Il Sondaggio

The answer to last week's poll asking if there was another capital city of Italy before Rome is both Torino and Firenze!  Torino was the very first one, lasting from around 1860 until 1866.  Then from 1866 to about 1870 it was Firenze.  Roma was finally chosen because it was the capital of the pope's state (the Roman empire).

Btw, I get all of my information from my class!  Just so you know I'm not googling random facts.  :) 
 
My next question is: what traditions of the southern Italians look bad to the Northerns?  This is a really interesting topic for me and I'll explain why, along with the answer, next week!  Try to guess in the meantime!

Ritiro Quaresima a Sacromonte di Varese

Last Sunday I went on a Lenten retreat to a beautiful convent, with the parish youth group for two days.  Although it was raining, hailing, and snowing with a heavy fog, I had such a great experience!  I got a peaceful weekend away from Milan, I got to know the college kids in the group, and speak Italian!  

We left on Saturday afternoon and after a little while we got organized and drove an hour away to Varese, a nearby town.  From there we had to drive up a tiny, windy road to get to the convent.  There, were hosted by le suore clausura (cloister nuns) and did some activities as a group (as embarrassing as it was for me to speak in front of everyone!).  At first I was nervous since this would be my first time being forced to speak Italian well, but everyone was so nice and patient with me!  I am so grateful I got the chance to do something like it while I'm here.

 

 

This is the best picture I could get of the group but it's not all of us!

 

It was FREEZING cold and I was not prepared at all.

 

It is a tiny town settled 883 meters high on top of a mountain.

I Video

I want to share these videos from Torino and Carnevale with you all!

Lago Maggiore

I am proud to announce that I have now visited the most popular lakes in Northern Italy.   Last Sunday my host family took me on a day trip to Lago Maggiore, about an hour drive from Milano.  We met up with their good family friends, who I first met at the dinosaur park in Monza (a previous post).  Here are the pictures!

First stop; Isola dei Pescatori (Island of the Fishermen)

All lined up and ready to go.

Look what I found!

Handmade products

Itty in Italy!

Everybody together

Chiacchierando (chatting)

If you look closely you can see the statue of Mary, watching over the fishermen.

Dyed tortellini and lemon, orange, or wine flavored spaghetti

 

What would Italy be without it's ancient chiese (churches)?

 

Isola Bella.  If you say it fast it sounds like my name in Italian.  :)

 

The view of Fishermen Island, from Isola Bella.

Sembra un po' come California, no? (Looks like Cali!)

Il Sondaggio

The answer to "Where are the most famous Carnevale held?" is Venezia, Viareggio, and Izrea.  I mentioned them in my Carnevale post.  :)  Next question: Was there once another capital city of Italy, before Rome?  Go vote!

La Pace Sia con Voi

With Lent here, I want to post about the poor.  It is really difficult for me to pass by these people every day.  I have witnessed a crippled man with open wounds sitting on the sidewalk, one who is huddled in his sleeping bag every day I pass, and another in a wheelchair holding a baby on his lap.  I have not spent much time in cities so I have never had to deal with this.  It breaks my heart and I wish I had more to share.  I wonder about where they came from and if their families tried to help them..or if they have families.  I must use this as a way to be reminded of my blessings and to see Jesus in them.
    

I hope your Lenten season is a time of peace, clarity, and charity.

Carnevale Ambrosiano!

This is how the Milanese do it!

Sara, Matteo, the nanny's sister, Daria's mother, and Alessandro (the kids' cousin) at the shopping center, Portello.

We got gelato because Saturday was the last day before Quaresima! These are what Italian ice cream sandwiches look like.

Everyone throws coriandoli (confetti) at each other!

It was also Women's Day, if you were not aware, and the men have a tradition to buy their wives yellow flowers so all of the street vendors were selling special golden fiori.  The other tradition is some women go out to eat with their girlfriends.  Fortunately for Simone, Daria does not care for holidays like Valentine's Day.  Then we went to Saturday evening Mass and I discovered they get the ashes sprinkled on top of their head. 


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The next morning we headed out for a day trip to Torino, to visit La Venaria Reale.  The name derives from Latin, "Venatio Regia" meaning "Royal Hunt" and it served as the hunting grounds for Charles Emmanuel I.

Venaria had such a warm Italian feel!

In La Galleria di Diana

Yes, there was even a royal cafe back in the day  :P

Daria's father in the ranch.

Drinking fresh mountain water

Daria's mother

Sara asked me to make an "American" pose so I showed her

Calzoleria! Sara thought this was an important spot.

The royal family had their very own church connected to the palace!

Credits to Sara.  She's very artistic for an 8-year-old!

My host fam!

 

My host mom!