Food. So much glorious food.

Eatly

Day 31: April 24th, 2014

Today we are headed to Formicola! We caught a few different trains, and after 5+ hours we were in the main train station in Napoli. It was a better train ride than ones that Jeff had previously experience in America. European trains are just better. It was a pretty uneventful rid, which is what we always want when traveling, and we got to see some beautiful scenery. It so green here in Italy and it looks just like you would expect. Rolling hills. Old Castles and/or monasteries on top of the hills. Fields and vineyards all over. It was perfect.

When we got to the train station in Napoli we were greeted by Carlo and Sara's dad, Anthony. He is a hilarious guy. He lived in New York when he was 18 so he knows some English. He then drove us through the crazy traffic of Napoli. We now know why people told us not to drive in Italy. Everybody cuts everybody off, and there is an air of mayhem and madness to the driving, but we escaped unscathed. While driving the 45 minutes East to Formicola we were able to see Mount Vesuvius just a ways off. It was crazy to think that almost 2000 years ago the Roman City of Pompeii was wiped off the map because of that volcano.

Our first stop on the drive was at a small town next to Formicola where the family has a supermarket and a bakery. It was started by the father of the family and is now run by the 2 sons and 2 of the 3 daughters. The bakery is run by the 2 sons. While at the supermarket we were able to meet many of the family memebers and it was a big welcome. We were greeted by the grandmother, Teresa, and the sons, Miguel and Pietro, as well as Carlo and Sara's mother, Filomena, and the other aunt Maria. We got shown around the market and were given treats and sweets and welcomed very well, even if it was in broken English. We are going to have to learn Italian very quickly. Amber's belly was kissed by many!

 Grandma Teresa (Amber's Great Grandpa's niece) 

Next we went to Anna's house. This is where we will be staying while we are here. She is the Aunt of Carlo and Sara and came with them and her daughter Filomena to America last August when Amber was their tour guide. Now it is our turn to be taken around. It was fun for Amber to see here again as well has her daughter Filomena. We also met Anna's 14 year old son Geraldo and her husband Antonio. He is a doctor who works on the ambulances in Caserta which is  a larger city between Formicola and Napoli.

 Carlo, Francesca, Mena, Anna, Sara, Fabio

 Jeff, Anthony, Filomena, Anotnio, Gerardo

Ok, I guess we need a genealogy break so you can understand how Amber fits in with this family. So Teresa, the grandmother, mother of Pietro, Maria, Teresa, Miguel and Anna; her uncle is Amber's great grandfather. He is the one who came to America and there had Amber's grandmother Rose. So now you understand.

For the rest of the evening we unpacked, talked and had the first of MANY large Italian meals. Italians like their food, that is a fact!

Day 32: April 25, 2014: 
Liberation Day

Today is Liberation Day. This is the day that the Italians celebrate arrival of the American troops to liberate them from Germany during World War Two. It is celebrated with lots of food! To start off the day, Carlo and Sara's dad, Anthony, picked us up and gave us the tour of the town. It didn't take too long because it is a very small town. We circled it at least 3 times on the tour. We went from there up to the church that is set on the hill above the town and then around the hill to another town and then back. In all it took about an hour. It gave us some spectacular views of Formicola and the area. It is just beautiful here.

 Anna gave us this beautiful leather baby book for baby Shirts!

 Entrance to Carlo and Sara's home

The Church up on the hill

The view of Formicola

The Catholic Church

The Village that Antonio is from on the other side of the mountain: Treglia (Historical Roman bath village) This wall is a Roman wall from before the time of Christ

Town square in Formicola

After the tour we went to the houses of Miguel and Pietro for the festivities which started at about 1:00 PM. Their houses are attached, kind of like townhouses, with the bakery in the front. We then spent the afternoon and evening playing random games with various balls, eating many courses of meals for lunch, sitting around lounging, singing, singing karaoke, eating more food for dinner, talking and singing and then having dessert. We left around stuffed. It is quickly becoming a regular feeling, and we fear it will continue for the foreseeable future! I guess fear isn't the right word. We do not fear the food because it is delicious. We fear for our waistlines. Guess we better start exercising more.

 All of the food for the day!

We also got to see part of the process of the making of the bread in the bakery. They deliver this bread daily to many different places in the area, and it is pretty dang good bread. 

Miguel and Peitro own and run the bakery (brothers)

We also got a tour of Pietro's new house that he is building on the opposite side of the supermarket from the house he is living in now. It is not a typical Italian house. He has been working on it for almost 8 years, and it should be done in 1 or 2 years he said. It is worked on as money becomes available, and since he has a place to live with his family, he is not in a rush to get it finished. This way he doesn't have to take out any loans. His wife already told us that we have to come back and stay with them when it is finished. Just another reason to learn Italian!

We finally left Miguel and Pietro's at about 10:30 pm and we were ready for bed. So much going on and it is so much fun.