San Gimignano
It wasn't easy to convince Ben to go wine tasting. 
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Under the Tuscan Sun
Amidst the process of unpacking and organizing over the past month, we were able to take a 4 day break and drove throughout Florence and Tuscany. Ben had told me that he was going to surprise me in terms of where we were staying. At 7 PM on a Thursday night, we packed ourselves, luggage, and Athena into the car and began our 5 hour journey. This was not an easy drive folks. Well, any drive that consists of Italians behind the wheel is no an easy drive. Though I did my best to keep my mouth shut Ben had to keep instructing me to look away from my side view mirrors (he was driving, I wasn't) because he knew how antsy I was getting. You laugh now but wait til you come visit!
Anyway, after an interesting drive through the dark hills of tuscany at midnight Ben proceeded to tell me that the key would be left at the door for us. Hmm...I was very curious as to what kind of facility he was taking me to. We removed our bags and the dog from the car and hiked up the stairs to unlock our room. Ben went in first and he peeked his head out at me and said Uh oh..... I knew exactly what that meant and braced myself for the room. There are Agriturismos which are somewhat luxurious or even have clean bathrooms and beds. This was a full on farm. It was definitely an Agristurismo experience though, and that was the full intention so neither one of us regret it. :)
The next day he took me to San Gimignano which is absolutely one of my most favorite places in the world.
http://www.sangimignano.com/
It is a quaint little town in northern Italy set amidst the picturesque rolling hills. Everything is rustic and timeless and it truly a town one could never forget. They specialized in Chianti wine because of the region so Ben and I made sure to offer our services and test the wines for them:) And the cheese- AMAZING! How I have not gained any weight yet is beyond me but this food is to die for. I better not jinx myself. P.S. If you ever go to Tuscany do not order Ribollita. I'm not even going to tell you what it reminds me of but it's not appealing or tasty.
Along the way, Athena made a Chihuahua friend named Robin. Robin is Slovakian and Athena was able to learn some new words: botsem means come here, sadnut si means sit down, and so on. Even our little 5 lb dog is learning other cultures and meeting other "foreigners". It's crazy! The funniest is when Italians ask me if she (Athena) can speak Italian. In other words, does she know how to sit, stand, walk in Italian. Ummmm...no!
When you watch movies it is easy to assume that the location is just as beautiful in person. Often times when you actually visit, you realize that is not the case. Tuscany is one of those regions that is just as beautiful in person as it is onscreen or in pictures, if not more gorgeous. It is serene and the perfect spot to visit when you need to relax and enjoy the scenery.
After spending a full day in San Gimignano, we left for Lucca which is a city surrounded by four walls.
http://www.italyguides.it/us/italy/tuscany/lucca/lucca.htm
The story is that the four walls were built to protect the city from any sort of military attack in the 17th century. We arrived in the evening so unfortunately, we didn't have the opportunity to tour Lucca but we did have dinner in one of the piazza's. If we have the opportunity to go again, we would definitely take advantage of the bicycle rentals and ride throughout the city, which is very popular.
We arrived in Florence "Firenze" early Saturday afternoon and checked into our hotel which was conveniently located within walking distance to all of Florence's attractions. It was my second time in Florence after having been there years ago and I love it. Ben and I walked to Ponte Vecchio- the bridge across the Arno river- and explored the area. It is filled with gold shops and touristy items and we didn't buy anything but it was wonderful to be able to admire Florence's scenery from the bridge. We made our way to the Uffizi museum where we were able to view the work of all of the famous artists from Michaelangelo to Leonardo da Vinci. After a 45- one hour wait in line we finally entered the museum. When you visit Europe be sure to take full advantage of the option to purchase tickets online. It will save you alot of time! It was interesting to see how the Renaissance world and art have created Florence's history and the city it has become. We chose to forgo a tour guide and followed along with our guide to Florence, a Rick Steve's book- by the way, if you have the opportunity to travel buy his books- he is amazing and helps to narrow down which sights are worth seeing. It was fascinating to see some of the paintings I had studied in Art History class in person! That evening we had dinner in a busy piazza and enjoyed a bottle of wine and people watching.
After dinner we made our way back to the hotel and, as cheesy as it sounds, almost fell over in awe when we came face to face with the Duomo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. I've seen the Duomo before but completely forgot about how magnificent it is, especially when you don't expect to bump into it at night after a bottle of wine. It glowed from every angle. I don't know what kind of lighting they use but Ben and I both feel like it is one of the most beautiful structures we have ever seen. It is massive, gothic, and incredible. We read that it can hold 20,000 people- that is crazy! That and San Gimignano are definitely our two favorite parts of the trip.
On Sunday we did something different and purchased tickets to ride the "Sightsee Florence" double decker bus. The bus drove through the city and offers it's passengers headphones so that you can hear about what you are seeing. The bus took us to a region near Florence that we had never seen, and that most people never visit, called Fiesole. Fiesole is a town directly above the city with Etruscan roots, Roman ruins, and amazing views of Florence. It is mellow and a great option for those to get out of the city and explore other parts of Florence. We drove by cathedrals, monasteries, and museums galore. I don't think I've ever seen so many cathedrals in my life. And it's amazing to see the effort and money that have been put into them!
After Fiesole we went to the Boboli gardens which remind me of Balboa Park in San Diego, but even more beautiful. It was a mini hike and we realized it is an area where most of the students and possibly locals go to relax, have quiet picnics, and enjoy nice weather. Speaking of students, much of Florence is comprised by Exchange students from all countries and tourists. I'm not kidding when I say that when it comes to language, Ben and I felt like we were back in the US. As much as we love Italian, it was such a nice break to be able to speak English everywhere we went.
For our last dinner, we went to ZaZa's, which comes highly recommended to us by my girl friends back home. Thanks for the recommendation, girls! It was the best meal we've had since we've been here, no joke!
On Monday we made the five hour drive home, stopping at the US War Memorial outside of Florence. It is the cemetery of 2,000 US soldies who were killed in battle during World War II. It was quite the emotional experience, and very meaningful to us considering that not only was it Memorial Day (coincidentally) but something that hits close to home because of Ben's military service. We got alot out of walking around the site and paying homage to the soldiers that died in battle. If there's one thing I can say about living in Europe it's that it makes you a heck of alot prouder to be an American than you have ever felt before!
We truly enjoyed our weekend away and were so happy to have had the opportunity to visit Florence! I'm sure we will go there again within the next three years and look forward to seeing even more sights next time. We decided that we are going to go to another country next and booked a trip for the 21st through 25th of June. Next on the list: Prague!
Anyway, after an interesting drive through the dark hills of tuscany at midnight Ben proceeded to tell me that the key would be left at the door for us. Hmm...I was very curious as to what kind of facility he was taking me to. We removed our bags and the dog from the car and hiked up the stairs to unlock our room. Ben went in first and he peeked his head out at me and said Uh oh..... I knew exactly what that meant and braced myself for the room. There are Agriturismos which are somewhat luxurious or even have clean bathrooms and beds. This was a full on farm. It was definitely an Agristurismo experience though, and that was the full intention so neither one of us regret it. :)
The next day he took me to San Gimignano which is absolutely one of my most favorite places in the world.
http://www.sangimignano.com/
It is a quaint little town in northern Italy set amidst the picturesque rolling hills. Everything is rustic and timeless and it truly a town one could never forget. They specialized in Chianti wine because of the region so Ben and I made sure to offer our services and test the wines for them:) And the cheese- AMAZING! How I have not gained any weight yet is beyond me but this food is to die for. I better not jinx myself. P.S. If you ever go to Tuscany do not order Ribollita. I'm not even going to tell you what it reminds me of but it's not appealing or tasty.
Along the way, Athena made a Chihuahua friend named Robin. Robin is Slovakian and Athena was able to learn some new words: botsem means come here, sadnut si means sit down, and so on. Even our little 5 lb dog is learning other cultures and meeting other "foreigners". It's crazy! The funniest is when Italians ask me if she (Athena) can speak Italian. In other words, does she know how to sit, stand, walk in Italian. Ummmm...no!
When you watch movies it is easy to assume that the location is just as beautiful in person. Often times when you actually visit, you realize that is not the case. Tuscany is one of those regions that is just as beautiful in person as it is onscreen or in pictures, if not more gorgeous. It is serene and the perfect spot to visit when you need to relax and enjoy the scenery.
After spending a full day in San Gimignano, we left for Lucca which is a city surrounded by four walls.
http://www.italyguides.it/us/italy/tuscany/lucca/lucca.htm
The story is that the four walls were built to protect the city from any sort of military attack in the 17th century. We arrived in the evening so unfortunately, we didn't have the opportunity to tour Lucca but we did have dinner in one of the piazza's. If we have the opportunity to go again, we would definitely take advantage of the bicycle rentals and ride throughout the city, which is very popular.
We arrived in Florence "Firenze" early Saturday afternoon and checked into our hotel which was conveniently located within walking distance to all of Florence's attractions. It was my second time in Florence after having been there years ago and I love it. Ben and I walked to Ponte Vecchio- the bridge across the Arno river- and explored the area. It is filled with gold shops and touristy items and we didn't buy anything but it was wonderful to be able to admire Florence's scenery from the bridge. We made our way to the Uffizi museum where we were able to view the work of all of the famous artists from Michaelangelo to Leonardo da Vinci. After a 45- one hour wait in line we finally entered the museum. When you visit Europe be sure to take full advantage of the option to purchase tickets online. It will save you alot of time! It was interesting to see how the Renaissance world and art have created Florence's history and the city it has become. We chose to forgo a tour guide and followed along with our guide to Florence, a Rick Steve's book- by the way, if you have the opportunity to travel buy his books- he is amazing and helps to narrow down which sights are worth seeing. It was fascinating to see some of the paintings I had studied in Art History class in person! That evening we had dinner in a busy piazza and enjoyed a bottle of wine and people watching.
After dinner we made our way back to the hotel and, as cheesy as it sounds, almost fell over in awe when we came face to face with the Duomo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. I've seen the Duomo before but completely forgot about how magnificent it is, especially when you don't expect to bump into it at night after a bottle of wine. It glowed from every angle. I don't know what kind of lighting they use but Ben and I both feel like it is one of the most beautiful structures we have ever seen. It is massive, gothic, and incredible. We read that it can hold 20,000 people- that is crazy! That and San Gimignano are definitely our two favorite parts of the trip.
On Sunday we did something different and purchased tickets to ride the "Sightsee Florence" double decker bus. The bus drove through the city and offers it's passengers headphones so that you can hear about what you are seeing. The bus took us to a region near Florence that we had never seen, and that most people never visit, called Fiesole. Fiesole is a town directly above the city with Etruscan roots, Roman ruins, and amazing views of Florence. It is mellow and a great option for those to get out of the city and explore other parts of Florence. We drove by cathedrals, monasteries, and museums galore. I don't think I've ever seen so many cathedrals in my life. And it's amazing to see the effort and money that have been put into them!
After Fiesole we went to the Boboli gardens which remind me of Balboa Park in San Diego, but even more beautiful. It was a mini hike and we realized it is an area where most of the students and possibly locals go to relax, have quiet picnics, and enjoy nice weather. Speaking of students, much of Florence is comprised by Exchange students from all countries and tourists. I'm not kidding when I say that when it comes to language, Ben and I felt like we were back in the US. As much as we love Italian, it was such a nice break to be able to speak English everywhere we went.
For our last dinner, we went to ZaZa's, which comes highly recommended to us by my girl friends back home. Thanks for the recommendation, girls! It was the best meal we've had since we've been here, no joke!
On Monday we made the five hour drive home, stopping at the US War Memorial outside of Florence. It is the cemetery of 2,000 US soldies who were killed in battle during World War II. It was quite the emotional experience, and very meaningful to us considering that not only was it Memorial Day (coincidentally) but something that hits close to home because of Ben's military service. We got alot out of walking around the site and paying homage to the soldiers that died in battle. If there's one thing I can say about living in Europe it's that it makes you a heck of alot prouder to be an American than you have ever felt before!
We truly enjoyed our weekend away and were so happy to have had the opportunity to visit Florence! I'm sure we will go there again within the next three years and look forward to seeing even more sights next time. We decided that we are going to go to another country next and booked a trip for the 21st through 25th of June. Next on the list: Prague!
Neapolitan Life as we know it
Wow, it's been quite some time that I've been able to update everyone with the latest and greatest in our lives! We've had so many fun experiences- places to go, people to meet, things to put away, vespas to avoid on the road- it's been madness! First and foremost, it started with the move into the apartment in Posillipo. Posillipo is a downtown residential area which offers full views of the Islands, the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast, and Mt Vesuvius (who we hope does not get angry any time soon!).
I've said it before and I'll say it again, if there is one, most important piece of advice that I could share with anyone before moving to Italy it is to learn the language before arriving. Amidst all of the craziness with Ben's arrival from deployment, the holidays, the wedding, and the move, that is the one major detail I overlooked. Charades and nodding your head all the time simply don't cut it in a region of Italy that is purposely intending to hold on to it's culture. Because we have chosen the full immersion experience of living in town, this has definitely affected us. It's been a huge blessing in the sense that since I hear it being spoken so often around me, I start to pick up on it and am learning more and more every day.
Ben is extremely friendly and has made friends with Max and Carlo, the two polleria owners (rotiserrie chicken place) downstairs, Mario at the cafe/mini store next door, and Roberto at the Italian restaurant down the street. On the days when it seems like no one else in the world understands- because truly, they don't understand you- it is always nice to see the friendly faces to greet you with "Buon Giorno!" (Good morning/good day) or "Buona Sera" (Good Evening) when we walk by their little shops each day. Thanks to my husband we have Italian "friends." And thanks to Google translate on my Blackberry I can type in what we need and have a full conversation. :)
On to the move-in. As pictured in our last couple of blog entries, we live in an area called "Posillipo."
http://www.portanapoli.com/Eng/naples/views-vomero-posillipo.html
Posillipo is a city, well, I guess more so considered a town, within the downtown area of Napoli. It is a waterfront area, complete with views, cobblestone streets, and all of those traditional Italian restaurants and cafes you picture when you think of Italy. All snobbery aside, it is considered the most prestigious city of Napoli and you can see why as you observe the lack of garbage, grafitti, and can simply enjoy the views and the sound of old Italian men doing business and singing "O Sole Mio" in the piazza outside of our terrace. I forgot to mention that we are also located above an "Elletroforno", pizza,pasta, etc restaurant that is VERY popular. It's chaos Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night right outside in the piazza as people from all over Naples meet to socialize and eat pizza. It's almost entertaining that people drive from miles and miles away just to sit in a parking lot to eat pizza and enjoy views. Hmm...maybe Ben and I should charge for access to our terrace:) We smell pizza through the windows quite often. Thank God we are on the top floor!
And what a top floor it is. I apologize in advance for anyone who comes to visit because I hope you prepare yourselves for the hike before you pull your suitcase up the stairs. It is no joke, I am tired halfway up. We are in an old Victorian building and they don't believe in elevators which means that everytime we go home it is a mini workout!
The movers came the week before last and were red faced and panting when they got upstairs. Hehehe. All I could think about was how happy I was that Ben and I weren't doing the moving for the millionth time in my life especially up these stairs! We took care of them though, and gave them plenty of water, and pizza.
We've been living in a huge mess over the past few weeks but have finally gotten it under control. I am happy to say that the bathroom and kitchen and master bedroom are completely finished but we still have the remaining rooms to complete. Between both of our jobs and activities we've been involved in it's been impossible to devote our weeknights to the apartment. We've been working on it during the weekend and this weekend we are much more relaxed and pleased with our efforts. I've been to Ikea so many times that I'm honestly surprised that I'm not on a first name basis with the workers, especially since I'm the one who never hesitates to ask for the "Sconto NATO" (military discount, 15%!). Thus we've had boxes of Ikea furniture add to the boxes of our household items and it was not a pretty sight. The issue with Italian homes is that there is no storage whatsoever. No closets, no medicine cabinets, not even towel racks. Nothing. Oh, except we do have kitchen cupboards anda crawl space upstairs which was a plus. Therefore Ben and I have had to buy everything- a full wardrobe, set of drawers, under the sink cabinet, desk, everything you can possibly think of. It's been chaos. Nevertheless, it's our first home as husband and wife and we are enjoying putting it together.
At the end of the day, the most peaceful sight is looking out at the water and the islands. It is gorgeous and we cannot wait to bring home outdoor lounge furniture so we can finally entertain.
I refuse to post more pictures until we have our paintings up and the apartment looks complete! Stay tuned...
In terms of everyday life, we've been adjusting well. Since this is Ben's "shore duty" he shouldn't be deploying for the next few years and this job doesn't involve flying. He jokes and says he is "flying a desk." Though I loved working with my brother in law, I had to quit my job due to the evening hours in order to spend time with Ben, and to fully experience Italy and living in Europe. As much as it seems incredible not to be working, it is a transition for me to be completely unemployed. I am making the most of our new life and I love experimenting with new recipes and being able to be stress free. I was a bit surprised that the base is not more welcoming to new spouses but at the same time it really forces you to make the effort on your own. I've met many great people so far and enjoy taking advantage of the outings that the military offers or participating in the cooking classes. I drive into work with Ben very often and am at the base visiting with friends or doing errands probably 99% of the time if you can believe it. I plan to take advantage of volunteer opportunities at some point in the next few months and am looking forward to getting more involved!
It's funny that after we are fully moved in we will probably only be living in town for 5 months or so. The drive to and from work every day is making Ben crazy (and again when you visit, you will see why!) and because I spend so much time at the base it only makes sense for us to be residing there. We hope to have babies at some point in the next few years and if the government is only going to move us at their expense one time then we had better take advantage of the opportunity!
If you are thinking of coming to visit us we encourage you to come within the next few months so you can fully experience the beauty of Posillipo and downtown Naples! My mom is coming next month and we cannot wait to have her here!
There is so much to do here and Ben and I have been doing our best to make the most of it. We went wine tasting with friends last weekend at a winery nearby called "Cantine Astroni". Unlike most of the wine tasting experiences we've had where you simply go to a winery and sample all of the wine- which, trust me, is always a good time- they actually tour the winery with you and explain the process of the wine making show you how the grapes are grown and even share some tidbits of information such as the fact that the grapes have been able to grow abundantly due to the volcanic ash in the soil or that they grow rosebushes among the vines so that if there is an infestation of pests they attach the rosebushes first and give them time to save the grapes, etc. Then we got to enjoy the wine- which was amazing and very, very affordable- and went home with six bottles! We plan to start a wine collection while we're here and learned that the military will transport something like 150 bottles to the States for us when we leave. Tough life, huh? :)
Last weekend we also went to dinner with our friends Jen and Pat in Sorrento. We went to a really cute restaurant called "The Foreigner's Club" overlooking the Amalfi Coast and the cliffs. Sorrento is only 45 minutes away and well worth visiting! This weekend we hope to visit one of the islands, possibly Capri again, or Ischia since the weather has been so perfect.
Life in Naples has been treating us well so far. It is quite different but I can honestly say that it's really forced us to evaluate what is important in life and to appreciate things that we have taken for granted in the past. For example, in the States I used to get in the car whenever I felt like it and go wherever I wanted to. Here, I don't do that. Everything is planned in advance and I have to sum up the courage to get behind the wheel of our Fiat punto first (I think part of that is on account of the fact that the first day I drove by myself I got terribly lost and ended up downtown during rush hour. Yikes!). It's forced me to realize that for a person who likes to move quickly in all aspects of life and go go go I need to slow it down and take it one step at a time. Ben and I have both found friendships in people that we would not have taken the time to get to know back home- simply because of seemingly having nothing in common. Here everyone has one thing in common: we are all blessed with the opportunity to experience a different culture and navigate through ups and downs of it together. When Ben and I decided to accept this duty station we were caught up in the glamour of living in Europe and didn't stop to consider the adjustments that would coincide with it or the fact the when you choose to live somewhere new you will always be faced with adapting to the monotony of routine and daily life. We chose this destination because we wanted to travel and truly be forced with relying on no one but each other during the first few years of marriage. I can honestly say that it has strengthened our relationship already and helped us to build the elements of a strong and healthy marriage. When you make a sacrifice like asking your spouse to give up their job for them to be fully dependent on you financially or learn how to cope with dealing with each other while yelling at crazy drivers on the road and incessant backseat driving there is nowhere to go but up! You learn to appreciate each other's strengths and to lift each other's spirits when they are frustrated with the transition into such a different type of life.
With that, I will move on to the next post to tell you about our trip to Tuscany!
I've said it before and I'll say it again, if there is one, most important piece of advice that I could share with anyone before moving to Italy it is to learn the language before arriving. Amidst all of the craziness with Ben's arrival from deployment, the holidays, the wedding, and the move, that is the one major detail I overlooked. Charades and nodding your head all the time simply don't cut it in a region of Italy that is purposely intending to hold on to it's culture. Because we have chosen the full immersion experience of living in town, this has definitely affected us. It's been a huge blessing in the sense that since I hear it being spoken so often around me, I start to pick up on it and am learning more and more every day.
Ben is extremely friendly and has made friends with Max and Carlo, the two polleria owners (rotiserrie chicken place) downstairs, Mario at the cafe/mini store next door, and Roberto at the Italian restaurant down the street. On the days when it seems like no one else in the world understands- because truly, they don't understand you- it is always nice to see the friendly faces to greet you with "Buon Giorno!" (Good morning/good day) or "Buona Sera" (Good Evening) when we walk by their little shops each day. Thanks to my husband we have Italian "friends." And thanks to Google translate on my Blackberry I can type in what we need and have a full conversation. :)
On to the move-in. As pictured in our last couple of blog entries, we live in an area called "Posillipo."
http://www.portanapoli.com/Eng/naples/views-vomero-posillipo.html
Posillipo is a city, well, I guess more so considered a town, within the downtown area of Napoli. It is a waterfront area, complete with views, cobblestone streets, and all of those traditional Italian restaurants and cafes you picture when you think of Italy. All snobbery aside, it is considered the most prestigious city of Napoli and you can see why as you observe the lack of garbage, grafitti, and can simply enjoy the views and the sound of old Italian men doing business and singing "O Sole Mio" in the piazza outside of our terrace. I forgot to mention that we are also located above an "Elletroforno", pizza,pasta, etc restaurant that is VERY popular. It's chaos Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night right outside in the piazza as people from all over Naples meet to socialize and eat pizza. It's almost entertaining that people drive from miles and miles away just to sit in a parking lot to eat pizza and enjoy views. Hmm...maybe Ben and I should charge for access to our terrace:) We smell pizza through the windows quite often. Thank God we are on the top floor!
And what a top floor it is. I apologize in advance for anyone who comes to visit because I hope you prepare yourselves for the hike before you pull your suitcase up the stairs. It is no joke, I am tired halfway up. We are in an old Victorian building and they don't believe in elevators which means that everytime we go home it is a mini workout!
The movers came the week before last and were red faced and panting when they got upstairs. Hehehe. All I could think about was how happy I was that Ben and I weren't doing the moving for the millionth time in my life especially up these stairs! We took care of them though, and gave them plenty of water, and pizza.
We've been living in a huge mess over the past few weeks but have finally gotten it under control. I am happy to say that the bathroom and kitchen and master bedroom are completely finished but we still have the remaining rooms to complete. Between both of our jobs and activities we've been involved in it's been impossible to devote our weeknights to the apartment. We've been working on it during the weekend and this weekend we are much more relaxed and pleased with our efforts. I've been to Ikea so many times that I'm honestly surprised that I'm not on a first name basis with the workers, especially since I'm the one who never hesitates to ask for the "Sconto NATO" (military discount, 15%!). Thus we've had boxes of Ikea furniture add to the boxes of our household items and it was not a pretty sight. The issue with Italian homes is that there is no storage whatsoever. No closets, no medicine cabinets, not even towel racks. Nothing. Oh, except we do have kitchen cupboards anda crawl space upstairs which was a plus. Therefore Ben and I have had to buy everything- a full wardrobe, set of drawers, under the sink cabinet, desk, everything you can possibly think of. It's been chaos. Nevertheless, it's our first home as husband and wife and we are enjoying putting it together.
At the end of the day, the most peaceful sight is looking out at the water and the islands. It is gorgeous and we cannot wait to bring home outdoor lounge furniture so we can finally entertain.
I refuse to post more pictures until we have our paintings up and the apartment looks complete! Stay tuned...
In terms of everyday life, we've been adjusting well. Since this is Ben's "shore duty" he shouldn't be deploying for the next few years and this job doesn't involve flying. He jokes and says he is "flying a desk." Though I loved working with my brother in law, I had to quit my job due to the evening hours in order to spend time with Ben, and to fully experience Italy and living in Europe. As much as it seems incredible not to be working, it is a transition for me to be completely unemployed. I am making the most of our new life and I love experimenting with new recipes and being able to be stress free. I was a bit surprised that the base is not more welcoming to new spouses but at the same time it really forces you to make the effort on your own. I've met many great people so far and enjoy taking advantage of the outings that the military offers or participating in the cooking classes. I drive into work with Ben very often and am at the base visiting with friends or doing errands probably 99% of the time if you can believe it. I plan to take advantage of volunteer opportunities at some point in the next few months and am looking forward to getting more involved!
It's funny that after we are fully moved in we will probably only be living in town for 5 months or so. The drive to and from work every day is making Ben crazy (and again when you visit, you will see why!) and because I spend so much time at the base it only makes sense for us to be residing there. We hope to have babies at some point in the next few years and if the government is only going to move us at their expense one time then we had better take advantage of the opportunity!
If you are thinking of coming to visit us we encourage you to come within the next few months so you can fully experience the beauty of Posillipo and downtown Naples! My mom is coming next month and we cannot wait to have her here!
There is so much to do here and Ben and I have been doing our best to make the most of it. We went wine tasting with friends last weekend at a winery nearby called "Cantine Astroni". Unlike most of the wine tasting experiences we've had where you simply go to a winery and sample all of the wine- which, trust me, is always a good time- they actually tour the winery with you and explain the process of the wine making show you how the grapes are grown and even share some tidbits of information such as the fact that the grapes have been able to grow abundantly due to the volcanic ash in the soil or that they grow rosebushes among the vines so that if there is an infestation of pests they attach the rosebushes first and give them time to save the grapes, etc. Then we got to enjoy the wine- which was amazing and very, very affordable- and went home with six bottles! We plan to start a wine collection while we're here and learned that the military will transport something like 150 bottles to the States for us when we leave. Tough life, huh? :)
Last weekend we also went to dinner with our friends Jen and Pat in Sorrento. We went to a really cute restaurant called "The Foreigner's Club" overlooking the Amalfi Coast and the cliffs. Sorrento is only 45 minutes away and well worth visiting! This weekend we hope to visit one of the islands, possibly Capri again, or Ischia since the weather has been so perfect.
Life in Naples has been treating us well so far. It is quite different but I can honestly say that it's really forced us to evaluate what is important in life and to appreciate things that we have taken for granted in the past. For example, in the States I used to get in the car whenever I felt like it and go wherever I wanted to. Here, I don't do that. Everything is planned in advance and I have to sum up the courage to get behind the wheel of our Fiat punto first (I think part of that is on account of the fact that the first day I drove by myself I got terribly lost and ended up downtown during rush hour. Yikes!). It's forced me to realize that for a person who likes to move quickly in all aspects of life and go go go I need to slow it down and take it one step at a time. Ben and I have both found friendships in people that we would not have taken the time to get to know back home- simply because of seemingly having nothing in common. Here everyone has one thing in common: we are all blessed with the opportunity to experience a different culture and navigate through ups and downs of it together. When Ben and I decided to accept this duty station we were caught up in the glamour of living in Europe and didn't stop to consider the adjustments that would coincide with it or the fact the when you choose to live somewhere new you will always be faced with adapting to the monotony of routine and daily life. We chose this destination because we wanted to travel and truly be forced with relying on no one but each other during the first few years of marriage. I can honestly say that it has strengthened our relationship already and helped us to build the elements of a strong and healthy marriage. When you make a sacrifice like asking your spouse to give up their job for them to be fully dependent on you financially or learn how to cope with dealing with each other while yelling at crazy drivers on the road and incessant backseat driving there is nowhere to go but up! You learn to appreciate each other's strengths and to lift each other's spirits when they are frustrated with the transition into such a different type of life.
With that, I will move on to the next post to tell you about our trip to Tuscany!
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