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-

penelope lately

She is happy when it rains.

(so she can use her umbrella)

She is still loving her dance class.

Celebrating Halloween in her own way 

with a painted pumpkin.

There is still a fair amount of dressing up going on

and she has become quite the actress.

And on off days, she likes to say,

"Some days are just like that."

italian playground

The parks are only open from 10:00 am until 12:30 pm

and then 3:30 pm until 5:00 pm in the fall.

When it is time to close, 

there is a man who comes and locks the gate. 

He blows a whistle to signal the park is closing- 

at this time all of the children run and jump onto the gate.

He lets them hang onto it while he slides it closed. 

They all love it!

Penelope is next to her friend Sara. 

Sara calls Penelope the English girl.

At Parco Perlasca, Padova

the weekend

We went to Florence

and it was kind of a disaster.

A beautiful disaster.

We did see some of the sights (from afar).

We walked

and walked

and we found this little event.

An outdoor art exhibit with food and drinks.

Patrick found a vintage record and book store.

We saw this too.

These huge fashion panels were hanging 

in the middle of a neighborhood.

Good to dance in front of.

Penelope was a little off.

She is smiling here, 

but on the train home, she said,

"I know I was a total wreck."

Yes, she was.

friends

Pam and Robb came to town! We were so happy to see them.

I guess we were starting to feel a little isolated.

Plus they are the best people to hang out with on a trip. 

Always up for anything.

First I made them get bikes.

We went to Venice

and took a gondola ride-

It was pretty great-

and a little dark.

Then Venice started to flood.

So we went home.

They left today.

Thanks for hanging out with us Pam & Robb!

the weekend

On Saturday we went back to Venice-

Penelope got a new purse.

Then we found a playground

and hung out for a while.

Then we went here.

The Peggy Guggenheim Museum.

Small and cool.

In the sculpture garden.

Yoko Ono Wishing Tree

You can leave a message or wish on its branches.

Sunday was cold and rainy.

We stayed in Padova.

Basilica di S. Antonio