Back in Italy

Gio and I flew to Italy on Friday (the second flight from Munich to Bologna was Gio's 100th flight!!).  Paolo joined us late Saturday night after a work trip to Istanbul.  We came this week as Monday and Tuesday are holidays in Ukraine, so no school for Gio and no work for Paolo.  Today (Sunday) we attended the confirmation of Gio's beloved cousins Matteo and Filippo.  Later this week we will celebrate Paolo's birthday.  It is wonderful to be here and to work more on the house.  The next time we come will be in late June when the 4 of us drive from Kyiv.  Enzo, Gio and I will be in Italy for all of July and August.  Paolo will return to Kyiv after the drive but will return to spend August with us.  We will welcome my parents then as our first official houseguests.  Yeah!

Waking up at 4AM to get to the airport means pjs and resting in line to checkin....

On the tarmac awaiting Gio's 100th flight!

We do miss jetways.  We really only see those these days when we fly to DC.

Boarding flight #100.  It seemed a bit anti-climatic as this Munich-Bologna flight is the shortest flight (50 min) that Gio has ever taken.  I do hope it takes longer than 3 years to do the next 100!

And, as usual, Gio waits to sleep until we are in the car.  

First afternoon in Italy and first order of business is to search for grasshoppers with Nonna Luisa. 

On Sunday we headed to the confirmation of cousins Matteo and Filippo.  Gio was thrilled that his cousin Giacomo came from Milan for the ceremony.

And Giacomo's sister Cristina, too.  She has visited us in Washington and Kyiv and is absolutely adored by Gio.

Here is Filippo prepping for the big ceremony.

All of Gio's Italian cousins (from left: Filippo, Cristina, Matteo & Giacomo)

 These are shots of our house's new landscaping.....

Finding a lizard with Zia Silvana at her house.

Silvana is an avid football (soccer to you Americans) player and fan.

The snow-covered mountains visible from our porch

A giant family celebration at an agrotourismo after the church service.

After a huge meal we headed out to the lawn for some play.

And that has just been the first 2.5 days in Italy!  5 more to go.....