In Italia ....In Italy ...

It was  nice  to be there again ,  with Priscilla this time. Things were as they always are there,  visually... familiar things and family…As always,  the first photos I take are of the Piazza and the Adriatic Sea,  taken from the balcony of mom's 3rd floor apartment,  which is where we stayed this time...  at sunrise on our first day in Mola.  Being the off-season,  there were  fewer tourists around and it was less hectic,  which was nice.  Jet lag got the best of me,  and lots of Espresso's didn't help with sleeping much...  we spent lots of time with family and visited new places,  and favorite places too...  Mola Di Bari,  Alberobello,  Matera,  Poligniano,  Grottaglie, Ostuni,  Cisternino,  Monopoli... love them all.  Matera's  ancient cave dwellings are amazing,  and Grottaglie's ceramics are unbelievably gorgeous,  and hard to resist,   but Alberobello is my favorite and we decided to spend one night there  in a Trullo.  The one we stayed in was built in the 1800's.   It was authentic,  comfortable and  so charming... an experience we will  definitely want to repeat.  It was a great trip!

 

Un Viaggio A Seattle... Tulipani !!! A Trip To Seattle...Tulips!!!

Priscilla and I went to Seattle to visit Marilyn, John and Angie.  Priscilla got to visit friends from SPU , coach Johnny,  and a few other friends,  while Marilyn and I cooked,  shopped ,  and visited the Tulip Fields... So much fun.
The weather was pretty good for us all week,  and very good when we went to the Tulip Fields.  Rows and rows of  Tulips in spectacular color... I couldn't pick a favorite.  Marilyn and I also visited a fantastic Nursery called Christianson's... One of the best,  most beautiful nurseries I have been to...  Gorgeous greenhouses,  a huge selection of  plants,  and a charming store full of pretties...