Our last days in Sorrento

"Lemons, Limes, you name it and they are massive!"

Like most things in Italy, everything is lovely. Around every corner you will hear yourself say, "Wow... this is beautiful, lovely, fantastic (insert any other adjective to describe something beautiful) town, square, building, store, cliff, etc". I think you get my drift. Massa Lubrense, the small little sea-side village that Dave and I stayed in on the Amalfi Coast is really no different. The town itself is small. There are a few shops, most that don't cater to tourist; unlike the close (distance) but far (bus driving time) cousin Sorrento, which I have to admit, is really nice. The prices of food and drinks are fair and a decent amount of people do not speak a lick of english; I love that about Italy! The French may be able to speak English but choose not to, the Italians, on the other hand, just don't know how. They are one of the few where it was really nice to struggle with vocabulary words.. probably because the people were so nice and well, the food was fantastic!

Our very cute and small town of Massa Lubrense

The cute little town of Sorrento

The Bible, aka Lonely Planet, had told me about a few restaurants that we should try out while we were in town. Most, not to anyone's surprise, were expensive! There was a small and lovely restaurant that is part of the slow food movement in Italy. Basically the idea is that you have to use FRESH, SEASONAL, LOCAL ingredients. While I know this sounds like hippie jargon for eating leaves and hugging trees, I have to admit that I am a big supporter of this idea. Not so much for the hippie in me but the narcissist in me. I suppose I have this idea that it's a lot harder to eat poorly (and the most important  GET FAT) if you can't eat say mac and cheese every day for dinner. (not local, not season, not fresh)

At a "slow food" movement restaurant. It was really great food!

After "slow food" (by the way... the service is fast... we were out of the restaurant in a little under two hours) we did a little browsing around Sorrento. We looked at such interesting things as water, a church prepping for a wedding and then we played hide and seek with our local bus that was supposed to turn up every 20 minutes, but obviously didn't. Ah Italy... the schedule says every 20 and you turn up every hour and a half.

Prepping the church for a wedding later on that evening

Beautiful water

The coast of Sorrento

Italian transportation = Italian time (or 1.5 hours late)

Once back in Massa Lubrense, feast for the evening bought, we ran as quickly as possible back down our path to return to our little green cottage to catch a glimpse of the beautiful sunset. You can see Capri and our small Harbor in the distance. It was beautiful and quite breath taking.

I think this is one of my favorites from the trip. You can see Capri in the distance.

Sunset and Lemon groves is magical

The path leading back to the bungalow that crossed through lemon and olive groves. It was a really romantic setting

Marina Della Lobra (the small village next to our bungalow)

The small port city of Marina della Lobra at Dusk

So, as most of you will know I like to eat. Not like, "Oh I will have salad only please." No, this is eating at it's best. I usually eat more than Dave. Sometimes he still is not sure how he is the "heavy" one in the relationship. We stopped off at the local supermarket (after our hour and a half wait in Sorrento) to pick up fresh olives, cheese, meat, bread, beer and chips.) It was a meal fit for a queen... watching the ocean.

As Dave likes to point out, I was being a fatty and eating more than him

The best things in life are usually pretty cheap: Italian beer, chips, and fresh olives from around the Massa Lubrense area. Combine that with an ocean view and that equals magic

ROLL TIDE and a WEDDING DRESS STORY

Wednesday morning I will leave for the United States to help my dear sister, Katie, look for the perfect wedding dress, flowers, make-up person, and photographer in just a quick 10 day period. I am so excited about seeing my sister and helping her with planning the perfect wedding. We plan on doing the biggest amount of dress shopping on Friday, as I want Mom to be there with the two of us. Friday would have been my mother's 58th birthday, so I am excited about going dress shopping with all the girls together.

I plan on going to the Homecoming game as well and will finally have the opportunity to see dear friends that I haven't seen in over two years. As I live in Europe longer, true friends are the things that really start to matter to you and these people are the best that a girl could ask for!

The National Archeological Museum of Naples

 "The best and worst museum in Naples."

I have always held a special affinity for museums. The older the better. Greek, Roman and Italian Renaissance art I have always held in the highest regard and esteem. There is something truly magnificent about looking at works of art that predate Christ and knowing that it's quite better than anything a skilled computer could cut from marble.

My favorite place, in the entire world, will and always will be a good museum. The National Archeological Museum is supposed to be one of the best in the world. Known for it's collection of Greek and Roman art, particularly the Farnese collection, but also for such  great permanent exhibits like Pompeii and Herculaneum. I manged, on our last day in Naples, to drag Dave to this place, as it was all that I had talked about since arriving in Naples 6 days earlier. I was anxious to see the Pompeii mosaics, frescos, statues, and apparent Roman pornography that had shocked the Vatican when unveiled a couple of years ago. I gladly and perhaps a bit giddily handed the lady my 8 euro for the tickets and preceded inside. A kid in a candy store... absolutely!!!

We meandered along halls and corridors that only got longer and wider enticing me with more and more classic works. After covering the first floor, I thought, quite adequately, I was excited about covering the second floor, where all of Pompeii and Herculaneum was on show. Like most things in Naples, there are always small problems that seem to pop up unexpectedly and at the most inopportune times. This day, it was the fact that almost all of the Pompeii and Herculaneum exhibit was closed. That meant no mosaics, no Roman pornography... devastation swept over me and Dave was less than pleased with the thought of 4 euro missing when 3/4 of the Museum we wanted to see was closed.

There were some really great piece and what we were able to see was amazing! If you are interested in seeing any of my additional pictures you can look in my picasa album, otherwise you can always looking on the website.

http://www.marketplace.it/museo.nazionale/

Small busts found at Herculaneum. There are a bit creepy as they actually have eyes painted on. They look a little "Chuck-ish" to me

One of many fresco's recovered from Pompeii

Woman (Pompeii) with earrings and olive wreath

Farnese Collection- holding the world

Athletes- Sculptures found in Herculaneum

Dancer (one of many in a sequence) found in Herculaneum

One of the most famous sculptures in the museum- Farnese Bull.

Vinobrani Festival and Goodbye Meals

"Vino.. Vino... Vino! And... maybe some food."

Friday evening, after my whirl-wind tour of Dresden, Germany and most of Prague, I finally met up with Iveta for her goodbye meal at Osteria da Clara. Frequent visitors to this great blog will know how much I adore the simplicity of this restaurant and the no fuss attitude of the staff and the food. It is probably my favorite restaurant in all of Prague and perhaps my top 5 in the world. Yes, that is quite a statement, I know. We dined and chatted and talked about the future and our plans. We spoke about when I would come and visit her in Frankfurt, and I think November, for the Christmas markets will be a perfect time. I have plans to meet her again on Monday evening for some good bye wine at another favorite place called Bokovka (Sidways in Czech). It will be sad to see Iveta leave!

Iveta and I at Osteria da Clara. After a 4 hour meals that involved lots of laughs and almost tears.

Saturday, was a busy day as well. I went about 15 minutes outside of Prague to visit my friend's Jana and Milan for lunch. It was a great day and we had some really amazing food... as usual. Jana is a former student of mine that I taught at one of the government institutions here in Prague. Her husband Milan, works for Microsoft, where I currently teach. They have two really great daughters; Petra and Eliska. Petra loves Spain and I am quite sure wants to move there immediately. Eliska, all of 14 years, loves the United States and is ready to move to either New York or Los Angeles... she also likes Dave. (I understand as well.. i mean, what's not to like?) After spending a good 5 hours at their house I came back to Prague and met Dave, Josh, and Eduardo at the Vinobrani Festival in JZP. We stayed away from the Burcak and opted for some terrible wine. We attempted to listen to a Czech cover band for a long as we could handle it, and then moved back to Dave's house for more wine and headaches this morning.

Dave and I at the Vinobrani Festival

Josh and Eduardo at the Vinobrani Festival. It's getting cold here already.

A Mexican Restaurant and Roomies

"It's like we are in Mexico."

Saturday night we went out to everyone's favorite Mexican restaurant in Prague, Las Adelitas, for Sibel's going away gathering. Our group consisted of: me, Dave, Sibel and her boyfriend, my new room mate Oana, German and his girlfriend. The food, as always, was amazing. Dave and I both agreed that my enchilladas verdes were excellent! It was almost like we were back in Los Angeles again! See, in Prague, there are really no good Mexican restaurants. Then, about three weeks ago our friends Josh and Eduardo told us about this place and how it serves very authentic food complete with mole sauce, if you want it. Of course, we went ASAP and had the best Mexican food outside of the United States and Mexico!

Florien and Sibel enjoying the chips and guac!

Dave looking at the camera and Florien? Who knows!

Two Romanian's and an American. Oana, Sibel, and myself

Oana (new roomie) and I

After we finished gorging ourselves with yummy Mexican food we took a little trip to Dave's local Svijany beer bar to finish the party there. We all had a lot of fun and had a lot to drink. Dave, Oana and I finally left the bar at around 3am, about 3 hours later than everyone else. Needless to say I was paying for my late night this morning. It was fun though and it was good to send Sibel off with lots of high spirits!!!

Dave's Birthday. Another year older

"They say it's your birthday....."- Beatles

August 28th was Dave's day of birth. And what magical age did he turn? Well, 24! We celebrated by going to our favorite restaurant, Cafe de Paris where we had wine, great food, and fabulous cake. Later on in the evening we met our friends Josh and Eduardo at Buddah Bar for a little cocktail drinking to celebrate the big day. I bought Dave a nice picture frame with a picture of us (in Munich). I also said I would help buy a new wallet if he found something that he liked when we go to Italy!

Dave and I after a very nice evening of Cafe de Paris and good drinks at Buddah Bar

Dave with the guys.

Josh and I in our High School prom pose.

A quick note

Dearest Friends and Family,

My computer has been at the doctor's office (hard drive melt down) so hence the reason I have not been blogging. I promise to update this week with lots of new stories etc!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for your patience!

Heather