weekend in gaeta, italy

Marco's parents have been in Italy for the past month visiting family.  Last weekend we met everyone in Gaeta, Italy.  Marco's parents rented a villa in the small beach town, about an hour south of Rome. We flew to Rome and then trained to Gaeta to meet Marco's immediate family and extended family - who came from The States and Naples respectively.

The afternoon we arrived was Nonna's 91st birthday! We celebrated with a typical large Italian lunch and cake out on the terrace.  It was so special to see everyone, especially our nephew Luke, who we haven't seen in a year (they grow up so fast).  We sat on the terrace all afternoon catching up over coffee and wine.  We watched Nonna open presents and Luke play ball. After lunch we took an evening walk down to the beach.

On Saturday, Rosanna's friend Francesca from Rome arrived in the morning.  It was so great to finally meet Francesca after hearing so much about her.  Everyone enjoyed coffee and cornetti before heading to the beach for the day.  We rented some lounges and umbrellas, purchased some items from the roaming beach merchants, enjoyed fresh coconut and cold Italian Lager, and played waboba in the sea.

After dinner each night we walked to get gelato and then to the playground where Luke got to stay up late :) and play like the rest of the Italian children.

Some photos below from our weekend in Gaeta.  Thank you Westbrook family for great weekend. 

Part II - Rome, coming up!

 

 

 

in brugge

My friends!  I apologize in advance for my inability to photo edit. Too many I want to share!

What an architecturally stunning city.  Combo that with our first day of short sleeves and feeling like spring has arrived, we really enjoyed ourselves in this fine city.

We drove the hour or so from Lille to Brugge, arrived in a drizzle, and checked into Ibis.  As Rosa and I sat in the car while Marco and his father checked in, I prepared and explained to her the unique beer culture that we were about to experience.  Marco was in his beer element the entire weekend. 

In between browsing / purchasing / tasting Belgian beer, we took in the architecture (along with many more tourists than I expected) flea markets, windmills (when will I learn that I am afraid of heights?) waffles, chocolate, frites, and a canal tour. 

And one of us might have been too excited over a celebrity sighting.  In this edition below of STARS: THEY'RE JUST LIKE US: Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher take a selfie.  Marco, "She is stunning in person."  (Too bad I wasn't quicker on the draw with my camera, then you would have seen my photo along with this.) 

This rounded out our weekend trip to France and Belgium with Marco's parents.  We had a great time with them.