La Dolce Vita

Florence has found a home in our hearts this year. But it is the people in this special city that have made this year "la dolce vita", or the sweet life, for us:



like the warm and lovely friends at Centro market. At the deli counter, and throughout the market, we found everything we've needed this year,




 including the smiling faces of the people who worked there;















our neighbor, Luca, who lives in the park outside of our building. We know Luca from the small votive that he lit outside of his tent each evening and by the tour he gave us of his winter shelter, an exchange for cleaning the park bathroom. We know Luca by his care of the park and the residents around it, and by his "Ciao, regazzi!" each time he saw us;



and Angela, who sells the sunflowers we pass on our walk each day. Angela beams like a flower and became a sweet friend the moment we met her.





And Nicola, who operates a small bakery in the open market. We went to the Sant' Ambrogio market regularly to buy local produce, meats and cheeses. Joe went to the market regularly to make friends. This year, Joe discovered yummy biscotti at Nicola's bakery and found in Nicola, a very, dear friend.

We came to know favorite small business owners, like Graciana, an artist who makes beautiful linen dresses and leather handbags,

and enjoyed the many creators of "artiginale" or artisan gelato here in Florence (who definately made our lives sweet this year!).

We came to know the lovely family members who run the Bar Torini, a favorite place for our morning coffee or mid-day pranzo meal (and perfect for home school and campus ministry planning meetings!)

Pat Burke, the dean of Gonzaga in Florence, made our lives sweet this year as did Federica, who helped introduce us to many aspects of her home town of Florence.

Linda (far left) and Shelley (far right) were special colleagues at Gonzaga in Florence and have lived down the hall from us. When they heard that Sophia and Josephine were missing home and school, Linda and Shelley laid their lives down for the girls, sharing Glee episodes, their pet hamsters, craft days and movie nights. They shared Thanksgiving dinner with us and showered us with gifts at Christmastime.

When we asked Sophia what she will miss most about her year in Italy, she didn't hesitate: "Linda and Shelley." (Of course!)

We will miss all of our friends and colleagues at Gonzaga in Florence...

...including the students who have brought sweetness and meaning to our lives this year,

making our lives this year "la dolce vita," a sweet life to savor for many years to come.

Ultimi giorni

The last days in Florence have meant taking a last dance through our kitchen,

one last taste of Bufala mozzarella with prosecco,



last rides down our elevator,





 

and the last times spent at special places that we love in this city.

 



We took one more trip up to Piazzale Michelangelo...





where we can see views of our favorite city sights,





like the Arno, the Duomo...

 


and the Ponte Vechio.





We took our last trip on Sunday to St James Episcopal church...

and returned the rest of our books and movies to their Children's Lending Library.





We spent a last afternoon at Mamas Bakery,









stood in awe of one more pair of huge doors,





and had a last chance at a cooking class,




where we ate what we cooked!

 

We took a last walk down our favorite neighborhood street,





and watched the Birth of Venus emerge from there one last time.



 



We spent a week with a last group of dear friends who came to visit us in Florence, the Brennan family: Kathy and Leo,




and their children, Anya, Maureen and Patrick,

 

It has been wonderful to share a place that we love with people that we love,



and watch them fall for Florence themselves.



We picked up the Brennans in Pisa with bicycles and delivered them to the train station there (an insider's travel tip not found in Rick Steve's books!),



where we attracted interested tourists willing to pay the enterprising Leo and Joe for a ride through the streets of Pisa!






We saw a last outdoor concert in The Piazza della Signoria...

 




and one last medieval procession through the streets of Lucca,

 

making our last days in Florence some of our best days yet.



Sardegna



Sardegna is a gorgeous island off of the coast of Italy and a place where we spent the last week of June.

Here, at Chia beach, we got together with Joe's family...



...Joe's brother Matt, and his sisters, Angela and Bernadette.

Cousins Luca and Eva Boscolo reunited with cousin Theresa Orr from Beverly, MA and a special representative from brother Peter's family from Boulder, CO, cousin Olivia Orlando (pictured here, next to Sophia and Josephine.)



,

  
 

From our porch, we watched the water...



....and checked on the wild, pink flamingos.
 

We found goat cheese made from a local goatherd on this tiny farm down the street from where we stayed...



...and helped 'top chefs' from the Orlando family cook favorite, family dishes.

We explored the island...

 

 ... rode horses along the beach...

           .... hiked along the coastline...

                                          



...and played together in the sand and water.





 

The days allowed us to spend time with family members who live far away... 

...and to learn more and more about them...




..appreciating that they wanted to be with us, helping us make the most of these last, memorable days in Italy.