Greetings from Moctezuma & clowdy paradise!

Happy New Year everyone! I'm writing to you from not-so-sunny-at-the-moment Mexico where unfortunately Mr. Moctezuma is having his evil way with me. Well a few margarita days of distance have given me new perspective: I'm going through Italy withdrawal symptoms. I imagine it is like getting off of an addiction. All I want is a little pizza and some decent coffee none of which are in my immediate future. There is a place down here that has DOC Mozzarella on their pizzas but to tell you the truth I'm scared that they'll mess it up and at 250 Mexican pesos ($25 US Dollars) that is an expensive risk. But if I start shaking I've instructed my husband to give me a hit.

Speaking of which, I just downloaded my last photos of Italy. Take a look at our last Pasta Fagiol' in Naples -it was bar none -divine!

The Big Escape from Shitaly

So during this time of great silence from me you would NOT believe what has happened. In short order:

• trucker strikes delay the movers
• movers all act in unison to give us HIGH quotes to move our stuff back to the US
• getting the EU Passport for my pet was a real PITA with lots more money to pay
• huge collection of books got donated to library (this is the only feel good part)
• finally get some movers and after the pack up they quote us DOUBLE the estimate
• Telecom Italy decides that we need to be shut off early to close our account (no internet, no more email account and no phone)
• our local town decides to shut down the electricity for 4 hours while the movers are packing
• our stuff gets carted outside and rained on
• baby starts the terrible two tantrums with lots of 'NNOOOOOOOO's thrown in for good measure
• we don't sleep more than 4 hours a day

So in short this move has been a nightmare. As mad as I am for all of the typical BS in the Italian Beaurocracy of getting out of here in the end I miss it. Since we left Italy we haven't had a good meal or a good night's sleep. I miss home.

Italy on Strike

I know most of you have no idea that right now in Italy there is a MAJOR strike. Everything is on hold and there is no fuel to be found. The store shelves have run out of milk and bread over here -it is really getting crazy. Last night when I tried to find a gas station on the way to a friend's house they either had 4 city block lines of cars or were completely out of fuel.

So here I am sitting in my house still purging things left and right (it is OBSCENE how much this international move is costing us) with not a hope of getting a mover here this week. Right now they are telling me maybe early next week. This is where it gets hard living here. It feels like there is always something to get you -fuel strikes, garbage emergencies, transportation strikes, water shortages, the list goes on and on.

Yes, it is a big PITA but on the other hand the upside of that is you learn to live day to day, you become flexible, you enjoy conveniences when you get it, you help out/know your neighbor more and you learn to pray for the best but buckle down for the worst.

So, I'll just keep packing -and when this place gets decent enough I'll take some photos for you! Until then keep some positive thoughts for our move -we're going to need it!

Welcome to my house!

We are now beginning the house tour! First of all, please excuse the moving mess. It is really crazy over here now that we have less than a week left before the movers come. So each day I'll treat you to a different view in the house. Feel free to ask questions in the comments sections. Here we go!


This is my front entrance and my dog is ready to great you. Unfortunately, living here has left me with only one pet out of three and she's now 14 years old. We will be taking her back to the States with us (where she was born) and she'll hopefully have plenty of time to enjoy some sunshine in her retirement. As you can tell even though it is winter here everything is still pretty green. Ok, now if you want to see the first room you have to hop over to JetSetBaby. See you there!

What's for lunch in Napoli today

Cavolfiore e pasta! I say cavolfiore first because there was a lot more of that than pasta (you can tell pasta prices are up). Then the next course my Italian Anna prepared a locally caught trout in "acqua pazza" crazy water. 'What in the world is crazy water?' you may be asking well it is more than just water from the tap. It is water, garlic, a few small tomatoes, salt, pepper, olive oil and parsley. Pretty yummy stuff!

Put your thinking cap on

This is a great video that discusses environmentalism from a logical standpoint. It is very interesting and worth watching whether you love soaking up all the fuel possible or whether you would rather live in a tree. Enjoy!

[Thanks Amy I. for the tip!]

Paris Apartment...the answer is...

Napoleon the III's apartment at the Louvre in Paris! His place is incredible and worth a visit -it is in my favorite wing of the Louvre -Richeleu.

The grandeur of everything is truly amazing but then again what would you expect from a man with this kind of family and history?

And just take a look at the view from the apartment: