Chalk Art

My Boo is an amazing artist.  She had the opportunity to do some chalk art with some local artists.  She and some friends drew the girl version of their mascot - The Green Giants.  You can't really see the details they put into it.  There is a face on the Giant.  There are names in the clouds and a cute little yellow ponytail flying in the wind.  The trees are there to show the Giantess' size. 

She is mostly into fashion design and really wants to start learning to sew some of her own designs. There are not a lot of choices when it comes to fabric here (at least that I've found so far - I will have to do some checking around) and I am not exactly the best seamstress to teach her. I can sew, but not at a professional level. I'm hoping maybe we can learn together.

These are 2 of the designs from the artists. They had much superior chalk, not the Crayola variety.    

   

Reggia di Caserta (Caserta Palace)

We took a quck trip to Caserta Palace.  It is set in a huge park filled with woods, statues, fountains, and pools.  Up this long walk is a beautiful waterfall - we didn't make it that far, but we'll go back.  We are waiting for the weather to be a little cooler (as in not over 100 degrees).

Caserta Palace was built in the 1700's for the Bourbon King Charles III.

He built it to rival Versaille in both scope and beauty.



There are 1200 rooms - we didn't get to see all of them. 

This is the cupola over the Grand Staircase.

The Palatine Chapel.

The Throne Room.  We weren't supposed to take pictures so I would put the camera away when I saw a docent.  The Italians didn't even do that.  They just kept snapping pictures.  Twice I was told, "No Fotografia."  I said okay then waited til the next room to pull it back out.

H's favorite statue.  W is still having a hard time with the nakedness of some of the art.  He's split between staring open-mouthed and turning away in shock.  It's funny to watch.

Halfway through, G decided he was done.  It wasn't air conditioned so it was hot and stuffy.



We were looking for somewhere to eat lunch, but most things were closed because it was Sunday.  So we got some gelato to tide us over until we got home.



 



It greatly helped G's mood.

But not M's dress. ;-)



Vitamix

I am now the proud owner of a Vitamix Blender. 

I was walking through the NEX when I saw this woman put granulated sugar into a blender and turn it into powdered sugar.  So I stopped.  Then she ground oats into flour.  Seriously?  So we stood there through her presentation where she made a smoothie, sorbet, tortilla soup (the blender rotates so quickly it BOILS water), and ice cream.  So I bought one.  The fact is, I was sold after the powdered sugar.  I just stood through the presentation for the free snacks.  The kids loved it.

We have used it every day - usually more than once a day.  We are still stuck in the Navy Lodge on base where there is technically a kitchen, but not a very good one, so to have this amazing tool has been wonderful.  The kids love the smoothies and sorbets.  I love that they are getting healthier food.  Yea Vitamix!

Downtown Naples

ICR (Intercultural Relations) took us on a field trip for our last day of Area Orientation.  They took us out and showed us how to use the trains and the streetcars.  The same ticket is used for both, plus the buses in Naples, so you buy one ticket for all day and can use all of the public transportation.  I think it is a great plan.  You can also buy a ticket for just 90 minutes if you aren't going to be there for long.

The streetcars are like escalators where you sit down.

They took us to a cafe for breakfast so we would know how to order.  (You pay before you order, then take the ticket to the bar.) 

 We had a ridiculously yummy pastry with white and dark chocolate and a strawberry slushy made from real strawberries.
  

Then we walked to Vomero Market. 

 I bought a fan because it was SO HOT.  Then on the way back to meet up with everyone, H MADE me buy this amazing pair of Italian leather shoes.  It turns out that I love shoes.  I did not know this about myself until I went to an Italian market.  I will post pictures of them all at some point.  (I've only bought 2 pair so far, but I plan on getting more!  It is H's fault for turning my head the first time.  Plus, they are SO INEXPENSIVE here.  So, it would be criminal not to buy them.  Not my fault at all.)

  

Then we took another streetcar down to the Piazza del Plebiscito.  It is the largest square in Naples surrounded with amazing buildings.
 

We walked down the street for a quick view of the Mediterranean with Mt. Vesuvius in the background.  I know just enough Italian to get by and I loved talking to the locals to pick up more.
 

I leant over the railing to catch a picture of the Castel Dell' Ovo (The Egg Castle).

  

This is the Castel Nuovo
(The New Castle - begun in 1279).
  

On our way back to the group, we stopped for a treat at Gay Odin (pronounced "Guy") which is the best chocolate in Naples.  It was delicious and we will definitely go back.
 

Then a quick walk through the Galleria Umberto.
     

This is the Museo di San Martino that sits up on the hill in Vomero.

  

I have no idea what this is. I was walking along, looked up one of the alleys and saw it, so I snapped a picture. I haven't yet found out what it is, but next time I'm downtown, I'll ask a local.
     

Then we finished up with the best gelatto in Naples at Scimmia (which means Monkey).  Please come visit and let me take you here!  It was a full day and we didn't really get to look at everything, but now we know how to get there so we can go back!

La Cena (Dinnner)

We finally got our Italian Drivers Licenses and so we were able to pick up our car. Yea!!  True Independence!  So we headed out to a restaurant that was frequented by Americans.

We didn't know yet, that Italians don't normally eat dinner until 8:00 or later.  So we rolled in at 6:30 and were the only ones there for about 45 minutes!  Then some other Americans came - it was still too early for the Italians. 

The food was delicious, and I am so proud of my children for trying - and liking - new things.  We had pizza a la crudo (with Parma ham), gnocchi, and a sampler appetizer including Pane de Napoli (Bread of Naples) which H loved.  It is made differently by each person, but is basically bread baked with cheese and meat (usually ham, sausage, and/or some kind of salame) rolled inside.  I was afraid my children would starve here, but with the delicious food, we will all be well fed.  This area is known for pizza, especially the Margherita, and for it's Mozzarella Bufala, which is made with the milk from local water buffalo.  It is DELICIOUS - not like anything in the States, and it is only found here in Naples.  They don't refrigerate it - it ruins it.  I was more than a little leery the first time someone told me this, but I have bought it twice since then, stored it on my counter, and not died from food poisoning, so I guess it's okay, no, more than okay - "E molto delizioso!"

Festa Americana

Our first few weeks in Italy were not very exciting. We were mired in paperwork and checking in.  We did not have a car so we were stuck on base except to take one bus ride over to a different base. So our first excursion in Italy was for American Independence Day! The Navy put on a big celebration at Carney Park. It is a Navy-owned park inside of an extinct volcano.   

We took the bus ride over...

...to find a carnival!

The kids took turn on the rides.  They were really expensive so we had the kids choose a couple to go on.  We snuck M on the Spider.  She was technically too short, but no one checked.  She spent the whole ride yelling about how awesome I was to take her on such an awesome ride.  :-)

Then we spread out the blanket, ate some good food, listened to some bands flown in from the States, and waited for nightfall.

G was a holy terror, but the kids chased him for us.

Then M got to go on her last few rides.  She choose the Ferris Wheel because she'd never been on one before.  Honestly - one of my least favorite rides.  I hate heights and when they stop you at the top to let the other people off, my knuckles go white.  I tried to pretend it was fun and it kinda was simply because she was so cute about it.

Don't worry - he's actually laughing, not screaming in pain.

Then fireworks and the bus ride home. Happy 4th of July!