Hello again,
I'm back from my little blogging break. I had a great 2 week visit back in the states and then a friend of mine came back to Italy with me for 2 weeks.
Going back to the U.S. (Minnesota) I wondered what I would feel - would I miss it, would I say - "oh my I should never have moved to Italy" - I really wasn't sure. I know I miss all my friends but having moved over the years for Honeywell I know that no matter the miles you stay in touch with those friends that want to be stayed in touch with. But would I miss the environment, the lifestyle? The answer - NO! I was a bit surprised but maybe not. I found myself thinking about "home" in Italy as I know it now. But I did have a great stay visiting some of my favorite places for food, golf and shopping. I also flew to California for a wedding. A high school friend's daughter was getting married and it was a beautiful event. So happy I chose to travel the distance.
Upon my return to Italy on July 28th a friend from Minnesota came with me. This was her first trip to Italy - in fact her first trip EVER outside the U.S. She had to get a passport for the trip. I so enjoyed showing her my new lifestyle. We did some amazing things while she was here - even tho we were having record heat and humidity. It was fun to see Italy through her eyes. She posted some amazing picture videos on her Facebook page and I am "tagged" in them so they are on my page as well. Check them out if you are a Facebook friend of mine. We went to Naples for a day, spent a few days at the beach, went shopping and of course she met some of my amazing family (cousins). At the end we traveled to Rome for her trip home but spent a few days doing the tourist thing there (again in record heat) but she was able to see some of the amazing sites of Rome. It was a great visit with her and she is now on her way back to her family.
So now back to the normal routine. August in southern Italy is very unique. My cousins had always told me this but now I am seeing it in person. This is the vacation month for Italians and the major cities empty and many families come south to the sea/beach. It was very apparent when in Rome these past few days - traffic was so light - I had never seen it like that. But traffic here in southern Italy is a mess. I am amazed at the amount of people that come here. Every beach town is packed with people who rent little houses for the month. The beaches are packed by 9 a.m. in the morning. At night the streets are filled with people. There are lots of activities going on as well. Beach volleyball and soccer tournaments, lots of festas (parties) and concerts. I will be taking in some of it over the next few weeks and will fill you in as I experience it.
Some disturbing news - while I was gone there were fires in the hillsides of southern Italy close to where I live. They started up closer to Naples and Mount Vesuvius but moved south over the past month. In fact one area affected is just outside my door up higher in the hillside. I understand most of them were from arson. Even land around Velia (an archaeological site close to me) was damaged. Access to some of the sites is closed. There are many stories floating around on why/how they were set. Some of my cousins lost olive trees on old family land and one cousin had damage to his house (the area close to me). See the picture I took below. I am grateful my house is safe but my heart aches for the land that has been damaged. As you drive around the area you see so much of it. I have no idea how long it will take to recover. We have not had rain in months so that did not help the situation and the heat and humidity continues.
But I am glad to be back home and will continue my stories.
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