La Sagra Degli Agrumi

This year we got to experience some of the authentic Sardinian traditions. Mura Vera, a town approximately 30 minutes away from our home, was celebrating the "Sagra degli Agrumi", the "Citrus Fruits Festival". The oranges that grow in that region are absolutely delicious! We got to taste orange jam & jelly made locally too.

There was a parade of traditional Sardinian clothing from the various towns throughout Sardinia. It was so interesting to see how each town has their special designs and dresswear. There is so much history behind each garment. Emily enjoyed the first 10 minutes and then wanted to go home. The costumes she liked the most were the ones of the scary men with the black masks (the ones that look like sheep). My aunt was explaining to me that these costumes (the sheep looking men) come from the Shaman tradition in Sardinia, and were meant to scare the wicked spirits away.

My dad was really funny throughout the event. He kept making comments to the people in the parade in Sardinian dialect (I think he felt at home). To one group of girls he told them they looked like nuns! I wonder if you can guess which group of girls he said it to. See the costumes for yourself:

All together in Sardinia for Easter

This was a memorable Easter for us, since the family was altogether, it was the first time we all took the plane together and we were going to Sardinia! I was so excited to take Emily to Sardinia. Last time she had been there was when she was two. Sardinia is a very special place to me since I have been going there since I was 21 days old! Have lots of good memories there!

We got to spend time time with family and friends. Everyone was so excited to see Emily (and me of course!) after all these years!

Emily's Birthday - Time to Celebrate!

Wow! I officially have a 7 year old now!! For some reason this birthday is a milestone for me. I'm 30 and my daughter is 7! Anyway, Emily was lucky enough to have a number of Birthday Parties! Her dad organized a Birthday Party for her and most of the kids in her class attended. Then we had cake & presents on her actual Birth-Day, and later that week we had a family & friends get together to celebrate Emily's Birthday & the family being together again. I guess we learned something from our time in the US!

Confetti War!

Carnival is over but the roads and squares here were left in a sea of confetti. Emily and Gaia took part in the Confetti war last Saturday in Monza. Gaia enjoyed bouncing her balloon on other people walking down the street. One little girl wasn't too happy about that!

It's Time For Carnival in... Venice!

Emily and I went to Venice this past weekend for a day. We had a wonderful time! The weather was great, there were many people from all over (but not too many) and the masks were amazing. The atmosphere was so magical... almost like walking into a movie. Everyone had their big fancy cameras with them and they (we) were taking pictures of everything! Emily got dressed up as Little Red Riding Hood. Everyone thought she was so cute! We even got into a confetti fight and left a heap of confetti right by canal (not very "green"!).

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Up To The Mountains For a Day!

We went to the mountains for a day to try our new sled out. It was so much fun! Emily's face got sprayed with snow everytime we wend down the mountain... She Loved it (don't think she had a choice!)! Mountains are only about 45 minutes from where we live and this year they're full of snow!

Snow, Snow Everywhere!

It hadn't snowed this much in Milan & outskirts in approx. 20 years (I believe it was since 1986)! Here are a few pictures of the snow right where I live:


This is the view from my Appartment. Above are a couple of pictures taken in the Monza Park (the park in front of the appartment).