Photographs & Butter

They say that hind sight is 20/20.  I think it’s closer to 20/15.
As I look at all my photos and think back about our experiences over the past year, I realize that we have been very lucky.  No major mishaps, nice apartments/neighborhoods, wonderful people, and above all: each other.
I just want everyone to know (including the powers that be) that I realize how lucky we’ve been.

Part of the reason I’ve been looking back on my photos (other than organizing them for more blog posts…be patient with me) is because it’s Friday.  One of the e-groups I belong to is called Photo Friday.  Each Friday they deliver an email that includes a concept. Last Friday the concept was “The Good Life”.  We’re supposed to submit a link to a photo that we feel expresses this concept. I think I have several photos that could illustrate this, but I can only choose one to submit.
As I look through my photos taken over the last year, the photos that ping my heart  the most are the ones that document the little things.  The kitchen in our apartment in Milan with (empty) wine bottles lined up.  The kitties laying in the sun on the balcony. The bike path behind our apartment building in Brussels.  Again, so many photos of the little things that made our lives good.

The photo I’ve chosen was taken the first day I arrived in Milan.  It was my first cappuccino in Italy.  I remember finding it strange that I had to stand at the counter and drink it. I also know that it was the last time I had a cappuccino after 11AM.  Soon after my arrival, a friend informed us of the cafe etiquette that it’s considered gauche [out of fashion] to drink cappuccinos after lunch.  I really miss my morning cappuccino!

So here it is (sigh), my first cappuccino in Italy…my “The Good Life”.

If you had to pick one photo to express your “The Good Life”, what would it be?

Not including today, I have only five more days left in Europe.  This time has gone by like a trip on the autobahn…a blur.  And I still have things I need to do before I leave.

I’ve had more adventures here that I have not yet blogged about.  So you all get to “enjoy” our European adventures even after I’m back living in the states.

One of the things that’s been setting me into a slight panic before I leave, is what to take with me.  There was less panic each time I left the US, because I knew I’d be back and friends would be visiting (with prizes).  Leaving Italy was another story.  Even though we have a few cities near us with decent areas of authentic Italian restaurants (pizza!), groceries, and pastry shops, it’s never the same as the real thing.  So what to bring home?  I missed a few things even while living here in Belgium.  Luckily I had a chance to go back to Milan last month and pick up a few things I missed.  Now I turn to my time in Belgium and think about what I’ll miss.  What can I bring with me?  Not much.  Most of the things I love here in Belgium are perishable.  Or are extremely heavy (beer!).  But I’m sure there will be at least one box of pralines for us in my baggage.  I can’t take too much, since I’ll also be traveling with the cats.

Traveling with two cats is strange.  It makes me sick to my stomach with stress and worry.  And I’m sure they’re not too happy while traveling either.  I could be guessing this from the constant meowing and the cowering in the back corner of their kennels.  Keep your fingers crossed for us on the return to Boston!  I’ll be documenting the trip so that I can blog about our experience.  A lot of good information came from people who wrote about their harrowing pet travels on blogs and websites.  I am going to do my best to pay it forward.  Plus it will keep me busy, which will easy the worry a bit.

Chris probably won’t start missing things for a while since he will probably have to come back to Europe a few times this year (and he’ll be in Italy two weeks after I leave).  And he’s associated this year with a lot of hard work, where it’s just been one big adventure (and housework) for me. 

When you travel, do you always bring something with you that you can’t do without?  Food, books, music, clothing, etc?  Add a comment about it, or answer one of the following (click on “comment” to bring you to the comment section):

• If you were leaving the US to live in a foreign country, what would you need to take with you (that you didn’t think you could get in the new country)?
• What do you think you’d bring back from Italy (even if you’ve never been there)?
• What would you bring home from Belgium?

I’m curious to hear about what others think about the comforts of home, and of course souveniers from life. 

I’m most certain that this is my last blog until I get home next week.  Like I said, I got a ton of stuff to do still.  Until then (and since there are no photos in this post) please feel free to enjoy the photos in my flickr…photos usually make it there before I blog about them.

A bientot and ciao!

We’ve had a few adventures here in Europe that I haven’t blogged about yet.  I’m calling them Long Lost Adventures.  Here’s the first in the series.  Our first guests in Milan.

Long Lost Adventure #1
Way back in July of 2007, my Mother and her husband Wes planned an amazing 3 week Italian holiday.  The first week they spent with us in Milan, then they headed south for a tour of Rome and Tuscany.  Ah, the life…

Even though Milan is in Northern Italy, it’s very hot and humid there in July.  And smoggy (you’ll be able to see it in some of the photos).  So just moving and breathing require a little more effort. 

A little bit about jet lag
When you fly west, jet lag is often a very big problem for the first couple of days.
We’ve found the best way to deal with this is by not napping. If you stay up until bedtime of the location you have arrived, you’ll adjust much more quickly to the new time zone. It is never easy. When guests arrived, I basically dragged them out into the city to try to keep them awake! I’ve had people fall asleep on me in the middle of a conversation at the dinner table.

One of the first things that I dragged them out for was Gelato.  Cool delicious, distinctly Italian.
Donna and Wes’ first gelato

I don’t think they like their photo taken while they’re eating either…

Here’s a photo of my gelato from that day. Cocco e Mango, or Coconut and Mango.

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