Cuneo

We to Cuneo today to see the Nonni and Max's brother and his wife.  It was the first time that all the family got together since Christmas and the first chance that we get to see Paola's baby bump.  For some reason we always happen to goon the weekend of the Festa delle Castagne (the Festival of Chestnuts).  For one reason or another (i.e. crowds, tantrums and the like), we never end up getting anything :o(  Anyhoo, what does that have to do with the picture above?  There are several things that go on during this time and one was a learning farm tent (there was also a tent with handmade things and food, but we missed that too :o(  This giant tent where the had different types of animals.  Unless you grow up on a farm here, kids don't really have any exposure to these types of animals, so kids here go nuts! They did a really nice, job, but I didn't take very great pics, there were mules, a mommy pig and her piglets, various chickens, a fish pond, a garden, a lecturer with a working beehive.   ps Why the heck are they so to the cow but. That's too risky!

The radio station that got Max started on the radio was broadcasting from the festival.  We bumped into Luisella, the owner and she got Max to give an impromptu interview.

Too bad Viv is covering up Paola's baby bump.  I am super excited for them.  I am also hoping (as my friend Karen says) the new cousin will steal some of Sophia and Viv's thunder.  Paola and Ale got a little taste of the Nonna and crazy ways.  I've got to stay on my toes.  The main thing is that she insists on giving babies people food.  This time Viv nearly choked on water from a glass (when her bottle was just a few feet away), bread and chicken-if there was more I didn't catch it. Last time we had to keep scream babies don't need to drink Fanta!  Please don't dangle Vivienne over the balconey (ala Michael Jackson).  I know she's old and so I try to take it all with a grain of salt (and a shot of tequila).

Uncle Ale compares the Parisi hair style with Viv.

One minute she was awake and then the next thing I knew she passed out.  Sophia and I are doing an impromptu homage to Viv.

We went to Bonfante (that's one of the Bonfante sisters) for a briosche and to pick up some pasticcini (small tarts, pastry puffs, cookies, canolli etc) for dessert.

Looking down Contrada Mondovi.

Two Italian hams (does that make them prociutto?)

Visit to Nonni

After being out of the presence of Miss Sophia for such a long time, a visit to the Nonni was in order. We went to this park where there are a bunch of old school metal toys. They were actually in amazing shape considering that they must be at least 50 years or older.

Nonno pushes Sophia on the swings. Poor Sophia, when all the other kids saw there was an adult to push, they kept hopping off and on and so the Nonno had to keep starting and stopping the swings. She soon got fed up and went on something else.Max huffs and puffs on the merry go round.

Later

After we went swimming, we packed up and took Sophia to the Nonni to spend some quality time, before we take off to the States next week. I snapped some pictures just because there are so many nice things to take pictures of.

Synagogue door.

A little vietta, off the main street

Even the mail boxes are cute

(too bad you can't see the guy's name on the little yellow ticket. It reads: Botto.M.
I am so 1st grade, I giggled when I read it. Yes, booty humor still makes me laugh!)(Again, another 1st grade thing:)
When I saw this place the first time I went to Cuneo I was like...for reals? what an awesome place to film a horror movie. And what a great title for it, too! I asked Max, if when he was little, did all the kids pull one arm into their sleeve and wave it around while telling scary stories about a hooked arm escapee that kills virgins and couples making out? Apparently the kids of Cuneo are more mature than I am-for the answer was no. But...that's not to say that I don't do that every time we pass the place! I always wish TJ was here - she'd be with me on this one!
ps in case you are wondering, it's a hospital for injured people (like after the war), not for crazy mutilated ones! I know, huh?!- darn!
This is a cool old Roman bridge that we pass on the way to and from Cuneo. I don't know why I am so enamored with it, but I am!

Just the towers remain, the bridge part has eroded away

Cuneo

It was off to Cuneo today to see the Nonni.

While Sophia went to play with the Nonno, we went down to the bottom area of the plateau to check out the Views.

Making use of the gorillagrip.

Max on the footbridge

This is the bridge that leads in and out of the city, the top level is for cars and the bottom level is for the trains.

the best time ever!

The kids played in the house for a bit:
Then we went outside and all hell broke loos:

The girls had a lot of fun!

A walk about Cuneo

It was such a nice day today, we went to Bonfante for cappuccinos and brioches, and then a walk around downtown and thru the small streets and into the courtyards. you know just looking for a 'if we lived in Cuneo we would live here...' type of house. it will never happen, because i think i would die of boredom, but you know just in one of those moments of daydreaming, it's fun to pretend.