Italia

ClanMcCarter spent a lot of time in Italy in October. Finn went solo to the Amalfi coast (Sorrento, Isle of Capri and Pompeii) on a school trip. After his return, Craig and Finn traveled to Trieste in the northeast of Italy for a father-son weekend. Upon my return from the USA with Evan and Owen, we regrouped and went to Rome for a long weekend as una famiglia felice. I will attempt to persuade Finn and/or Craig to be a guest blogger and relate the stories of their trips. My focus is Rome.
Day 1
Sweets and the Pyramide
The Colosseum and environs
The Forum
Saint Pietro in Vincoli - St. Peter in Chains
Trajan's Column
National Monument of Victor Emmanuel II
Center of American Studies
Fontana del Tartaruha
Piazza Argentina - a cat hostel
Piazza della Rotonda
The Pantheon
It is open to the elements and water drains into these two holes. For real.
Back in Piazza della Rotonda
Sant'Agnese in Agone Church
Tiber River
Temple of Vestus where the Vestal Virgins hung out
Layers of adverts pasted to the wall
Day Two - Vatican City
Unbeknown to us, we stumbled upon the Basilica on a day the Pope was making an appearance. Needless to say, it was intense and frenetic. We did see the Pope mobile and a quick glimpse of the Pope on a jumbo screen.
The Vatican Museum = amazing art and wealth
Post pilgrim pollution
A Vatican guard - nice tights, dude!
Holy water?
Basilica of Saint Peter
Restaurant lighting
Three Goat BoysRower on the Tiber
Essential for transport
Grafitti which we believe reads:
"Rome
(something something)
bite me"
2009 - ...
The - ... is so funny as is the whole effect.
Waiting for the bus

Our Last Bonfire Night

Yet again, for the last week or so, fireworks have been going off in and around the park behind us in celebration of Guy Fawkes Night also known as Bonfire Night. (For a detailed description, follow this link: ClanMcCarter.) I remember last year when our sponsor family was spending Bonfire Night with British friends and I was a bit envious because they got to do the real deal. Well, we just spent an excellent evening with pretty much every neighboUr up and down and across the street from us, some who we met for the first time this evening. Two sets of neighboUrs who happen to have adjoining gardens threw a Bonfire Night celebration which included a wonderful fireworks display. The food was great and the kids had a great time. I for one will truly miss our neighboUrs and celebrations.
Tomorrow night, we are going to Owen's school to continue the Bonfire Night traditions. For once, the weather forecast looks decent.

The Daffodil Lunch

During the Literature Festival, I went to see some very interesting authors (Graeme Norton, Jackie Kay, Philip Pullman, Stephen Sondheim) and not so interesting authors (Kevin McLeod), but one event which totally stands out was an event showcasing two cookbook authors, Willie Harcourt-Cooze and Thomasina Miers.

Ms. Miers is the founder of a Mexican restaurant in London called Wahaca. Editor's note: This is the British spelling of the area Oaxaca in Mexico because there is no way in H-E-double toothpick the Brits could/would attempt pronouncing the real spelling. She was a treat and is trying to spice up Britain.

Willie Harcourt-Cooze first came to my attention on a BBC programme our family watched called Willy's Wonky Chocolate Factory. He was very entertaining on the show so I wanted to go and see him. The real clincher though was that in addition, there was to be a meal with the author featuring chocolate in all of the recipes. Twist MY arm! Also, it was held at a local fantastic restaurant, The Daffodil, where I have always wanted to eat. His recipes were to die for during this meal. In fact, it was definitely one of my top five best meals ever.
Friends (l to r): Jo, Amy & Erin
Toni & I
Cacao and olive breadPorcini & chocolate risotto
Roasted venison loin, chocolate gravy, spiced red cabbage
Cacao praline pannacotta with pumpkin, quince & white chocolate sorbet
This was worth the price of the whole ticket, it was that good!
Some interior shots of the venue:
Our table was the one on the top right.

America

We returned yesterday from the good ole U S of A.
It was a great trip as evidenced by Evan's smile.
We went to Fell's Point...
to eat at Bertha's...
so Momma could get her seafood fix.
There was much fun to be had with the gals from work a waaays baaack...
and the gals from around town.
We celebrated this Power Ranger's 6th birthday a little early,
Troy
and got to see a lot of cousins!
Kayleigh
Jack
Shane
Cassidy
The whole gang with Owen
Cole is the sideways kid. He wouldn't let me get a close up of him!
Most of the gang: (L-R) Kara, Jenny, Kayleigh, Shane, Kirk, Evan, Owen, Kris, Katie, Brenda, Cassidy and Huck
Missing: Rob, Cody, Tim, Craig, Finn; All of Kate & Tim's boys are also missing because they wouldn't stand still!
Kirk, Shane and Jenny
Owen and Uncle Kirk
A stop at Opie's was a MUST!
Now that I have spent an entire day doing laundry, we are packed and ready to leave for Rome tomorrow. Luckily, Owen and I got some good sleep on the flight back across the pond and Evan slept like the dead Tuesday afternoon and evening or tomorrow might be ugly - no serious jet-lag. Hooray!
Arrivederci!