Rustic

Hello friendly followers,

I am in a pub typing this as quickly as I can because our accomodations are quite rustic and no wi-fi.  I will catch you all up on our second stop in Italy which is the Marche (Markay) region hopefully tomorrow.   Thanks for your patience and sorry to disappoint with the lack of blogging. 

I write to you all day in my mind and feel so connected with you all. 

Stay tuned for the invasion of critters, a tour of a family owned winery, and a trip to the beach of the Adriatic Sea.

Thanks for your interest, love and prayers.

Love right back to you,

Bly

St. Anthony

Today we started off with a little macchiato from the corner cafe then took the bus downtown to see St. Anthony's Basilica.  It was, of course, massive.  We were greeted by pigeons.  Raleigh's breadsticks that we brought to keep him busy while we toured soon became lunch for the pigeons.

Basilica is an architectual term meaning kingly or beautiful hall.  I was not raised Catholic nor do I have much education on the Saints, but being surrounded by it in Europe has sparked my interest as well as the rest of the family.  We studied a bit about St. Anthony before going to the basilica so we could have more of an appreciation of the structure and the saint.  He was born into a wealthy family and they didn't want him to live the lowly life of a friar, but he felt his calling was to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the poor and that's what he did until he died at 36.  He was proclaimed a Saint within 10 months of his death.  It is known to be the shortest period of anyone being proclaimed into sainthood.

The church was built in 1290 and had been continually added on to.  Some of the sculptures were done by Donatello.  We were able to see his robe (sorry if that's not the right term) under glass.  The girls and I watched a presentation of his life which was interesting to hear about all the miracles he performed.  One thing I keep thinking about was how he talked of the importance of being silent before God.  He compared it to giving your spirit to God so he could fill it up and then give it back to you.  That sounds lovely. 


Annie counted 20 confessionals!   I was not allowed to take pictures and video inside but here are some from the outside.

We ended the day right back where we started--our new favorite corner neighborhood coffee shop.  The kids all had an ice cream treat on the eve of Annie's 10th birthday.

Random Thoughts

Nothing exciting on Monday.  So I will share some observations of the way of life around Padua.
They are conservative with their electricity and waste disposal much like Germany and Switzerland. 
The showers have mostly been cold.  I don't know if that's because we're in an apartment building or it's just the way it is.  These drying racks are quite popular.  You can use them inside or outside.  It has been low 80's here so our clothes dry fast.



Eighty-Five percent of the bicycles we've seen are at least 20 years old.  I guess when your buildings are 800 years old the word "old" becomes relative. 

Dennis mostly worked on the computer Monday.  He's able to remote into his computer at his office in Beatrice which allows him to to take care of business like any other day.

The girls did school and I researched the next couple of weeks for adventurous activities.  Annie and I took Raleigh to the park that is just around the corner.  There were lots of moms and children there.  I felt like the new kid on the block that everyone was afraid to talk to.  I wonder if they would have talked to me if I spoke Italian?  I will behave in a more welcoming manner to strangers everywhere when I get home. It's so easy to not think much of it when I am in familiar territory going about my day but since being on the other side God has shown me how much better I can do for others especially those who are of another ethnicity.

Hebrews 13:2

New International Version (NIV)

² Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

Makes you think, doesn't it?

A Day in Venice

First off we want to wish Grandma Diney a Happy 69th Birthday!!!! We wish you were with us Mom.  We took the train to Venice yesterday!  Getting there was easy.  When we got off the train there were mobs of people and it was hot!  Thankful attitudes slipped away.  Uh oh, here we go again.  Something we are quickly realizing: keep the horses fed, watered and cool! We hopped a boat to Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square) and for the first time noticed many Americans.  There is something comforting about hearing our familiar language.

Little did I know this would be the first of many pictures I would take of buildings.  I was captivated by the character their age held. 

I had concern about Venice.  Many had talked of how smelly and dirty it was.  I only noticed a funky smell two or three times for just a moment.  I think it's easy to quickly use the words, "dirty" and "old" interchangeably.  Of course it wasn't pristine but it wasn't dirty.  The city dates back to the 10th century.  It was more  than what I could have imagined.

We escaped the heat of the sun by slithering into the cracks and crevices of the city. Venice is also known as the City of Bridges, City of Masks, City of Water and City of Canals.  I think it should also be known as the City of Crowds.  When we got off the boat we stayed tight and kept our hands on our satchels.  Dennis led the way and I stayed back watching for any sticky fingers.   I did see one guy eyeing Ireland's satchel and then he spoke in another language to a buddy and his eyes also darted to it so I quickly became a barrier between the men and Ireland.  The code word Indi came up with if we felt like we were going to have an incident was "bubblegum."  If anybody said it we clutched our bags.  I hoped for the thieves sake we wouldn't have an incident.  They wouldn't want the  wrath of Mama Bear laid on them.  Dynamite comes in small packages!

We found our first round of gelato and a spot of shade shortly after we got off the boat and made our way through the crowds.  A full belly and quenched thirst can make for a more open mind.  We sat on some steps and people watched while Raleigh and the girls enjoyed the pigeons.

Annie and the girls got triple dips of gelato and Dennis and I splurged on a can of coke hoping for left over bites of cone.  It was so delightful to watch the girls and Raleigh with the pigeons.  It's kind of funny that we're in this famous city and can't get past the amusement of feeding the pigeons.  Touring with children causes you to pause and find peace in the midst of thousands of people.  They're intrigued by certain details of the city while the rest of us may only see the big picture.  Traveling with different ages is an education in life and it helps us to slow down.  I was so thankful that the hecticness of the city just disappeared while taking in the pigeons. 

I love my husband so much!  He is truly the love of my life.  He is a gentle man and takes good care of us.  It is magical to be on this journey with  him and our family and for that I am so thankful.  He was in Venice 30 years ago.  I bet he didn't think he'd be back 30 years later with 4 kids!

After the pigeon scene we tried to go through St. Mark's Basilica but we couldn't go in with our back packs.  We headed off the main tourist streets and ducked in and out of some allies.  Some were quaint and narrow others were wider with shops on both sides.  If we stopped to look at the racks outside of the shops the owner would come out and stand right next to us watching our every hand movement.

The whimsical walk ways drew us in like flies on honey.  It would be so easy to get lost in the maze-like city but everything was very well marked.  We were taking the day to work our way back to the train station so we were following names painted on the buildings.  Actually Dennis was keeping us on track and we were busy searching out peculiar buildings.

Details of San Marco Basilica

Happy to find more steps to perch on while we sipped some water.  Notice Raleigh is no longer sight seeing.





The girls asked if people really lived in Venice.  By the looks it seemed to just be tourists and shopkeepers but if you look closely there was evidence.

This lady was tending to her flower boxes.  Right below her is a restaurant.

Laundry has to be done, even in one of Europe's most beautiful cities

This lady kneeled at the steps entering a beautiful cathedral begging for money.  The rash girls couldn't dig through their purses quick enough to generously drop their money into her cup along with every down trodden elderly person that was on their knees.  Funny, how my mind goes to our needs before sharing and the minds of my young daughters are not for their own wants but for the obvious needs of others.  In the not so distant past we memorized Philippians 2:3-4  ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.  Hmm.....they so quickly put it into practice without any hesitation, actually with much excitement.  I have much to learn.

We had a great supper on the steps of a beautiful building -- pizza, calzones and more gelato! Raleigh chased the pigeons and people commented and took pictures of him and the girls.  I suppose it was all the red hair.  I only saw two red-heads outside of our family all day and no twins.  Since I walked behind the family I would hear the comments on the red hair and blue eyes and the peole would stop, turn and stare.  It was quite comical.

Raleigh would run back and forth, back and forth saying hello and ciao (chow) to the people passing by.  He was quite the ham and entertained many.

We made it back to the station and relaxed on the street and watched the gondoliers and gazed at the details of the buildings as the sun began to set.  None of us were in a hurry to leave this grand city--calm and content, we all simply enjoyed watching the people as the city transformed from day into evening.  It was a blessed day in Venice!

Benny Bear

Thank you to everyone who has been following Benny Bear.  We have decided to give Benny his own blog.  You can continue to follow him at travelingbennybear.blogspot.com.  This little bear thanks you for your big support.

Leaving the Country Life

Dennis trying for the 6th time to get the back hatch down.

The weeks go so fast.  It seems like we just get the area figured out and it's time to hit the road again.  The drive to Italy took 9 hours with our stops.  The atmosphere here is quite different in Padova.  We are in an apartment in the city with no yard.  I tell myself to just breathe. 

Raleigh stands at the end of the driveway behind a locked gate and waves hello to all the people passing by.  One friendly lady stops to visit with him and he jabbers back.  I go out to  meet Nilda.  She has grandchildren living in L.A.  The neighbor lady nextdoor is from Columbia, South America and goes to the university here.  I understand from the conversation that things in Columbia are not good and things here in Italy are also not good.  My heart aches for this young woman.

The first full day was spent getting a feel for the area, going to the grocery store and unpacking.  I really need to take a chill pill and know that's how every first day is going to be.  We found a Walmart type store in the middle of a shopping mall.  I walked around looking like a deer in headlights for 30 minutes trying to gather up groceries at least for the next couple meals.  I was so exhausted and the store was huge.  All I wanted to get was the fixin's for french toast.  It took me 20 minutes to find the eggs, back and forth 3 times down every aisle. I was about in tears until I stumbled upon a case that was no wider than 3 feet over by the nuts.  Syrup was not to be found.  Later I read that you can only find syrup in specialty shops. Doubts crept in, "What in the world are you doing here?  This is insanity."  I find something to be thankul for.....abundance in bread and cheese, fresh fruits and vegetables and quickly push the negativity out.....I think.

We stop by the train station and I jump out while Dennis continues to make circles in the car.  I am supposed to find out about ticket times and prices to Venice.  The hustle bustle of the station overwhelms me.  The three girls are with me and all my energy is consumed with their safety.  We stay tight as I scan for info. Nothing is in English.  Again, doubting thoughts are heavy.  Even if I figure out how to ask somebody I won't be able to understand their answers.  I pray for guidance. I see several kiosks with people lined up.  I get in line and watch the lady ahead of me.  I was pleased to see that I could switch the language to English.  I was able to look at train times and prices.  I am relieved and feel quite accomplished.  Maybe it will be okay after all.

We get back home and start to unload groceries.  The door to the apartment goes shut and we are now locked out. I am quickly thankful that Raleigh is with us on the outside and not on the inside by himself.  We call the owner and she said she will come in 15 minutes.  An hour and 20 minutes later she comes.

This morning I arise determined to have a splendid day.  All great days for me begin with solitude and a run with God.  I left the quiet house with phone and camera in hand and hoped I would find my way back. I took pictures of road signs so I could find my way home.....a modern trail of bread crumbs.  I ran past many drab looking apartment buildings until I found a little trail.  Oh, I was so thankful for this spot of sunshine in my morning .  Kind of funny, the trail lasted for only 3 minutes.

After breakfast our plan was to hop a bus bound for the town center where we are told is a huge Saturday market with vendors of all sorts.  Everything is such a chore when you don't know the language.  Some may think we're crazy for visiting a country without knowing the language but if we waited until we had it all figured out we'd be staying home. 

Somehow I always get elected by the family to try and ask the questions or find the information,  they must be relying on my theatrical talents.  Standing at the bus stop I get out my map to ask a local which bus to get on.  She speaks NO English and I speak NO Italian.  Dennis was cracking me up.  I finally told him, "Honey, it doesn't matter how loud and how slow you talk, if they don't know English, they don't know English!  Funny.

Once we were on the bus a very friendly man helped Dennis with our tickets.  We were still unsure if we were going the right way but we knew we were going somewhere.  The further we got from our new home the more insecure I got.  After we had been on the bus for awhile I started to peer through the glass looking at the pedestrians hoping to see fruits and vegetables sticking out of their sacks or any sign that they had just come from a market. Blocks and blocks went by with hundreds of people but no lettuce leaves or bananas.  Finally the bus pulls around the corner and we see 1,000 plus vendors, we had made it....wahoo!

The girls were on a mission to find some scarves.  So many to choose from and very reasonable. There was the fruit and vegetable side of the market and then many vendors selling toys, jewelry, all clothing, table cloths, parakeets, goldfish.  You name it, they were selling it.

.The scooters here must have the right of way.  They just zip to the front of the line like it's no big deal.  This picture answers the question of can I go get groceries with a scooter?  I am only limited by the size of my basket, not the size of my transportation.

Yes, I have clothes on, it's a strapless dress.

We thouroghly enjoyed dining out tonight.  Only our second time in a restaurant since we've left America.  The owner was amazing.  He went out of his way to try and communicate with us and answer our questions about ingredients on the pizza.  I'd point at the menu and he'd run to the kitchen and bring back the topping.  It was great fun. Things are looking up in Italy.  This post may seem a little mopey but we want to share it all with you, not just the splendid things but also some of the drudgery that goes along with learning in a different culture.  It's sometimes irritating but always a learning experience for which we will be better.

Philipians 2:14  Do everything without complaining or arguing. 

Lake Neuchatel

Looking for the prison tower

The view from the prison tower

Astrid

Finding peace

Ireland drinking from the fountain

It is not always easy to still my mind through the chatter that blares in the background of my head. Daily yoga is something from which I would probably benefit greatly. I have done it before and was inspired by the quietness at the end of the session. I sit in silence in the car and reflect on the experiences we have had.

After hiking the gorge we had to hurry to meet Fred's sister, Astrid, in Neuchatel (New Castle). We were racing up and down the hills until we saw a deviation (detour). We took part of the detour and then decided to get back on our original road as per GPS instructions........it wasn't blocked off from this intersection. We jetted down the isolated road until we realized why it was so lonely. The shiny road was being prepared for re-surfacing. It was hot oil! We cringed at the sound of the tires squishing across the road and could only imagine what it was going to look like. There was nothing we could do but start backing up.

We sat in silence for a bit then I said, "It doesn't do us any good to fret," and Dennis said, "I am not worried." The words sounded foreign coming out of our mouths. I WAS concerned, but sometimes you have to say what you want to believe and hope the feeling will follow. This new idea that we were trying to adopt wholeheartedly, not wasting our energies on worrying but giving it to God, was actually quite freeing.

Astrid was waiting for us when we arrived downtown Neuchatel. It was a port city in its prime but now the boats lined up are for fishing and tourism.  Neuchatel is one thousand years old this year! We walked along lake Neuchatel which is the largest lake in Switzerland. The water was clear and beautiful. We dawdled through the old part of town and the girls were delighted to spot the prison tower and take a self-guided tour straight up to the top and look out over the city and lake. We could even see the three peaks of the Eiger, the Monch and the Jungfrau.

I enjoyed visiting with Astrid along the way and learning about her family. When I asked her if she works outside the home she said she goes to the prayer house at their church and prays for 10 hours a week, one hour per certain topic: children in slave labor, people who are out of work and the souls of men.  When I asked her about her children and school she said the 15 and 18 year old don't like school much so an alternative in Switzerland is to go to school one to two days a week and the other days  train for a profession. Interesting to have that option at the young age of 15. Her oldest goes to a university.  Our time with Astrid was enjoyed and I am amazed that a stranger would take her afternoon to show us around her city.

Dennis took the car to the car wash after we got home and settled. Upon investigating the damage with his scrutinizing eye for detail he could find not one spot of disappointment! 

Is it easier to give God the big things or the small things? As with everything it gets easier with practice. I don't want to confuse responsibility with worries.  Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus our Lord.  His peace is hard to understand and sometimes I have a tendency to think if I'm not worrying then I am not taking responsibility. I want to welcome his peace in crazy situations and feel guarded.

Last Day in Switzerland

What? It can't be. We just got here 5 minutes ago.  The seven days of splendor passed so quickly.  Okay, I'm going to make this the greatest day yet.  We are taking the hike through the Combe Grede Gorge .... no matter what and everybody is going to LIKE IT!  Got it? We are going to have FUN!  And that is exactly what we did.

 I rushed down the steps with backpack in one hand and a half eaten apple in the other. Rahel steps out of her apartment with a slip of paper in her hand and tells me that Fred contacted his sister last night and she has offered to take us on a tour of Neuchatel (yes, that is the name of the cream cheese at Wal-mart). I stammer a bit thinking of the all day hike I have planned, not wanting to sound un-appreciative of their hospitality, I  tell her I will check with Dennis, who is waiting in the car and be right back up.  I have to think quickly, I really want to relax and enjoy our hike but meshing with a local is when the real education happens.  It's a bit of a risk, spending part of our last day with a stranger? Perhaps this is a gift from God......not part of MY plan, but I'm learning to roll with His changes.  I check with Dennis, thank God for the opportunity and tell Rahel we would feel honored to spend the afternoon with Fred's sister Astrid.  This is so not like Dennis and I to hang with people that we don't know really well.  God is stretching us and we're letting him and it actually makes me feel like a big girl, a grown-up.

We drive to St. Imier where I have it planned for us to hop a train to the town of Villaret where we will start our ascent into the gorge.  We spend 10 minutes draining all my energy trying to communicate to the ticket seller what we want.  At 10:29 she communicates to us that we can take the 10:30 train to Villaret and be back by 1:00.  Of course the train to Villaret only goes every hour.  I am trying not to let the frustration seep in but it's coming.  We can't just hang out for an hour because we now have a time crunch with our meeting with Astrid at 1:30.  I want to cancel the whole Astrid scene but I settle myself knowing God knows the big picture, so stop being such a micro manager.  Then my brilliant husband says, "Can't we just drive to Villaret?"  I had such tunnel vision on taking the train, because that's what I kept reading in the brochures, that I lost my perspective on the big picture.  We had a good laugh about that and took the 4 minute drive to Villaret.

This felt like a magical forest.  The boulders and trees had a vibrant green moss living on them.  The path started quite pleasantly with a wide leafed incline that gradually turned to a narrow ascent and finally crossing creeks with slippery boulders.  I felt as though an Ewok was going to tumble out in front of me.  This was just the adventure I had been hoping for the past two weeks.  I was in my element.  To my sheer delight there were ladders bolted into the rockwalls so we could continue to go higher.  As we went further there were cables screwed into the rocks to hang onto for safety-and boy did we hang on!

So much fun, I could not stop smiling

                                                                                                                                                                        

Now this is serious hiking

The girls found a little nook to rest in

My amazing husband hiked with Mr. Raleigh on his back for 7 miles.  Is that tough or what?  This was some serious up hill business.  He did not complain once.  We had a good system going.  I found long walking stick and on the way up I would get ahead of him with one end of the stick and he would hang on to the other end.  So I sort of pulled him.  On the way down he would hang on to one of our shoulders with one hand for balance and in the other he held a walking stick.  We saw several people with hiking poles and realized how beneficial that investment would be. 

Annie and I at our highest point before turning back

We came to a point that we decided was probably too treacherous for Dennis with Raleigh on his back.  Actually Indi and Ireland decided it.  Annie and I wanted to keep going.  It's neat how we can really start to define the personalities of our girls the more time we spend together without the external distractions.  Indi and Ireland are more like their Dad.  Cautious and conservative.  They were concerned about Dennis carrying Raleigh, didn't want him to get too tired or hurt himself. Then there's Annie, she's more of a free spirit like me.  A thrill seeker.  She and I conitinued on a ways while the others ate their Snickers.  We just didn't want to stop.  The switchbacks did get a little hairy so it was a good decision for us not to continue any further.  This was the highlight of my trip so far.  This makes me crave doing another trail run with my sister when I get back.  With every strenuous step up I thought of  my sister who will be running a very hilly Omaha Half Marathon in 3 days.  My thoughts go out to her as her physical prep has been completed and now she must begin the mental prep.  May the Force be with you Sister!

It's not easy riding in a pack all day

Grindelwald

Ahhhhh.......Grindelwald.  A place that the travel guru, Rick Steve's boasts as his favorite European town. The girls weren't sure about hitting another town but as we twisted up the road we took the sites in as appetizers and then as we entered the town it was like a big juicy steak being set before us. The Eiger, the Monch and the Jungfrau busted through the clouds like a Mac Truck, BAM! In our face, no mistake. Finally, I felt like I was in Switzerland.  THANK YOU GOD for your majestic beauty.
If God was going to have any rocks cry out (Luke 19:40) these would be the ones.

The first stop was of course the chocolate store.  The candy was beautiful.  Huge slabs of chocolate rested on the counter just waiting to meet our taste buds.  The victim was a chunk of dark cappuccino.  It tasted like chocolate covered coffee beans.  Hmmm, maybe that was why we were giggling through the town.

There was an outdoor play area that had a rock climbing wall.  Annie zipped up it lickety split.  A huge hammock offered a nice resting place for three girls to enjoy their ice cream treats. Raleigh loved being pushed by Dad on the swing.

Indi, Annabelle and Ireland

Indi finds a shirt that reminds her of Aunt Angie