a slack attempt

Okey so I haven't really taken any photos of this new place...

Lots has been happening...A new life has just arrived on our doorstep..its a bit time consuming to take it all in really.

the only photos i have are some of my new work place..and grant and i waiting at the bus stop..

After hearing about the earthquake and the devastation in Christchurch, my day was completely turned upside down...I cried on the bus..at work about three times..and on the way home..

There are so many people here who have families in New Zealand and can't go home to be with them at this time.

I hope this isn't selfish of me, but it made me think of my family at home, and drastic as it sounds..if i will ever see them again. I pray every day that i will get to hold them all once again.

I have fallen in love with this city...Every bit so far! The lights, the noise...the coffee!!

sorry this blog is so short..Its hard to write about normal life i guess..no real crazy stories as yet...

I did meet a cat on the side of the road that i wanted to take home though...Grant shook his head and we had to keep walking..

i leave you with my slack attempt

He made it (the type writer) in one piece..three countries, and more to go!

coffee lights

our couch

Artisan

Florence was seen in a day

I beautiful trip through the snowy alps (not actually sure where they were) on a train through Italy, and we had finally arrived in Florence.

Overwhelmed by this massive city, we were so glad to be greeted by our beautiful friend Steph who has been studying in Florence. She'd been doing a course on teaching english. She hopes to teach english in Italy one day, so she never has to leave:)

She took us for a quick tour around the city, and we ended up smack bang in the face of the Santa Maria Duomo. The biggest church I have ever seen! So many tourists...

Some of Stephs friends told us that there was a chocolate festival happening in one of the market squares, so we made our way through alley ways and cobble stones to get there. Never have a seen so much chocolate in one place. It was hard to know where to start!. Real chocolate poured over fresh strawberries is what we went for.

We made our way up the three flights of stairs to the little apartment we were staying in, opened up the window and stuck our head out into the fresh cool air. As we looked down we sore many italians on their way to some unknown place. We could watch the whole city from up in our little room.

The next day we awoke early ish.. Put on lots of warm things and ventured out the door into the morning bustle. We found a little bar and had Cafe and Panini for breakfast. Just beautiful!

We found a market that took up one whole street. Scarves, bags, hats, books, so many bright colours and smiling faces.

Onto the look out that looks over the whole city. Michael Angelo look out i think it was called? There was a replica of the David in the middle of the square (unfortunately we didn't find the real David). We sore many brides that looked like meringues with meters and meters of pink tulle fabric blowing in the wind.

Many a story to tell, but one that is worth telling was the dinner that we experienced that evening. We found a nice little restaurant near our apartment and made the choice to eat there. It was 7pm so not that early, and we were the only ones in the place. After more thought, we all decided to stay and eat. We ordered, ate our meal, talked, drank, still no one came..The owner, a think grey haired wiry looking man, had many friends pop in and out of the shop during this time. All had leather jackets, cigars, and big bellies. Something shady seemed to be going on.

We got up to pay for the meal at the counter, gave him the money and he proceeded to get our change from his wallet..? Had we just eaten at the Mafia house.

We all left in hysterics, laughing our way down the street to buy some Italian waffles with Gelato!

Our time in Italy had come to an end. I was so sad to leave, and promised to come back.

We left Italy on the 7th of February at 7:55am..and we didn't miss the flight!

the chocolate festival at dusk. Music, festivities and chocolate. What better place to be

Waiting at the station in Bologna to catch the train to florence, as well as admiring my boots:)

The markets in Florence

Grant was so shocked at how big the Duomo was, it changed his face to this

Santa Maria Duomo

One of the replicas of the David

A beautiful little red fiat we found at a car show. We all wanted to take him home

the river that runs through the city of florence at sun down. Bello!

Mi Albicocca

Cesena Italia. What a place to be.

We arrived at Mama Ro in the dark, so had no bearings as to where we were.

The next morning after a white sheet, four poster bed sleep I remembered where we were.

I didn't even stop to put on a coat. Straight out the door and into the 0 degree morning. Fields of Albicocca (apricot) tree's as far as the eye could see. We were in Cesena, birth place of my Nona. I walked further out of the door way, and saw the hills, houses and birds. I began to cry.

First day was difficult, unlike the rest of our time in Italy. The language barrier proved to be a tricky one. Carlo and Roberta (the owners of Mama Ro and our hosts) are apricot farmers. Carlo speaks very good English so that helped a lot.

I asked, in my very shaky italian, "Carlo, vorrei noleggiare bicicleta per favour?" (I'd like to hire a bicycle please)

And so our adventures on the bicicleta began!

We decided to go on a pilgrimage to find the convent that my Nona grew up in. But sadly we were unsuccessful. We trekked for hours, walking up and down the same street. But nothing.

We did find the street she lived in "Via Aldini" that made me happy non the less.

Then for Due Cafe e Insalata (two coffee's and salad) The best coffee I have ever had!

Things blur into one big day here in Italia. We went food shopping, now that was an experience! We managed to get out a live and with what we needed, and headed home to make dinner.

We toured the whole town on our bicicleta. To the Abby (a giant church on top of the biggest hill in town, took about on hour to get up it!) All the walls were painted with angels, and marry's and don'f forget Jesus!

Milena Zoffoli, my second cousin, speaks no english. We found her apartment, made our way up for coffee and some form of a catch up that went from my really bad Italian to her really bad English. But we managed. We found out much about the town, and her life. She sadly told us that the convent Nona grew up in had been pulled down and was no longer there.

We parted with hugs and big kisses, and I was glad to have met a relative in Cesena.

One of the days in this blurring week, saw a visit to Bologna. After many tears and broken Italian, we found our way to the centro (centre). Market; fresh fruit, fish, cheese, meat..everything!..We had finally made it to Italia! Grant ordering a Latte (milk, as in a glass of milk) was one of the highlights in our day.

Today we rode 30km to the Adriatic sea "Cesenatico" We were informed it would take 20min...try an hour. But Che Bello (what beauty) The port was designed and built by Leonardo Da Vinci! We were in the midst of greatness.

Along the road home we passed a canal with houses along one side of it! So many houses, all close together, with that Italian smell, the plastic table cloths and old pots sitting on the brick fences. As we rode on I sore Due Gati (two cats) sitting in a window, bathing in the Sun. As we looked harder we saw more Gati. We counted 10 Gati!

We were invited to Carlo and Roberta's house (literally up stairs) for Vino e Piadini (wine and piadini, traditional cesenian food) Buono Mangare! Over wine and Piadini (bread, like pizza base, with tomato, mozzarella, prosciutto) we talked about Italia and Australia until our eyelids gave way.

Goodbye Emilia Romagna, thank you for all you have shown us. We will be back to visit our new friends in Cesena.

And maybe an Ablicocca or Due.

Birthday Boots

The road to Mama Ro. Sun setting over Cesena

One of the many streets that fill Cesena. Every house a different colour

The cobble stones the line the streets

Via Aldini. Nona's old street.

Best coffee I have ever had

Our food for the week. Che Bello!

Mia Bicicleta and Me out side the Abbey. Such a stylish bike!

Now that was a funny conversation that Grant entered with Carlo. "What is this?"...

you tell me, i think you can figure it out.

Bologna

Cesenatico (the bay/port in cesena) The smell of the mare (sea) and Peche (fish) filled the air

The two beautiful cats that made my day smile. Not sure if you can see them, but they are smiling back at you.

The Chronicles of L'abri

I guess its been a little while since we last wrote a story.

We have been out of range for about a week visiting a community called L'abri.

In the heart of Hampshire in a sleepy little town of Liss lies a Mansion called "The Manor House." Home to three families and 24 students, this place has a feel all its own.

Not many photos, as i went crazy with the film and still havn't been able to develop them.

The day consists of breakfast together with a devotion at the start. So relaxed and really amazing food. Then from 9:30 to 11:30 students either have work (gardening, cleaning the manor, raking leaves, helping with food prep) or study. Study is at your own pace and study what ever you like. The Manor has a library full of books, and a tape library full of lectures that you can listen to. After that its a cup of tea time. Then back to another 1 hour of study or work.

Lunch is so special. We get invited to one of the families houses, or eat in the manor dinning room. Someone from the group (anyone) can ask a question or a topic to talk about over lunch. The discussions that Grant and I were involved in were; the topic of peace (very interesting to here other peoples perspectives from all around the world) and the topic of home (is it important, necessary, what is it?).

Anyway i could go on and on about L'abri but I wont. It was beautiful, I want to go back. Grant and I have made many wonderful friends there, some of which i would love to visit in their home towns (one girl from Canada especially)

On our day off at L'abri eight of us decided to go to Oxford.

The home of the lead singer from Radio head "Thom York". My brain literally fell out of my head when I found this out.

Grant and I wondered the city streets of this Historical town, stoping to take pictures of things that inspired him.

The university was incredible. We stood outside the Library (as we weren't aloud in.) And found out that there was a creed that one had to say before entering, a sort of induction thing!

The oxfam shop that is pictured in one of the photos is where Grant bought my birthday present. A beautiful teal green coat. I fell in love.

We went to a museum, an antique market and visited the Eagle and Child (the birth place of the Inklings. A group of writers that would gather there and talk about their endeavours. C. Lewis, J.R Tolkien, Chesterton ...)

Okey so..train ride from Liss to Stansted airport. Holiday Inn. Awake at 4:30am. Breakfast. Shuttle bus. Airport. Line. Front of Line. Go back to another Line. Sorry you've missed the plane. Next plane 6pm tonight.

Grant and I spent the whole day of the 30th of January...at the airport. Its amazing how you can fill the time. Books, sleep, talk. We managed.

As we landed into Bologna at 9:10pm the same day, the snow began to fall. Just for me is what I'm going to believe. I had never seen snow until last night. And it was more beautiful than I could have imagined.

We got to the train station. All the signs where in Italian. We frantically tried to find the information desk to ask which platform the train to Cesena was leaving from. The man said. "Number 6...5 min...no time for ticket..you go NOW!

I have never felt so sick in my life after running with a 16kg pack on my back up two flights of stairs to make the last train. But we made it. And we are hear in the birth place of my dear Nona.

There will be photo's of Italy to come.

For now I leave you with the Oxford Chapter.

A reading chair in the morning room of the "Manor House"

One of the many heads that line the fences of the Oxford Theatre

The crest on the Oxford Theatre

To C.s Lewis and the Inklings for all you have done!

A beautiful Painting in the Museum by Pietro Orioli (1458-1496)

It reminded my of my Jo Mother

Let me Introduce Kenninley. He is our travelling bear. We adopted him off the streets of Tasmania and he has made it all the way to Europe.

Grants breakfast at the Airport. Not bad for plane food eh.