ALB's Birthday Fiesta

This post is a little bit late due to some technical difficulties, but finally I present...Andrew's birthday party!

Andrew was having a pretty big September at work due to a pending promotion (that we had to keep a secret from everyone!), and was at the same time struggling with the fact that he was becoming an official 30-something. That was my cue....wife to the rescue! I thought a big ol' birthday party was in order so we invited all of our friends over for a Mexican fiesta (since all we have access to is Italian unless we cook something else ourselves, and let's be honest, we're SO over a pizza party around here).

On the menu: enchiladas, steak and chicken taco bar, rice, beans, chips, guacamole, margaritas, cervezas...you get the idea. I've never thrown a party for 25-30 people before (let alone have that many ever show up!) but turns out we have a pretty good amount of friends here, who like eating and drinking just as much as we do! Throwing a party around here is a little more difficult without the help of a COSTCO, Target, or Party City...but with some lists and a few stops at a handful of stores all over town I think it's safe to say we pulled off an AMAZING party!

Here's where I start dreaming of an American-sized kitchen. We had to cram people in a few at a time...luckily everyone was okay with eating in shifts!

Khristine and Peter

Joe and Nicole

Marshall (the true hit of the party) and Heather

Me and the birthday boy (who is sporting a birthday beard)

And here's where it all gets silly.

Tequila time!

At first glance this looks like a nice picture of Matt and Andrew....keep an eye out for the "props" in the background.

Classic Terry! (right Chad?)

Oh look, Matt took the spear off the wall.

REASON #28 why having an African spear in your house is NOT a good idea at any age.

I'd like to think that this last picture is a true testament to that fact that we threw an excellent party.

Birthday Boy, out.

Happy birthday Andrew! And Congratulations on your promotion at work! Drinks are on you next time :)

Buon Ferragosto

One of Italy’s most famous holidays is Ferragosto celebrated each year on August 15^th.- also known as the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Feast of the Assumption commemorates the end to her earthly life and ascension to heaven. Everything in the entire country is shut down on Ferragosto, but what you might not know already is that most of the country of Italy is already shutdown because Italians typically take the entire month of August off of work anyway and head to the beach. On Ferragosto, they take a break from the beach and participate in other activities.

The small town outside of Napoli that we live in is called Monte Di Procida, and it just so happens that the town’s patron saint is Mary – thus for my little town, this is the biggest festival of the year. For 5 straight days, the streets of Monte Di Procida including the main Piazza in the center of town are closed down. At night the streets are filled with various candy, toy, and balloon vendors along with some very strange foods (see picture below). The main Piazza has a huge stage set up where each night famous Italian singers and bands play until around 2 am or later. On August 14th, it is tradition for the people in our town to jump in the Mediterranean Sea at the stroke of midnight to celebrate the first minute of Ferragosto.

On August 15 (actual day of the Assumption of Mary), there is a unique and amazing tradition that we got to witness: The Procession of the Blessed Virgin Mar. Led by a host of priests and filling the streets with the singing of hymns and the smell of incense. She is carried to each church in the city and brought in where she was blessed. Everyone surrounds the front of the church awaiting her to re-emerge; when she does the crowd gives the sign of the cross and erupts in applause. The Streets are lined with people, and as she passes they all join in the procession, and it stretched for almost a mile with thousands of people in tow. A group of older women led the charge, and to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary they did it without shoes. It was very neat to see, and to think that all this happened right out our front door.

Chiesa San Giuseppi (church right next to our house) and the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary being brought inside for the blessing.

Statue of Mary that was carried around town and the end of the procession were kids being pulled by horse and carriage.

After the procession the town resembled a ghost town, not a soul around, everyone at home eating with their families. In the evening, the festivities began again – but less religious and more of a party. As with previous nights, the streets were lined with vendors and revelers alike – eating, drinking, and listenening to the band on the main stage. Erin and I went with our good friend Pete and enjoyed the celebration – from the pictures, you might say a little too much 

Hanging out at the Stappo, the wine bar next to our house, with our friend Pete to start the evening.

The streets in town have all been decorated with lights!

Some of the Candy. Pete and I tried some of the giant candy strawberries - looked better than they tasted.....

....but it was better than the cow heads with lemons that the guy was selling brains and tongue - YUCK!!

The entire celebration culminated with a huge fireworks display, that is one of the largest in Europe and put on by the top fireworks company in the world. As usual, we forgot to get in any pictures together - so next time we will try to remember.

Ferragosto was an amazing time and we experienced Italian culture like few people will ever get to do – I can’t wait until next year - Buon Ferrogosto!!

Uno Anno di Anniversario a Napoli! (1 Year Anniversary in Naples)

It is hard to imagine that we have been living in Napoli, Italy, for over a year already. It seems like yesterday we were saying our goodbyes to friends and family, wiping away the tears, and getting butterflies in our stomach for our great adventure. It is an unbelievable experience; learning and living in a new culture has been challenging and fun all at the same time. We have seen and experienced so much in just a year of traveling and living here. We have traveled with old friends and family along with meeting some new great friends along the way; been to many festivals and enjoyed lots of local foods and fun. Enjoy a quick pictorial of our 1^st year abroad:

Amalfi

Mt. Vesuvius

Cilento Coast

Caserta Palace

The Cinque Terra

Heidelberg and Handschuhsheim

Cannstatter Volksfest (Stuttgart, Germany)

Paris, France (Our 1st Anniversary)

Tuscanny for Thanksgiving

Dolomiti Ski Trip (Italian Alps)

Rome (The Hansen's Visit)

Montelpuciano (Famous for Wine and Cheese) - More fun with the Hansen's

Road Trip Around Scotland

Munchen

We have seen many amazing things and got to travel with old friends and family along with meeting lots of new great friends along the way.

Please comment and let us know of any great places to visit that you would like to see in next year’s blog– now that we are settled a little more, there should be more frequent entries. We look forward to planning more adventures this next year, and hope all of you decide to come out for a visit to see us – there is always rooms available at La Casa del Baughman!!!

Ciao Regazzi!