Anniversary

Monday was our two year wedding anniversary (and almost 8 years since meeting at Howl at the Moon). Kwame took my to this awesome restaurant up the mountain from our house called Il Rifugio. It was the best meal we have had since being in Italy and it didn't involve any pizza!



Kwame had some hanging meat dish and I had gnocchi. I had no idea that gnocchi could be so good. My only experience up to that point was the freeze dried version from World Market:) Anyway, it was a great evening!

Cerotto

Thankfully, our furniture finally arrived after its 3 month journey from St. Louis. Most things were intact. We did have to part ways with our dining room table due to an unfortunate mortal wound but neither of us were sad to see it go. The movers were very efficient and had all of our stuff in our house by 1pm on Friday. So we ate lunch and got to work moving stuff to appropriate places. At some point during the afternoon, Kwame decided that he needed to go to the hardware store for something tiny. I, of course, felt the need to continue moving boxes and unpacking while he was gone. In my over zealousness to be productive, I carried the box containing the high chair downstairs to store until we need it. Now for all of you people who think that I shouldn't be carrying boxes right now, rest assured that the box was not heavy, just awkward. I flew down the steps and made the turn to the back of the house. As I turned, the enormous support beam near the steps jumped out and hit me! Remember how I said that our house is kind of Brady Bunch meets Flintstones? Well, the pole definitely has the Flintstones look and is decorated with jagged stones. By the time I put the box down and looked at my hand, my finger was swollen and blood was dripping all over the place. Good thing we have all of our stuff because I can just pull out a band aid, right? Sure. . . Now the obvious solution is to call Kwame and ask him to pick up a box on his way home. Normally that would work except that in Italy, most people have prepaid phones and mine happened to be out of money (and Kwame's was sitting on the dining room table). So I washed off my hand, wrapped it in a paper towel, and decided that this was the perfect opportunity to practice all of the Italian I have been learning with my neighbors. I walked outside and started pushing buzzers. The first three people did not answer or were not home. I walked down the street a bit and hit the buzzer to another house. An ancient man answered his door - about 15 feet from the gate where I am standing - and I started yammering away in Italian. Of course, the only appropriate lingo I know for this situation is "Hello! My name is Christy. I am your neighbor. Band Aid (while pointing at my bloody finger." I get through all of this and the man shakes his head, waves one finger, and says, "Non c'e. Non c'e" (not here, not here) and slams his door! Did he think I was selling something? Did he think I was waving an inappropriate finger at him? By the way, it is pouring down rain at this point and I am still standing in the street. I go home, get my wallet, and walk to the store for some cerroti (band aids). I laughed the whole way back at my attempt. So much for meeting the neighbors!

Day 1 of the Prepared Childbirth Class

Kwame: This is nothing. Plus you had 8 months to get used to it.

Christy: Okay

Kwame: Ooh, how are you still running like this?

Calling all Single Ladies!

Anyone interested in this Coatian beefcake? (I tried to get his picture head on but he got really interested in a fish that someone just caught).

Croatia

We took a base-sponsored trip to Croatia last weekend. While we were a little bit nervous of the 8 hour round trip bus ride and having to be around a bunch of people all day, it turned out to be the perfect mix of structure and free time. Most people we didn't see except for the bus ride. Anyway, the trip consisted of a boat tour of the Croatian coast along Istria. Our stops included Porec and Rovinj but we were also lucky enough to pass through Lim Canal Natural Park which included several nude beaches. We had lunch on the boat in Rovinj and then had some time to explore the town. It was gorgeous! The town is very old and centered around St. Euphemia Church, located on the top of a hill. The walk to the top was filled with tiny hotels, restaurants, and shops on very narrow cobblestone streets. Rovinj had an awesome market as well that featured lots of garlic, honey, and lavender.

After Rovinj, we took the boat back to another bay and got to go swimming in the Adriatic Sea. The "beach" is made of rocks and of course we didn't have any type of water shoes but we painfully crept down to the water. The water was very chilly but felt incredible after a day of being on a boat and walking around. We left at about 7:30pm to head back to Italy. Earlier in the day, I didn't think that there was any way that I would make it to 7:30pm since the bus left Aviano at 4:30am. However, both Kwame and I wanted to stay longer. So our next trip may be overnight:)

The funniest thing that happened on the trip was in Rovinj. There were many pushy street vendors trying to sell things. Kwame got trapped by this guy who cuts a piece of paper into your profile. Kwame said that he didn't want one but the guy insisted on making it anyway (hoping that Kwame would change his mind in the end). Keep in mind that this artwork was going to cost him 10 euro. So the artist finishes the picture and opens it up to show us. The top is a profile of a guy in a baseball hat. Okay, no big deal. We go onto look and notice that the guy included Kwame's "swimsuit region" in the profile as well and it was huge!!!!! Way bigger than the baseball cap. Maybe he thought we were fans of the nude beaches? Regardless, it still wasn't worth the 10 euro!



On the boat! Not bad after only 4 hours of sleep and a 4 hour bus ride!



The birds that followed our boat like gnats!



St. Euphemia in Rovinj



All of the alleys on the streets leading to St. Euphemia went directly to the sea.

Our empty house

I have had several requests for pictures of the house. Sadly, we are still waiting for our household goods to arrive. They are allegedly at the warehouse in Aviano but we can't get anyone to call us back about delivery. Our housing situation isn't the worst. We met a family whose stuff went to the wrong base so they are definitely still waiting for delivery. Oops! Our friends, Hanna and Kevin, have their big shipment but never got their unaccompanied baggage (i.e. the small amount of stuff that you want right away - sheets, towels, some kitchen stuff, etc). Somehow, the delivery date for their UB was listed as August 31, not July 31. When Kevin called to find out where it was, he was told that it had recently arrived in New Jersey. Keep in mind that it left San Antonio near the end of June. The woman then told him that his UB was to go to California, then Germany, then Italy. Quite a trip! So really, things could be worse. I am just excited to get the house together.

Thankfully(?) the Air Force helped us out by loaning a couch, kitchen table, and chair. Thus, here is the extent of our furniture:



Does this remind you of some sort of waiting room?



Our lovely air mattress. Notice the fan in the corner. We can't use it because it is American and we don't have a transformer with a low enough voltage to run it!

Trieste

Last weekend involved another trip on the train. This time we went to Trieste, an ancient town on the beach on the very east side of Italy. You can actually see Slovenia from points in the town. The town has a very Eastern European feel and is supposed to be heavily influenced by Hungary. Regardless, it was a cool place. There are a couple of castles housed there. My favorite was Miramare and out of all of the palaces we have visited since moving here, that is where I would want to live:)

Some other noteworthy events:

1. We almost lost Kwame at a bus stop. He tried to help this exceptionally drunk man who had fallen over (don't worry, it was at least 2pm) and the bus doors closed. Luckily, the driver was nice enough to let him on after we banged on the door!

2. The topless beaches in Italy. First of all, the "beach" part does not really exist. Everyone lounges on concrete near the road. Then you have to crawl down 20 feet of rock or hope that you are sitting near stairs to get to the water. However, the ocean looked heavenly! I want to come back and spend the weekend in Trieste at one of the little beach hotels. Now back to the topless part. Most beaches in Italy are topless. Most women at this beach were covered. Kwame pointed out to Tommy on the phone the other night that it was awful because all of the women that you did not want to see topless were the only ones partaking in the tradition. Oh well!



Trieste's Grand Canal



San Giorgio Castle



Trieste from the castle grounds



Miramare