CINQUE TERRE - MEDITERRANEAN BEAUTY

The kids had parent teacher conference with thursday and friday off.  So we decided to take a good Italian trip to a prime and popular location to which we had never been.  We went with some friends to a beautiful place called Cinque Terre (Cheen-kua Ter-ra).  This was the main location that we wanted to go to and see but we stopped at some other neat places along the way.  Do you like Balsamic Vinegar on your bread or salad?  Did you know that all vinegar that is produced, marketed and sold as Balsamic Vinegar has had the stamp of approval to be sold as such from Modena or Reggio Emilia, Italy.  Both locations are close to where we are living.  We decided to take a detour to Modena and see where the balsamic vinegar is made.  It was very neat and we sampled Balsamic Vinegar that was 6, 12 and 25 years old.  It was delicious.  It was more like a syrup than a liquid.  Cinque Terre is translated to "five lands" or rather five cities.  Each of these cities are built on small outgrowths of land that jut into the Med Sea.  They are very small cities, each with a church, bell tower and it's townspeople and unique shops.  We rode the train to one of the top towns called Vernazza.  We then enjoyed a beautiful hike to the next city called Corniglia.  It was about a 2 hour hike.  The hike is through a mountainside of vineyards and olive trees.  Many locations have huge nets on the ground to catch all the olives that fall from the trees.  We of course enjoyed gelato and focaccia bread in each town, delicious!  From Corniglia some of our group decided to ride the train to the next city, while others of us decided to hike to the next city.  We thought that we had read that the hike would be no longer than 30 minutes and a pretty easy hike.  We could not afford to have a longer hike since it was going to get dark in about one hour.  Much to our surprise the hike was very difficult and took us about 1.5 hours.  Yes, we hiked the last 30 minutes in the dark with some kids.  That last bit of the hike going down steep hillsides was a bit anxiety ridded, but we made it safe and sound.  Some cold water and pizza was very welcome.  The next day we visited a city called Vinci.  It is the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci.  The last day of our trip was a stop at the ever famous and world tourist spot of Pisa.  This is where the Leaning Tower of Pisa stands.  I had heard about it in my life, seen pictures etc. but it was really a cool site to see it.  It should in all regards in my mind tip over, but it does not.  It is amazing to think that an error or miscalculation in construction which led to the lean in the tower has made this otherwise italian city worldly known.  We had lunch in Pisa at a sandwich shop where my wife ordered for me the best seller.  I looked at it, took a bite of it and it was some type of cheese, with what I think was raw pork on the toughest bread I have ever chewed.  Italian cuisine is delicious, but in this instance I sure missed good ole Subway.  During out trip we stayed in a town called Lucca, which is known for a city wall that goes all the way around the city and you can walk on top of the wall.  It was neat. We had a great trip, saw wonderful sights, ate good food while we continue to enjoy our Italian adventure.

Looking back at Vernazza as we begin our hike.  Each town is like this, built on a small peninsula shooting into the sea.  

This is the attic in Modena in the house where the Balsamic Vinegar is made.  The vinegar is made from pure, natural and aged grape juice, they call 'must'.  It sits in these wood barrels for years until ready to eat.   A new set of barrels is started when someone is born and then the aged product is given to them as a gift when they are married

We all felt this way on the hike, it was not real easy.  This cute boy was just the only one that decided to take a load off for a minute on trailside!

This picture is taken from one slope to the next of the many vineyards on the mountainside.  We eventually hiked around until we were on the mountainside you see in the picture looking back at the mountainside the picture was taken from.  Try planting your garden on the mountainside.  The people ride motorized chairs up the hillside.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa.  The picture is not skewed, it really does lean as much as you see here if not more. the picture does not do it justice.

The beautiful trail we were hiking on from city to city in Cinque Terre!  We did see the awesome sunset as we hiked.  We just needed to be closer to our destination during sunset rather than being guided in by moonlight.

CITY OF WATER - VENICE, ITALY

We live 15 minutes from the train station and the train is 45 minutes to the waterfront streets (The Grand Canal) of Venice.  We have been there a few times now and have enjoyed walking around the small narrow streets.  There are certainly plenty of waterways also, but it is a small fare to ride the water bus or taxi.  The classic and iconic water gondola's are for sure available to take a ride on with the man in a blue stripped shirt but they are expensive.  We will do it at least once while we are here.  We know we are having a blessed experience and a unique one that many people dream of having all their lives.  It is fun to get lost on the streets of Venice.  There is much to see such as St. Mark's Square and Basilica, The Doge Palace and other tourist spots.

THE GRAND CANAL OF VENICE

THE FAMOUS BRIDGE OF SIGHS, IT CONNECTS DOGE'S PALACE WITH THE PRISON

THE MOST FAMOUS BRIDGE IN VENICE CALLED RIALTO BRIDGE WITH ONE OF THE CLASSIC AND ICONIC GONDOLAS

MENORCA, SPAIN

After a whirlwind travel to italy, staying in a hotel on base and one week after being in europe we decided to take a trip to Spain to see Steve as he was getting married.  We were very fortunate to be able to stay right on the beach of the Mediterranean Sea in a little cottage.  We later learned that this cottage is one of the most popular cottages on the island and is in many magazines, postcards etc.  Just google image Menorca Spain and the very cottage we stayed in will show up.  It was an absolute blast of a vacation.  If there was ever an awesome 3 day vacation this was it.  The water was crystal clear and warm, the cottage was as cool as can be and the wedding was wonderful.  The one new experience we encountered but had to accept was the many topless women of all ages and sizes enjoying the same beach we were enjoying.  I suppose modesty isn't a part of all cultures!  Sorry no pictures of that adventure.  We had the wonderful opportunity to tour and see a functioning lighthouse and go to the top where the light is.  It was fascinating.  We even got to ride the fairy back to the mainland to catch our plane back to Italy.

THE AWESOME COTTAGE WE STAYED IN RIGHT ON THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA

THE WHITE HOUSE WE TOURED AND CLIMED TO THE TOP OF

IN THE TOP OF THE LIGHTHOUSE IN THE ACTUAL LIGHT HOUSING AREA

CLIMBING MANY WINDY STAIRS TO GET TO THE TOP OF THE LIGHTHOUSE

SLEEPING ARRANGEMENT ON OUR 15 HOUR FAIRY RIDE BACK TO BARCELONA.  TO TOO BAD FOR THE KIDS.  NOT THE BEST NIGHT OF SLEEP FOR MOM AND DAD.  THERE WERE PEOPLE LAYED OUT ALL OVER THE FLOOR OF THE FAIRY ON BLANKETS AND SLEEPING BAGS.

GOODBYE TO ALTUS OK, WELCOME TO ITALY

It is time to start Keepin' up with the Joneses again!  It has been along time since we posted on our blog, which means we are terrible at keeping up with ourselves or we are just computer and technology "dumb".  Likely a combination of both.  We spent 3 wonderful years in Altus, OK.  We had never heard of this tiny southwest OK town before going there.  The only thing we heard about it was that if "Wal-Mart doesn't have it you don't need it".  It certainly is not full of commercialism or fast past metro areas.  It has plenty of fast food, hometown cookin' and small unique shops.  Most of all and best of all it has warm, welcoming and the friendliest people you have ever met.  We loved out time in Altus, we made wonderful lifelong friends, bought our first home that we absolutely loved, did a lot of work to it and wish we could have it back.  We had wonderful adventure in OK with the wind always roaring, the thunder and lightning cracking like we have never heard before and the excitement during storm season wondering if we would be in the path of the next tornado.  Thankfully we were not.  We will always have a warm place in our hearts for this great little town full of smiling faces and dear friends.  Time came for us to separate from the Air Force or stay in.  We decided to stay in when the AF told us we could go to Europe and even better to Aviano, Italy.  It is one of the most popular over seas locations.  We were excited for this possibility for new adventure and seeing parts of the world we had never seen.  Without getting into the weeds of our travels to europe, the long and frustrating process of getting settled and now being settled lets just say it was a HUGE adjustment.  We are settled now after two months of being here and enjoying our time.  We continue to learn new things everyday from language, customs, driving, eating and living amongst the italians who are a welcoming and friendly people.  Aviano is in the NE region of italy which makes it convenient for traveling to other countries.  So now that we are here we will do our best to keep up with ourselves and our new adventures so that you can too and see the places we have been here on our blog.