A Day @San Lorenzo - Traveling with Anima

At the San Lorenzo Flea Market today with Ani. Just a quick walk through because it was so hot I started feeling a bit wilted, had to head back to the hotel. Not of course without first getting a bite to eat at the inside market,

Porcchetta

where the meat, fish and vegetable vendors are. It's Ferragosto, so there were slim pickings as far as open stalls but there was still plenty of produce for sale for tourists and housewives alike. Meats (Mortadella, Prosciutto di Parma, Finocchiona Salami)

are always a source of hunger inspiring recipes. I noticed some of the vegetables stalls were really popular with the Chinese restaurant guys (well, I assume Chinese restaurants but maybe they ran Italian restaurants - I really don't know) picking out eggplant

and fish

Ani had a big breakfast at the hotel but I was starved and our Florentine friends suggested we had to try the Porchetta sandwich and the Lampredotto, which is a type of trippa with special sauce.

At the Leather Market, Ani had fun buying trinkets for her friends with the lily symbol of Florence and for herself, a lovely leather purse. It's her first (and it cost a whole lot of euro)...and very beautiful, hand crafted leather in  luscious cow eye brown with a long strap and gorgeous stitching.

Lunch @San Lorenzo

Fountains and Ancient Rocks - Traveling with Anima

We took a quick day trip to Rome to get the beads for Auntie Irene, a feat that we accomplished by mid afternoon.  I was also desperate to show Ani the Colosseum and at the end of the day after hours of walking in the heat, we were speechless before it.

I had not expected to feel so excited at the sight of it and yet, the closer I got  faint music (ok - The Gladiator, laugh all you want)  rushed through my head.

Ancient energy or the effects of heat stroke? We can only theorize...

Ani, by this time was tired and ready to head back home to Bagno Vignoni - on anyone's agenda Rome in a day is silly -  but we gave it a good try and have some great impressions to work with for our future projects.

A word on the gorgeous Roman water fountains: they are not only beautiful masterpieces but also serve to refresh and cool off travelers and citizens alike.

 It's true, that in Piazza Navona we were shooed away by the city guardiani but for the most part, the fountains are accessible, as long as you don't lounge in them and just give yourself a quick splash on the arms or face it seems to be de riguer for the inhabitants of the city.

Also, the Nasoni are all over Rome, all 2,500 of them!  A godsend to anyone spending time in the Eternal City, especially on a hot day in August.

@ the Spanish Steps

The water from the fountains that are located far and wide throughout the city is totally refreshing and safe to drink. We didn't know at first but after seeing people fill up their bottles (2 euro at the store) time after time and Romans taking sips for themselves throughout the morning we became wise.

Across from Osteria Le Streghe

Even in front of the Colosseum we found this one just before entering the Metro Station

which as a last note is a wonderful way to navigate Rome, easy and cheap, with plenty of policemen standing around watching out for problems and ready to serve if needed, fairly clean and free of hassles. Beautiful graffiti!

Just the Two of Us - Traveling with Anima

 This month at Circolo delle Mamme Viaggiatrici we decided to ponder and discuss what works best for us at 'vacation time': together with other children and families or concentrating on keeping it intimate - just the family nucleus.

For me it was an easy dialogue since I have only ever vacationed with my children alone.


As a single mom used to doing things 'on my own', I have always vacationed without husbands or significant other - just with the kids.  We haven't had the experience of inviting anyone to go with us or entertained going with anyone else.  The responsibility of making someone else's child happy for longer than a few hours is daunting for me and so I don't do it.

I do admire the variations that parents come up with to make vacationing with kids more comfortable and easy going.   I have friends who always travel in a 'pack' with their kids.  Of course, families with more than two kids already are a pack unto themselves, with rituals all their own which I find fascinating.  Usually each child gets to invite a friend on outings so that each one has a playmate to occupy them.  Fantastic idea. All the parent has to do is 'manage' the outing.  Applied to vacation time, it would be much the same as going to the Mall or roller skating or afternoon cooking school but more hours. I like it - but the thought of doing nothing but managing activity time slots, like a school teacher or benign traffic cop is not fun for me.

In America, there really isn't a lot of 'time' in vacation time anyway so we are talking about a few precious days here and there. In Italy, where Ferragosto means two whole weeks to spend together it takes on a whole different meaning.

The other day I met an American woman who has lived in Italy many years and has a daughter Ani's age. She told me that in Italy it is normal for the kids to be invited  on vacation with another family for a period of time, where you kind of give your kid away for a couple of weeks. Often of course it is also with grandparents or close friends, sometimes it is with families of school friends.  This year will be that girl's first experience staying away from her mom.  Although the American mother already said yes to two vacations for her daughter, she is a bit unsure how she really feels about it all. I expressed that I would be a little apprehensive, especially since my Girl is only eleven, even though it is culturally acceptable. I'll cross that bridge if and when we get there. 


 For now, I am a happily convinced 'vacation with your children on your own' mom. Yes, there are times where my children have bemoaned the lack of a 'partner in crime' so they are not bored.

 The point of my taking the time off to go on vacation is to be get to know one another better in an atmosphere that is not filled with daily routine. With the realization of how precious time is, it has been my choice to concentrate more on intimacy and the possibility of weaving together special moments to remember. Those lumps of boredom, when they come up, are a perfect way to see how kids deal with the unfortunate but very real fact that life is not always Disneyland.  Just figuring out  how to be still and listening to the heart movements of the world around you is also valid . Today, with the stress of working long hours and an ever frenetic lifestyle, even in the land of 'la dolce vita' - the pleasure of being present with my children outweighs the 'freedom' traveling in a group or with an additional child offers. Let's see what living in Italy will teach us about vacationing 'solo' in the future.  


To see how the other Circle moms spend their vacation time with their bebe's be sure to click through to visit Alessandra at Lali Viaggi, Valentina at Family Company and the effervescent Silvia with her Tripando blog post as soon as you can! Here's to a fantastic vacation!

Yo! Do Yo Sushi?

Traveling with Anima

We saw a number of places to eat, but they were all of the Italian type and since we were going to be going to Italy the next day we thought we would save ourselves for Italian food in Italy. Which doesn't make our next choice any more logical but in Ani's estimation we ended up finding the coolest restaurant on the planet:Yo Sushi called us in through the bright and colorful window and engaged us immediately.

Salmon Roll, Miso & Eggplant

Cool Conveyor Belt Situation

Still or Fizzy Water Fountains

All You Can Eat Wasabi 

The Menu at Yo Sushi

Everything was right in reach, you just picked the plates that caught your eye off the little conveyor belt and started eating your food. A waiter came by just in case you had questions or needed some drinks besides water and in the end came back by to tally up the 'colors' of your bowls or plates.

Ani was very impressed and even more in love the next day when we arrived at Stanstead for our Ryan Air flight to Pisa, where she was elated to find a Yo Sushi place right in the airport. Guess what we had for breakfast?

On to Pisa

Traveling with Anima



After our rainy London sojourn we traveled for one day to Pisa,  to see the beautiful Piazza dei Miracoli that includes the famous Leaning Tower - obviously a must on the travel itinerary....


Ani was initially interested in climbing up the Tower.  There were hoards of other kids, who seemed to be on school Field Trips and were heading towards the Tower too. When we got there the line was frighteningly long so we decided to take a few pictures and go on a walk through the Cathedral instead.

On the lawn

Looking at Souvenirs

We found a guy who made special name bracelets our of colored wire

Inside the Cathedral, which was dark and filled with relics Ani's favorite sculptures were the bronze Angels on either side of the main Altar. Just so happened that an amazing light came through one of the high stained glass windows at one point so we got some pretty surreal looking pics to show.

Madonna & Child 2x

In all the first time here was a little blinding, I think we weren't expecting so many people to be here, as we got here quite early and we didn't get the idea of the procedure right away and wasted a bit of time just walking around and 'doing our own thing'. I guess we were not in the tourist mode quite yet, maybe we were still thawing from the London weather. It is definitely a place where we will come again and visit in more detail, but for today it was enough. We had a nice panino in one of the little bars and then had to head out to the train station to catch our train to Bagno Vignoni. That's another post altogether. 

The Wonder Dog

We slept 12 hours all the way through breakfast and lunch. The English weather followed us a bit to Tuscany but it's not nearly as dreary.

 The Deodato's have a lovely dog named Shep.

Balancing Rocks on the Nose

 Shep is The Dog Eckhart Tolle had in mind when he wrote 'The dog is IN THE NOW so it can teach you or remind you".

Shep the Wonder Dog

 I am giggling just thinking about his goofy, handsome face chasing rocks in the tall grass.

Happiness

London Bridge

A few bridge days in London before we travel to the continent for a summer vacation. Ani and I walked miles and miles, schlepped suitcases like novices and endured rainy weather all three days we were in London. But...look at that rainbow. Just for us, I think. Fabulous city, not enough time.

Rain & Rainbows in London