Last Day - Homeward Bound!!!

All is calm here.

I leave tomorrow early am.

Went to Como this morning with Barbara and Allegra. I can understand Allegra pretty well when she babbles in Italian to me - how about that?

If I were to rate this trip on a scale from 1 - 10 i would probably give it a five. Its been nothing fantastic, or especially exciting, but just about average. so/so.

I am glad I got away from Sonoma, and these two months have gone by pretty quickly, but another month here would be slow torture. It's time to get back home, work a little, have some fun, visit family/friends, and get my butt back into action!

I didn't end up getting the CEC job which is a bummer, but I will just have to find something else. It's probably better anyways...It would have been a huge responsibility.

What else.....Overall I am totally ready to be home. Nothing really left for me to do here.

I am hoping to spend some time in Santa Cruz - we shall see what happens on that front and besides that, I will be in Claremont before I know it! Oh yea, and I am going to try to make it to Boston early August, as I am WAY overdue.

That's about it for now - I will probably blog a few more times before this adventure becomes extinct.

Until the next adventure then!

Ciao!

Nasty Looks

Nasty looks.
If I get anymore I am going to....scream....throw her out of the house....something.

Everything has been okay since I have gotten back from Spain but all of the sudden she has decided to hate me again.

Argh. This is so frustrating. Only two more days here, thank goodness...I am SO ready to be home. Or in the states at least.

I am ready for school to start, to start working, and to be with friends and family.

I still have to figure out the rest of the summer but it will come together...

At least I have learned to ignore her nasty looks and nasty things she says to me.

Right now in fact she is mad at me because I used the phone to call Barbara. WTF!!!

Chill out little girl, or I will come get you!!!

Sunday Afternoon

This has been the most lovely Sunday afternoon.

Car doors open
Lawn mower goin

Clothes drying
Babies Crying

Turtles Bathing
Boys Playing

Sun shining


Bees buzzing
how lovely

Flowers Blooming
You're fuming

Okay, I am not very good at writing poetry but that was my shot.
It has been, however, the most lovely Sunday afternoon.
I am sitting in the backyard with Barbara, Giovani, Giacomo, and Carlos. Barbara is doing chores, Giovanni cleaning the boat. Giacomo playing (see below) and Carlos doing his thing.



I am editing photos, check them out: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150354645216038.428580.695771037, listening to music, doodling, drawing, and letting life whiz around me.

Giacomo continues to sing Italy's national anthem. It's hilairous. I think I know it better than America's now...

And Carlos....well he is just cute.

As you can see, right?

He is beginning to take his first steps, which is very fun to watch and he makes the cutest sounds like he is eating all of the time. I have decided that one is a good age to be. Maybe I will zoom back in time a bit.

Beach Time

Outside of Granada was really a lot of nothing...
A lot of beaches, beach villages, etc etc.

And I got really, really sunburnt! Ouch!

Here is a good shot of Janey and I in the sun!

GRANADA!

We are going to Granada!!!

Three hours, or maybe four, later, Janey and I arrive.

Funny part. We leave without a map! No map of the freeway, no map of Granada, nothing. Smart.

No clue how we got there, but we did - without getting lost once - I was very proud of us actually.

We part the car and begin to walk.

I ask someone to point us in the direction of the Alhambra and away we go - first to find the most AMAZING vegetarian restaurant ever! I had spring rolls stuffed with fresh quinoa and Janey has a quinoa salad and an amazing Mexican dish. I have no clue what it was even made from....something meatless though.

Then we set out on our way - passing little gypsy shops with lots of cool dresses and diaper pants (i will explain later).

And begin walking....and walking....no Alhambra to be seen.

And then I ask. The Alhambra? The boy says, the other way!!!! He gives me a look like I am crazy to have walked so far....

So in the other direction we go, and after finally finding an information desk, we are on our way!
Oh, by the way, everyone was telling us that it would be impossible to get in without booking tickets ahead of time, but guess what? We got in!!!!!

And OH MY GOSH. YOU HAVE TO GO. It is absolutely gorgeous. The gardens alone are to die for. Here is a sneak peak:

Aguilas

So this blog will no longer go exactly in order, but as long as you read along you should be able to follow my drift.

Aguilas. Where to even begin...

The drive I guess.

Janey and I get onto this brand new motorway and realize that no one, aboslutely no one, is on it but us!

So we drive, and drive, and drive....and pass green house after green house after greenhouse.....and mountains.....and mountains....and everything is very dry. We pass little towns here and there but really, there is not much at all.

And then, suddenly, Aguilas! (have i mentioned we are along the seaside this whole time?)

So between greenhouses, up a dirt road we go, only to find Casa Roja - a little red house nestled upon....a dirt road?!?!

We arrive to a warm greeting, and a GORGEOUS view. Up to our little room we go only to find a perfectly IKEA furnished spot. Beautifully decorated to a T.

View from the top.

So what are we gooing to do here for a whole week, I ask Janey?!?!?!

From End to bEginning

So there is a first for everything I guess...
I just spent the night in the airport!
Oh what fun....

So it goes like this...Jenny's flight is over an hour late. Jenny misses her bus. There is no bus. Jenny must stay in the airport. Simple as that.

And the hilarious thing is that the airport was FULL of stranded people like myself. Everyone passed out on the floor...you would think it was almost a homeless shelter or something....

So....after a sleepLESS night in the airport of trying to distract myself around passed out people, I finally got myself onto a bus at 4:30 am. Back to Milan, onto a train....Back to como.

so my adventure goes like this. Hotel in Alicante. Taxi to airport. Arrive 2.5 hours early. Must have miscalculated....wait for plane that is OVER an hour late. Board at 10pm. Arrive in Italy at 12. Fail to catch my bus. Wait around for four hours. Catch a bus, to a train, to a train, to a bus again. And home I found myself at 8 in the morning. Crazy sleepless night.

Jenny and Cute Baby

Jenny and cute baby! - sorry its so small...

Boredom

Is boring.

Just thought I would let you know.

Okay. Bye!

Finally!

Finally!
Barbara saw it.
She saw what Allegra does to me - how she is mean to me, tries to trick me, taunts me, and plays unfairly with me.
And she did not like it - one bit.

I am not sure how she will deal with it or what will happen now, but at least she knows.

I got so mad - were were playing a silly game of throw and catch and Allegra simply refused to throw the ball to me. She would throw it in the opposite direction on purpose and then tell me to go and get it. NO! I am not going to be your bitch, girl. Or the ball would land near Giacomo and she would tell me to go and pick it up. Why? It is near him. This is NOT how the game works lady. Or she would tell me that I threw the ball too hard and hit Giacomo in the head on purpose. Um, I am throwing it as softly as possible and the only reason it hits him in the head is that he cannot catch it. Girl, you got something with me and I don't like it. At all.

And it all feels silly, because I am really here to be with her and Giacomo, and in reality, Allegra does not want to be with me. There is really no point in me being here anymore because I never even spend time with her, and when I do, I want to walk away because of the way she treats me. I wonder what it is, what she has against me, because it is something nasty. I am not even really sure when it started, but all I know is that over time it has gotten worse. Thursday, please come sooner!
Ciao for now.
JJ

BTOD (Best time of day)

After spending the day with Aaron in Multrassio (small town on Como Lake) Andrea (father of family Aaron stays with) offered to take me back to Como by boat. So, before I know it, I step on to the tiniest turquoise speedboat I have ever seen. And Wheeeeeee! We are off! I have never felt so close to falling out of a boat before. I was not only hanging on to the bench I was sitting on with my hands, but my feet were wrapped around the bench in front of me. It was a bumpy ride, but I have to admit, it was the best part of my day!

Verona.

So the plan was to spend the weekend there with Aaron.

Totally list minute - I was complaining to dad about how I was bored and he said to me, Jenny - take advantage - travel! So I call Aaron and say, let's go. We booked a hostel and everything. All ready to go except one minor detail. We had not set a time to meet. He was going to look up the train times and text me that evening.

Well the evening passes and I get no text - I send him multiple texts and don't bother calling - I set my alarm early anyways, I think. And I will hear my phone if I get a message so all is well.

7:30 am my alarm goes off. No text. Hmmm. I fall back asleep. 8:30 am. Still no text. I send another and call. No answer. Hmmmm.....

9:30. Okay time to get up. I check my facebook and what do I know but I have a message from Aaron - his phone stopped working and he had taken the train that had left at 9:17. Great. Now I have to catch up with Aaron with no phone.

So, Giovanna rushes me to the train station and I arrive in Milan on time go get the same train that Aaron was supposed to get on to head to Verona. One problem. I do not see Aaron in Milan. Nor do I see him on the train.

A bit later I receive a phone call from guess who - Aaron! He was back in Como - he had not seen me in Milan and decided to head back. Shoot! Well do you want to come to Verona? I ask. No, he does not want to come again. Darn! So off to verona I go, alone. I arrive, find the center, eat some gelato, and walk around. I find the hostel where I was supposed to stay, explain to the woman what happened, and have to fork over my money anyways. It sucked.

I decided to come home at the end of the day because I did not want to spend the evening alone.
So much for Verona! Oh well. Another time I guess. At least I made it....

Coffee

Comes in shots. LIke this. I still don't really get it, but am getting used to it!

PS

So today i get home from yoga and lunch with aaron and guess what I find on my computer?
that it has been messed with by guess who?....Allegra!

Yes, many documents and folders had been opened, and on a draft of an email she had written "jenny bruttissima." which means something like jenny very very bad girl. I was furious! This girl hates me!!!!

I show Barbara and Barbara says she will talk with Allegra. Allegra comes up a few minutes later and tells me that it was a joke.

Yeah right! And Barbara believed it! What the BEEEPPP!!!!!

Mexico.

I really miss it.

I also miss my long hair.

And Dany - who I have not heard from by the way.

I miss the food in Mexico. And my long hair - did I say that already?

Okay, just thought I would put that in.
Ciao

Best Dinner EVER!!!

In Italy, that is.....and you want to know why?

Because I made it!!!

Barbara bought tortillas and I made quesadillas with fresh salsa. It was SO good - and even better - Barbara told me to make her a market list so she can buy the food and I can make it! Yeah!!!!



In fact, I am off to make the list now!

AH, so refreshing - my stomach is soooooooooo happy!!!

Ciao.

B.R.A.T.

Allegra is driving me crazy!
I thought this would be over with.
I say yes, she says no.
She says goodbye. I say hello.
It is ridiculous. I am not sure what to do. I feel like she is out to get me. And getting into an argument with someone when you both speak different languages is not very fun either.
At least she apologized in the end. I am fed up with it though!!!
She has this evil eye - evil glare that actually kinda freaks me out. I think I am a bit scared of her actually. Silly, you would think, to be scared of an eight year old, but so is life!

Anyways, if anyone knows of any B.R.A.T. control for eight year olds hit me up!!!!

Wildflowers, Waterfalls, and Wide Lakes

St. Moritz for you.

But first some pictures to give you a sense...

This one pretty much sums it up.

Just because it's hilarious.

Um. Beautiful?!?!

Da CREW