Wednesday and the mountains



This morning the army weatherman informed the population that today would be the driest of the week so we decided to drive up into Villa Nova, a tiny village in the foothills of the alps for a mountain walk. The tops of the mountains were shrouded in cloud as we drove up through the valley to the end of the road. All of the rain has made the mountain streams - here, called torrents (which they were today, thundering down) - full cascades and we followed Val Pellice the river of this valley, up towards it's birthplace.





Granite outcrops dripped with water and spring flowers were plentiful.




We crisscrossed the torrent on sturdy wood bridges and climbed up the stoney path.



We weren't sure if we would avoid the rain and decided to stop for lunch on a patch of grass at the side of the path as the clouds began to descend towards us.



here we are perched on a small clearing above the racing waters for lunch.



As usual Jasper amassed a collection of rocks, but instead of carting them home, he decided that throwing them into the raging waters was a must!





We wandered back down past more beautiful blooms, and the bright green of new leaves.







Viv and I in front of fast moving snow melt water.



Sequoia, exhausted by all there was to see...



We were lucky and instead of rain we had warm drafts of humid air caress us. Our legs aren't used to these steep paths - especially with the extra weight of Sequoia strapped to me and Jasper on Zoran's shoulders so we turned back after an hour and marched back down to Villa Nova, the little village constructed of stone where we began.

Some mountain animals.



Back into the cluster of houses which make up Villa Nova.



We drove home and the children fell asleep in the car after all of that mountain air! Home in time for tea, and tonight we made a toast to Giogio and also to Viv, remembering the day they met.

Italy

How lovely to be back in Cavour. Viv's place is great and the kids have fun playing in the rooms, watching italian cartoons, and eating plenty of pasta both of their favorite dishes so we have happy children!


The view from the bedroom across a field of wheat.

Even though Sequoia didn't sleep the first couple of nights - and we discovered why yesterday - a new tooth - that makes three new teeth since leaving Sydney, once the tooth cut through she was much better. I think there are a couple more to come, her new ones are two molars and a front bottom tooth but the eye teeth look as if they are on their way as well.



We had a week of very unseasonal sunshine in Denmark - apparently it rains every second day there, and now we have a week of unseasonal rain here in Italy where it hardly ever rains at this time of year! But the weather isn't stopping us from exploring. Our first day we spent at home, playing and getting over the previous day's long hours of travel. So now Viv's house here has been hit by hurricane jasper and cyclone sequoia!



Jasper has made loads of Lego, including a wonderful airplane - his four year old birthday present from Viv. We ate and ate, Viv's great zucchini quiche, fresh mulberry cheese pie, salad and gorgonzola, smoked meats, and local chocolates. Then for dinner we had this wonderful fresh ravioli filled with cabbage and proscuito with a mince sauce.

Day two we walked into Cavour and bought Jasper some great gumboots which he has worn every day, splashing in puddles where ever he finds them.



We shopped for bread at the bakery, cheese, prosciuto, fresh local vegetables - zucchini still with their lovely flowers intact, every body was so lovely, Jasper was given sweets and merangues, and we are all practicing "caio" and "caio caio".

We went up to La Rocca to feed the cats and see the house.


Jasper opening the door with an amazing large old metal key.

Carlotta was pleased to see Viv but not so sure about Sequoia, I think she recognised competition to her feed bowl. The other three cats soon came to eat, all of them suspiciosly eyeing miss sequoia as she watched.



Viv and Sequoia looking across the landscape back into Cavour.


The kids had to try every bad they could find for jumping and rolling checks...





Sequoia discovered Luca's old books...



and Jasper discovered Luca's old guitar...



Viv and Jasper found an old version of Bimgo which we plan to play this week.



In the afternoon, after lunch (delicious again, isn't local food amazing, Sup would love this!), we set off to see Abbazia di Staffarda, staffardo abbey, a beautiful gothic church, monastery (no longer working) and farm still run by the order of the .


We had little handsets with translations to tour the ground which Jasper thoroughly enjoyed!



The church had an amazing gold alter which told stories of Christ and Mary in amazing details. While above and all around the walls were painted with bautiful frescoes.



For Jasper and Sequoia every part was a place to play and explore, they made up games and giggled themselves silly.



We finished off with Cappuccinos and sat out on the cobbled street by pots of Geraniums, just as the rain began, we were under the eaves and it was lovely to hear the bellowing bull and the warm heavy rain.

The long late spring days made us feel like exploring some more and we drove on to Saluzzo, planning to have a stroll if the rain stopped which it did.



The historic centre was set high on the hill with views across the valley - and on a clear day to the alps, which we haven't seen clearly yet - but we live in hope. The cobbled streets and stuccoed buildings were lovely and we saw an old stone church with great frescoes.


"Let's go this way"



Beautiful old roses grew up against the walls of softly coloured houses.



We walked down narrow streets which pitched down the hillside and tramped back up to the cars - great training for our next days walk!



Viv and Sequoia looking over the valley below.



We drove home for a late dinner of pasta pesto, great cheeses and fresh bread, we have also 'degusted' Viv's amazing veal rolled with sage and cheese, and three new types of cured meats, spinkled with olive oil and lemon juice.

Denmark

We spent our last day in Odense walking along the river into town and looking around the centre. It was a peaceful Friday and here are some people rowing a boat up the river. This part of Odense has been used for boating and picnics for over 300 years.



There was a great park on the way into town, set on an island in the river. The games were all river themed with great big lily pads on springs which you could jump across, a tall slippery dip in a mountain and flying bird rides made from wood.



We set off late and had such a nice stop in the park so the museums were closed by the time we had finished lunch




but it was still good to walk the streets. We came across our third peaceful protest since our arrival. This one was preschool teachers requesting a wage rise.



The Danes love their soft ice - ice creams and our kids were very happy that there was an ice cream shop on every corner as well as vendors all through the parks and at roadsides.



Jasper asked me to document the B&B as he was intrigued that the choice of interiors in most Danish homes is white.


The walls and floors were white, unpainted or whitewashed wood was the main furniture choice and colour was introduced with artworks or rugs.





Here is the street where we were staying - a typical Odense street.



Jasper was really happy our last day here as a trampoline was delivered that morning and the boys (12 year old kids of the owners) who lived upstairs allowed him to help construct it and then have a jump!



We traveled into Copenhagen the next morning. Ely went home to Newcastle, UK and we walked our luggage (the great pile of it) into the baggage room at the main train station so we could walk around the city centre. Copenhagen was lovely and warm, the sun shining and people busy everywhere. We only had a few hours before our flight to Italy so we went to the Danish Natural History Museum. What a fantastic place!





We only got to see half of the ground floor and it was still wonderful. We saw Viking ships and bog people, amazing jewelry that still seems contemporary - gold, silverwork, coloured beads on long strings. Coins, baskets, pots, halters. Also there was a fantastic children's section were each part of the museum was repeated in small rooms where the kids could touch and feel, explore and experience. They tried on 19th century costumes,

Jasper the sailor and Sequoia the ballerina...




played in a viking ship with wooden swords and shields,

cooked over a hearth...Sequoia climbed into the oven, straight out of a Hans Christian Anderson story!



and sorted through a north african market.




We could have spent hours there but had to rush out and high tail it to the airport, a 25 minute train ride from Copenhagen, we hurried through security and raced to the plane, and flew out of Denmark, into Frankfurt, changed planes and down into Turin, Italy at 11pm. We were the last flight, the children were asleep in our arms as we juggled luggage and walked into a ne country and the welcome arms of Viv!