christmas shopping

with a little girl

in a little snow scene

in a little store

venice is my best

...as Penelope would say.

Yesterday we went to Venice-

just the two of us. 

She really, really

wanted this gondolier shirt.

She saw it the last time we were in Venice.

When we got off the train she told me, 

"I know where the store is, it's next to the bridge."

And it was.

It was a really fun day-

and it was raining again.

I think it was my best.

the weekend

We went to Milan! 

That was Sunday.

On Saturday we were tired- 

Penelope really just wanted to do some coloring

and stay home...

So we had pizza from our 

favorite neighborhood place- 

Babylon Pizzeria

We were feeling a little sentimental 

about leaving Padova

so we stopped at a cafe in the 

Piazza Dei Signori

for a drink to take it all in.

Then on Sunday, 

we decided to go to Milan.

We loved it- it was nice to be in a big city.

We stopped here for lunch

and of course it was cold

and rainy.

Before we left, Patrick had some roasted chestnuts

and Penelope had gelato.

padova

We are only in Padova for 10 more days

and we have been thinking about why we love it-

Here are some of our favorite things...

the cafes

and little bars

the accordion player

who provides the daily soundtrack

 in our neighborhood

the panificio that Penelope and I would 

stop at in the morning on the way to scoula

for a little bread and on the way home for pizza

the little stone streets

walking everywhere

the piazzas

and of course the gelato.

...to name a few.

the weekend

On Saturday we went to Asolo

and it felt like fall.

It is a tiny little hilltop village

with amazing views

and an old Cemetary

All windy paths and stone steps.

Eleonora Duse is buried here.

It was beautiful.

On Sunday, we were back in Venice.

Hanging out, walking around,

taking photos of each other.

We ended up in the Piazza San Marco

feeding the pigeons.

Yes, that's a pigeon on his head

and arm.

are italian children happier?

Maybe. 

Everyone gives them candy. 

All the time.

Seriously, everywhere we go.

And people always stop to say "Ciao" or

"Ciao Bella" or "Bella Bambina".

And if a child is crying, 

everyone wants to know why,

What happened? Is she okay?

Then they give her more candy.

And children are allowed and 

more importantly welcomed everywhere.

we said goodbye to penelope's school today...

In typical Penelope fashion, she seemed fine.

When we left, Silvia told me,

"It was a beautiful experience to have her".

Clouds and Letters

Drawing by Penelope.

A Family and Colors

Same drawing, 1 day later.

By Penelope.

the weekend

We went to Lake Garda.

It was rainy and cold.

We found a carousel

and Penelope rode in a pink pumpkin.

We stayed here

at the Park Hotel in Desenzano del Garda.

The Hotel Manager told us that it is

always very cold and rainy on this weekend 

and he thinks it is because of the dead.

It is All Saints Day in Italy today.

Before we left, 

we had cappuccino and little pastries to warm up.

It was great

and it was Halloween.

We didn't really celebrate

(at least not American style)

but, Penelope did add a new princess costume to her collection-