Italiano di pensiero (Italian thoughts)

Yes, I'm thinking, dreaming, feeling Italian at this moment. My lovely daughter in law, is expecting twins in early September and I am so wishing I could be there right now. So I found myself looking at photos I took of my visit to my son, his wonderful wife and my sweet granddaughter over Thanksgiving last year. They live in Vincenza (just outside Venice) in a lovely Italian stone home with surrounding olive groves. This was my first visit to Italy and I must share that of all of the places I have visited in this world, it was Italy that captured my heart. Extraordinary architecture, delightful people, words that cannot describe art and a marvelous clash of ancient and contemporary. I really didn't want to leave. So below are a small few of the hundreds of photos that I took while there.

The front entrance to their home. An unexpected snow storm laid a lovely blanket of white over everything and only the day before it was summer temps.

Snow covered persimmons in their yard. I love the brilliant orange against the field of black and white.

Looking down the olive lined path behind their house. It was magical.

The snow had just melted off the pink hydrangeas found in the Olympic Gardens in the Teatro Olimpico.

The Teatro Olimpico or Olympic Theater is one of my favorite stops in Vincenza. This theater, built above the dungeons of a ruined castle, was begun just six months before Andrea Palladio's death in 1580 and completed by his son, Silla Palladio, and the architect Vincenzo Scamozzi in 1585. It is the oldest surviving indoor theatre in Europe. The Olympic gardens are beautiful with marvelous sculptures everywhere.

This sculpture of the woman bearing loves of bread & persimmions in her apron makes me smile.

A perfect example of the clash of the ancient and the contemporary. I love the artistic layout of this old Vicenzin road and yes autos still drive over it.

This ancient fountain is found in Florence and is part of 5 cherubs that spill water into a trough for the cities horses. Now it is used for children to play in and birds to drink from.

...and the reason I came to Italy last year, to spend time with my granddaughter...my little 3-cheese ravioli as I call her. She knew that grandma-ma would arrive with a bag of tricks full of costumes made just for her of her favorite Disney characters. Here the little Tinker Bell is pretending to awake because if you truly believe in fairies than you clap your hands. Now I must plan play costumes for two more grandchildren...how much fun for me.