Modena and Parma

I have had to combine Modena and Parma into one blog entry because the internet connections in our previous hotels has been shaky.

Italy is known for great food, fine and fast cars and great shoes and clothes, but I can't say that internet connections or strong showers can be attributed to Italy's fame. Zev likes fast cars...... 

So yesterday we spent another wonderful day in Modena, home to Balsamic Vinegar, AWESOME porcini mushroom risotto, which I had the pleasure of enjoying at lunch and of course, FERRARI autos.

Yes, Mr. Ferrari as well as Mr. Maserati and other auto enthusiasts apparently grew up in this area which is now fondly known as "Auto Valley."

We stumbled across a great restaurant in a side alley in Modena called "Restaurant Danieli." I had the best porcini mushroom risotto I have ever experienced in my life; I have been raving about it ever since and actually had a DREAM about it. Yes indeed. Bon Appetit advised to eat and drink stuff that is locally produced in Italy and that is exactly what we have been doing on this trip. Porcini mushrooms are a speciality in Modena and this risotto show cased them perfectly. Zev had tortellini and the Osso Bucco and we enjoyed a local Spumante. Now I see why both our families enjoy this sparkling red wine; it is so refreshing on a hot summer's day!

So Modena was fun. And beautiful and old and historic and warm and the food was great and the company (my awesome husband) was simply perfect. Zev and I have repeatedly said to each other that this is one of the best, most relaxed holidays EVER. So low key. And yet so enjoyable. After lunch we headed out to the Ferrari museum and then enjoyed some of the best, creamiest gelato we have ever tasted at a local "gelateria" and ended the day at a local park, just listening to music and enjoying a "Negroni"which was made with the typically Italian liqueur, Campari.

Today we travelled to Parma, home of Prosciutto, Parma ham, and Parmiagiano- Reggiano cheese. We had good intentions to go and visit the salami museum, as well as the Prosciutto and Parmiagiano cheese museums, but they were each about half an hour away from each other and we really wanted to explore the historic downtown, so we headede to the supermarket, picked up some local specialties and a slice of pizza for lunch and then headed downtown to watch the locals go about their day. Simple and yet fun things to do!

The prices were good too!

We thought that this Milk Dispenser (1 euro for a litre of milk) was cool. Literally and figuratively.

Each hotel and restaurant has one of these....a bidet. Leslie from Louisiana, what do you think of this one!? Miss you, girl!

We saw so many ladies wearing SKY HIGH stilettos and walking across the cobblestoned streets, or even better, riding bicycles. I "stealthily" took this picture without it seeming obvious.

I like this picture. I love how my Zev is wearing his red back pack, socks with crocks and is so happy just walking along, swinging his arms, while the Italian guy next to him is looking serious and well, typically Italian! Black pants, white shirt and tie. Italian men like their black pants and white shirts I think....

Can you see the four monks in the background? They were young monks, too!

We went in this door...

I love to travel. Whether it is in Europe, or our next destination in Virginia. Zev and I are already checking out historical places to visit at our next posting. The point is, you have places to explore from exactly right where you are. Go explore. Walk down a new street and just watch people go by. Take pictures of something new. I bet that these people don't stop to realize how beautiful their bike riding looks...

On that note, Zev just turned to me and said "It's 10.30 at night. We need to go get gelato." How DOES this man know the right words to say? The language of love I tell you.

Hasta manana!

Bellissima Bologna

Hi there! Zev and I are in incredible Italy this week for our last holiday before heading back to the States. Our first stop was Bellissima Bologna:

We drove down here from Germany and were blessed with great weather and great driving conditions. We drove through the Dolomite Mountain Ranges and even saw some Italian castles along the route.

It was Zev's idea to come down to the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, which is known as the "foodie Capital" of Italy, after reading an article in the latest "Bon Appetit" magazine. You can read the article here: http://www.bonappetit.com/magazine/2011/05/how-to-eat-emilia

Above we are standing with Anna Maria from Trattoria Anna Maria, who was featured in the magazine (as well as on the link above) and who hand makes all her pastas.

Lunch at her trattoria was everything we expected. The pasta was cooked to perfection. I ordered the renowned Tagliatelle Al Ragu and Zev ordered the Tortellini with Butter and Sage.

The sauce on the tagliatelli was fabulous; as described in the article, the sauce clinged to each pasta strand and boasted some intense, amazing flavors.

Bologna is such an easy to get around town! What we loved about this beautiful, historic city is that it is NOT "touristy" like Florence or Venice.

I must say here that Venice is still my favorite place on earth, but Bologna seems so REAL.

Real food, real Italian people going about their business.

I think we saw like one shop that sold Bologna magnets and postcards.

Other than that, Bologna is a historic, beautiful, sort of grungy university town with GREAT food. A must do is to walk up the tallest tower, which gives a gorgeous view of the city. My uni professor actually recommended walking up these towers. The only recommendation I would have is to think twice about walking up in summer platform shoes. Although they DID look cute as I am sure you can also appreciate. And one must look cute in Italy...

In honor of our Bon Appetit- inspired "foodie" holiday, we tried to recreate the picture on page 130 of the May 2011 edition:

Zev loves to visit the gourmet food markets (which of course we call gourmet but to the Europeans, these are like their regular grocery markets. I love it.) Zev was in a foodie photographers paradise, taking pictures of everything while sugar plums danced in his head. Well perhaps parma hams danced in his head. You know what I mean. He loves this stuff....

Yesterday we spent the day in Modena, Italy, another city in the Emilia- Romagno region. I will post about that trip in the next blog entry. It is midday in Parma (land of Parmigiano.Reggiano cheese, Prosciutto ham and salami, with museums to each of these delicious speciality foods!) La Vita really is Dolce here!

Welcome to America

Some of my sweet friends from university, Philipp and Laura, came over last night for a "typical" night of Americana. We attend a few criminal law classes together at Tübingen and they are such fun to be around.

We grilled baby back ribs and baked some potatoes in the oven and served these with some corn on the cobb. The highlight of the evening was heading on base to see X-Men (because it was a movie in English as opposed to in German!)

Laura and Philipp liked the whole "signing in" on base with their passports; it was like visiting America!

One of the most "different" things for them to experience I think was having to stand up for the National Anthem, which is played at the beginning of each movie on an American military installation.

Tomorrow Zev and I embark on our last "hoorah"; a road trip through northern Italy, to experience some of the best Italian food. We are excited and never forget to thank God for everything; for the experience of living in Europe and the ability to go out and do things like travel. We would like to wish our dads and all the dads out there a very happy Fathers Day! Much love, Zev and Fi xo

Seminar in Oberjoch

Today I returned home after an "overnight" Seminar with a group of German students in the beautiful German/ Austrian Alps (the Austrian border was "across the mountain" behind our hotel). We stayed in the university "Alps House". It was very nice of my thesis supervisor, Professor Dr. Kinzig and his assistants to ask me to come along for this seminar.

It was just like being in student dorms again! (Single beds, room mate and toilets and showers down the corridor!)

During the seminar, each student did an oral presentation about their topic (criminal law topic). I was very nervous about presenting, because I was the only "Ausländer" (non German) there. But I prayed about my presentation and everyone was super encouraging, so it turned out fine! 

 Apparently the skiing is very good in this part of Germany in the winter.

I am going to miss sights like these in Germany...

And having to wait in the car for "traffic" to pass....(the sound of the cow bells was so cute!)

I really missed Zev (although I was only gone for one night!) It´s nice to be sitting next to him in our little office. Have a great weekend!

xoxo

Summer in Stuttgart

Summer in Stuttgart, well indeed in Europe is simply wonderful. The weather is gorgeous and there are so many things to do. Summer is when all the festivals seem to occur, so there are no shortage of festivals to visit, foods to taste (which reminds me, I need to get working hard to lose these extra pounds I have packed on thanks to good German living!), beer to drink (see previous comment) and people to catch up with. This weekend we went to the annual Strawberry Festival in downtown old Esslingen. This was our third year in a row, and the weather has been lovely every time! Here is Strawberry Shortcake at the entrance to the festival.

We enjoyed some yummy strawberry icies.

We then went to the local independent community movie theatre to watch a documentary called "Rough Aunties" from South Africa. The documentary was about these women who work for the "Bobbi Bear" Foundation, which protects children who have been victims of abuse. Most of the films shown at this theater are in German, but this film was in English with German sub-titles. It is a tiny movie theater and there were about 12 people in total watching the movie! They had a little presentation at the beginning to tell us that there was some free African food being served after the movie along with traditional African music. We had dinner before-hand in the theater cafe.

It was a fun date night!

Today we caught up with my German teacher, Ulla, her husband Manfred and some of their friends at a Cafe in downtown Stuttgart for Ulla´s birthday. It is tradition in Germany for the birthday boy/ girl ("Geburtstagskind") to treat their guests for dinner or coffee and cake (not the other way around, like in Australia or the States!)

Zev and I have started training together for a few running races that we will run in together; the Esslingen "EZ" Lauf and the "Run to Remember" Half Marathon on base, so that should kick start my fitness again!

Have a lovely week! God bless,

Zev and Fi xo