Short Trip to Monza

This weekend the Bedell family took the short drive to Monza to view some historic artifacts. Monza is perhaps best known for it's formula one racetrack, but we took a stroll through its streets and visited the famous Duomo and museum. We got to see fantastic ancient crowns and other Lombard artifacts in the museum, plus have some great pizza.

We don't have much to add in the news department. Thomas is going to a birthday party for one of his classmates this weekend, and we're planning some big trips before we return to the USA. The return date will be sometime this summer.

Other than that, as Thomas would say, we're just 'having a little relax'.

Rain, Sun, and a Critter

It has been a little while since our last post, but we've been awfully busy.  As we mentioned previously, Thomas had a full week off from school.  Unfortunately, much of the week was rainy and a little cold.  This past weekend, John had visitors at work, so we cancelled our usual trips. Also, we've been busy planning our eventual return to the 'States (which will be in the not too distant future...more news to come).   

Anyway, the weather this week has really cleared up, and it's been so nice that we've been sitting outside to enjoy evenings and nights.  

Also, Thomas has found a new hobby...scouring our yard to look for old snail shells.  He often doesn't have to look far, and found this fairly large one - complete with snail still inside!  We couldn't resist the picture, even if it is a little reminiscent of some of our previous posts. 

Pasqua Sunday and Monday

This was our second Easter in Italy, and we enjoyed it as much as the first. Although Good Friday isn't an official holiday (most businesses are open on on this day), the monday after Easter is a huge holiday. This year we enjoyed both days, staying home on Easter-day and going out onto Lago Maggiore on Monday. Of course, we decorated eggs, had lots of chocolate, and enjoyed a huge family meal on Sunday. Luckily, the weather (which had been a little uncooperative for most of the weekend) cleared up on Monday for our time on the lake. It was warm, sunny, and beautiful. We had a long lunch on the Borromean Islands and just enjoyed the weather.

This coming week is a vacation-week for Thomas, so no school. Last week in school, he was part of his class play, 'Elmer the Elephant'. He played the part of a tree (which, curiously, was a speaking part that had several lines).

We hope that everyone had a nice holiday and is enjoying spring!

Sanctuaries in Biella

This weekend we swapped our travel days. Whereas we typically set-out for an exploration on Saturday, this week we stayed at home to do some much-needed yard work on that day. So, the weed-eater and lawn mower were brought to life, and our 'garden' is now clean.

Sunday, however, we took a trip to northern Piemonte, to the province of Biella, where we drove through farm country up to the mountains. A unique sight that we encountered was a heard of cows being driven along the road, each wearing a massive cowbell.

On the trip, we visited two historic sanctuaries: Graglia and Oropra. Both were sites of religious pilgrimage and each remain working churches. Oropra is particularly well known, and still attracts religious pilgrims today. It was a beautiful day to visit, being mostly sunny, although there was still significant snow on the ground at Oropra. We had a great time.

By the way, early this morning there was a devastating earthquake in L'Aquila, in central Italy. We've had many friends and family ask if we were affected. We're too far north to have felt anything, but the catastrophe is all that people here is talking about. Our thoughts are with the victims.