Arrivederci Roma

5-26-2008

I am actually packing my things. So far today, I have stuffed a painting, a cheese grater, and prosciutto crudo in my suitcase along with all of my clothes. I still have so much stuff to pack and it seems like an impossible task.

Nick will fly to Rome tomorrow night and I will pick him up from he airport Thursday morning. I am sad to leave. It's a weird feeling. I feel torn. I want to go home, but I've just started to make friends and I am having a really good time. Hannah Louise has been such a good companion for me. I enjoy her company and am sad to part ways. I hope we stay in touch.

I can't wait to see Nick, though. I know the minute our eyes touch we will be inseparable. It's been hard for both of us to be on our own. I have planned a full trip for him and it seems like I am trying to show him everything I've seen in 4 months in just 4 days. Mamma mia!

So much has happened to me while I've been in Rome. There is no way on Earth I could ever attempt to describe or write all the experiences and events that have taken place. I recently came across a quote from Stephen Colbert that said, "But when you're moving, you can't wrap your dishes in a blog."

I know he was talking about something entirely different, but in some weird, comical way this statement wraps up how I feel at the moment.

Bernini's Ecstacy of St. Teresa

My father came to Rome when he was a young man and conducted a boys choir in Vatican City. When I was little, I was so proud of him for this. I would always pay attention when he would say something about Rome, and his stories from this place most likely influenced my decision to spend time in Rome. My father is a devout Catholic, and he named me after St. Teresa of Avila.

Bernini sculpted St. Teresa and his sculpture is located near Piazza della Republica on Via Orlando. It is inside a chapel called S. Maria della Vittoria. My Italian class is on Via Nazionale and the bus I take to school passes Via Orlando. I have gotten off at Via Oralando several times to peek inside this unassuming chapel at Bernin's adaptation of St. Teresa. The sculpture is truly beautiful and Barbara Grizzuti wrote, "If one is going to put one's love for the Baroque to the test, the place to go is Santa Maria della Vittoria."

I have been researching this sculpture and St. Teresa of Avila. I had thought that this sculpture was fairly unknown and that I had happened upon it because it had something to do with my namesake. However, last week I saw the film, Angels and Demons. Santa Maria della Vittoria and Bernini's sculpture of St. Teresa were focused on in the movie. AWESOME. I loved the film by the way. It's really imaginative, but to see this movie in Rome was amazing. I walked out of the theatre and was 20 steps from Piazza del Popolo.

After watching the film, Angels and Demons, I decided I needed to write a blog post about the sixteenth-century writer and mystic, Teresa of Avila. In her autobiography, Teresa speaks of a beautiful angel appearing at her side:

"In his hands I saw a great golden spear, and at the iron tip there appeared to be a point of fire. This he plunged into my heart several times so that it penetrated to my entrails. When he pulled it out, I felt that he took them with it, and left me utterly consumed by the great love of God. The pain was so severe that it made me utter several moans. The sweetness caused by this intense pain is so extreme that one cannot possibly wish it to cease, nor is one's soul then content with anything but God. This is not a physical, but a spiritual pain, though the body has some share in it - even a considerable share. So gentle is this wooing that takes place between God and the soul that if anyone thinks I am lying, I pray God in His goodness, to grant him some experience of it."

Bernini himself was an extremely devout Catholic. There is no reason to think that Bernini had anything other than good intentions in depicting Teresa's story, however, for many viewers, it was impossible to see St. Teresa's "ecstatic" transformation through spiritual eyes. A French cleric in the 18th century confessed, "I feel within myself, if I may say so, a kind of mental blush." The French painter (and I am a big fan) Vigee LeBrun met the sculpture with the harshest criticism. She found Teresa's expression to be so "scandalous that it cannot be described." President De Brosses has the most blunt interpretation as he spouted, "If this is Divine Love, I know all about it."

Post-Revolutionary French visitors were inclined to see the work in a more sympathetic light. Stendhal, the 19th century French writer, in his journals on Rome acknowledged the technical perfection exhibited by Bernini. He wrote, "Has the Greek chisel produced anything to equal the head of St. Teresa?" However, Stendhal added, "It's a great shame that these statues can so easily convey the idea of profane love."

Today, there is little scandal surrounding this sculpture. I, of course, love that this work can be viewed either as sacred or profane, and I feel it only ads to its mystique. While looking at some of St. Teresa's writings, it is quite obvious that she was engaged in a great love affair with God.

In Rome and a Villa, a novel of sketches of Roman life written between 1948 and 1951, Eleanor Clark says this about the Ecstasy of St. Teresa:

"There was a time when this piece was considered in a dreadful taste and there is certainly some amusement in one's liking it now, but it is hard not to, when its candor is so engaging, its rapture so true to the writings of the mystics, the talent so great and all Rome around to cushion the blow. The smile of the angel as he poises his golden arrow is one of the best smiles in sculpture."

Leaving Rome ...

5-14-2009

A few weeks ago, Camilla and I had the conversation that I had been dreading. We finally talked about my early departure. I am ready to go home and surprisingly Camilla agreed with my thoughts about leaving. The family will leave Rome in June when the girls finish the school year. They will spend their summer in Tuscany, at the beach, and probably go to Cortina as well. They will return to Rome in September. Camilla said that she knows I wouldn't be happy to be outside of Rome for that long. Also, she needs someone who can work "full time" (she really means over time). Elena won't travel with the family during the summer, so she needs to find someone who can work from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. all summer long. I am not that person. We both know that.

Yesterday, Camilla brought apricots home from the supermarket for the first time this season. We were all eating apricots after lunch, and she told me that it is tradition in Italy to make a wish, or to think about something you desire to happen when you eat something for the first time during the year. I immediately wished that I would be home and thought about playing with my dog in the yard, and sleeping in my own bed with Nick. This experience has been great. I've accomplished a lot of what I came here to do. I have learned A LOT of Italian, and I am definitely a stronger person for having traveled to Italy to live with a foreign family. However, being away from my home has made me realize how lucky I am to have such a wonderful life in Gainesville. I appreciate little things that I took for granted, and I am more than ready to go home. I appreciate my laundry room. I appreciate my air conditioner. I appreciate long strolls through my neighborhood. I appreciate being able to hop in my car and go for a ride ...

All my travel plans are arranged, and Nick will fly to Italy to help me get home. He arrives in just two weeks. I am sooooo excited that we will have a vacation in Italy together. Also, Camilla informed me that she will not be able to help me get to the airport, and so I really need his support. I was pretty angry about the whole airport thing with Camilla. She was aware of my travel plans, and it's in the contract that the host family is supposed to take the au pair to and from the airport. BULLCRAP on her part!! Anyway, I suppose it was a blessing because Nick is now coming to Rome. YAY!!!! I am busy planning our itinerary.

The last few days have been pretty rough here. I think it has something to do with my upcoming departure, but ... Yesterday night, Anna screamed in my face and almost hit me right in front of Camilla. I turned off the television at dinner time (because Camilla told me to do so) and she was really angry. She was watching "Il Mago di Oz" the DVD I bought her. They LOVE this movie by the way. Anyway, Camilla said nothing to her about treating me so terribly. I was more mad at Camilla than Anna. I think she should have said something to Anna about screaming in my face like a demon. It made me feel like dirt. I know she is just a child, and I'm taking it way too personally, but in a way it's like Camilla condoning such behavior not to say anything to her. I think it's strange. A lot of the time, I feel like the ugly step-sister here.

After dinner, I cleaned the kitchen and promptly went to my room and closed the door. My feelings were really hurt. Dinner was silent, and Camilla was giving me demands without saying "please and thank you." I really dislike that as well. It's amazing how much nicer an order is when it's followed by "please."

I really want the next two weeks to be full of good times and good memories. I care about these children and I hope they will look back with fond memories of our time together. I am working on a DVD slideshow of all the pictures I have taken of the children to give to Camilla. The language barrier has been difficult, and I know Camilla had hoped the children would learn more English.

I will have the entire weekend to myself in Rome. I need it. :o)

Artichokes

I found this recipe online --

-To clean them, set a big bowl of water with lemon in it, and start by breaking off the exterior leaves until they come off very easily. You’ll notice the difference as you get closer to the center, and they’ll be more yellow at the base than green.

-Lop off the toughest ends of the ‘flower’, and then take a sharp knife, specific trimming knives exist but I don’t have one, and trim the ends of the leaves all the way around to clean it up. (The woman from whom I buy my produce said to worry about the ‘hairy’ inside after cooking, which saves time, so I do.)

-Trim off the stems, just long enough so they’ll fit in your pot and use a knife or vegetable peeler to clean the tough outer part of the stem. As your clean each artichoke, place them in the bowl of water. IMPORTANT: Use the lemons to thoroughly and excessively clean your fingertips or else you will have stained cuticles and underneath your nails will stain for a week to follow. Not cute if you work in an environment where proper grooming is expected of you.

-Finely chop two or three cloves of garlic, a handful of parsley, and a handful of basil. Place these in the bottom of a pot that is high enough to hold your artichokes.

-Pour 1 / 2 (one half) cup of olive oil in, and then a cup of water, or enough so that the artichokes are covered by about two-fingers of liquid. Put the artichokes in face down, add salt and pepper, cover the pan with aluminum foil (or not) and then the lid.

- Bring to a boil, then lower heat to a simmer until they are cooked, about 20 minutes. (A knife inserted through the center goes in with little resistance).

Prosciutto crudo

I seriously can't get enough of this stuff. I think prosciutto crudo is like Italian sushi. Here is the Wikipedia description of Prosciutto crudo --

"Prosciutto is the Italian word for ham. In English, prosciutto almost always used for an aged, dry-cured, spiced Italian ham that is usually sliced thin and served uncooked; this is called prosciutto crudo 'raw ham' in Italian and distinguished from prosciutto cotto 'cooked ham.' The most renowned and expensive legs of "prosciutto" come from central and northern Italy (Tuscany and Emilia in particular), such as Prosciutto di Parma, and those of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, such as Prosciutto di San Daniele."

I simply must find a way to get this type if meat in the USA. I am currently looking for an online salumeria that will ship prosciutto crudo to my house in Gainesville. CRAZY.

Porta Portese Market

I picked out glass lanterns just like this one for our porch in Gainesville. I found the lanterns at Anthropologie, and they came inside a box marked, "made in Italy." I love that I found an identical lantern at the Porta Portese market in Trastevere. I wish I could shop here for all my home goods. This market is hit or miss, and it can be frustrating to shove your way through the masses. However, it has become my favorite market in Rome because the prices are unbeatable. You can find AMAZING deals on AMAZING stuff here. If only I could pay to ship large pieces to the USA. :'(

For example, I would love to be able to find some furniture like this in Gainesville for our front porch. If I found something like this, it would most likely be very expensive.

I liked these frames as well. :)

Camilla and Federico

My mom asked me to post a picture of Camilla and Federico. I really just don't have anything of the two of them together, so I decided to take a photo of this picture. I think this photo of the two of them is really beautiful. This was taken a long time ago, I assume they were newlyweds or not yet married. To me this photo displays a budding romance. They look happy and in love. I also really appreciate Camilla's affinity for cameras and photography. It looks like she is changing the lens on her camera in this photo.  

Tuscan mural

This isn't the best photo, but Camilla's staircase in Tuscany is painted like this. A room in the nonna's house is also painted with this same design. It's adorable and you can find all sorts of creatures within the mural. There are birds, mice, butterflies, bumblebees, dragonflies, spiders, mosquito's .... I really like it.

Some photos I've taken of the children

Cito, this one is for you ...

5-8-2009

I spoke with my mother last night on the phone and she informed me that my grandmother, Cito, had told her that it seems like I never have to work. So, I have decided to outline a normal day's work for everyone who might get the feeling that it's all rainbows here in Italy. I know my blog posts highlight the good times, but I have actually been at work.

Yesterday, I woke early and helped Camilla get the kids to school. I helped put breakfast on the table and brushed the girl's hair. The morning rush is always hectic and Camilla mainly needs me to watch Peter while she walks the girls to school. She normally leaves around 8:15 a.m. and I stay with Peter. I dress him and play with him for an hour. He always cries when it's time to get dressed or change diapers. Any kind of change normally disturbs him especially if he was playing or interested in something.

When Camilla returned, I showered, dressed and left for my Italian class. I have been going to class for four hours in the morning on Mon, Wed and Thur. I like the class and am very happy to get away for a bit. My class ends at 1:30 and I have to rush to be home by 2 p.m. Sometimes I have a little bit of time to myself from 2 to 4:30 while Peter is napping, but most of the time Anna and Ludovica want me to play with them or help them with their homework ...

Yesterday, Peter did not sleep at all during nap time. Ludovica was out on a school field trip and I was home alone with Anna and Peter. Anna was supposed to finish her homework, but she doesn't listen to me. I've given up on trying to control her, so I organized some art project for us to do together during the afternoon. Peter played with his ball and dumped crayon shavings all over the carpet for me to clean up. When Camilla arrived home with Ludovica, she was upset with me that Anna did not finish the homework. I think she should be upset with Anna.

At 6:30 p.m. it's time for everyone to have a bath. I always give the children their bath and dress them in their pajamas. I don't mind this chore much. I have to find some time between the bath and dinner to clean up all the toys. The children never put away their own toys and they have a grand time dragging the toys all over the apartment. By 7:30 p.m. the children are sitting at the table eating dinner. I feed Peter and help set the table. After dinner I do the dishes and clean the kitchen.

Yesterday, Camilla went to the cinema with her friends, so I had to put all three children to bed. Peter is usually easy to put down. He is the only baby I have ever seen not cry when it is time for a nap, or to go to bed. The girls, however, always struggle to stay awake longer. Anna is especially difficult. Usually I have finished putting all the babies to bed by 9 p.m.

And there you have it. A day in the life of Tess in Rome. The day to day activities vary, as sometimes I take the children to the park in the afternoon, and we go to the swimming lesson on Monday and Wednesday. It's not that work is very difficult, and I enjoy the babies, but I am exhausted by the end of the day.

Bolgheri

5-1-2009

Today is Friday and it's a holiday in Italy. Of course, the Italians NEVER stay in the city on a holiday, so today Camilla, Federico and I packed the car and headed to Camilla's cousin's house in Bolgheri with the children. Bolgheri is a seaside town and is well-known for the wine produced in the surrounding countryside and also for the stables where famous horses are kept. Camilla's cousin's name is Katerina and her husband, Guido, purchased a huge horse farm in Bolgheri ten years ago and converted the farm into a winery.

There was a lot of traffic heading out of Rome, and we were stuck in the car for hours with no end in sight. Peter was crying and the girls were frustrated. Anna had to use the bathroom, but we were locked in, no restroom to be found in bumper to bumper traffic. Finally, she had to go so badly she was crying. I had to hold a plastic bag open for her to pee in. Looking back, it was extremely comical. Mamma mia! The things I do for these kids ...

We stopped for lunch and everyone was able to have a bathroom break at last. We all ate a panino and a gelato and I even drank a Coca Cola. I hardly ever drink soda here, so when I get to have one I really enjoy it. Did you know that the coke in Italy doesn't contain high fructose corn syrup? The soda in Italy (and probably all of Europe) is made from pure sugar cane. Hmm. Interesting.

Today in the car Camilla told me she watched a documentary about the economic crisis in the US on television. Apparently this documentary said that many people in the US have lost everything and now live in tents. I couldn't help but laugh. I told her that many people have lost their jobs, but that I don't know one single person who is now living in a tent. I dunno ... I think there is more poverty in Italy than in the US. I also think that there are fewer wealthy and upper middle class families in Italy. This doesn't mean that I don't think that the USA is facing hard times.

Anyway, we arrived in Bolgheri around 4 p.m. Katerina has four children and we spent time with this family in Cortina. The children's names are Virginia, Marie-Gulia, Alberto and Madeline. Ludovica and Marie-Guilia have a special bond and it's really cute to watch them together. The house here is amazing. I'm not even surprised anymore. I have a feeling that Katerina and Guido have a ton of money, and I think Guido owns and operates something like ten wineries around Italy. They primarily live in Milan. Guido's vineyards are a lot more modern and technical that Federico's vineyard, and because of this they lack a certain charm. The vineyards here are hooked up to hoses and they have machines that monitor how much sun and water the plants are getting. CRAZY. I think Guido suffers from OCD. Camilla told me he has to have everything in order and that he can't stand chaos.

I played with the children outside and helped Camilla make beds and unpack the car. The next day we went to the beach and had a picnic. It was a nice weekend away, but as usual, I was happy to get back to Rome!

My Morocco is better than your Morocco

4-25-2009 -- 4-27-2009

It is now the fourth day of our Moroccan vacation and today we rented a car to drive cross country. The plan was to drive from Marrakech to Fes, from Fes to Rabat and then from Rabat to Casablanca. Morocco is a relatively small country, so this was a doable journey in just three days. A representative from the car rental agency met us at our hostel in the morning to sort out the rental deal and to deliver the car. We were all nervous about driving in Morocco, but little did we know that our biggest problem would be the reality of renting the thing.

Romina was in charge of renting the car as she was its greatest advocate. The car was successfully reserved and the rental fee had been paid in full, however she failed to read the entire contract, and so she was ignorant of the fact that we had to leave a 1,000 euro deposit in case of damages. The deposit would be refunded once the car was successfully returned, but none of us felt comfortable leaving our credit card number with the possibility of being charged 1000 euro. This was a huge dilemma and we spent a good hour debating our limited options. The Moroccan man was right in the middle of our conversation. He sympathized with our concerns and like all good Moroccans, he made us a deal. He said we could purchase "extra insurance" for a small fee and in this case our credit card would only be charged 350 euro if we damaged the car in some way. I felt more comfortable with this and so I agreed to give the man my credit card. I really just wanted to be done with the entire fiasco and I desperately wanted to see Fes. The man (his name was Hussein) took us to the car and showed us the way to Fez.

Navigating through Morocco was surprisingly simple. Poor Romina had to drive the entire time because the car was manual and Caitlin and I can't use a manual car. Pathetic! Also, Romina was the only one with an international licence. It took roughly 7 hours to drive from Marrakech to Fes and we arrived in Fes around 7 p.m. We had planned to stay just outside Fez in the small town of Saffrou, but when we arrived at our hotel, the man informed us that he did not honor our reservation and there was no room for us to stay. This was a blessing because we ended up finding a nice hotel in Fez not too far from the medina. We unpacked the car, relaxed for a bit and headed to the medina for dinner. Driving in the city was pretty difficult and Romina had to deal with the two worst backseat drivers on Earth. Caitlin and I were yelling at her every 5 minutes to slow down or to turn right ...

Finally, we found the medina, parked the car and meandered to the nearest restaurant. We were starving. We ate kefta, soup and soda. I loved eating within the medinas because the food was better and cheaper. It was immediately apparent that the medina in Fez was spectacular and we couldn't wait to experience this place during the day. The next morning we ate breakfast at our hotel and drove back to the medina. I had heard wonderful things about Fez and the old city exceeded all of my expectations. There are 9,000 small streets within this medina. This was certainly the best part of our trip.

Fes el Bali is the name of the old city in Fes. The souk/marketplace here is believed to be the largest car-free urban area in the world. The intricate labyrinth of alleyways contains stalls and workshops full of artisans, merchants, fragrances, colors, and the most fantastic treasures to be bought. The souk in Fez is irresistibly vibrant and full of life. We made friends with some locals within the medina and they took us to the best carpet shops, restaurants and pharmacies. The pharmacies in the old cities are extraordinary. Most of the products found within these places are 100 % natural and certainly exotic. I found the following explanation of these pharmacies online ...

"Even if you're feeling perfectly healthy, don't miss the chance to visit a Moroccan pharmacy. Like a witch doctor's den, these mysterious shops tucked in the souk's alleys, offer local residents cures for everything from toothaches to arthritis to broken hearts. Powders and potions, concocted of local herbs, not to mention dried lizards seen hanging on the walls, provide a cure for whatever ails you.

Travelers will be especially interested in the spices and perfumes. Saffron can be purchased for about US$2 per gram (minimum of five grams). Moroccan curry, a different blend than Indian curry, and a heady mix of Moroccan spices called "Head of the Store" are popular choices.

In the natural pharmacies, you'll also find stencils for henna designs (US$1), kohl eyeliner (US$3), musk (US$3 per gram) and numerous oils."

I loved the pharmacy. I bought soaps, perfume, eyeliner and some lipstick made from henna. I could have spent all day testing the oils and perfumes here, and I can't help but feel like I should have purchased more. It was so cheap and so good.

We met a guy named Younes and he showed us all over Fes. He told us he was Berber and that he moved to Fes with his father when he was 13 years old. I bought a carpet from his family (this was carpet # 4) and I met his father as he was constructing a wool blanket on a large loom. He took us to the tannery, which is one of Africa's most photographed sites. Fes is home to the largest traditional tannery in Morocco, and I believe it is one of the last ones in existence. This tannery had been in operation since medieval times and little has changed. I was absolutely fascinated! The only bad thing about seeing the tannery was the smell. The leather is died in vats that contain everything from pigeon poo to chalk and the smell is absolutely horrific. We had to hold mint leaves to our nose to cover the odor.

After a full day of walking the streets of Fez, Younes invited us to drink tea with him in his home. We accepted his offer and entered his very humble abode. He invited his friend Mounir to join us. We loved Mounir. He entered the room speaking to us in Arabic. Then he spouted, "Oh! You don't speak Arabic!!!???" From then on, he spoke to us in perfect English and we talked with him about everything from popular American music to Dr. Phil. We spent a few hours at Younes' place and then Mounir invited us to see a spectacular view of Fes el Bali from his rooftop terrace. The view was magnificent and so was his home. Mounir lives in a traditional Moroccan house that was built in 1317. It was incredible. The ceilings were made from carved and painted cedar and the tile work was so beautiful. The house was huge, and he lives there alone with his brother. Seeing this house made me want to move to Morocco!

None of us wanted the night to end, so we invited Younes and Mounir for dinner. We figured it was the least we could do for our very hospitable hosts. They accepted our offer and suggested we drive to an outdoor restaurant ten minutes from the medina. We did exactly that and we all shared another huge Moroccan meal. After dinner it was very late and time to part ways. We drove our friends back to the medina and said our goodbyes. Then we drove to our hotel and fell asleep only to wake super early to drive to Casablanca. So much driving!

Desert Tour

4-23-2009 -- 4-24-2009

Today we left Marrakech to spend the night in the Zagora desert. Caitlin, Romina and I met our tour group at 7 a.m. and headed to Zagora via minibus to sleep in a traditional Berber village. We drove 7 hours before arriving in Zagora. It was fantastic scenery and Morocco is absolutely beautiful. We passed terrain where Babel and The Gladiator were filmed, visited small Moroccan towns and rocked a Casbah. I LOVE MOROCCO.

Finally, after a full day of travel, we arrived in Zagora and rode our camels into the desert. I have to say, the camel ride was not the best experience in the world. It was actually extremely uncomfortable and camels smell REALLY bad, but it was all worth it when we met our final destination. We parked our camels next to beautiful tents made of carpets and gathered to have tea with the Berber people.

A man dressed in purple robes sat us around a table inside the tent and served us tea. He went around the table and asked where everyone was from. Our group was small, but diverse. There was a man from Argentina, a man from England, and a family from Lisbon. The family had two small children who spoke French, Portuguese and English. I thought it was an amazing experience for a child and admired this family immensely. I just can't picture Camilla on a desert excursion sleeping in a tent. LOL. After we all shared where we were from, the man said, "Welcome. Tonight we are all Berber." After the tea we all chatted a bit and waited for dinner. Dinner was served soon after and we were all very hungry. What was for dinner? Tagine chicken of course.

After dinner everyone passed out from complete exhaustion. In the middle of the night strong gusts of wind woke us all up. It was a bit scary, but I loved the sensation. It was like being in the middle of a desert storm. The tent was flapping and you could hear the wind howl. Simply fantastic. I slept surprisingly well for being in a tent. Everyone says the desert is really cold at night, but it just wasn't that cold actually. There was a big change in temperature from day to night, but I was certainly comfortable in a light jacket.

The next morning we all ate bread and cream cheese. They even made us coffee. It's not exactly common to find coffee in Morocco, but the tea is ubiquitous. After breakfast we were all ready to return to civilization. It was a long journey back to Marrakech and I don't think any of us were looking forward to the camel ride.

Hours later we arrived in Marrakech. I immediately hit the souk. I had to find some clean clothes and I just wanted to walk around a bit. Then we headed to the hostel for nice hot shower. SO NICE! Caitlin and Romina ate dinner at the main square and I went carpet shopping. I met up with them after dinner and now the fun begins. Romina was tired and so she headed back to the hostel to sleep. Caitlin and I wanted to enjoy the medina and so we found a cafe with a terrace view and sat drinking orange juice.

I'm not sure how this happened exactly, but at the cafe Caitlin and I were approached by some local boys. The men in Morocco were extremely attracted to Caitlin. She was hounded by them the entire trip. These guys were nice and we struck up a conversation. I never felt threatened or afraid of any of the locals in Morocco. I found the Moroccan people to be very kind. I think the biggest danger in Morocco is getting ripped off in the souk. Anyway, we were sitting and chatting and these guys talked us into going for a ride on their motorbikes. Looking back I just don't see how on Earth we agreed to do such a thing, but I'm glad we did. We ended up riding through the labyrinth streets of Marrakech on the back of motorinos. It was a fantastic way to see the city. After a while, we returned to the main square and walked to our hostel. Mamma mia! What a couple of days?

The west is the best

4-21-2009 -- 4-22-2009

I waited months for this day to arrive and it finally was here. I was up all night long packing for my trip to Morocco and at 3:45 a.m. I met one of my travel companions, Caitlin. We shared a taxi to Termini where we met our other travel buddy, Romina. We took a bus from Termini to the airport and soon enough we were on our way to Marrakech. We spent one night in Madrid before flying to Morocco. We arrived in Madrid mid day, roamed the streets and ate dinner. The next morning, we hopped on a plane to Marrakech.

We landed in Marrakech at 9:30 a.m. and a taxi service met us at the airport to take us to our hostel. We stayed at The Heart of the Medina Youth Hostel and it was actually in the heart of the medina. A medina is a distinct city section found in may North African cities. Medinas are usually walled cities and often contain palaces, mosques and beautiful fountains where the local people still collect water today. "Medina" usually refers to the old part of the city and some medinas were founded as early as the 9th century, however, today the word medina simply means town in arabic. It is typical to here the locals say "new medina" and "old medina" to distinguish between the the old town and the new town.

After we settled in we were ready to hit the medina in Marrakech and our first stop was lunch. We ate tagine kefta at a charming little restaurant and it was safe to say we were already in love with everything that is Morocco, especially the prices. After lunch we had to organize some of our travel plans. The next morning we were taking a desert tour to Zagora and we needed to find the tour's meeting point and pay for our spot so we wouldn't be dropped. We had no idea where to go, so we asked some locals. The locals were more than helpful and they insisted on escorting us to the desert tour headquarters. I'm sure they were just after the tip. After we settled our tour business and found a map of Marrakech, we were ready to meander the souk. The souk is a market within the medina and it is where you can buy textiles, jewelery, spices, wooden sculptures and other valuable goods. In a souq, the final price of an item is reached by bargaining with the shopkeeper. The locals are master bargainers and you have to be very careful. We caught on quickly we were playing their game in no time.

We also spent a good amount of time in Djemaa el Fna, the main square in Marrakech. The square is full of snake charmers, acrobats, orange juice stalls (you can buy fresh squeezed orange juice for 30 cents). I have never seen anything like this place in my entire life. We sat for henna artists in this square and drank our fill of Moroccan orange juice.

When night falls, this square transforms into a kind of outdoor restaurant. It seems like all of Marrakech gathers at this square to eat dinner and there are dozens of food stalls to choose from. We dropped our things off at the hostel and headed back to Djemaa el Fna for a traditional Moroccan meal. We ate tagine chicken, rice and cous cous followed by Morocco's trademark mint tea (the locals call the tea whisky) and went back to our hotel. We had to wake up early for the desert tour after all.

The Moroccans love Barack Obama and they call him "brother." I had many conversations with Moroccan locals about Obama and American culture. They seem to like Americans very much and I had one conversation in particular at the Djemaa el Fna with a man who said the Americans and the French are the best people because they are happy and aren't afraid of anything. When we were walking away he yelled, "the west is the best," and I can't help but agree.

What are your resources for a day in the country?

4-18-2009

It’s Sunday afternoon and I’ve spent the weekend in Bibbiano. We left Rome Friday. We were with Camilla and Federico Friday night. It rained in Bibbiano and when the sun came out the light was so extraordinarily beautiful. Saturday morning, Camilla dropped the children and I off at nonna’s, just down the road. She and Fererico are going to a wedding in Venezia. Now the adventure begins.

Saturday was tough, but everyone was in good spirits. We played in the garden during the morning. After lunch, I put Peter to bed and the girls watched a movie. Peter woke at 4 p.m. and I watched him until dinner time. I played with him, fed him dinner, changed his diapers … all the usual stuff.

The girls did their homework after Peter woke. Homework is impossible. I have to sit there and look over their shoulder in order for them to do the homework. It’s so annoying and arguments always ensue. I say over and over, “Fai compiti. Per che tu non ascolti a me?” Then Anna and Ludovica make faces at me or roll their eyes. They stare off into space and tell me they are “thinking.” What fun? All the while a little boy is running in circles around the table with his toy cars screaming, “vvvroomy vvvroomy.”

Soon dinner is ready. I fed Pietro first. Perrera and Sita (the couple who live and work for the nonna) made pasta with mozzarella and tomatoes. It was delicious. I drank spumante with nonna. I REALLY needed a glass. Dinner is the same as the last time. Ridiculously formal. Peter refused to stay with Sita while we ate. He loves me this weekend and constantly wants to hold my hand or for me to pick him up. This makes me REALLY happy, but I know as soon as Camilla arrives this behavior will end. Sita tried to watch him during dinner, but he cried bloody murder. Nonna told me to fetch Peter and I brought him to the table and sat him in a chair next to me. I told him, “Bravo Pietro. Che grande? Tu sei come Ludovica e Anna al tavolo.” This made him really happy and he behaved himself.

After dinner it’s time for bed. Mamma mia! I have to put all three children in the bath and get them in their pajamas. This is normal, but it’s more difficult without Camilla. All three babies are to sleep in the same room. I have to tell Anna and Ludovica there can be absolutely NO talking this night because Peter has to sleep with them. Ludovica listens to me, but Anna won’t shut up. Just as all of them are tucked in and the lights are out, in walks nonna. I have to repeat the process all over again. Lights out again. I listen at the door and wait until everyone is silent. Silence comes and I retreat to my room, just down the hall. Twenty minutes pass and in walks nonna. She tells me she has left her keys in the babies’ room and cannot lock the door or set the alarm. She gives me a small flashlight and tells me to find the keys. Geez! I can’t get a break tonight. I quietly enter their room and begin the search. I can’t find any keys. Then I see the keys tucked in Peter’s hand. I manage to take the keys from him without waking anyone. Finally, I am finished and can relax.

I was really able to explore the nonna’s house today. It’s absolutely beautiful. The furniture is especially exquisite and very old. I took a lot of pictures, but I would love to come to this house with all my photo gear and take portraits of the family or create a photo series of some kind. The house feels a bit dead, though. There is little life here and I wonder what it was like when the nonna’s children were young. Now she seems to live in 3 or 4 rooms only. She spends a lot of time in her library and she has the most fantastic collection of books. I especially liked looking at her picture books. She has books like “Paris 1837” and “Fasto Romano” that contain plates and prints of what these cities looked like during the 16th and 17th centuries. I loved seeing pictures of Piazza del Popolo and Piazza della Rottunda before the cobblestone and when people were driving around in horse drawn carriages. She also has wonderful magazines. One magazine I was reading is called, “Le Dimore Storiche Italiano.” Here I found pictures and articles describing famous piazzas, villas and sculptures around Italy.

Produce of the month

Came across this pic today.

Hannah Lou and Dylan too

4-15-2009

Wednesday in Rome. I went to school this morning and worked this afternoon. There are new students entering my class all the time. It's very small, but I've stopped trying to keep track of everyone. I returned to the house at 2:20 p.m. It's difficult to get to the home from school by 2 p.m. unless I leave class early. I don't think Camilla minds the minor tardiness. When she tells me she needs me at a certain time, I am always there.

I had a bit of a difficult day. I was depressed this morning. Can't really say why exactly. When I arrived home from school, Elena was just leaving. Everyone is sitting around the table and Ludovica spouts, "Elena! Io voglio Elena, solo Elena." This hurt my feelings. Elena speaks Italian and has been with the family for almost two years now, but ....

Camilla went to play tennis and I helped Ludovica and Anna with their homework. Ludovica would not do the homework. Every five minutes I ask her, "Ludovica, fai competi porfavore. PREGO PREGO fai competi!!!!" She looks at me like I'm nuts. When Camilla returns she is upset because they haven't finished. She tells me that I need to get them to do the homework within a reasonable time frame. JESUS!!!! I cannot MAKE them do the homework.

We went to a park later in the afternoon. I had not yet been to this park, the jungle gym was great, but the park itself ... not so pretty. I followed Peter around and tried to entertain him while Camilla chatted with her friends. Her sister-in-law, Cecilia, was there with her baby, Ottavia. Cecilia is pregnant with her second child. She smoked a cigarette with Camilla. I wonder if something happened to her pregnancy, or if she was smoking while carrying her baby. This is the first time I have EVER seen Camilla smoke. She rarely even drinks wine. I was actually glad to see her indulge. However, SHE WOULD NEVER SMOKE WHILE PREGNANT. I bet she even hates to smoke in front of her babies.

A lot of Ludovica and Anna's friends were at the park. When we arrived, Anna saw her favorite friend, Francesca. She screams. "Francesca!!!" with such enthusiasm, runs to her, throws her arms around her and kisses her several times. This put a big smile on my face. Anna can be a handful, but she has some special charm and it's easy to adore her (when she's adorable that is).

After the park, we went home. I gave the babies a bath, put them in their pajamas and it was time for dinner. The dinner has been so good the past few nights. When the dinner is delicious the babies LOVE to eat, Ludovica especially. I have to make them stop eating or there won't be anything left for Camilla and Federico. They have to eat minestrone and vegetable/lentil soup so often, they devour a delicious meal.

Then, I got a message from a fellow American au pair that I had contacted a while back asking if I wanted to meet of for a drink. THANK GOD! I soooooo need a fun night out. This girl is from Arkansas and her name is Hannah. She told me her family is friends with Bill Clinton!! We met at Piazza del Popolo and walked around Rome drinking beer and talking. I really like her a lot. She's also from the south and our hometowns sound very similar. We went into a bar for a drink and she points out her favorite Italian beer. It is Nastro Azzurro. She tells me her favorite beer back home is Pabts Blue Ribbon (PBR), and that she recently discovered that Nastro Azzurro literally translates as blue ribbon. I thought this was a funny coincidence.

We end up drinking our beers on the staircase of Piazza di Spagna. Some Italian guys were near playing the guitar and chatting. They came over to us, introduced themselves and ask us several times to join them. Finally we did and we ended up listening to them sing The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Who .... Hannah knows the lyrics and title of every single song. By now it's pretty late and everyone decides to leave. We all part ways and this one dude tells us he has a studio apartment just steps away from the staircase and invites us up for pasta. We really needed a bathroom, so we excepted his offer.

The apartment was pretty cool and apparently this guy is a painter/sculptor. I think this Italian guy and Hannah really hit it off. His work was really good and I especially liked his sculptors. He made us spaghetti with pesto and fed us red wine from Montepulciano. FANTASTIC!!! The conversation was phenomenal. I seriously had a fun/interesting history lesson on all the Roman Emperors post Julius Caesar. Hannah's favorite Emperor is Nero, and I must say, I like him too. He is the Emperor who played the fiddle while Rome burned. He was seriously deranged, but everything about him sounds so fantastically comical and extraordinarily interesting.

We ended up leaving at 3 a.m. We walked to the Colosseum because Hannah knew her way home from there. She is new to Rome, but not to Italy. She lived in Milan for a while before accepting a job in Rome. I took a taxi from Piazza Venezia and arrived home at 4 a.m. Ugh! Probably a bad idea considering I have to work in the morning.

Hannah and I planned to see a Bob Dylan concert on Friday. I have to travel to Tuscany this weekend and take care of the babies while Camilla and Federico attend a wedding. So, the next morning I ask Camilla when she plans to leave for Bibbiano. She says she wants to leave Friday afternoon. MAN! I ask if I can take a bus to Bibbiano early Saturday morning. It just doesn't seem possible. Actually, she just doesn't want to pick me up from the bus station Saturday morning before she heads to Venice. Of course the one Friday I want to go out, it isn't possible. SO BUMMED! :'( She tells me, "Sorry this is the one weekend I need you." I dislike this comment immensely, because a.) it is a lie and b.) I feel the same way in reverse. Just an ugly comment in general.

Not meaning to be so negative

I was reading over some of my posts, and I feel bad for being negative. I really have wonderful feelings towards this family, especially Camilla. This is just a place for me to vent. I don't have much companionship here and there's really no one for me to talk to most of the time. This is like my not-so-secret diary. Sometimes I forget that people read this stuff.

The situation is not always easy, and I sense that Camilla might be happier with another au pair, someone more like Elena. All I can do is try to help out and do what she asks of me. Sometimes I'm just really depressed and I want my friends and family. I'm feeling desperate and lonely today. A lot of times Camilla makes weird gasps and sighs at me. For example, today she walked passed my room as smirked aloud. My room is clean, but the bed was not made. I mopped the floor and cleaned the bathroom yesterday. I don't know what to make of such gestures. Next time I'm going to ask her what it is. I think it might be a good idea to leave early. I think she likes me alright and she is really very nice and kind .... I don't know how to describe the circumstance, but I feel at the mercy of someone else. I'm sure it's difficult for her as well. I mean ... I think it would be hard to welcome a stranger into your home. At the same time, I've lost a lot of my freedoms.

Today, the girls get out of school at 4:30 and Peter usually sleeps until that time. I don't have anything to do, but I feel guilty for not having anything to do. :'( Also, Camilla paid me double for last week. I didn't expect her to do this and now I'm feeling guilty about that too.

Judy, Oprah and Frank

4-13-2009

Today we leave Bibbiano and return to Rome. I woke up early, packed my bag and cleaned my room. Camilla had told me that we were going to leave at 10 a.m. However, she "changed the program" and decided we would leave after lunch. It is a 3 hour drive from Bibbiano to Rome. I spent the morning organizing a heap of toys and playing with the children. I cannot wait to get away from them. I just need some time to myself.

Camilla wanted me to take Peter on a walk, and I would have loved to, but it was very windy and he did NOT want to be outside. This is really frustrating. I lead Peter outside and he runs screaming for the door. Finally, I am fed up. I take him inside and ignore Camilla. He's really unhappy today. I try desperately to entertain him and keep him away from his mother. UGH! I am over this. I keep telling myself, "one more week and you're in Morocco."

We ate a wonderful lunch. Mozzarella and tomatoes, pasta and artichokes. Finocchi ... I've died and gone to heaven. I LOVE FINOCCHI. During lunch I ask the children if they have ever seen The Wizard of Oz. They have no idea what I'm talking about. I'm explaining Dorthy, Toto, magic red shoes, an evil green witch and a good fairy ... They're looking at me like I'm nuts. I'm sure Camilla and Federico know what I'm talking about. I ask why they've never shown the babies The Wizard of Oz. They are clueless. Federico says, "What? Say that again slowly." I explain to them that it is a very famous film starring Judy Garland. Federico asks, "Is she blond?" I cannot believe they don't know of The Wizard of Oz. I will have to see if it exists in Italian and if so, purchase the film for the family. The thing is ... I HATE dubbed films. I mean, part of the charm of this film is Judy Garland's magnificent old-fashioned American accent, and the music ... I always wonder how they manage to translate the songs. The film probably doesn't exist in Italian. I wanted to explain Pink Floyd and The Dark Side of the Moon to them, but I'm sure they would think I was insane.

After lunch, we clean the kitchen and load the car. I sneak some last Easter chocolate for Anna, Ludovica and myself. I forgot to mention that it is Monday and it's a holiday in Italy. It is called Pasquetta. On the way home Federico plays Frank Sinatra. I tear up when I hear "I Did It My Way." He knows Frank Sinatra, but not Judy Garland. Hmmm??? Finally we are in Rome and I hear talk of pizza for dinner. YES!

I help Federico bring in all the bags and then retreat to my room. I don't care. I'm not supposed to work all day. I close the door and immediately connect to the Internet. It has become a major addiction. I hear the family leave the house and I wonder if Camilla is upset that I am not helping. Oh well. I think I work too much. When they return I try to help with the bath, but she tells me not to worry and so I don't. The pizza took FOREVER to arrive and we didn't eat until 8:30 p.m. I was starving. At dinner, another American legend comes up in conversation. Federico is drinking red wine and eating pecorino cheese. This reminds me of the Oprah blue zone special about the regions in the world where people live the longest. I tell Federico that one of the regions was Sardinia because they drink red wine and eat pecorino cheese. He has no idea who Oprah is, but liked my story nonetheless.

Vigneto

Some photos of the vineyards ...






New grape vines just starting to come out.

Castle by the sea

4-12-2009

Today was Easter Sunday. We all woke early and drove to the beach. We arrived in a small town called Castiglione della Pescaia. Camilla (as usual) told me absolutely nothing about what was going to happen. We arrive in this very old town and meander through some steep and winding streets. All of the sudden we arrive at a castle. Federico phones his friend and the castle gates open. We are spending Easter inside a castle by the sea. First, we walk to a small church and attend mass. After we walk back to the castle and I play in the garden with the children before lunch.

When lunch is ready, we all enter the castle and sit at a round table for lamb and potatoes. The castle is sectioned into apartments and Camilla's friend, Alessandra owns an apartment here as a beach house. Alessandra looks fairly young and it pregnant. Her husband appears a little older and they live in Siena. After lunch, I play some more outside with the babies. Then Camilla tells me to go explore the town with my camera. How did I end up in a seaside castle on Easter Sunday?