Settling in and roaming around...

Well everybody, everything is here, and now we are settling in. I thought I would show everybody the progress we have made. All the boxes are unpacked, garbage is gone and we stopped eating out every night.  Life is finally going back to normal (of sorts)...
Tom & I have both started with an Italian tutor - I must say it is an interesting language. Some things are coming easy to me...others are not. I have only had 2 lessons so I expect - I am expecting too much. I am sure it will all be buona (good) in time. Don't worry, I don't see me writing the blog in Italian anytime soon...

Other good news is that Tom has received his work visa.
I have been fingerprinted by the police for my residency permit.
The wheels of progress in Italy move very slowly...and they stop between 12 and 2.

On to fun visual things - here are few pics of our new digs all spiffied up:

The Dining Room

The Living Room



The Sun Room



The Terrace with our

new Outdoor sitting area



One of our Guest Bedrooms



Our Master Bedroom





The Herb Garden -
Just the beginning



Our Pride & Joy:
The New Washer & Dryer



As promised, I wanted to share a few 'oddities' of Italy...

• It's funny, I always thought that the worst drivers lived in Boston but I was very wrong. They live right here in Roma! They drive stick-shift cars, talking on their phone, while smoking a cigarette, and ignore most traffic signals.  The lines in the road do not mean a thing to a Roman driver - nor do sidewalks when they park. I will say that the only thing worse than the drivers of the cars are the moped drivers. They also are talking on their phones, smoking their cigarettes, and bobbing/weaving between the cars. Driving or walking in Roma is not for the faint of heart.
• Tom & I have had the pleasure of visiting the Roma version of a 'Mall'. It is pretty standard with all the regular types of shops (the European versions of them). The mall is anchored by Ikea and Leroy-Merlin (Italy's version of Home Depot). That is not the odd part... the odd part is that the Roman parents dress their children up in costumes and parade them around. There is everything from Spiderman to Princesses and Pirates (and much much more). The kids walk around and through confetti all over the place. At first I thought this only happened on weekends but I was wrong. I was there on a Tuesday/Wednesday and there they were...masses of kids in costumes, throwing confetti all over. Sorry, I just find the whole thing 'odd'! (Sorry - no pictures, I did feel like getting arested)
• Lastly, I said I would share some pictures of the the Italian 'Little Car' fetish. It amazes me seeing these tiny little things all over the place. In one of the pictures you can get an idea of their size because Tom posed next to it. Being from America, we think the Smart car is small - you can fit these cars in the Smart car! I hope you enjoy:

I do not wish you to think that they are just parked all over - they are actually driven.

Here is a small video clip I took:

On another note: I did get to go out and visit the National Museum of Rome. It is just breath taking the amazing sculpture and mosaics created by the artists of time past. I will try and post some of those works in my next blog. I would whole-heartedly suggest visiting it when you are in Rome.

Lastly, I will end by wishing Love and Health to all our family and friends.

Special love to Aunt Helen, Tabitha, Angi, Stuart, and Stephen Sondheim - who all are celebrating Birthdays this month.

I look forward to our upcoming visitors and can't wait to share their time with us!

Be well, with Love always and Miss you all -

Ron & Tom

PS - I reupholstered the dining room chairs and we had our first fresh lemon in a cocktail...take a look...

Fresh Lemon from the tree...
Yum!

Just like new!
New (left), Old (right)