Capri and I had a blast in Italy to say the least! It was an absolute thrill ride.
It started out with a very long travel day. Left about 4:00 in the morning to make it to my flight that left at 6:00 in the morning had a couple of long layovers but I do have to say I have the best traveling baby she slept for more than half of the plane ride and that is without even being drugged :) Other than that she just played with some animals and just chilled.
Our longest layover was in Paris we had a 7 hour layover which is sadly not enough time to really go visit the city, but we chilled. I, however, was exhausted by the end.
The flight into Italy was just neat as we flew over the Swiss Alps so incredibly beautiful.
When we arrived to the city we were so excited to so HEather! She made a sign with a wooden spoon that said Seniorita Capri, ha this was hilarious, we both were excited. Capri was all giggles and smiles when she was hanging out with her aunt Heather!
We headed home to Heather's amazing apartment seriously it is incredible it is about 400 years old and you can see the city center right when you walk out of their apartment. Quite a view and quite a city...marble sidewalks, cobblestone streets, roman ruins...amazing.
That evening we just rested and I met Laura Lui, such a charming Italian girl she fit the perfect stereotype of an italian, beautiful, amazing cook, passionate, and loving. It was so neat to experience travel in a local view.
Capri and I stayed in Heather and Tyson's guest room it was so incredibly cute, with amazing antiques everywhere but spruced up with heather's bohemian...modern flair. She is one truly talented girl! Her style is amazing she really knows how to place things well and is especially great with color. Check out her blog it is something else :) www.italian-confetti.com.
The first day was super fun, our cousin Lindsey was also in town so we really had a great chance to explore some things. The first thing we did was head over to Laura's house for some Italian cooking. It was definitely one of my favorite things we did there. Laura taught us how to make homemade pumpkin gnocchi. Best pasta I have ever had and quite the experience. Now I just need to practice what I learned. She also made a very simple salad with arugula, roasted sesame seeds, simple yet tasteful.
After that we headed out to go see Juliet's Balcony. It was packed big tourist spot but it was neat to see the place where "letters to juliet", was filmed. We then headed to the colisseum which is in the center of the city and it was awesome. I just couldn't believe how old it was...still standing. It's just interesting to be in a place where there were chariot races and gladiators. So crazy. Lindsey and I took pictures inside as Heather watched capri outside.
We headed home and Heather made some yummy dinner, she is such an amazing cook! The next morning we went out to a vintage fair in an amazing venue it had domed ceilings. I think it was in some kind of castle ruin. It was so fun to see local artists with their creations. We saw everything from jewelry, lighting, wood working, wall art and much more. Heather and I purchased some jewelry of course :) Everyone was absolutely loving capri everywhere we went people stopped and said "que bella", which I believe means I love her. By everyone I seriously mean everyone they are oh so friendly there.
We walked over a beautiful and took the opportunity to take some really fun photos. I just loved being with the twinner, I now cherish every moment I get to spend with her because she lives thousands of miles away. The next day was Sunday. So, we went to church it was so weird not being able to understand anything but yet the spirit was so incredibly strong.
On Monday, we went to Lake Garda which is about 20 minute train ride from Heather's home, it was so beautiful and big. We saw some swan's in the lake that was a first for me. Capri, Heather and I just had some gelato and sat by the lake and took turns taking naps. It was so peaceful and pleasant.
Tuesday, we went to Venice my favorite city to date. What is amazing is throughout the centuries how the city is still standing despite weather, water conditions amidst other things. I guess this just makes it mystical in a sense. It was crazy we probably walked over 30-40 bridges carrying capri's stroller over each one, pretty funny. Capri was a trooper as usual. We had some amazing chocolate's, the best one was a passion fruit chocolate custard, best chocolate to date. It was so fun seeing all the masks for Carnivale as vendors lined the streets, very colorful. As we were walking to St. Mark's Basilica we stopped in a very cute print shop and found some lovely little prints to bring home for Capri's nursery.
We went to St. Marks Basilica and wow, it was beautiful. I went in on my own as Heather watched Capri since she had already seen it. It was so detailed from the intricate detailing of the artwork, domed ceilings, moulding, to the marble walls that looked had an ikat pattern running through it to the diamond shaped floors, the outside of the building had a lot of character as well. We took a water taxi back which was so much fun. I loved seeing people take gondola rides, and watching a group of rowers workout, since that is one of their only forms of exercise, it is nearly impossible to go running as the city is packed with tourists.
I loved the striped wood pools everywhere, stripes everywhere so fresh and fun. So Italy!
We ended up getting basks for Capri, Paul and me.
Wednesday we had a full day of traveling we had to get to the airport early and then arrived in London in the early evening. We went to tesco got some yummy salads and picnicked it in Hyde Park, definitely one of my highlights of the trip! Capri was eating it up.
We then went to our hotel, it was absolutely beautiful and so clean, we got a great deal on it.
The next morning we had meetings for True Birds with TJMAXX London, and with Anthropologie. They went well :) It was fun going to Anthropologies headquarters and seeing their amazingness.
After the meetings we picked up Capri, we had a really cute girl watching her, but when we got back you could tell that she was mad at Heather and me she totally held a grudge the rest of the day. She felt so left out.
We packed it all in, we headed to Portabello Market to go vintage shopping on our way there we hit a high end boutique street full of great designers and fun, fresh looks for spring and summer, just a little out of our price range :) In Portabello market there were so many vintage stores and of course Heather was drawn to the moroccan colorful store, she is so cute! I picked up a "C" for Capri's nursery. We then went to Big Ben and continued getting pics of Capri "Soloing it" funniest album ever. The Thames was right there so we walked along it, it was magical.
On our way back to the hotel we went to a Lebanese restaurant and it was so yummy. I love all the diverse types of food you have there along with people.
We went back to the hotel and headed back to Verona the next day. Saturday we had yet another cooking lesson from Sarah from Heather's ward. She only spoke Italian but Laura was there to translate for us. We made roasted sesame seeds and then she made us some cheese/herb sandwiches that were to die for, Italians know how to cook. We also had some very delicious strawberry herbed tea. After we took a walk in her small town and stopped by a duck pond, Laura found an abandoned egg and decided she wanted to nurse it back to health. She took the egg and decided to call it "Egg" when it hatched, so funny.
That evening we went to the store and I purchased my very first pasta maker. I also went vintage shopping, they have the best items for cheap! I brought home a chandelier, and basically a whole wall of art!
Sunday was general conference which was great! Later on that evening Laura taught us how to make fettucine with our pasta makers, it was so yummy along with some great red sauce.
Monday we took off early in the morning and went to Milan! It was fantastic, the mall was amazing. Food was great. I wish I could have gone in the Duomo but you literally have to get tickets months in advance before you go. The painting of the last supper was there wish I could have seen it.
Heather and I of course were dressed like californians, short sleeved shirts and shorts. It happened to be freezing that day. We were silly to think that the weather was going to be perfect. Everyone was in winter coats and looked at us like we were crazy!
We bid farewell to Heather and Tyson and then headed home, long plane ride but Capri did well, best baby ever!
whew glad I got everything written down :)
