Freaky Friday

Along the theme of you never know what you come across while walking in Chiavari.....

This is what Sam and I happened upon on during our morning outing to do the day's "spesa" (shopping) - in the carrugio (walking street).

A vintage WWII German BMW r75 Motorcycle with a sidecar!




As you can see, the bike is in near perfect condition baring the few "personal" touches made by the owner. Now, I don't know the market value of such a motorcycle, but keep in mind this thing has been parked along the vespas and modern BMWs. Meaning, the owner is most likely using it frequently.

If you are a BMW r75 motorcycle "anorack" (think trainspotter) rent the DVD of "A Bridge too Far" or you can see Steve McQeen in "The Great Escape" ride one (without the sidecar) through the hills of Fussen, Germany.

Otherwise...

Feast your eyes on this!

Sarahcakes!

Sarah's nickname at Usdan - the summer camp she goes to - is Sarahcakes!

Sarah had a perfect birthday. Friends, cake and pressies!

Not list all of her presents... but her favorite of all seems to be the envelopes she opened with - COLD HARD CASH -

Sarah, with her new found wealth, is going to buy herself something very nice when she is in New York this summer, an electric bass guitar!

Rock on Sarah!

Krista

Lerma

Not wanting to push down the post on Sarah's big 14, but since these photos are in some way related to Sarah...

Sam and I are finally becoming homeowners in Italy.

Yes, we are putting down roots in Bell' Italia. Crazy maybe. But, if you take a close look at the photos, you can see the view... It goes for miles and miles. Best part, some very special people are across the road. Cristina and Virginia.

This Saturday we go to start the paperwork to set this deal in motion and if luck is on our side, the house will be ours in September.

Then the fun begins

Krista

Happy Birthday Sarah!

A poet is, before anything else, a person who is passionately in love with language.
W. H. Auden

Happy Birthday to my dear Sarah. May your love and passion for language remain with you through life's amazing journey. Let it sustain you and feed your brilliant mind.

As you strike out on your own to conquer the world,

Remember

Life is not a race, it is a ride
Take it in stride

Stay strong of heart with a passion to learn
Look to the stars and yearn

For a love that is true
find it and let it sustain you

In your struggle to grow
Think back and know

The place from which you came
Gave you a name

Proudly loves all that you do
And always will be here for you.


Mom

If it smells like a fascist

It must be

Gianni Alemanno to blacklist Hollywood stars to promote Italian films

The new mayor of Rome, Gianni Alemanno, a former fascist, has launched a campaign to promote Italian films at the expense of those featuring Hollywood stars such as Nicole Kidman and Leonardo DiCaprio, who are to be blacklisted.

American actors who flocked to Rome for its film festival will no longer be invited, on the orders of Alemanno, 50, of the National Alliance party, who last week became the first rightwinger to win the mayor’s job in 15 years.

You know, sometimes living in this country is amazing. Can you make this stuff up? Maybe he is jealous and thinks he should be in George Clooney's shoes getting jigging with Nicole Kidman.

I can't say this is how you make friends....


Krista

Life's Surprises

When you take a walk in the hills above our home, you never know what you will happen across....

For instance,

A swing on a tree.


A 4 wheel quad in front of a home with no drive way and no road! See the metal bar that is going up the terrace? Guess what, it is not a hand rail. It is the track for the "elevator" that carries the owner from his quad to his home. Think of an amusement park kiddy roller coaster. I tried to get a shot of the contraption, but the owner had it all the way at the top.

Why a roller coaster besides the obvious thrill each trip up and down? Can you see that house behind the olive trees on top the hill? That is why. The terraces are one on top of the other and STEEP, how else does one get all the groceries and stuff up there?


Why does anyone live there? (BTW, the man that does is 75 years old!) I would suppose the silence and beauty of it all.


Every once in while you do find something truly baffling....




Krista

Portofino

Here is a lovely photo of Portofino to end long holiday weekend.





Sam and I had a brunch in Leivi this morning with Jan and Virginie then took a walk.

We ended up at Silvia and Maurizio's for a cold drink and lively conversation.

A spendid day in every way. I even received compliments on my Italian. Yes, I had to speak it all day. Those lessons have paid off. Yet another reason I have no time to blog.



Buonasera!

Krista