Life has gotten a lot more carefree and luxurious for us since meeting up with Mike’s family.
The big rendezvous in Florence occurred yesterday, and the winners of the race to meet the two of us were Mike’s brother Pat and his girlfriend Amy. We last saw them in London only a few weeks ago, and the four of us sat down for a lunch of very crappy pizza. Florence, we expected better. We were happy to take them to Festival del Gelato afterwards. (Gelato update: Hanna got chocolate and strawberry, while Mike got white chocolate hazelnut and Ferrero Rocher.) We were scheduled to meet everyone else at Piazzale Michelangelo, a hillside that overlooks the whole of Florence. With our bags in tow, we made the hike up the many (well, too many) steps and waited for the rest of Team Italy to show up.
Mike’s sister Jodi and her husband Chris were next to arrive. Somehow Mike’s parents got a little lost and arrived an hour late. How dare they:
The Parents.
The Whole Gang.
After a few more photos, we headed out to our Tuscan villa which is located about halfway between Florence and Siena. It took about 45 minutes of windy roads to make it there, but the views made the sickening drive worth it:
Under the Tuscan Sun...Is Not a Good Movie.
Our Villa Is Right in the Middle of a Famous Vineyard.
Us in Front of the Villa.
Although there was some sun, the weather has been a bit chilly and windy here. Hanna is hoping to work on her tan a bit as she has gotten a bit pale the last month.
We sat down to a very large four-course dinner at the villa restaurant. Think antipasto plates for each person, a huge plate of pasta, generous portions of meat, and a light chocolate cake. Hanna even ate rabbit. The apocalypse is here. She tried rabbit!!! Dinner was fabulous, and we were all wiped out afterwards. We pretended we had jet lag like everyone else. We really love the villa and are looking forward to this week of family fun.
i would like to click my ruby slippers three times and be in tuscany at your villa.
we’re definitely planning a trip with you guys here…well, after we get jobs and have money again.
Che bella famiglia…………Enjoy your time together in Tuscany…….It sure looks great.
we’re too busy for blog posts…obviously a sign of a good time.
your gelato is maing me hungry! Lovin the whole family together!!!!
we want to marry gelato.
maybe you can come home and open a gelato shop… do it like your favorite place in Italy?!
I would come get gelato from you.
festival del gelato: new york. i like the sound of it. now we just have to find a location in our neighborhood so that we don’t have to pay for a monthly metrocard…