Side Note

I wanted to take a moment and pause from my updates about my trip.  I was so blessed this summer in having the opportunity to go on a wonderful vacation and enjoy it with my Nonno.  We had such an amazing time together and enjoyed every minute of it.  

When I came back from my trip, all aspects of reality came too, including the status of my other grandfather, my mom's dad.  On Thursday July 16, around 2:30am, my grandpa, Lee Baker Jr. passed away.  

He had been fighting Alzheimer's Disease for many years, probably close to a decade.  Since I left for Italy he has been bedbound, no longer talking, and barely eating / drinking.  The Monday before he passed he came down with pneumonia and we all knew it was only going to be a couple of days before his time came.  My mom and I stayed at his house on Monday night; I left Tuesday and returned Wednesday afternoon.  My aunt from Arizona flew up Wednesday too, and that evening my two aunts, my mom, one of my cousins, and myself were gathered around the kitchen table telling stories and enjoying Chinese food.  We all wished we could just wheel Grandpa into the family room so he could hear us all laughing and talking.  

You see my Grandpa was a very quiet man.  We enjoyed a lot of silent moments together but what he enjoyed the most was being with his family and just listening to what they had to say...about anything.  That night I felt okay.  I looked in the driveway and saw all the cars, and thought, this is how it used to be and this is what my grandparents both loved.  Sure enough, once his family was together, Grandpa decided it was time to go.  No, not all of the family were present that night but we had all already said our good-byes in our prayers.  

My mom woke me up right after it happened to let me know.  I just stayed in bed and stared at the wall; I didn't even cry.  We talked for a bit and then I tried to go back to sleep.  I dosed off a few times and had visions of both my grandparents and that would startle me and I would awaken again.  But then I finally fell asleep after I saw them both holding hands and I just felt okay again; like a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders.  I miss my grandfather terribly; I miss just sitting with him and enjoying our milkshakes or fries.  I miss tell him stories and hearing him laugh.  Or asking him questions and hearing the interesting responses he came up with in his mind.  I know I am blessed in that I got to spend so much time with my grandfather, but it doesn't ease the hurt.  

I'm reading the eulogy this Friday at the service and will be working on it all week.  It is definitely one of the hardest things I have ever had to write, as was my grandmother's but I am so honored that my family has allowed me this privilege.  It might sound strange but I just have so much to share about it and I just hope I can express it all this week.  And every time I get choked up about it all I think back to what one of my dear friends told me in San Diego when my grandmother passed away: I can still love someone even when they are not physically there anymore, and they can still love me, and now he will always be with me in my own heart.  I know it is simple, but it struck me when she told it.  

Day 10 - Cinque Terre

For those of you who have not been to Cinque Terre, it has been described as the French Riviera of Italy.  So I'm definitely going to post a lot of pictures because it was so gorgeous!

The day started with an early rise, breakfast at the house and then driving to Aulla to catch the train.  Maria-Rosa met us there and the three of us headed out to Riomaggiore, the first of the five cities in Cinque Terre.  We saw the famous colorful murals and I took pictures of the view of the Ligurian Sea.

We walked to the next town, Manarola, along...

This is a very famous walkway that was built after the 1920s.  After WWII is when it really became established as the meeting point for couples that in the 2 towns and encouraged inter-village marriages.  The path got it's name Via dell'Amore from a writer who attended a wedding and named it the "Pathway of Love."  

We followed Rick Steve's walk through Manarola and saw the beautiful vineyards and of course when we walked to the top we found a church and the most amazing view I've seen.  

This also happens to be the area that I have decided I'm moving to one day :) And although you may laugh, I honestly have the intention of owning a home in Italy one day and either moving there or at least taking many more vacations out there!

The next town is Corniglia which is only accessible via train or walking and we decided to take the boat and bypass the third town because it's not very popular / interesting.  But it does make for some more gorgeous pictures.  As did our wait for the boat down by the harbor. 

So we took the boat over to Vernazza and decided to have lunch at the recommended Rick Steve's Ristorante Al Castello, which by its name tells you the restaurant at the castle with another breathtaking view! Plus really great food and wine!  

We meandered through the city, did some shopping for souvenirs and followed more of Rick Steve's walking tour.  Eventually we hopped back on the boat and went to Monterosso al Mare, which is the most famous of the 5 towns, or at least the most touristy / resort like.  To be honest, I was not a big of this town and enjoyed the others much more.  Very beautiful as with the other towns, but a little too crowded. 

We enjoyed some gelato, did some more shopping and finally headed for the dock to take the boat all the back to La Spezia.  

My Zia Glina's son picked us up and took us back to Aulla.  Since Ivonne was exhausted, we all went out to dinner for pizza and my Nonno was hilarious - he ordered a mug of beer and drank the entire thing!

Day 9

After constantly moving and seeing and doing, today was a 'do nothing' day.  Everybody had to work today so for breakfast Nonno and I walked into Sarricciolo but our favorite breakfast bar was closed.  So we were brave and walked a few hundred feet and found another one!  As we walked back, Nonno pointed out all the different crops and plants and friends' houses that he used to know and visit.  Below is the field of corn that we watched grow over our 3 week stay and we really could see the difference from the beginning to the end.  Nonno was very excited for these people because they were going to have such a good crop this year. 

When we got back to the house we thought about going on a little walk and Nonno showed me the old mill where he would bring the wheat or corn to grind.  So the picture on the right shows where the water comes down and then would travel down the wooden ramps and then that turns the mill.  It still works, but it wasn't set up when I saw it.

But it was so hot that soon after, Nonno just wanted to stay inside where it was cool.  So I read up on my Rick Steve's book until lunch.  The afternoon did not get more exciting, I took a nap and finished reading my novel.  

However, in the late afternoon, Ivonne came home early from work and took Nonno and I to the store and then we stopped by Zio Renaldo's house.  On the way back home, Ivonne stopped by a cemetery where Nonno's parents and grandparents were buried.  And this is a picture of my great-grandfather (Nonno's dad) and they look soooo similar.  You cannot really tell from this picture, but when you put them side by side, they look like twins!  His name was Flee.  

Tonight we had a very interesting meal for dinner.  It was like fondue, but instead of cooking or dipping, we heated up slices of cheese on these discs and then poured it over hot potatoes.  It was really good!  Not terribly exciting but definitely different!

Day 8 - Pisa and Lucca

Today had a great start!  I got to sleep in until 9am!!!  G and I were so tired and we took our time getting ready and having breakfast, but we finally met up with Massi at the Campo dei Miracoli or Field of Miracles.   

I had read in my Rick Steve's guide that when you bought your ticket for the Tower, you had a specific entrance time.  So when we got the tickets the earliest option was 12:00pm, so we had a little time and decided to see the other sights.  Our first stop was to go into the Duomo, and since they were still having Mass, no pictures were allowed.  So, did I take more secret pictures? Of course!  They weren't very good though and it was mainly just of the ceiling and a fuzzy picture of the alter, so I won't post them.  Next we went into the Baptistery and while we were inside, a man came in and sang in order for the tourists to hear the incredible acoustics of the building.  

Since it was a really hot day and we still had some time before our appointment we got granite, or slushies.  I got lemon flavor; it's so great on a hot day!  Finally it was time to climb the Tower.  Massi did not come with G and I because he is scared of heights (I think) or just did not want to climb the 294 stairs.  G and I took so many pictures so I will just share a few with you...

We start our climb up and at the first stop, we look down and see Massi!

At the bell tower level.

Finally made it to the top!

Massi prepared lunch at his house; we had an unusual lunch of turkey legs and I immediately thought of the ones you can buy at Disneyland!  Next we drove out to Lucca.  Lucca is really well known for its protective wall that was built around 2,000 years ago.  Since it was a Sunday a lot was closed, except San Martino Cathedral...so of course we went inside. 

One of the other reasons Lucca is famous is because of a famous composer was from here, Puccini.  He wrote a little opera called La Boheme.  

We continued to walk around the city for a bit, and then it was time to head back into Pisa, pick up the others and head back into the country.  For dinner we had focaccina and that is not to be confused with focaccia!  Pictures of this process will come on the last day.  

Day 7 - Florence

I spent the entire day in Florence with my cousins Massi and Mari Antoinetta and their significant others, G and Pasquale.  G and I woke up early and took the bus to the train station where we met up with the others and had breakfast.  Our train ride was only about 1 hour and G provided the translation so we could all talk.  

The first thing we did when we got to Florence was to go straight to the Uffizi Museum, which we already had tickets / reservations.  BTW, if you ever travel to Florence, I highly recommend purchasing your tickets for this museum ahead of time because the line is ridiculous and the 4 extra Euros per ticket are totally worth it!  

Anyway, so we went through the museum and after much wandering around finally found the famous Botticelli paintings of "Birth of Venus" and "Primavera."  Now, the museum states that no photography is allowed, but my cousins and I did not like this rule and with their help I snapped a few secret photos.  And I have to say, after practicing with them as my cover, by the end of the trip I had mastered 'secret' photo-taking all by myself.  

We started to get a little tired but still wanted to see more of the museum.  G and Massi needed to use the restroom and I was left with MariAntoinetta and Pasquale.  We each tried to communicate but were unsuccessful and decided to take pictures instead until G came back and could translate.  

Right after our visit to the Uffizi, we stopped for lunch where we had some great Italian food and wine.  The restaurant was very peculiar and it was like we were in the family wine cellar beneath the Inn that was upstairs.  Odd, but so good!

     

After lunch we went back to the Duomo (Santa Maria del Fiore) 

and Baptistery.  Inside the Baptistery is absolutely gorgeous and breathtaking.  The Baptistery has a set of beautifully crafted bronze doors 

and the inside is a mosaic ceiling, which is simply incredible and stunning.  

Next we ventured over to the Accademia to see the famous David by Michelangelo.  Of course I took some secret pictures here as well and they actually were really good!  

G and I wandered around the rest of the museum and entered a room that was filled with unfinished works of art.  As we were looking at the pieces one of the guards started yelling at this man in Italian.  Well, he clearly did not understand so she switched to English and we overheard her say that she had to insist that he replace his shoes as it was against the rules to walk around the museum barefoot.  It was so funny!  Might have been one of those, need to be there moments, but trust me, it was hilarious.  

The next main attraction was to walk across the Ponte Vecchio, or 'old bridge.'  Here we got some gelato and the woman gave me such a huge amount of gelato I couldn't even finish it!  

At this point we had been walking around all day and were extremely tired so we took a bus up to Piazzale Michelangelo where there is a replica of the "David" and gorgeous views of Florence.  Massi, G, and I attempted to find the Rose Garden but got too exhausted when we got lost.  

Our last stop of the day was Santa Croce Church.  G and I were the only ones who went in because we lost one ticket and Massi opted out and the other two were just not interested.  It really is a beautiful church and there are a number of famous tombs inside, including Galileo Galilei and Michelangelo.  Unfortunately, the church was closing, we didn't have a map of the inside, and we couldn't find the names on all the tombs.  So, I took some pictures of the ones that I liked the most :)

We then headed back to Pisa; all going separate ways.  G and I ate are her place and were so tired we fell asleep immediately.