Italy with friends

what tourist?

I met Tracy when we were both attending a summer program in Jerusalem. I can't remember how we met or why we became friends, but she was one of four great friends that I made that summer. She also went to the University of Utah and saved me from a precarious position in which I had previously put myself. (short story: I moved into a home with two girls and one very handsome boy--this fact was unknown to me before I moved in. He happened to be in the room next to mine in the basement of the home. My parents were not pleased.)

see, Mom, I'm not that photogenic!

 Tracy and I then lived in the same apartment complex, went to the same ward, had many similar friends, kissed similar boys, and she saw the whole Alan relationship from the awkward beginnings. 

Tracy and Ryan live in Cincinnati, Ohio with their three crazy-cute boys. 

Last June(?), Tracy called me and asked if Alan and I would want to stay in an Italian villa with them for FREE! I don't think she expected for us to say yes, but by the next week we had our airplane tickets purchased and our passports on their way.

hey! tutti frutti!

Ryan was extremely well-prepared, technologically speaking. He had the villa up and running on his wireless modem, two laptops (with skype ready to roll), two iPads, two cameras, an international iPhone, and a car navigation system ready to take us around Italy. He also drove the entire time. He drives a lot like a race car driver, which was perfect for where we were. Those of us that were more cautious or timid would have gotten us in an accident... guaranteed.

where else are Americans supposed to eat?

Traveling with friends made us see/do more than we would have on our own. We would not have gone to the Italian cooking class (see tomorrow's post) or the tour of Villa Balbianello ("Allora, Guido Monzino collected many artifacts...") which is where the marriage of Padme and Anakin took place (Star Wars) and some scenes from James Bond, Casino Royale. So, some pretty cool things we wouldn't have done otherwise.

Villa Balbianello (source)

Traveling with friends gets you to eat out more, play cards well into the night, a reason to eat gelato when your husband doesn't want any, a male friend for your husband to have lame male jokes with, a female friend to laugh and reminisce with, and two extra plates to try at dinner. 

Obviously, traveling with friends gets you to Italy, where you would not have gone had they not so generously invited you to partake of their hellabadeal! 

Grazie, Ciao!


Yesterday: Italia senza bambini
Tomorrow: What I learned from an Italian chef

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