It's amazing to me how easily I let time fly by between posts. Christmas and New Years have come and gone. Before Christmas (Natale) in the Veneto region there is Santa Lucia. This is celebrated with gift giving, decorations and a huge market that takes over the city of Verona...mainly Piazza Bra. Santa Lucia is just as big here (especially for the kids) as Natale. For Christmas we had lovely meals and lots of good wine (Fassoli) at the house of Dad and Anto. The sisters of Anto, their partners, Mattia, Dad, Anto and myself were all there. We had a big dinner on Christmas Eve of bisque and then opened presents until midnight. On Christmas day we had a lovely lunch and then spent multiple days lazing around the house, eating leftovers and watching movies.

Per Capodanno, I met up with some friends in Verona and had another lovely dinner at the house of Giada. Yes, the holidays seem to be for eating...and eating.... After dinner Linda, Francesco and I went to see the fireworks over the arena in Piazza Bra. We then met up with Giada, Aden and Serena and made our way over to l'Alcova for some drinks. Eventually even they got tired and decided to close up shop. So we ended the night by heading to Francesco's and playing music until around 7am. I think my family had a dinner at the house.

Now there is family visiting from Quebec. Piere and Rosalyn, Lucien and Terese, Stefanie (the daughter of Terese), Tristan (il mio cugino) and Annie (the partner of Tristan). We have had a wonderful time getting to know each other again (afterall it's been at least 12 years since I spent any time with them), eating meals together and exploring local cities. Today we went to Vicenza but got rained out by 4pm. The plan was to meet at the train station in San Bonifacio at 9:20. I somehow managed to set my alarm but forgot to unplug my earphones (which cuts the sound of the alarm). I woke at 9:28...the train left at 9:34 (with me on it). This required a mad flurry of clothes being put on and items stuffed into a bag and then a SPRINT to the train station. Normally it takes about ten minutes to walk there at a quick pace...today I made it in about two.

Tonight was the group dinner (in which both Anto's family and Dad's family mingled) at Ameleto in Soave. We are stuffed but happy. It was in honor of Dad's 70th birthday (in March) and of Anto and Dad's 25th year of marriage. Tomorrow I believe some of us will go into Verona for the morning, then to Soave in the afternoon for some castle climbing and wine tasting, and to dinner at Dad and Anto's in the evening.

Monday I start work again and the family will start to trickle back to Canada. I will miss them.