Monday Morning

I made it through my first solo weekend in Italy!  No school, no husband...just me and my two boys.  We did just fine, I am proud to say, though I cannot deny that I was a tiny bit thrilled to drop Gio off at school this morning.....

Sunday night.  Yep.  No one relaxes quite a well as Enzo.

A bit more tramp time.  Gio sings to himself when he thinks no one is around.  Sort of like his mama.  

Mama's glasses.  Gio spent quite a bit of time swatting flies in the trampoline today.  An odd activity, but I embrace anything he thinks up that is not too destructive!

Dinner at Nonna Luisa's with the cousins.  

Once I dropped Gio at school this morning I headed into town (Castelnovo ne'Monti) for some quick errands.  Here is the best gelato in all of Italy.  I resisted the temptation considering it was only 9:15AM.

Market day!  Every Monday the main square is filled with vendors selling everything from cheese to bras.  

Loved this woman.  Probably about 80 years old.  Hoping to be like this in a few decades!

I always stop here- great produce and a perfect opportunity for me to practice my Italian.

Live chickens.  I did not buy any of them but the farmer offered to let me take  a few out to photograph.  For those of you who know about my absolute fear of birds, you understand why I declined.  

The Posta.  The US could learn a thing or two from Italy.  Unlike our own postal service, this one is doing well since they  added banking services long ago (post boxes on left, ATM on right).  It is also a popular meeting point for the locals.

Strolling along the main drag. 

Most pharmacies in Italy have condom vending machines available 24 hours/day.  Bravo, Italy.
Now for CVS to adapt this practice in the US....

My favorite Monday morning scene.  Traditionally all of the male pensioners sit in the second main square in town while their wives shop in the market.  They gossip and drink coffee.  It is like a geriatric frat party.  

I can easily picture Paolo here one day.

Okay, so I did not resist temptation. At 10AM I figured gelato is now acceptable.

Yum.  Might be willing to share this with Gio....

On my way home I stopped at our favorite cheese shop.
We have one 5 minutes from our house, but this one is our favorite.

By the way, the "D" plates are still serving me well here even though we are not officially diplomats here in Italy.  I have watched quite a few polizia wave me onwards.  No complaints here.  

My solo complaint about Italian shops are the hours.  How would you like a 3.5 hour lunch each day??

Enzo's heaven.  I come here every other day to buy him fresh ricotta.  Nope, not spoiled at all.