Back to my home village now. Olgiate Comasco, where I lived most of my life.

I feel at peace, I feel safe, I feel loved, I feel I don’t want to leave anymore.

Never like this time, I have felt so much joy in being back! Being here with my Aussie family and my Italian family, it’s just too special!
You know that feeling when you're in the midst of something amazing, but you're not fully appreciating it? Well, that's not the case for me. I'm right here, fully immersed in this wonderful moment, and I'm fully aware of it. I'm just so happy and grateful!
In a long time, I don't think I've felt this way in general. Don't get me wrong, I love my life, and I'm generally content, but this is different. I feel whole!
Our days are filled with hours spent in Dad's garden, where the girls get to pluck fresh veggies and play with the goats, rabbits, guinea pigs, kittens, and, of course, collect eggs from the chickens each day. It's an incredible opportunity for them, and they absolutely adore it! Sienna often heads out early in the morning with Nonno in his vibrant yellow sports car (the Barchetta), and it's truly heartwarming to see them share this special time together.
When we're not at Nonno's garden, we often go horseback riding or simply take care of a couple of horses that my wonderful friend Betta has made available for us. Sienna and Julia have a deep love for horses, and they seem entirely at ease around these majestic animals. It's truly incredible to witness! Of course, I like to think they inherited this from me, don't you? It's amusing how I used to be so fearless around horses when I was single, and now, I can't help but feel a bit nervous when the girls are around them.
One of my objectives for this trip was to ensure that the girls could spend as much time as possible with horses, and I'm happy to say that I can now check that off the list! 😊

Saying goodbye to Sara, Andrew, and Dao was a tough moment for me. I had made a promise to myself not to shed tears, wanting to part with them wearing a smile rather than a tear-stained face. I did manage to keep that promise, but as soon as they turned the corner, I couldn't hold back my emotions any longer. I am very grateful for the time we had together but how sad we won’t be able to see each other again, for long time!
 
On our journey back from Lignano towards Como, we decided to make a midday stop for lunch. We were in search of a charming spot but wanted to avoid the hustle and traffic of overly touristy destinations. As fate would have it, our decision was swiftly made when we caught sight of a breathtaking medieval castle from the highway. We promptly exited the highway and followed the road leading to the village.
Upon our arrival, we discovered that the enchanting village was named Soave, a name I had previously associated solely with its wine, never imagining it was derived from such a picturesque place. Soave, nestled in the province of Verona, is enveloped by towering, well-preserved medieval walls. In fact, Soave is one of the rare Italian villages that still boasts its ancient walls in impeccable condition.
The sight before us left us utterly awestruck, transporting me back in time to the 1300s.
 
In the middle of town, right outside the walls, we discovered a charming restaurant called "Locanda Lo Scudo." There, we savoured a fantastic seafood and fish lunch that was incredibly delicious. The service was top-notch, adding to the overall enjoyment of our meal.
This turned out to be an incredible experience for Jason and me – a pleasant surprise stumbling upon a place like this by sheer chance! It rekindled the enchantment of Italy for us. It also served as a reminder that spontaneous choices often lead to the most delightful surprises.

Last  Saturday, we arrived at Marina di Grosseto, a charming seaside town in Tuscany.

We've rented an apartment here for three weeks, hoping to experience the best of the Italian summer and show the girls a different beach lifestyle compared to Australia. It's also a fantastic location for Jason and nanny Denise to explore both the beautiful Tuscan coast and hills.

Jason has been working remotely since we arrived, and fortunately, this will be his last week of work! I must admit, I am truly excited about the beginning of our proper family holiday. He has been waking up every morning around 3 am,  and dedicating his entire day to work, leaving me to handle our energetic and playful two girls all by myself! But hey, it's all part of the adventure, right? 😉

What I didn't anticipate as part of the adventure was getting into troubles with the locals! Since our arrival, we've met nothing but wonderful people—kind, warm, generous, and welcoming. I was genuinely taken aback by how lovely everyone has been... until we reached this place. It was quite unexpected!

This is what happened:

We're on the second floor with a spacious terrace that looks great but also carries noise quite well.
In the first two days, we didn't realize that every step the kids took echoed through the building, causing annoyance to the family renting the downstairs apartment.
We soon received a not-so-subtle message from the lady downstairs, who started yelling at us like a lunatic from her door. The first time it happened, it was 8:30 am on a Sunday, and she complained that it was too early and they were still sleeping. I thought to myself, "Okay, fair enough, we are in Italy, after all." People sleep in much longer than in Australia!

The second time, just after lunch, she yelled again, claiming it was rest time and we needed to be quiet. Once more, I asked the girls to calm down. I was getting a bit frustrated, not so much with the complaints, but with her lack of willingness to approach us and have a civilized conversation about it. Nevertheless, I promised myself to approach the situation calmly and maintain a "zen" attitude...
Well, that resolution didn't last long, as the lady started going off again!! At that point, I couldn't contain myself any longer. I opened our door and yelled back at her with all my might! Yes, I did, and it was surprisingly satisfying! 😊
It's quite remarkable how arguing in Italian feels so much more satisfying than in any other language! The words flow effortlessly, and it's incredibly satisfying to express myself in my mother tongue! It's like the language lends itself perfectly to intense conversations! 😄 I wasn't rude, but I had to let her know that we had had enough and that she needed to calm down.

Anyway, I hope that's the end of it, and that 'La strega' (the witch) will eventually calm down. Stay tuned for any updates!
 
In the meantime we are going to enjoy the beautiful beach, the numerous fun parks, food and aperitivos... as much as possible...

P.S. La Dolce Vita remains as sweet as ever, even with a hint of bitterness on the tongue!
A presto e baci,
Jessica

IN ITALIANO:
LA MIA PRIMA LITIGATA ITALIANA   - MARINA DI GROSSETO 2-9 LUGLIO

Sabato scorso siamo arrivati a Marina di Grosseto, una graziosa località di mare in Toscana.

Abbiamo affittato un appartamento per tre settimane, sperando di vivere al meglio l'estate italiana e mostrare alle bambine uno stile di vita sulla spiaggia diverso rispetto all'Australia. È anche una fantastica posizione per permettere a Jason e a nonna Denise di esplorare sia la splendida costa toscana che le colline circostanti.

Jason sta facendo ' smart working '  da quando siamo arrivati, e fortunatamente questa sarà la sua ultima settimana di lavoro! Devo ammettere che non vedo l’ ora di cominciare la nostra vera vacanza in famiglia. Jason si sveglia ogni mattina intorno alle 3 del mattino e dedica l'intera giornata al lavoro, lasciando a me il compito di gestire da sola le nostre due 'pesti' !  Ma hey, fa tutto parte dell'avventura, giusto? 😉

Quello che non mi aspettavo come parte dell'avventura era di avere dei problemi con la gente del posto! Da quando siamo arrivati, abbiamo incontrato solo persone meravigliose: gentili, calorose, generose e accoglienti. Sono rimasta sinceramente sorpresa da quanto tutti siano stati affabili... fino a quando non siamo arrivati in questo posto. È stato abbastanza inaspettato!

Ecco cosa è successo:

Siamo al secondo piano con una spaziosa terrazza che è molto bella ma trasmette anche molto rumore. Nei primi due giorni, non ci siamo resi conto che ogni passo dei bambini echeggiava nella palazzina, causando fastidio alla famiglia che affittava l'appartamento al piano di sotto. Abbiamo presto ricevuto un messaggio non troppo sottile dalla signora del piano di sotto, che ha cominciato a urlare come una pazza dalla sua porta.

La prima volta che è successo, erano le 8:30 di domenica e si è lamentata che era troppo presto e che loro stavano ancora dormendo. Ho pensato tra me e me: "Ok, va bene, siamo in Italia, dopotutto." La gente qui dorme molto più a lungo rispetto all'Australia!
La seconda volta, subito dopo pranzo, ha urlato di nuovo, affermando che era l'ora del riposo e che dovevamo fare silenzio. Ancora una volta, ho chiesto alle ragazze di calmarsi. Stavo cominciando ad essere un po' frustrata, non tanto per le lamentele, ma per la sua mancanza di volontà di avvicinarsi a noi e avere una conversazione civile a riguardo.

Tuttavia, mi sono promessa di affrontare la situazione con calma e mantenere un atteggiamento "zen"... Beh, quella risoluzione non è durata a lungo, poiché la signora ha ricominciato di nuovo!! A quel punto, non ho più potuto trattenere me stessa. Ho aperto la nostra porta e le ho urlato di rimando con tutte le mie forze! Sì, l'ho fatto ed è stato sorprendentemente appagante! 😊 È davvero notevole quanto sia soddisfacente litigare in italiano rispetto a qualsiasi altra lingua! Le parole scorrono senza sforzo ed è incredibilmente appagante esprimermi nella mia lingua madre! ! 😄

Non sono stata scortese, ma ho dovuto farle capire che ne avevamo abbastanza e che doveva calmarsi.

Comunque, spero che 'La strega' si calmi in fretta e che non ci rovini le vacanze! 

Restate sintonizzati per eventuali aggiornamenti!

Nel frattempo, continueremo a goderci la bellissima spiaggia, i numerosi parchi divertimento, il cibo e gli aperitivi... il più possibile...

P.S. La Dolce Vita rimane dolce come sempre, anche con un pizzico di amarezza sulla lingua!

A presto e baci, Jessica

As we eagerly anticipated our upcoming adventure to Italy, ( one week to go) , we knew that purchasing new suitcases was an essential step in our preparation. Armed with extensive online research and a clear idea of what we needed, we embarked on a journey to the stores, confident that we were well-prepared. However, little did we know that the simple task of buying suitcases would turn into a hilarious and somewhat stressful event, thanks to our dear children.
Heading to the Shops:
With visions of picturesque landscapes and delectable Italian cuisine dancing in our heads, we ventured into the realm of luggage stores. Our minds were filled with images of sleek and stylish suitcases that would perfectly match our travel plans. Armed with a list of requirements, we thought we had it all figured out. But, oh, how quickly reality can shatter even the most carefully laid plans!
Kids in Tow:
To our initial delight, we discovered that the bags we had seen online were indeed available in the store. As we examined them, discussing their features and suitability, our children's eyes were instantly captivated by the vibrant colors of a purple and pink suitcase pair. They pleaded with adorable earnestness, insisting that these were the bags they simply had to have.
Chaos Unleashed:
Suddenly, the peaceful atmosphere of the store transformed into a chaotic battleground. The girls were fervently trying on each bag, demanding their preferred shades of purple and pink. As we attempted to maintain some semblance of order and composure, the stress levels skyrocketed. Time seemed to stretch on indefinitely as we found ourselves caught in a never-ending loop of bag swapping and color debates. I felt for the shop assistant and the other customers in the shop! :-)
Unexpected Outcome:
After what felt like an eternity spent wrestling with luggage and colorful demands, a moment of realization dawned upon us. Amidst the chaos, we had ended up purchasing two extra smaller bags, (guess the colours),  that we definitely didn't need. It was a mix of disbelief and hilarity that swept over us. How had we managed to succumb to our kids? 

Lessons Learned: As we left the store, shaking our heads , we couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation. Our well-researched plan had been swiftly derailed by the innocent desires of our children. It was a gentle reminder that no matter how prepared we thought we were, life has a funny way of throwing unexpected curveballs our way.
Conclusion:
In the end, our suitcase shopping adventure became a memorable chapter in our journey towards la dolce vita. It taught us to embrace the unpredictability of life, find humor in the unexpected, and cherish the moments of chaos that weave themselves into the tapestry of family memories.
Conclusion n. 2:
Next time, we'll either order online or go to the shops without the kids. Full stop! :-)

After a long wait of 5 years, I am finally returning to Italy to visit my beloved family, reunite with dear friends, and explore the enchanting wonders of my beautiful country! What makes this journey even more special is that I won't be going alone; I am thrilled to be accompanied by my loving husband, two wonderful kids, and even my mother-in-law! We will be embarking on an incredible adventure that will keep us away for nearly 3 months. The yearning for Italy has been immense, and now, having the opportunity to rediscover its splendor alongside my family feels like an extraordinary dream come true. While I will dearly miss my students here, I couldn't resist sharing this marvelous experience with all of you. Stay tuned for captivating updates from our Italian escapade!