Traveling With Judi . . . .

Ahhhhh....I'm tucked away in my little attic "nest" with my new family in Fano with my double-espresso latte, the sun streaming in through the skylight, and a bit of peace and quiet!!  I forewarned my family last night that I might just have an "introverted day" (meaning I might want to read all day, ponder life, not go sightseeing, etc.) and told them not to worry if I didn't come out of my room all day!! Fortunately , I think they are introverted enough to understand - especially with a 15-month-old and a 3-year old in tow! Ke tty, who spends night and day with children as an elementary school teacher and mom, said that she often wishes for time to just hide away with her own thoughts - so she encouraged me to take time to myself! And Francesco (a musician) said to send him a message on Facebook if I wanted biscuits and tea dropped off outside my door (HA!)!! I think  my time here will be much more "engaged" in many ways with diapers, dishes an...

This week has been filled with so many wonderful memories and experiences that I don't know where to begin!! My family here in Jesi has been incredible!! Starting with my special birthday celebration and increasing in hospitality, they've shown me parts of the historical city (mere steps away!!); introduced me to extended family and friends (SO MUCH FUN!!); and taken me to a "Symphonic Queen" concert (an interesting tribute to Freddy Mercury the main singer of the 80's musical group "Queen")...with not one, but TWO performances of "We Will Rock You" (the second one brought on by the stomping feet of the inspired audience at the end)!! The performance was held in the beautiful Teatro Pergolesi (in case you want to Google it) - an opera house built in the late 18th century with AMAZING paintings and architecture (including a huge chandelier and box seats all along the sides and back). It is "one of the few opera houses in Italy from t...

I wanted to thank all of you for such wonderful birthday wishes and blessings, words of support and encouragement, and for just "going along" for the ride with me!!  It definitely makes it more fun to know I'm sharing my adventures with people who are interested since I'm usually alone when I travel! I  had a wonderful birthday on Sunday, filled with new friends, wonderful food, lots of JOY and new experiences!! In fact, I had double the celebrations to match my double number (55)!! I went to Fano around noon and met Ketty, Francesco and the babies (who I will be helping to care for and speaking English with starting on the 16th)! Lunch was a delightful experience filled with delicious food, good wine, great after-lunch coffee and, of course, wonderful conversation!! Ketty made a yummy cream-filled cake and a fun "birthday flag" to decorate it!! She was trying to keep the birthday cake a secret while she finished getting it ready in the other room, a...

February 4th.... I made it to Jesi (pronounced "Yezi") and I am a happy camper!! I absolutely ADORE my new family and am very excited to connect and learn more about them (and from them)!! They are all so sweet, warm, open-hearted and kind (and just as excited to have me here as I am excited to be here)!! It's time for bed, but I just have to say how wonderful it was to sit for a few hours chatting about life (their lives, my life, what's important in life)....all those meaningful things I love to talk about with people!!  My train trip went well although it was another grey, foggy day so I wasn't able to see much. Very LONG tunnels through the mountains on my way to Piacenza (in case you want to look at Google maps to see where the train went) then a few towns, but mostly acres and acres of farmland with layers of mist and fog creating a mystical feel as I chugged along rhythmically...lulling me into that peaceful place of contentment - thinking about how basic...

Piazza di Ferrari (The famous Italian, not the car)!! It is a grey, cloudy day here in Genoa, and I'm thinking about my departure tomorrow and getting excited for a new adventure!! I'm leaving a bit earlier than I had originally planned, but I've decided it's best to leave sooner than expected because my knee is hurting from the necessary climbing of hills here!! I Medieval "City Gate" leading into the Genoa historical center! can't really get out and about much in Genoa to do sight-seeing because it is LITERALLY built on the hillside of the mountain and we are close to the top, so going anywhere requires going down a lot of stairs and hills....then climbing back up!! I think my knee (already injured when I fell down some stairs last fall) might have gotten a bit "stressed" after my hike through the Cinque Terre. I'm okay walking on flat areas or a few hills here and there, but these steep inclines are a bit much!! Soooo, I'm he...