgXYYjyR09X32fwA3dl3sVWyYuGjPJUt4C8bpZpcpncLkDROowcQdWMjj8eyurePqU6GvC-4M891bDAwtk0vxdnSNnFqaaqoDmubusM_oFU/s640/tower+with+little+tree.JPG" style="width: 300px;" width="480" /></a></div>
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A little tree with red bows at the bottom of the two towers.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1NOqoQzuLqEVbtAq2RT0gvZWvT24JBnVDi8ji8ogn7OfawLQNe5wkywfWlaZGR9saUmuzXXzRyY1BX67rj_MgWqJFsRHQYnEHqY4GCgzOwm1rUk03LgAQ2VxEEunP3OHVDhFmL3SeXk/s1600/Christmas+2011+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1NOqoQzuLqEVbtAq2RT0gvZWvT24JBnVDi8ji8ogn7OfawLQNe5wkywfWlaZGR9saUmuzXXzRyY1BX67rj_MgWqJFsRHQYnEHqY4GCgzOwm1rUk03LgAQ2VxEEunP3OHVDhFmL3SeXk/s640/Christmas+2011+008.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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The portici decorated with lights.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYe0U49tvdNnm7vS2ZdzDpIEp_Dc1k3tlhi-dW55uNMNafIg-Z5qXoVuBCu3ZcUSFUUMgR8MMNalP-a4_XeP79tmq9XTnmZQCPkbd3sXoTQPtpcPbh9vlEswN8rCE-b_-8mskiXcgSf1w/s1600/Christmas+2011+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYe0U49tvdNnm7vS2ZdzDpIEp_Dc1k3tlhi-dW55uNMNafIg-Z5qXoVuBCu3ZcUSFUUMgR8MMNalP-a4_XeP79tmq9XTnmZQCPkbd3sXoTQPtpcPbh9vlEswN8rCE-b_-8mskiXcgSf1w/s640/Christmas+2011+014.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Lights hung over Via Clavatura.</div>
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Last Christmas Eve Andrea and I took a walk in the evening around the center. The streets were empty and the city was quiet as people had already gathered inside to share the traditionl Christmas Eve meal of fish with family and friends. Andrea and I cozied up to one of the heaters at the outdoor tables on this street and toasted to a Merry Christmas with two glasses of prosecco. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2S3r8HqpyzOp0gWguRe5PgJJUPPhfaM6JCRk3WMKrSKoUXB5pLx8i1rg1iTq3mffDEyU41bx-YRehmz35c8fRRb3544VZevNokvfMYMhBSRboRrbunXZoEnW1f05Dvok5HryIDYShKo/s1600/Christmas+2011+029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2S3r8HqpyzOp0gWguRe5PgJJUPPhfaM6JCRk3WMKrSKoUXB5pLx8i1rg1iTq3mffDEyU41bx-YRehmz35c8fRRb3544VZevNokvfMYMhBSRboRrbunXZoEnW1f05Dvok5HryIDYShKo/s640/Christmas+2011+029.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Via Ugo Bassi decked with lights and the tower glowing in the background.</div>
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One weekend this December the city closed Via Ugo Bassi and Via Indipendenza, the two main streets in the center, to traffic. It was wonderful to stroll in the middle of the usually chaotic street. There were more people out than usual, from teenagers to families with strollers and children to couples and groups of friends. It felt akin to a block party. It provided the perfect opportunity to leisurely admire the city in all of its holiday glory.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4qjXy2poYujCP3nur9W-U3gyvt5CwIDvPJoVlDHBO_WUoYs-deOqU9N_Lp2w6jedH183p4LSXJkpBotBlSP9_nnGZ_KcVfthagrH4_bt_KkLs4eUMF_e1pvM2wo8h0z5cHo2L7iJD6Y/s1600/tower+with+lights+and+the+moon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4qjXy2poYujCP3nur9W-U3gyvt5CwIDvPJoVlDHBO_WUoYs-deOqU9N_Lp2w6jedH183p4LSXJkpBotBlSP9_nnGZ_KcVfthagrH4_bt_KkLs4eUMF_e1pvM2wo8h0z5cHo2L7iJD6Y/s640/tower+with+lights+and+the+moon.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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The tower with lights and the moon.<br />
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Always the prominent symbol of the city, the tower becomes even more splendid when decorated with lights. During the Christmas season it happens many times that I am walking downtown and I glance upward and see the tower peaking over the tops of the buildings shining bright.<br />
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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13710453662263005235noreply@blogger.com3Bologna, Italy44.4941903 11.34651850000000244.4266073 11.244474500000003 44.5617733 11.448562500000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742374843566611121.post-30836087383903038402011-05-17T22:05:00.004+02:002012-03-01T14:08:11.218+01:00Sweet SundayThere is so much amazing produce at the farmer's market right now! Out of everything available strawberries and asparagus are definitely tied for the number one spot of most purchased.<br />
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This weekend I decided to make jam out of some of the strawberries<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNJ7tRbzzoif_OAGlxnDSERXR6zesACHoxhaTuMP1l4iGYsOt5cWHx9ELTa3i2QxVxpSkyv_KsD-8yUUu4VIVHRGI1DlCM43ni97dRrGuRazzGsakue42jTWnrDXBe2yAIXICYyXv7iw/s1600/100_1893.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607790638011686562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNJ7tRbzzoif_OAGlxnDSERXR6zesACHoxhaTuMP1l4iGYsOt5cWHx9ELTa3i2QxVxpSkyv_KsD-8yUUu4VIVHRGI1DlCM43ni97dRrGuRazzGsakue42jTWnrDXBe2yAIXICYyXv7iw/s640/100_1893.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
The jam is super easy to make and so much more delicious than anything you could find at the store. I roughly followed the recipe <a href="http://thekitchensinkrecipes.com/2008/06/05/make-new-habits-but-keep-the-old/">here</a> (I highly reccomend checking out The Kitchen Sink blog, where I found this recipe, - it has become my go to for new recipes).<br />
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But in the end I could not stop at jam...I needed a vehicle, a vessel for the jam so I made this<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtx5_h7Aox_TPQQpFodfLtDlI-kSmTLiJktZmUhEEl4PbX5fOrHdgXSo1xiYMxqwNDnnPqkF0GOA3bM77u342rny0hwwsLMYmEwKZsF_bF4igB2RmiWgrEEg6gX8EmPGcu0gtrrgcCDA/s1600/starwberry+tart.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607793083475397586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtx5_h7Aox_TPQQpFodfLtDlI-kSmTLiJktZmUhEEl4PbX5fOrHdgXSo1xiYMxqwNDnnPqkF0GOA3bM77u342rny0hwwsLMYmEwKZsF_bF4igB2RmiWgrEEg6gX8EmPGcu0gtrrgcCDA/s640/starwberry+tart.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a>Strawberry tart!<br />
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I did not have enough dough or pastery skills to make a lattice top hence the cookie cutter heart topping. The flavor was really nice - a perfect balance of sweet and hint of tartness that kept it light.<br />
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I am looking forward to making many more of these tarts as the various summer fruits come into season and I am sure Andrea will not mind as this tart is nearly gone after only two days.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13710453662263005235noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742374843566611121.post-82861058690463372992011-02-26T08:53:00.004+01:002012-03-01T14:08:41.542+01:00A rose by any other name...<div style="text-align: center;">
What does peperoni (and in this case olive) pizza look like in Italy?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6dWzYs71FWVfHXMa3CknegnVAQ2CUSgEmwOpZ86kedsWnDCB7cXGyQ0U0SauSfbR5XAnFhQzLMJnRRvXRLvrYJZMyckpgTGzBk7cxwrmgQ21DRmRC6qNgXWhkMr8kcLaY-aqDpVoLZo/s1600/100_1718.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577903919648524834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6dWzYs71FWVfHXMa3CknegnVAQ2CUSgEmwOpZ86kedsWnDCB7cXGyQ0U0SauSfbR5XAnFhQzLMJnRRvXRLvrYJZMyckpgTGzBk7cxwrmgQ21DRmRC6qNgXWhkMr8kcLaY-aqDpVoLZo/s640/100_1718.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
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That's right, here peperoni does not equal spicey, sliced meat but are bell peppers! I always feel funny saying the word (usually when ordering a pizza or shopping at the fruit and vegetable market) because it always makes me think of my favorite meaty topping from childhood but I know what I will receive (on my pizza or from the fruit and vegetable guy) is a vegetable.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13710453662263005235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742374843566611121.post-21582222963064382532011-02-24T22:16:00.004+01:002012-03-01T14:09:12.051+01:00Word Association<div style="text-align: center;">
Whenever I say the word <em>fragola</em><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNixE8wlfkI4i75YRvWFJfqUux1HTILSorenaLd6M3dk39Y1y8TeqeLgQJWTlOTuQoQFeoizpgKcJbnSytpYIUDlWN9fArLqyLLi7mi3g-0POIZmH1oWvVN05EqeUNsATbxaMXIv2O_8o/s1600/100_1741.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577371711454861506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNixE8wlfkI4i75YRvWFJfqUux1HTILSorenaLd6M3dk39Y1y8TeqeLgQJWTlOTuQoQFeoizpgKcJbnSytpYIUDlWN9fArLqyLLi7mi3g-0POIZmH1oWvVN05EqeUNsATbxaMXIv2O_8o/s640/100_1741.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /></a><br />
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It makes me think of these guys...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY42xUh7p99NOckQFAT0cGExo94BtlkZ2K_uOVAfd7jj-nZm0CC6RRfIwPd0S0fUbyXJjJS0Gw72lUbD_A1gBpnqPihPN5XLBFhOCmjcueF1xBlGfaTkypX4mv2EfHilsa9UWNiN8ATDI/s1600/fraggle_rock.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577372648110033362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY42xUh7p99NOckQFAT0cGExo94BtlkZ2K_uOVAfd7jj-nZm0CC6RRfIwPd0S0fUbyXJjJS0Gw72lUbD_A1gBpnqPihPN5XLBFhOCmjcueF1xBlGfaTkypX4mv2EfHilsa9UWNiN8ATDI/s640/fraggle_rock.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="534" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 78%;"><br />(P.S. possible <a href="http://www.80stees.com/products/Gobo-Fraggle-Rock-Costume.asp">costume idea</a> for next Haloween)</span><br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13710453662263005235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742374843566611121.post-29753112532876263292011-02-21T22:30:00.005+01:002012-03-01T14:09:26.464+01:00Yums<div style="text-align: center;">
Andrea and I have recently started going to the <a href="http://www.mercatidellaterra.it/ita/network/bologna">Farmer's Market </a>here in Bologna on Saturday mornings. All of the fresh, beautiful, local produce has inspired me to spend extra time in the kitchen and to try out new recipes. Here are a couple of the recipes I tried this weekend:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPAjZm6AGTwIM7xKaaBlLHaHD_QZDovgQqZrKfv3npcUH09jLR79aAwo2iyEDloSjyklFY-1w8F6UaHtm8olh8uBl-juEyI8Yzn_vPoGmb37nobdSHFdtoHOj72q8ClRrd6X92r0EHZI/s1600/100_1719.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576259811644137138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPAjZm6AGTwIM7xKaaBlLHaHD_QZDovgQqZrKfv3npcUH09jLR79aAwo2iyEDloSjyklFY-1w8F6UaHtm8olh8uBl-juEyI8Yzn_vPoGmb37nobdSHFdtoHOj72q8ClRrd6X92r0EHZI/s640/100_1719.jpg" style="display: block; height: 492px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 369px;" width="480" /></a><br />
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Soup is one of my absolute favorite things about winter time! This Split Pea is extremely easy to make and your whole house will smell delicious. The end result is hearty and flavorful and in my opinion is best paired with some crusty bread and red wine. You can find the recipe <a href="http://thekitchensinkrecipes.com/2009/11/23/the-regular/">here</a> (and while you over at The Kitchen Sink blog checking out this recipe - I recommend browsing the rest of Kristin's site. She has some amazing, super yummy recipes!).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQUea5OcleY02qT6dd89WKrx_UmdGswoGx8njdfi4VOau8GHB6gfE2brsyPb-D1-HDu40FenWNsTUlSpgXqUbKH1Jv7aou3oYu1-pT3K74p8gdP7dL_7xQ-WVPZfY3nJet4pP5MvblgE/s1600/100_1730.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="479" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576262839058846274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQUea5OcleY02qT6dd89WKrx_UmdGswoGx8njdfi4VOau8GHB6gfE2brsyPb-D1-HDu40FenWNsTUlSpgXqUbKH1Jv7aou3oYu1-pT3K74p8gdP7dL_7xQ-WVPZfY3nJet4pP5MvblgE/s640/100_1730.jpg" style="display: block; height: 335px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 447px;" width="640" /></a><br />
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These little gems are hazelnut shortbread cookies sandwiched together with dark chocolate and finished with a sprinkle of roasted hazelnuts. They are buttery and crunchy with a rich chocolate presense and hints of hazelnutty goodness. You can find the recipe <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/hazelnut-sandwich-cookies">here</a>.<br />
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13710453662263005235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742374843566611121.post-68355249630317494732011-02-20T10:50:00.000+01:002012-03-01T14:12:22.226+01:00Thanksgiving<div style="text-align: center;">
Thanksgiving in February? I know it is a strange time to retell about my Thanksgiving adventures but it was such a great event I could not leave it outjust because I am a bit (ok, almost 3 months) tardy in posting about it. So without any further ado...</div>
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For Thanksgiving this year my friend, David, and I planned a dinner for 60 people!<br />
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The preparations started a month in advance and thankfully in that time we recruited about 10 people to help with the cooking - there were four people making pies, two on stuffing, one on vegetables and another on bread. We actually eneded up having so much help that I didn't have to cook anything. I was excited about that because cooking for others (especially 60 others) tends to make me a little (or a lot) anxious. I was happy to be the behind the scenes planner and also, later, the menu maker. So here is how the days and hours leading up to the dinner went:<br />
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Thursday November 25th (actual Thanksgiving day): It is strange to be outside of the US on Thanksgiving. It is just a normal day! No family gathering together or the smell of a bird roasting - just the usual, wake up, go to work, come home. This year it all threw me into a bit of an existential crisis of questioning what is real. Very dramatic, I know. I made it through work and then I headed home to start making the menus. For those of you that know me well, you know that I often take on really huge tasks with no ability to foresee how much work will be required - this is exactly what happened with the menus. David and I had the idea to make Turkey hands, like you did in kindergarten, and have them serve as the menu. I took this a step further - I traced my hand 60 times on brown construction paper and then Andrea and I proceed to cut them all out. Then I drew and cut out around 180 "feathers" out of red and orange construciton paper. I then glued these onto the turkeys along with yellow construction paper beaks. I also drew an eye on both sides of the turkeys. Then I typed up the menu and a description of what Thanksgiving meant to us. I printed these and then cut them out and glued them onto the turkeys. I was up until 2 am at which time I was forced to go to bed because I had run out of brown construction paper. The turkey menu making would have to continue the next day.<br />
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Friday November 26th: Work. After work I met David and some other helpers at the venue for the dinner (a sort of community center with a large room which served as our dining room and a huge industrial kitchen). David made a marinade for the birds out of 2 kilos (almost 5 pounds) of butter and paprika while Monica, a friend of ours, and I, a former vegetarian, pulled all of the leftover feathers out of the birds. Is it normal for whole birds to have feathers left in them? Then David proceeded to inject each of the birds with the marinade using a mad scientist looking syringe that he had specially ordered online. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JBvdWtJfjGyayP17YScm4wsJbT-H293v-DgY7ISfOx_OHddYeRY1SZKvpQmMGQMiEabcsp6jPTh6IybRP2KaQWJQECOnysMjnUUYMZ51pb5YaMy_trMFD1VAYVnrrGZ515C6fyCv5yk/s1600/syringe.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571279019443995602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JBvdWtJfjGyayP17YScm4wsJbT-H293v-DgY7ISfOx_OHddYeRY1SZKvpQmMGQMiEabcsp6jPTh6IybRP2KaQWJQECOnysMjnUUYMZ51pb5YaMy_trMFD1VAYVnrrGZ515C6fyCv5yk/s640/syringe.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNL_PcTXoDNrjsfg95pSFFpXuHn1aNQt97LNeczY6OfUsLsdpH3kigSlzJbNbwE64lH_l11feL_-jVSZIDHnhvQmFMPnRL8uhyphenhyphenoYZGQIhNbz8e3Mp_7Bo4nPpkvJXrOj0JwWF4DdAPFf0/s1600/turkey+day+prep.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571279479264371474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNL_PcTXoDNrjsfg95pSFFpXuHn1aNQt97LNeczY6OfUsLsdpH3kigSlzJbNbwE64lH_l11feL_-jVSZIDHnhvQmFMPnRL8uhyphenhyphenoYZGQIhNbz8e3Mp_7Bo4nPpkvJXrOj0JwWF4DdAPFf0/s640/turkey+day+prep.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
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With the birds all loaded up with butter and tucked into the refrigerators for the night we left and went for pizzas. Then I returned home to finish the turkey menus. I crawled into bed after 2 am with 60 completed menus and bruises on my hands from too much scissor use.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshaVNUA7wONzA6AxwMLHA_An0S1u7cnu6fSsGKAoChdRlFE6chz6WOpRU41MknkLU7aIZTWFIyBtgv00TVRCLgFLe8xy7qAXJWay-7VZU2hs2pMcAuxdkPDlxdJrxP3LUB9eFF7rnuvM/s1600/100_1221.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571283198267275682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshaVNUA7wONzA6AxwMLHA_An0S1u7cnu6fSsGKAoChdRlFE6chz6WOpRU41MknkLU7aIZTWFIyBtgv00TVRCLgFLe8xy7qAXJWay-7VZU2hs2pMcAuxdkPDlxdJrxP3LUB9eFF7rnuvM/s640/100_1221.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpemTG9dMk0aIvwP9uLpYS0DcoPTB2o_MMRp6BYpe2t97mG6TwEDbDxE2DPR6hsothyphenhyphenBqQaB2lPopMCS7KI7ltNgDi7icdREWX12nfDwBYgqYNgxVphSLXBb0EtRmnLd8_sExEL99Xg4/s1600/100_1218.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571283481952123746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpemTG9dMk0aIvwP9uLpYS0DcoPTB2o_MMRp6BYpe2t97mG6TwEDbDxE2DPR6hsothyphenhyphenBqQaB2lPopMCS7KI7ltNgDi7icdREWX12nfDwBYgqYNgxVphSLXBb0EtRmnLd8_sExEL99Xg4/s640/100_1218.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
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Saturday November 27th: Our Thanksgiving Day! Looking back now the day was oddly multicultural and very wirlwind. Andrea and I went by the kitchen around 11 am to drop off the menus and the cranberry sauce. We found David along with some other helpers already hard at work. Then Andrea and I had to go to Modena to take some of his clients to a rugby game. It was sunny and surprisingly warm at the game.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIk47yjGo5My6D9ZB2tilh2rUVti8Qooc9ddeI78MTZ8R0PWJSIfsq_lB-_cy243WpY0wEnv6fa33pB3TenK9_y9OAiMDN8o0g_PrfQUTJ32ntvf2L6ikf2l0vd3xxcE6dn9cAw1ed6w/s1600/100_0933.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571285639796997794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIk47yjGo5My6D9ZB2tilh2rUVti8Qooc9ddeI78MTZ8R0PWJSIfsq_lB-_cy243WpY0wEnv6fa33pB3TenK9_y9OAiMDN8o0g_PrfQUTJ32ntvf2L6ikf2l0vd3xxcE6dn9cAw1ed6w/s640/100_0933.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
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The game was enjoyable although often totally incomprehensible. Gosh, I thought I knew a little bit about rugby but it is a complicated game. Here in Itlay though I have learned that if you just scream the word "dai" (prounced amusingly enough as die) you will look like you know what is going on. The word in this context means, more or less, come on. It does not matter what is happening in the game, good or bad, people will be screaming "dai"! Italy defeated Fiji much to my surprise - not to be unpatriotic but the Fijians had a lot of size and weight on the Italians.<br />
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Then Andrea and I were off back to Bologna. We arrived at the hall around 6 and began preparing the dining room. Trying to arrange the tables to fit 60 people was like one of those bad jokes: how many Italians does it take... After much discussion and people speaking over one and another we arranged the tables and got them set just in time for the first guests to start arriving.</div>
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Frank and Pasquale manned the door and acted as our cashiers.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsErZ7VCcBlNArFxR-xS1PXYxyh4Ziipcsqm4kIFjrLiK8uAzOX78Ixlu_5ZJ_FOzqBmvgrU_FCWbFRihZM9T8fxYq4NDCk-03LxRzLy0wf-GusXm1wxvNsBNMWovuHL777AN9FWJcSrc/s1600/door+men+tday.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571294500856672978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsErZ7VCcBlNArFxR-xS1PXYxyh4Ziipcsqm4kIFjrLiK8uAzOX78Ixlu_5ZJ_FOzqBmvgrU_FCWbFRihZM9T8fxYq4NDCk-03LxRzLy0wf-GusXm1wxvNsBNMWovuHL777AN9FWJcSrc/s640/door+men+tday.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
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The funny thing about the Turkey menus is how culture specific they are. When the Americans saw them they all exclaimed, "Turkey hands! Like we made in Kindergarten!". The Italians on the other hand all said, "What are those?".</div>
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All of our guests came and mingled and found their seats.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQD7EHkPophd5OZeIanbdguM4qPpucXj-8ls5IMCclvHifJqCx9dOVaSMrc71q0a_llRVpjmXEkTBJi-uQqYD4U9KGJ_KgySvQbXyMaXYmz0xAlshSJvserFmHZe74hx-nJKfBtMJl8xU/s1600/100_1000.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571297802820414706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQD7EHkPophd5OZeIanbdguM4qPpucXj-8ls5IMCclvHifJqCx9dOVaSMrc71q0a_llRVpjmXEkTBJi-uQqYD4U9KGJ_KgySvQbXyMaXYmz0xAlshSJvserFmHZe74hx-nJKfBtMJl8xU/s640/100_1000.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
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David pulled the turkeys from the oven and began the butchering. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfTMJsTsJwzXZBK9uMFgG0PVyno5qfNaeRMJ1bE8g_5Rogsxd1NcUm2v8szt9UKtMfzVGPYGOLD_rLy_BLRsOGL4AKWQ4PzMEuF68qSdu1C6BRLtz05mE7VdG77Oxymw7mQUdq0xxvnw/s1600/100_0981.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571302582790994578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfTMJsTsJwzXZBK9uMFgG0PVyno5qfNaeRMJ1bE8g_5Rogsxd1NcUm2v8szt9UKtMfzVGPYGOLD_rLy_BLRsOGL4AKWQ4PzMEuF68qSdu1C6BRLtz05mE7VdG77Oxymw7mQUdq0xxvnw/s640/100_0981.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /></a></div>
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We prepared the buffet.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsk4wSr5eOLZ5KINJR3qI1FGCd3HWM4NqkC9qdGQvZ-8_XJfxdTMnxLx1EyJsAKdIgUkSKaMCIS9jW3RPDJo4XHDQJbEzvyundjlzQwRA1RkGWoXD4HNtk9rVgFLPybI5LsgQ6_nmCwng/s1600/100_0996.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571304976516435666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsk4wSr5eOLZ5KINJR3qI1FGCd3HWM4NqkC9qdGQvZ-8_XJfxdTMnxLx1EyJsAKdIgUkSKaMCIS9jW3RPDJo4XHDQJbEzvyundjlzQwRA1RkGWoXD4HNtk9rVgFLPybI5LsgQ6_nmCwng/s640/100_0996.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrBeMc0EhbUS27foLXlopnSTuTMYD7n9L0WQbFa6LLdITVjf87_CUljSCrg6hofV7HI1UDSGT5WkQlG-dWCXean2XoMSP-BORqv0gWgnFV66vA-fiig-N94TcKj7ncmL9qoXpv-EVkIE/s1600/food+tday+2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571311882053572018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrBeMc0EhbUS27foLXlopnSTuTMYD7n9L0WQbFa6LLdITVjf87_CUljSCrg6hofV7HI1UDSGT5WkQlG-dWCXean2XoMSP-BORqv0gWgnFV66vA-fiig-N94TcKj7ncmL9qoXpv-EVkIE/s640/food+tday+2.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="618" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwh0-qOs0oi9d3H-mTmcPtEgBeR4mI9eE-BXUI-3MYR2Ay4vMl2hSgWD69fKKpZiAMrrUoWO09aeR-oLxqdVjv-pun5p1VaHz50sIILBfZTooqCKi4yNEAtI7_SwzNV8M8JOFN_8JdJwo/s1600/food+tday.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571311966537085346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwh0-qOs0oi9d3H-mTmcPtEgBeR4mI9eE-BXUI-3MYR2Ay4vMl2hSgWD69fKKpZiAMrrUoWO09aeR-oLxqdVjv-pun5p1VaHz50sIILBfZTooqCKi4yNEAtI7_SwzNV8M8JOFN_8JdJwo/s640/food+tday.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="622" /></a><br />
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Then we began the celebration! </div>
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Everything tasted amazing! People came back for seconds and even thirds. Then we had the dessert buffet complete with pumpkin and apple pie, homemade whipped cream and brownies.<br />
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Then we all went dancing. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13710453662263005235noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742374843566611121.post-10744860284860875422011-01-11T22:41:00.022+01:002012-03-01T14:15:18.375+01:00New Year's Eve<span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDiBV12I4sLC5D_bjUEfBxfV4J_v7sjSRCwKkqwqAKD2jV2lQ62_ZEE-04-k1mEtbN9WCZ782P4I06d4_4cBGf9fWYn9allXg6neaz_S2Ru_tlu-J0yoVLrfJGa4JkvCLacgkX1AzHODo/s1600/gucci.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562494482715882146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDiBV12I4sLC5D_bjUEfBxfV4J_v7sjSRCwKkqwqAKD2jV2lQ62_ZEE-04-k1mEtbN9WCZ782P4I06d4_4cBGf9fWYn9allXg6neaz_S2Ru_tlu-J0yoVLrfJGa4JkvCLacgkX1AzHODo/s640/gucci.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="268" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">It started with a fancy dress</span></div>
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCL9Vro8zrQWnIaibf-oV7JBkyhdGhcvQHX-X7S5HcuNhl6j6G6meR940GaqZGuXrMblnral4aldwLa1hLPdboq23FAp8aAticI_706mW0dWDgQj4uTJ8t-k7hR79j5f4_bIx1MgovnI/s1600/100_1469.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562496205081804722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCL9Vro8zrQWnIaibf-oV7JBkyhdGhcvQHX-X7S5HcuNhl6j6G6meR940GaqZGuXrMblnral4aldwLa1hLPdboq23FAp8aAticI_706mW0dWDgQj4uTJ8t-k7hR79j5f4_bIx1MgovnI/s640/100_1469.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;">a fancy, surprise present - just specially picked out to go with the dress</span></div>
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipR4FLYjGGAhyphenhyphenTbaC_r-BJQXhaGHmsjjGBb4-SESf6MCkKowjwl-lgPCoRyeOaHcWLd3NIxEUzZiop7CFttDC1FKPFiL4O-wtg5l8fUJVsBUgnH1UMZity-qRzikO79efzZ1bEwk_aAzA/s1600/me+and+andrea+nye.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="610" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565856828539260194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipR4FLYjGGAhyphenhyphenTbaC_r-BJQXhaGHmsjjGBb4-SESf6MCkKowjwl-lgPCoRyeOaHcWLd3NIxEUzZiop7CFttDC1FKPFiL4O-wtg5l8fUJVsBUgnH1UMZity-qRzikO79efzZ1bEwk_aAzA/s640/me+and+andrea+nye.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;">a very dapper boyfriend</span></div>
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVZTCNkIXtxrtuiCNRybDmgZ1riA5HnxKbkOsB9C0T0zHA_ZhoZXgvtb6L79ipJhihpw4gLrl9XBCyvGNmqhwTEnqIvJ-0786LcTrGej3iyx4iz8kYGd0n6S4Kw2pY94rDcqVo-CbOYY/s1600/100_1395.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565855724198989058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVZTCNkIXtxrtuiCNRybDmgZ1riA5HnxKbkOsB9C0T0zHA_ZhoZXgvtb6L79ipJhihpw4gLrl9XBCyvGNmqhwTEnqIvJ-0786LcTrGej3iyx4iz8kYGd0n6S4Kw2pY94rDcqVo-CbOYY/s640/100_1395.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;">an elegant setting</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">and <a href="http://www.lalamccallan.com/home_eng.php">LALA MCCALLAN</a>!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzyquFBu-Qq1lnJKAY-Y2LOXpqfhnRlGhZ8qhyphenhyphenW3O4ALiv4LlTca2FFOXZSu5Pjshmtdk0-smRWg-MZxH9f2zDhBAFpMBnXUzfx8kGPHiG7Y6FlFfYWbCEZV5H8qcXCnBVgtZu1Di7xM/s1600/LALA+NYE.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565857173901655762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzyquFBu-Qq1lnJKAY-Y2LOXpqfhnRlGhZ8qhyphenhyphenW3O4ALiv4LlTca2FFOXZSu5Pjshmtdk0-smRWg-MZxH9f2zDhBAFpMBnXUzfx8kGPHiG7Y6FlFfYWbCEZV5H8qcXCnBVgtZu1Di7xM/s640/LALA+NYE.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="519" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 85%;">Lala is one of the most amazing performers and artists I have ever seen and she has quickly become one of me and Andrea's favorites. She has an increbile range of over three octaves and can seemlessly switch from singing soprano to tenor. It is my absolute favorite part of the show when she performs both the male and female parts of songs such as Barbara Streisand's "You Don't Bring Me Flowers Anymore" and Andrea Bocelli's "<a href="http://www.lalamccallan.com/video_eng.php?id=7">Time to Say Goodbye</a>". It is stunning! Andrea and I always end up staring at each other, with mouths gaping, in disbelief. It is not any less impressive when she sings opera!</span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9fJ1mrpjOQyvXdHfMZILE3NvMRVmjez5JK6NX6J9dXsnKcfk5zimR7aFIX2bbks2DvQjKB75OHqATGJL4USRlHqS41gMot8cke1e4hkRSkJnpip40BFlkPnprezOP_F-CXfIitBvauQ/s1600/LALA+NYE+2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565857584366865138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9fJ1mrpjOQyvXdHfMZILE3NvMRVmjez5JK6NX6J9dXsnKcfk5zimR7aFIX2bbks2DvQjKB75OHqATGJL4USRlHqS41gMot8cke1e4hkRSkJnpip40BFlkPnprezOP_F-CXfIitBvauQ/s640/LALA+NYE+2.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="530" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 85%;">She has a wonderful and funny presense on stage that draws in people of all ages (the crowd on New Year's Eve was mostly comprised of older people and they loved the show!). Her costumes and wigs are quite the spectacle as well. All of her dresses are designed and made especially for her except the black one above which is a replica of a dress Marilyn Monroe wore.<br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;">And this is the <a href="http://www.lalamccallan.com/unmasked_eng.php">man</a> behind LaLa</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhIE2it0OPHz_YAzvpkNbWoI-bWWBYk6Kru7GCvesUfMaLm_Iej5E4po_I4OzBpbFehLZvLAB-wahlfdcwqMo4fMHNboj1uJQRgeZtmmbLAi2L50sHBtQm9phwQgkWA_ROtHkNS40oh0/s1600/danielle+lala.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565859230349284450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhIE2it0OPHz_YAzvpkNbWoI-bWWBYk6Kru7GCvesUfMaLm_Iej5E4po_I4OzBpbFehLZvLAB-wahlfdcwqMo4fMHNboj1uJQRgeZtmmbLAi2L50sHBtQm9phwQgkWA_ROtHkNS40oh0/s640/danielle+lala.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 85%;">He and his partner write, produce and take the show on the road all around the world. They are truly a wonderful and creative couple. I take my hat off to them for being able to do everything it takes to put on that show (think wig and costume changes, corsets to give a man womanly curves and make-up to hide stubble) and to still be talking to each other and very clearly in love at the end of the day.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioF-zVmJFJ9hHfJXw6o-yKATzeJJUKO4_po4hN62gg4f2Bmh7C9knF0YCO56KprcORFUZtYdEWSsmrPb3OdiHyD0JcsYEk41c2ga1wLh8MTcAAm99gpJL1jPpu5IWZJjzOB7HpOAlgLWA/s1600/menu+nye.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="528" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565874313192258178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioF-zVmJFJ9hHfJXw6o-yKATzeJJUKO4_po4hN62gg4f2Bmh7C9knF0YCO56KprcORFUZtYdEWSsmrPb3OdiHyD0JcsYEk41c2ga1wLh8MTcAAm99gpJL1jPpu5IWZJjzOB7HpOAlgLWA/s640/menu+nye.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 85%;">In addition to LaLa, we enjoyed a wonderful dinner accompanied by interesting and diverse wine pairings. I was a little nervous to see goose as the main course but I was very pleasently surprised as soon as I took my first bite. It was all the flavors of duck but without the greasiness. The flavors of the bird were complimented perfectly by the earthy lentil ragu with which it was served.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 85%;">The night was magical and elegant and it made me feel like a princess. It was a very special treat and a fabulous way to start the new year.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 85%;">Happy 2011! May it bring to you exactly what you have wished for.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuSxkwRJFqsQO_X0KSnlyD4I6XVqAN3fKje1z5X1q-Ch18np2JYcnypEHB7bKRSlYRRWsN4MdzpZaQFsHKBVee2D0Y85TU5mZytl5v_VHz9rsxQQxRh4M1vPN2Vrvbp6e_5_jYhoxRk0/s1600/andrea+and+i+on+nye.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565875693114010642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuSxkwRJFqsQO_X0KSnlyD4I6XVqAN3fKje1z5X1q-Ch18np2JYcnypEHB7bKRSlYRRWsN4MdzpZaQFsHKBVee2D0Y85TU5mZytl5v_VHz9rsxQQxRh4M1vPN2Vrvbp6e_5_jYhoxRk0/s640/andrea+and+i+on+nye.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnTDGHHtI2GgFZxV4npb7o_77fBEvGs0J_URI6LE8OPK-26w2SJx5IJkCEt01RJaq8-t7QG2DE7vewZsaCG89zNRR9ZaETaJyKUtySQeMqbwFXR_y2L6DocqMJ3wEP6H4uh2nb0RkhxA/s1600/100_1445.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565876335694959698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnTDGHHtI2GgFZxV4npb7o_77fBEvGs0J_URI6LE8OPK-26w2SJx5IJkCEt01RJaq8-t7QG2DE7vewZsaCG89zNRR9ZaETaJyKUtySQeMqbwFXR_y2L6DocqMJ3wEP6H4uh2nb0RkhxA/s640/100_1445.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-Ve4v52OQK22vcn91QWPpCZdJD7gP-jhwymPMzjsOEvMmS4yHNJJRnkA1MPyDwpikKO6NSVQ_IF0ZWxTpwYheeadNgZ0uqANTHqI9uywQqLzzQeAN-0y2zpNK78lKjcv4FOLgclnkPk/s1600/100_1465.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565876618114164354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-Ve4v52OQK22vcn91QWPpCZdJD7gP-jhwymPMzjsOEvMmS4yHNJJRnkA1MPyDwpikKO6NSVQ_IF0ZWxTpwYheeadNgZ0uqANTHqI9uywQqLzzQeAN-0y2zpNK78lKjcv4FOLgclnkPk/s640/100_1465.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13710453662263005235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742374843566611121.post-87398201045425842872010-12-25T23:51:00.007+01:002012-03-01T14:16:32.706+01:00Bologna's Lights<div align="center">
I am always amazed by the enchanting display of lights the city of Bologna puts up for Christmas. There are so many lights! Around every corner and down every little street there are a different size and shape of lights. It feels truly magical and special.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXU3F1yopw5kUG_UZFpkizwj00_B0oAKoIfuUXaf4GrVwV8UubcRwWZgRFF3LSQWDNmGR7_P6kX1AIXV9cxZ16acxv9YHEXtJnmbKB-upuFERV8ryfwimQ-zN5Oais3GiGjFqmPKOyRa4/s1600/100_1311.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554763763166867762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXU3F1yopw5kUG_UZFpkizwj00_B0oAKoIfuUXaf4GrVwV8UubcRwWZgRFF3LSQWDNmGR7_P6kX1AIXV9cxZ16acxv9YHEXtJnmbKB-upuFERV8ryfwimQ-zN5Oais3GiGjFqmPKOyRa4/s640/100_1311.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /></a> One of the two towers all decorated in its Christmas best...the towers are always amazing and a true symbol of Bologna but when they are decorated with the lights they are even more special because from all around the town you can glance up and see the lights from the tower.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7K9kXkGkHjDr1EldgNoFNwVxvWQOi8QDDeOxOeMVTPYmJ_wTBOoz8zAe09P1q6VlDFI8EMhXvgL_5X1r9cqVlRHzQMItOzkRi7pwXiLsWYlH0VnE_KFRBWy85f_7PfGiodVk8pXnYjsY/s1600/100_1391.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554763456599681234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7K9kXkGkHjDr1EldgNoFNwVxvWQOi8QDDeOxOeMVTPYmJ_wTBOoz8zAe09P1q6VlDFI8EMhXvgL_5X1r9cqVlRHzQMItOzkRi7pwXiLsWYlH0VnE_KFRBWy85f_7PfGiodVk8pXnYjsY/s640/100_1391.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8cSZ83GjAOpd09w_El6vhUiJQMSRyHG9NHsX7BUD3-eCtLKhyphenhyphenOA2KYP4Eb2aa2aHm9Jc5Q3JEpkmhuQ4bdXcHT2tYRrngAPur52H5_Z_WeXfky3LRSh5LjQ-z6OgJArxKeRyeQ-C6Xo/s1600/100_1383.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554762437127990594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8cSZ83GjAOpd09w_El6vhUiJQMSRyHG9NHsX7BUD3-eCtLKhyphenhyphenOA2KYP4Eb2aa2aHm9Jc5Q3JEpkmhuQ4bdXcHT2tYRrngAPur52H5_Z_WeXfky3LRSh5LjQ-z6OgJArxKeRyeQ-C6Xo/s640/100_1383.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmcJRwwR942sWKqvegLQzn3KJ0m7N-l0Vk8cRNd3VdbPNaO9icp2V0Se9R9OMr07s5eLb1N9uFJElVBKEI-tR3hDzQAejigE5YafUlpHdJz5ISMIOYx-LOsPxGCgXod9b_s-O-b-_-Cs/s1600/100_1363.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554761589225307282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmcJRwwR942sWKqvegLQzn3KJ0m7N-l0Vk8cRNd3VdbPNaO9icp2V0Se9R9OMr07s5eLb1N9uFJElVBKEI-tR3hDzQAejigE5YafUlpHdJz5ISMIOYx-LOsPxGCgXod9b_s-O-b-_-Cs/s640/100_1363.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeZQDlO8wNV2scx0HNuqKMqe2LPsLEJoqvlHH4ldBFZKlWy7xRDn39KNX430C63VFpw3bW5I7KYFYjV5lkVZrEv1dzHlHN4aYQAvnV5GJDMk7ashIRBI4xyye-AMUwmqIbTWreEjA9KU/s1600/100_1353.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554761146494819858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeZQDlO8wNV2scx0HNuqKMqe2LPsLEJoqvlHH4ldBFZKlWy7xRDn39KNX430C63VFpw3bW5I7KYFYjV5lkVZrEv1dzHlHN4aYQAvnV5GJDMk7ashIRBI4xyye-AMUwmqIbTWreEjA9KU/s640/100_1353.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJ2rIa6ZfPcn5Sy2YQJN8DpnZ_4JWz2C248sFWKB-ngBOLwcsmHJ_u_m0R0IUh97IPzyOjSLoF-6UN_kRwxmIzlVWRSLhqD-sPKFOkwDJ_5oiu0LTriNzW3ZhUXvMzvrnsZupdVHeqrk/s1600/100_1351.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554757190917334562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJ2rIa6ZfPcn5Sy2YQJN8DpnZ_4JWz2C248sFWKB-ngBOLwcsmHJ_u_m0R0IUh97IPzyOjSLoF-6UN_kRwxmIzlVWRSLhqD-sPKFOkwDJ_5oiu0LTriNzW3ZhUXvMzvrnsZupdVHeqrk/s640/100_1351.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /></a><br />
Merry Christmas! </div>
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I hope that everyone had a lovely celebration with their friends, family and the people they love.<br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13710453662263005235noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742374843566611121.post-13944889068363587262010-12-25T23:16:00.012+01:002012-03-01T14:18:38.345+01:00Decorations<div align="center">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbvQyETT408VIsDhtQkVFtV7mKYumSnZj9qLy8q6PRyCXTeStFfIMD9kXmcm6qRKU98wj6B-HnO8IEuCtJSRfgq8aRwuO9gHbJmNosRZGB26nh9qgTbVJLrFiMa0eCr4dUVD-Yr6xwGA/s1600/100_1233.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554751845702515234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbvQyETT408VIsDhtQkVFtV7mKYumSnZj9qLy8q6PRyCXTeStFfIMD9kXmcm6qRKU98wj6B-HnO8IEuCtJSRfgq8aRwuO9gHbJmNosRZGB26nh9qgTbVJLrFiMa0eCr4dUVD-Yr6xwGA/s640/100_1233.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a></div>
This was the first year in a long time that I had a Christmas tree. It was fun to decorate it and it brought back memories of childhood and searching and hunting for the perfect branch on which to place each ornament. This guys branches proved to be a little tricky because most of them face up, instead of out, but I think he turned out pretty cute, even if a little <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhri7J8f5iHxfL_o0zybPA5l9KrDGcjsEYr_ZZ2zo21eZ7CPb6VALQE_wqAJ_wusChyphenhyphenjMvBnpksTEplbvR3_6YexYoc82AbY920Wk5K56shyphenhyphen_ofRpG1DOlBeykDGBshARq2peAOwE2ovTBh/s1600/cartoon-charlie-brown-tree.jpg">Charlie Brownish</a>. Also, here in Italy they do not sell cut trees like in the US so Andrea has already been scouting out places where we can plant this guy when we are done with him. (And yes, that is our pizza dinner all ready for us on the table - after literally hours of decorating I was hungry!).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNTXHUgrbrTH6PZ8rWDBdNWtG0TIngVjCNqab1H3WJ2ws_U4OqW9Y-hXd2jwtx5VUPEvbLXDIMdg2J3XiYDyjUupXGCmLOgD6I-Kmyl5esc5AKXNSKfoqtc1WjrDwoliuUOpRWocE1WE/s1600/100_1256.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554751136258173618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNTXHUgrbrTH6PZ8rWDBdNWtG0TIngVjCNqab1H3WJ2ws_U4OqW9Y-hXd2jwtx5VUPEvbLXDIMdg2J3XiYDyjUupXGCmLOgD6I-Kmyl5esc5AKXNSKfoqtc1WjrDwoliuUOpRWocE1WE/s640/100_1256.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /></a> I don't have a tree topper so I improvised with this little guy. I think he worked out pretty well. Also, notice Andrea's, very patriotic, Christmas Eve morning surprise.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPkEt_qHpK5MdxQwt_oq5KOPutQ_2fFFZOwvAey6rTHSCGLoNDjbSv5k9ziSj4NFeSvGfYV73imRC1gd3cpRU4F_PvUK4RHghZDCJwkcjs3PnTQQoObLbjD2sQisTqhB911abMncXu08/s1600/100_1294.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554750826818858002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPkEt_qHpK5MdxQwt_oq5KOPutQ_2fFFZOwvAey6rTHSCGLoNDjbSv5k9ziSj4NFeSvGfYV73imRC1gd3cpRU4F_PvUK4RHghZDCJwkcjs3PnTQQoObLbjD2sQisTqhB911abMncXu08/s640/100_1294.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /></a> We bought this ornament earlier this month at the Christmas Market in Innsbruck. It is the first ornament I have here that has a special story and meaning behind it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQShy3z73TSdH_3DYQANWM80870vr9_qULz1EndPkEJqXtMhJApuozDQDqnRrQrvhsgWuW7xxCMng6tCHhLKvvrFICqIlSrj0ayAmdTkJnfChRhKPzSxbM4gFuzWAbzFpYxkYb1Bx8ZA/s1600/100_1288.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554750492462276658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQShy3z73TSdH_3DYQANWM80870vr9_qULz1EndPkEJqXtMhJApuozDQDqnRrQrvhsgWuW7xxCMng6tCHhLKvvrFICqIlSrj0ayAmdTkJnfChRhKPzSxbM4gFuzWAbzFpYxkYb1Bx8ZA/s640/100_1288.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXcZ7Fkt5zZGd8GiaNryfdA9HJt9Tp-hxcbzhVftxCRM3lOg2xGtflinA91iKZhrrYHh56Mm9a7YYEw2mMpNpYcX7NsK-NH2SeaVQoZqH4JDzlq_akbyoyCmaU5uOGQhYxBDNRNjpUuU/s1600/100_1267.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554749602545420418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXcZ7Fkt5zZGd8GiaNryfdA9HJt9Tp-hxcbzhVftxCRM3lOg2xGtflinA91iKZhrrYHh56Mm9a7YYEw2mMpNpYcX7NsK-NH2SeaVQoZqH4JDzlq_akbyoyCmaU5uOGQhYxBDNRNjpUuU/s640/100_1267.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMinbo4tTnLwWpqzYmewiAZzVq_p7Y4IaMyAGwe2fY9p-vzvicCp_d7UkVEt_qkYfnyr7fSy6jRf8mmwVTjQ9LrNuL4NsYVhveW66y3Nf9cRCEulVQ5AwKVerlM4GHylv24snfbruayYs/s1600/100_1284.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554749323015894962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMinbo4tTnLwWpqzYmewiAZzVq_p7Y4IaMyAGwe2fY9p-vzvicCp_d7UkVEt_qkYfnyr7fSy6jRf8mmwVTjQ9LrNuL4NsYVhveW66y3Nf9cRCEulVQ5AwKVerlM4GHylv24snfbruayYs/s640/100_1284.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /></a>This guy is another purchase from the Christmas Market in Innsbruck. He caught my eye immediately on the first night we were there so we brought him home and we call him Furry Santa.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNDF63kxDS5182am_HeNLooj6dKDoJxW4ISz-LSFPhkyxLQkPkPxJ6vfgVbjcYc3byEx3RlMbdqZN9CCVx4f0TOL9DuMYB5cs893JOD5f6CA69BjPDqcvI9UPzjX6P7z6vUF9t79Wzf2s/s1600/100_1269.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554748845884223970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNDF63kxDS5182am_HeNLooj6dKDoJxW4ISz-LSFPhkyxLQkPkPxJ6vfgVbjcYc3byEx3RlMbdqZN9CCVx4f0TOL9DuMYB5cs893JOD5f6CA69BjPDqcvI9UPzjX6P7z6vUF9t79Wzf2s/s640/100_1269.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a>We have, somewhat unknowingly, become cup collectors and although it sounds kind of dorky and weird I really like it. The mugs, with the exception of the one from the Sagra Del Tartufo, are all from various Christmas Markets we visited this year and last. It is one of my favorite things, to go to a Christmas Market on a cold night and get a mug full of steamy Vin Brulee (mulled wine) and walk around the snow covered market admiring the decorations, ornaments and other goods. It always makes me feel as though I am walking through the pages of a storybook.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObwqutrtFZYa1C0g5Z1UYaqgCDZVoiEVITGECL2YQtQn90Pi-LGEhUMwZYhvTEV_48CqkFuMm66T9GrZABtwTMTERJOtqjSmB9ITPTXl_p4_4Nf7fFYI14G0yAdDiSzZ8rYisuqcl-DY/s1600/100_1305.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554748201296569586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObwqutrtFZYa1C0g5Z1UYaqgCDZVoiEVITGECL2YQtQn90Pi-LGEhUMwZYhvTEV_48CqkFuMm66T9GrZABtwTMTERJOtqjSmB9ITPTXl_p4_4Nf7fFYI14G0yAdDiSzZ8rYisuqcl-DY/s640/100_1305.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13710453662263005235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742374843566611121.post-71982566683344853412010-12-13T22:56:00.010+01:002012-03-01T14:19:22.826+01:00Seasonal Pictures - Fall<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-7kprVL9Y5rjo3UZnoLeEqu5htQb7XM7efXO9KVnRatxF66fEKWhr0EpaHD5BZ3RLa-wZUpPn1M8H_DVw3dRaE7Q1Dhm1IUjz1ST4JdF1utwlzfvnebR3RsYgaRv4Rhqo98_Xz9FPBA/s1600/100_1226.jpg"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYnC89Yr-kw-_VvxJkTBMKQ9hJr8yTiRdIyo1yxjDjn-q6pmVaAWAjgRmVBhruRQW29FV6mMALNduuC83Kzfb0L8NCtcU2ZfQWWeOBGuINeb746TUgFoTrShXbhjhptaURlJdv-CcTGk/s1600/100_1223.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550290286531821618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYnC89Yr-kw-_VvxJkTBMKQ9hJr8yTiRdIyo1yxjDjn-q6pmVaAWAjgRmVBhruRQW29FV6mMALNduuC83Kzfb0L8NCtcU2ZfQWWeOBGuINeb746TUgFoTrShXbhjhptaURlJdv-CcTGk/s640/100_1223.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZbSBxdL6WXv8RH6ilPwDs8tUIpQWV3X4YqPcJOT3hUubqwkz0CSTRSWU8FLFW9cjBJMOFrolzMX1zm8J1YkgGhoz8QVRnSdpQFShPwoqFBxUUtdoTcViHzwAgrCuwMyaL2YxklY1DI4/s1600/100_1224.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550290449431980130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZbSBxdL6WXv8RH6ilPwDs8tUIpQWV3X4YqPcJOT3hUubqwkz0CSTRSWU8FLFW9cjBJMOFrolzMX1zm8J1YkgGhoz8QVRnSdpQFShPwoqFBxUUtdoTcViHzwAgrCuwMyaL2YxklY1DI4/s640/100_1224.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-7kprVL9Y5rjo3UZnoLeEqu5htQb7XM7efXO9KVnRatxF66fEKWhr0EpaHD5BZ3RLa-wZUpPn1M8H_DVw3dRaE7Q1Dhm1IUjz1ST4JdF1utwlzfvnebR3RsYgaRv4Rhqo98_Xz9FPBA/s1600/100_1226.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550290642125346770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-7kprVL9Y5rjo3UZnoLeEqu5htQb7XM7efXO9KVnRatxF66fEKWhr0EpaHD5BZ3RLa-wZUpPn1M8H_DVw3dRaE7Q1Dhm1IUjz1ST4JdF1utwlzfvnebR3RsYgaRv4Rhqo98_Xz9FPBA/s640/100_1226.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
Things that are making me happy:<br />
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- mild temperatures that allow us to spend time outside without turning into popsicles<br />
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- blue skies<br />
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- the great big window next my desk at work that allows me to see the sunset over the hills every evening - I am still thrilled after being in our new office over 1 month<br />
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Thanks mother earth for being so lovely this fall!<br />
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<span style="font-size: 78%;">**Excuse me for the not so fabulous quality of these pictures - I was trying to take them quickly and covertly. If someone would have seen me they would have thought I was nuts, for sure - just as they did the first day in our new office when at 5 o'clock I exclaimed, "we get sunsets now".**</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13710453662263005235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742374843566611121.post-66594522355622209972010-11-22T15:28:00.011+01:002012-03-01T14:20:53.548+01:00Seasonal Pictures - Fall & La Sagra del TartufoAndrea and I spent the last two Sundays in the picturesque village of <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=savigno,+italy&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:it:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=Savigno+Bologna,+Italy&ei=HYbqTIzmJomphAfHqokQ&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CBMQ8gEwAA">Savigno</a> at their annual Sagra del Tartufo. Sagre are festivals that are typically held in small villages to celebrate a local product including those that are planted and harvested (squash and pumpkins for example), collected or foraged (like the tartufo) or prepared and cooked (like tortellini). Spending a Saturday or Sunday exploring a village and enjoying the goods at their Sagra has become one of my all time favorite things to do here in Italy and this (late fall and early winter) is the peak season for Sagre!<br />
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This is the second year in a row that we have gone to Savigno for the Sagra del Tartufo and it has become something for which I anxiously await. The great access to truffles here still absolutely astounds me. In the states truffles are such an exclusive product that they are reserved for only a very few. Here they are everywhere and so much more afforable in comparision! Truffles are offered in restaurants on everything from steaks, to pasta and even on pizza! The varieties of different truffle products is also outstanding! First, there are the whole truffles for sale<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqD_wde7zZlW0aLiWIoUDe1qawK9wOnTP0ON2J9gHYzMsGPHAA_tnhh-S4sX078svh2FtM7jgqn5jiXGzfxGKdZCMWYqy7afPlOGlyT3pSfxCi9KHHN6AGjMTPkUSRAo7Rz98I3lXThs/s1600/100_0905.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542384914174935602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqD_wde7zZlW0aLiWIoUDe1qawK9wOnTP0ON2J9gHYzMsGPHAA_tnhh-S4sX078svh2FtM7jgqn5jiXGzfxGKdZCMWYqy7afPlOGlyT3pSfxCi9KHHN6AGjMTPkUSRAo7Rz98I3lXThs/s640/100_0905.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a>The truffles on the right are the black truffles which can be cooked and have a more subtle, less intese flavor. The truffles on the left are the prized white truffle which have a strong, intense flavor and smell. These truffles cannot be cooked but will be shaved on top of the already prepared food.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4rOOqwkJH7LCipO27oDV71seq7XBD8HcBwrPzy4VbWzpWNWOtzoAblkbjjKv-wOa3NbY25PH4vrCOCgPQWY4ueCZC835E_rham3En2idmmFPnslyttaVRMviINzlQ_afLfqw_u-A4YM/s1600/100_0906.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542386663614920658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4rOOqwkJH7LCipO27oDV71seq7XBD8HcBwrPzy4VbWzpWNWOtzoAblkbjjKv-wOa3NbY25PH4vrCOCgPQWY4ueCZC835E_rham3En2idmmFPnslyttaVRMviINzlQ_afLfqw_u-A4YM/s640/100_0906.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /></a>Now when I said affordable I meant in comparision to the states. As you can see, the truffles are a very desired and respected product and the larger ones demand quite a big price tag. I always find it interesting to watch the truffle sellers carefully weighing, measuring and examing their truffles much the same way a jeweler might exam a diamond. There is a true sense of respect and reverence towards the truffles.<br />
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Now if you are not in the market for a truffle in the raw, as I found out that I am not after Andrea bought me one last year and I was too intimidated to use it so it went bad in our cupboard, there are many other wonderful truffle products to buy...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2lg85Vto_jq9QsuIOcfMpXe1sG4e9AaQ1sk_qadVq0iW7pXu0suj3GC66CYf5zSOuRjEQVuobq0sxtSdfoywyMd2LgBZKBbsqzkZGgktbkfzBBkg_ztA_uz7mkfBldysNoVBKQzjfqfk/s1600/Sagra+del+Tartufo+2010+005.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542389910520452178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2lg85Vto_jq9QsuIOcfMpXe1sG4e9AaQ1sk_qadVq0iW7pXu0suj3GC66CYf5zSOuRjEQVuobq0sxtSdfoywyMd2LgBZKBbsqzkZGgktbkfzBBkg_ztA_uz7mkfBldysNoVBKQzjfqfk/s640/Sagra+del+Tartufo+2010+005.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /></a>Truffle sausage<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">(That is one long sausage and the woman selling it simply cuts off how much you want!)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtrfJTPtRvF7CQlkuv0sHPKGHzMEKW2pCZjQkn2WjE-ZZiAdMf4x0_4hu2u8u0McO_DlBG6P8B4eJtIu4E0B9tO7UwkqTqnTKWFpPHaYZrebz-LF7W78rkH9ZI843r5vdeiAJ6fkUV34/s1600/100_0903.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542391900510224162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtrfJTPtRvF7CQlkuv0sHPKGHzMEKW2pCZjQkn2WjE-ZZiAdMf4x0_4hu2u8u0McO_DlBG6P8B4eJtIu4E0B9tO7UwkqTqnTKWFpPHaYZrebz-LF7W78rkH9ZI843r5vdeiAJ6fkUV34/s640/100_0903.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /></a>Truffle Cheese<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">(which are actually the small rounds to the right - the huge round of cheese was just too impressive not to get a picture of. Also check out the huge piece of Coppa di Testa in the back. It is delicious but I am a little afraid to know what it is made of as the whole time I was eating it yesterday the boys err, I mean gentlemen I was with were teasing me about what I was eating. I told them better to just enjoy and remain in ignorant bliss.)<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMmS_VoACW6m9_fHOiOzSp5k8SfcV-C6qgVP2vMVEF90PQUUxdDEPCqRMNo-o0ByTx0JX-PYe1RhfGKk8Zs9Z-NF5HbDYVvZpUy4KyX0I4QGladbmbkzCgDqr4mn0Hozwg90hVRVOkcQ/s1600/100_0890.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542393491240344594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMmS_VoACW6m9_fHOiOzSp5k8SfcV-C6qgVP2vMVEF90PQUUxdDEPCqRMNo-o0ByTx0JX-PYe1RhfGKk8Zs9Z-NF5HbDYVvZpUy4KyX0I4QGladbmbkzCgDqr4mn0Hozwg90hVRVOkcQ/s640/100_0890.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /></a>Truffle Eggs<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">(I find these to be truly amazing! The people that make these put the eggs and truffles into a big air tight, glass container and then seal it up. The truffles are so pungent that their smell/taste permeates the shell of the egg so that when the eggs are cooked they taste of truffles! I have yet to try a truffle egg but I am very curious.)<br /></span><br />
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Then there are also many, many non-truffle delicacies to purchase as well...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1GIs9SmXO1aMN2LNjuTj6clv0iPiuXYB0T1lGeAy1zoqH9mQaq539k39xeZKzlEKB-wMvJOJ6p5DKpUMR9GjhgwmwcTO7XGFnal2NBNLjYaA41X_W4sWjDzX41-jhfBc3EopjRPBykY/s1600/Sagra+del+Tartufo+2010+002.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542394794715436018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1GIs9SmXO1aMN2LNjuTj6clv0iPiuXYB0T1lGeAy1zoqH9mQaq539k39xeZKzlEKB-wMvJOJ6p5DKpUMR9GjhgwmwcTO7XGFnal2NBNLjYaA41X_W4sWjDzX41-jhfBc3EopjRPBykY/s640/Sagra+del+Tartufo+2010+002.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /></a>More cheese (I think this Gorgonzola looks to die for) and more Coppa di Testa<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttLeKXZoY8xA0q8KPg7d3ZxB_zIjz07bkfN7CdYKyyW_CMoDZF_RPBQIAVbKnZu0caumhH103MRWiUZzBDJofcvGQ8Psl-ZVTrv6ZHPvXZSIjVu47SoRLcQajlWbbstXNm7lQmwUADTk/s1600/Sagra+del+Tartufo+2010+010.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542395569033515474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttLeKXZoY8xA0q8KPg7d3ZxB_zIjz07bkfN7CdYKyyW_CMoDZF_RPBQIAVbKnZu0caumhH103MRWiUZzBDJofcvGQ8Psl-ZVTrv6ZHPvXZSIjVu47SoRLcQajlWbbstXNm7lQmwUADTk/s640/Sagra+del+Tartufo+2010+010.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /></a>Beautiful Tigelle<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">(think flat biscuit that are fantastic when they are hot and fresh with some sliced meat and cheese)</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSl8vgHPk_K6UU7ponJPR0pdXBkqRXndiGHbgTQ14TtZy0SnYyRBqlgLVgc0lJceOWzLCSevOuz0n3VfIn1_jGVJsKpAgP2TqQOyzRAq1winIOJj1vBsXXVgFJF15PF9V8iZrIoGBRwlw/s1600/100_0893.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542397520080387314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSl8vgHPk_K6UU7ponJPR0pdXBkqRXndiGHbgTQ14TtZy0SnYyRBqlgLVgc0lJceOWzLCSevOuz0n3VfIn1_jGVJsKpAgP2TqQOyzRAq1winIOJj1vBsXXVgFJF15PF9V8iZrIoGBRwlw/s640/100_0893.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a>Exqusite fresh pasta<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ndEVayPP20RVeWeKF9L2j2mPu_owP1LAjmQlduBI-xqSc0Zi4lvytNVovkhhSvoDZvrRILK4j549gbig_pSYTpVgZ4GxMyYrAcaZzeGJntqmPRKU1DraanhDc8MGBENF8X0TUg7VRZI/s1600/100_0891.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542398433301930690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ndEVayPP20RVeWeKF9L2j2mPu_owP1LAjmQlduBI-xqSc0Zi4lvytNVovkhhSvoDZvrRILK4j549gbig_pSYTpVgZ4GxMyYrAcaZzeGJntqmPRKU1DraanhDc8MGBENF8X0TUg7VRZI/s640/100_0891.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /></a>And candy pink Pesca<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">(These are a soft, cake like, cookies. The two halves are baked seperately and then soaked in liquor before being sandwhiched together with chocolate and then rolled in sugar - devine!)</span></div>
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This is my favorite part of Italy. I feel so grateful that there are small towns with real pride in what they make, forage and grow. It is in these towns that I feel a real, genuine sense of history, time, tradition and culture. None of this is done as a show or for tourists from faraway places. It is so very nice to be absorbed into the country and to intimately come to know the people and places that I feel make up the true Italy.</div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13710453662263005235noreply@blogger.com2