Summer Tales
10/27/10
Well it’s been a while since I paid any attention to this blog. What can I say? I had a busy Summer! Between my brother and sister-in-law visiting for about 2 months, going out of town every chance we got, getting ready for Romania & Italy and then actually going to Romania & Italy, there just wasn’t enough time for it! But now Fall is here, the weather is changing, we’re kind of shifting from outdoor to indoor activities and I remembered my blog.
This really was a great Summer for me. Having family over was SO GOOD, I enjoyed their company tremendously. And their cooking, too! They also gave us the best “excuse” (like we needed one 
) to go out of town or to plan fun activities for every free weekend we had. We made several trips to Seattle, the beach, Mt. Hood, Lake Trillium, hiking in the gorge, out to restaurants… Not to mention extensive shopping sprees with my sister-in-law – it was a blast!
) to go out of town or to plan fun activities for every free weekend we had. We made several trips to Seattle, the beach, Mt. Hood, Lake Trillium, hiking in the gorge, out to restaurants… Not to mention extensive shopping sprees with my sister-in-law – it was a blast!
And then we went to Romania, where we got to spend precious time with family and friends. My hubby and I also celebrated our 3rd anniversary and had a special photo shoot in honor of that, with our wedding photographer. Going home is always so nice and reconnecting with friends is such a wonderful thing. For the time that I’m there, it’s like I never left! But then reality hits and I find myself on a plane, flying across the ocean to my new home. Because really, after 3 years, it’s finally starting to feel like home here too. Saying Good-Bye though never gets easier…
Before coming back to the US we also got to spend a few absolutely wonderful days in Italy. It was a typical Matasaru getaway (oh, how I love our getaways!), with little time, lots to do and lots to see. Oh, it was PERFECT! We flew to Rome and saw everything that we could see in about a day and a half (the Coliseum, the Roman Forum, Il Campidoglio, Trajan’s Column, Fontana di Trevi, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona), including a full tour of the Vatican (museum, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica). We had the best coffee in Rome (some say in all of Italy) at Cafe Sant’Eustachio and boy, do they like it strong! A city full of tourists, lights, music, life… and history every where you look! I must say, I was impressed.
After that we drove our little rental car to the coast of Amalfi, some 3 hours away from Rome, close to the larger town of Positano. On the way there, we stopped in Naples to have dinner at the oldest pizzeria in the world, Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba, dating from 1738. Wow. That. Pizza. Was. Amazing.
Amalfi was… a dream! A little town bursting with life! Driving on the coast was quite scary as the road is so narrow and winding, but my husband IS the best driver in the world. (Sorry, dad! ) The views were simply breathtaking, the little piazza in the center was so charming and the restaurants SO GOOD! Even though our time there was short, we thoroughly enjoyed it. We only took about a million pictures – memories to last a life time!
) The views were simply breathtaking, the little piazza in the center was so charming and the restaurants SO GOOD! Even though our time there was short, we thoroughly enjoyed it. We only took about a million pictures – memories to last a life time!
So that was my Summer and now Fall is here. We’ve had a gorgeaus Fall up until now, with beautiful, sunny days. Now the rain is here… probably to stay. This is Portland, after all! The change of the seasons is so beautiful, with each one bringing something new to love. Right now, I’m loving pumpkins. In all forms. Yes, pumpkins. I am really looking forward to the holiday season too, it seems like it’s just around the corner.
Have a great Fall, everyone!
