Buon Giorno da Italia

We survived the long trans-Atlantic flight and are enjoying our second day here in bella Italy. We had a 3+ hour layover in Atlanta thanks to our cancelled flight (since the weather was bellisima, Anthony suspects that Delta cancelled and rescheduled all of us to save money on an empty flight). Atlanta has a nice airport, and it is 1.7 miles from one end to the other, so we walked, to make our legs tired. They had a beautiful space with a large sunlight dome and restaurants all around, so we sat there and listened to a guy play piano a la Ray Charles, before we walked back to our plane. Then we ate a teeny tiny dinner off of doll-china plates. Hey, I thought alcohol was free on international flights?!? Well, not anymore. Believe me, there was one flight were we sat next to a group of inebriated Germans that made me wish there was something to dissuade them from imbibing more. Anyway, you can bet I did want to spend 5 of my vacation dollars on Vendage.

We got very little sleep, sitting upright, before it was time to land in Milano on a beautiful clear spring day. In the airport, I was more than a little pleased that I could buy tickets for the Malpensa Express (light rail) and ask (in Italian) where do we leave and understand the answer! Anthony was impressed, too. Our friend, Alberto, was to meet us at Cadorna Stazione,

but we had time for a cappucino before he arrived. The barista made the cappucini wordlessly, effortlessly, and brought the mugs topped with thick foam before us. Anth and I each had one sip, sighed, and said simultaneously, "That alone was worth the trip!" And the price of this perfection was 2.50 euros (less than $3)!

We found Alberto and he wisked us off in his car, immediately immersing us in Italian culture and traffic. He weaved in and out of the tiny Milan streets, speaking perfect English rapidly. At one point we were stuck in the middle of an intersection while the lights changed, so he changed the CD. "I punched a traffic cop last week," he said, to demonstrate how difficult it is to be put in Italian prison because they are so crowded. "He came up and grabbed me saying, 'Tu, tu!' Tu is for your sister; I am Mr Cassinelli. Give me 10 meters, please. No? Bap! (demonstrating punch) Blood everywhere. Everyone in Binasco (his little village) knows and thanks me. This guy has tried this before." A Ferrari pulled up behind us so Alberto and all the other drivers pulled to the right to make way for this beautiful, fast car, a symbol of Italian national pride. But if someone tries to take their right of way, they push their way in front of them.

Alberto took us to Romina's apartment, where we are staying. Her baby, Leonida, is just 5 1/2 weeks old.

Che bello bambino! He is angelic, fair with deep blue eyes.

It is touching to see Romina as a new mom, super attentive, a little unsure, and very in love with her baby. It is also adorable to hear Italian baby talk. "Piccolino," she calls him, "Che fai? No no no, e brutto, e brutto. Cose che fai?" Her boyfriend, Corrado, is very nice and, lucky for us, speaks good English.

Romina made un bello pranzo (lunch) for us all. Anthony thought he died and went to heaven! Spaghetti carbonara, plates of braseola and prosciutto (it was like buttah in your mouth), insalata with olive oil so vergine it was cloudy. You know its your vacanza when you have vino at lunch.

Romina and Corrado live in a large group of apartment buildings just outside the center of Milan. It is a 30 minute light rail ride into Milan. There is a small supermarket and gelateria there, and large supermarkets a short drive away. They have a balcony on either side and beautiful views of agricultural fields. They have a friendly cat, Spy, but they feel bad that she cannot live a natural life, outdoors and un-spayed.

Anthony and I have decided that parenthood has made us more impervious to the effects of jet lag, because even after lunch we felt good, not at all tired. We went on a walk with Romina. She put Leonida in my BabyBjorn that I brought her, which she was very pleased with, since their tiny elevator is too small to bring the pram (stroller) up and down, and she is using it as another bed in the living room. After our walk, we took the tram into the city and walked around. We stopped in a bakery, where they were doing a brisk business in foccacia and pastries. In the back was a bar (in the Italian sense of bar). I got un bicchiere di vino russo, and Anthony had to order another cappucino, drawing attention to his tourist status with his beverage as much as his shorts! The barista brought us free hot foccacia slices, with thin zucchini and mozzarella, tomato and anchovy, or just olive oil on top. We thought it would be best to head back after that.

After a shower we enjoyed a dead-like 12 hour sleep. Romina made us another great lunch, then dared to visit the city with the baby in the Bjorn, with us as reinforcements. "Do you think it is bad to have him out here, with all the sights and sounds?" she asked. We reassured her it was good for her and the baby to get out. After a couple of hours, however, she was ready to head back, so I found this internet cafe and wrote my update!

We are so enjoying the Milanese pomeriggio, and the beautifully dressed Milan residents, and the incredible fresh food. We miss the children but are not paralyzed by it! We had gelato today, I had torta de mele (apple pie) and cioccolato, Anth had caffe and licorizia. I tried it and even thought it was good (just like Anth enjoyed the anchovy foccacia).

Hey, leave a comment, because I miss you all, even my internet friends, and I'd like to know that you heard me and what you are doing.

Ciao ciao, ci vidiamo alla prossima tempo!