Under Italian Sun

Our stay in Florence was fairly brief and our touring plans less ambitious. In the heat the list got even shorter. A dear friend and local guide gave us a short tour that included looking at a very large naked man. Matilde walked around David several times observing his nakedness. When we visited Piazzale Michelangelo the next day they did spot a replica of the very same naked man, so something had gone in!

We spent time with i nonni and enjoyed some delicious Tuscan food. We had originally hoped to visit Gregorio's aunt, a lovely lady and mother superior in a convent in Florence, but sadly she passed away just after we arrived in London. We all visited her grave, so there have been a lot of questions about death and Matilde is now counting the number of nuns she has seen on this trip.

The most exciting thing about being in Florence for the girls was that we were given two rooms in the hotel - and they were on their own without mummy and papa'. Oh the excitement of it all. They enjoyed unpacking and packing up their stuff all on their own. They even made their own beds in the morning (not something that always happens at home). And not to mention the baldachino above their beds.

From Florence we wended our way down into picturesque Tuscany where the air was fresher and the evening breeze was refreshing. We stayed in a delightful agriturismo just outside Pienza. The girls were able to cool off in the pool and we wandered the hilltowns close by in the evenings, taking a passeggiata with the locals prior to dinner. The highlight for Isabella was taking a cooking class with papa and several other guests and the owner of the agriturismo. They made a serious amount of local pasta, including pici and several different sauces, not to mention crostini toscani. At the end of the morning we sat down to a lovely lunch under the cool arches of their veranda looking out over the Tuscan countryside - it was picture perfect. The girls ate and then went and jumped in the pool with the teenage daughter while we lingered till late in the afternoon enjoying the food and their own wine.

And finally our road led us to Rome. We managed to catch up with a number of friends and family in and around the city.  Including 'i cugini', pictured here with the girls playing Italian card games. On the Sunday evening, when cars are allowed into the city we did a whistle stop tour; given the continuing heat and the girl's weariness for walking to see tourist sites it seemed the best option. We were able to tick off the most important sites of St Peter's and the Colosseum. Another morning was spent walking around seeing the Pantheon and Piazza Navona and of course picking up a gelato at Giolitti. Gregorio was very proud to show his girls around Rome - had we had more time or energy we would have seen more but we know we will be back. On our final night Gregorio and I enjoyed Rigoletto at the Baths of Caracalla. It was quite a spectacle - not least watching audience who were dressed in anything from shorts and t-shirts to full blown evening gowns. When the lights finally went down at 9:30 pm (for the 9pm start) there was this mad dash to an empty and hopefully better seat further forward. It was rather amusing, especially when the ushers tried to stop this last minute shift around.

It was a good couple of weeks in Italy and I think the girls have lots of memories that are still being digested. Every day they learned something new, including the morning papa' had to renew his identity card. The girls were fascinated that complete strangers would start a conversation straight away while waiting in line.

As we left Rome it was raining slightly. Tune in next week for news from Greece!

Lots of Love,
Emma, Gregorio, Isabella and Matilde. xxx