Cena in Famiglia (ch-e-na – in – fam – eel – ya) – Family Dinner

             ….okay so a family dinner wasn’t the only thing that happened today but it was my most favorite thing J….the day started with church in Italian….which I think made my parents very happy ….we went to the one that I had been to the very first weekend, the one that is also connected to Giacomo’s school, so it is very close to our house J…..

            ….after church we were off on adventures….i had planned to take mom and dad around the Olympic Arch, where the village was, and to the Stadio Olympico, where the opening ceremonies and the torch were….which we definently found,…..J…..

after I led them in the complete opposite direction of the stadium and dad somehow found our way back….thank god for surveyors being everywhere first….but we eventually found the stadium and I think momma was happy to be able to see it, and daddy, well, I think he was just happy to sit down haha….(poor guy and his shin splints)….but then when we were heading home, I thought I would just lead them to the same metro station that we went to when the USAC group were heading back home after the FC Torino game that we went to…..weeeellllllll apparently I didn’t realize just how far away that metro stop was….because well, I think we walked for a good hour or so (while I taught daddy some Italian, which was really fun) before we got to the stop that I thought was only a 5-10 minute walk from the stadium, when dad knew of a metro station that was a REAL 5-10 minute walk away…..needless to say, I am pretty sure that after this visit to me, here in Torino, I am never going to be in charge of directions to or from a place, which I think I am ok with

 J

           ….after that extravaganza, it was the decision of what do we do with the rest of our day….since most places are not open on Sundays here in Italy, that can be kind of hard…..however, today Juventus was playing (I tried my hardest to get tickets to take my dad, but unfortunately that is a dream that has to wait for another trip) so we were trying to find a place to watch the game….we were hoping to find a bar with a bunch of fans, but since the one we wanted to go to wasn’t open and we were hungry after all the walking, we settled on a pizzeria open in the neighborhood of their residence to watch a game…..however, we ended up watching the Naples game because the owner was Neapolitan and the Juventus game was only pay-per-view Im pretty sure….anyways it was a great time, with really good pizza

            …after we ate, dad went back to their flat to see if he could find the Juventus game (which he couldn’t)….mom and I were off to the Lingotto mall (by my house) to visit another Zara…..seriously, mom is to Zara what I am to H&M…..its pretty fun….we window shopped….then left to pick up a few things from Eataly and Pam (Pam is a plain grocery store near my home, only major one open on Sundays)….and then we headed to my home….dad came over, and it was so nice to just hang out, let mom and dad use the internet, and watch some Olympics with them…..this is all while we waited for my host family to come back home from the mountains…..

            ….when they got back, we all went out together for dinner….to the delicious pizza place in our neighborhood J….oh my goodness it was so. Much. Fun…..I totally loved it….thats why my word for today, is what it is…..because today was a dinner that truly merged these two families that I am so thankful and blessed to have…..dad and Simone are getting along just amazing…..and Mom and Eliana I think are new best friends….mom even said today that she thinks that Aunt Suez left her this year but also gave her Eliana, (which if you know my mom and Suez, and the story, that means A LOT….like that means THE WORLD!!)….they are truly these adorable kindred spirits, I am so lucky….        

            …dinner was so freakin great too….love that pizza (unfortunately I was so full from the pizza at lunch, I could barely eat because I was so sure I would get sick if I ate any more L )….but it was just so much fun!....eating and enjoying, especially with mom and dad, at a place that I have been to multiple times,….eating, then coffee, then limoncello (my new love)….it truly was just great….so nice to just watch and listen to my parents speak and love my host parents….and then to see dad playing the “mmmmmmmmmm deLICIOUS!!!” game with Giacomo, that he plays with Eliott…. It was just plain perfect… 

       

            ….I am so blessed and such a happy girl….i mean I definently have my moments when I am missing people from home and wishing that I was there….but then I just think about where I am and what I am doing, and I remember how blessed I am….that I am living something that most people only ever dream of….I have the most amazing parents and family….and similarly an incredible host family taking care of, and protecting and loving me….and a crazy supportive set of friends, and boyfriend, back home that no matter how sad or homesick I get, simply continue to remind me that what I am doing will be one of the most important memories of my life, that this is what most only dream of, and that I am on the adventure of a lifetime, supporting every move I make…….im not sure what more I could ask for…..I am truly so grateful…  

            …..tomorrow mom and dad leave, and although I am so sad to see them go…this has been the best visit ever….I joke that this is my study abroad parents weekend….but it really is….im so glad we were able to do so much and I could so them everything that I have discovered so far J….this has been the best weekend ever….im so thankful that they were able to come here at all J…..one more day (or part of a day) left, and this has truly been….a great game J

Porta Palazzo (port-ah---pa-la-zo) – The Largest Open Air Market in Europe (in Torino)

            ….today was spectacular, we did so much that when we were walking back to my house today we were talking and there is only a couple more things to do with mom and dad before they have seen all that I know of that is big and touristy to go do!....the main thing mom wanted to do today was to go to the Porta Palazzo Market….yes, this is the market that I was pickpocketed (unsuccessfully, thank God) and yes, I kept my wallet today J….I know youre all so proud J….

            ….the market was so much fun today, more so than the last time I went, mainly because it wasn’t raining this time J….we took our time and probably spent a good two hours….that sounds like an exhorbant amount of time I know, but you have no idea the massiveness of this place until you see it….you can buy everything and anything you can imagine, at this place….I was able to get a lot of gifts for people back home today which was really nice….I have found in my travels, that if you pick things up as you find them, there is less pressure in the final days (or in my case, weeks)….so…Ryan, Joey, Angie, and Brent….you now have fantastic gifts coming home for you J….I also found the cool European phone case that I have been wanting, and some awesome Limoncello glasses!....Eduardo, Simone’s dad, gave me a bottle to have my parents take home for me of the limoncello that he made! (I have to have them take it home to get it into the country, since I wont be of drinking age until 6 months after I return, and I figure that will be the perfect drink for my 21^st!)….amongst other purchases by myself and mom and dad of food, and lots of food market pictures for wine labels haha…it was a highly successful day at the market for all of us J….

            …after the market we set off to find a cup of Bicern…..we were actually looking for the Bicern Café, which is the oldest café in the city, but when I walked in a café to ask for directions the man behind the bar excitedly told me that he made it and so we decided to stick with him….he was soo lovely, and exhilarated to show me the typical Torino things that were in his shop, and to take pictures of our drinks, the whole get up…..he was so sweet……Bicern, by the way, is a coffee drink that is espresso, whole milk, and chocolate (basically Nutella)….ours I think also had a chocolate liquor in them as well, but they were soooo good…..he was happy and waved at us the whole way out….needless to say, mom was delighted J…

            ….then it was on to lunch….i set dad on Via Girabaldi (one of the largest tourist streets) and followed him as he wandered and worked his magic to find us a great place to eat…..and of course he did great….it was so awesome…..mom had a pizza….i had chicken, which I was thrilled about because I think it may be the first time ive had it since I left the states….and dad had sausage with ragu and linguine and mussels….he said it was the best meal he has had here…so we were very happy campers….

           ….then it was off to a VERY touristy attraction, but one I wanted to do so badly, the Mole…..if you google Torino photos, the building you see so many pictures of is the Mole….its the building that houses the National Cinema Museum (which looks so cool, I cant wait to go) and a lift to the very top with a panoramic view of the city from above…..it was so much fun and the view was spectacular! I loved it! This city is soooo pretty…

            ….when we were done, we ran some errands (to mom and dads to drop off some things, Eataly to buy more wine bottle boxes for transporting, and my house for some drop offs) and then off to Apertivo at the same place we went for wine last night….at Daniele and Gabriele’s ….right on the corner of mom and dads block and oh my god it was so much fun….we got our wine and Gabri made us up some plates, and of course put carpaccio on it (the raw hamburger, mom finally told him that we don’t eat that so much in the states haha) and we just sat and enjoyed…..

after a bit, Danny came over and told dad he was going to go make us spaghetti like he said that he would yesterday….oh my goodness that was some good spaghetti too!....we spent the rest of the time just talking….come to find out, he wants to improve his English and even offered to pay me to teach him….i simply told him to teach me Italian and we have a deal….so it looks like I have a language partner and I am so excited!!....it was another amazing night, my parents are amazing travelers…..they make great friends with locals and always find the best and most perfect places….

L to R: Gabriele, Daniele, Mom & Dad

            ….tomorrow it is church, watching the Juventus game at a pub, then pizza at the restaurant in my neighborhood….should be another great day…..i cant believe that mom and dad leave on Monday, totally sad, but this has been such a busy, but relaxed visit…..i have absolutely loved it…..nothing like a good Study Abroad Parents Weekend haha…..I am so blessed that they were able to come at all J….its been the most fun J….buona notte for now….