A few nights ago, we were walking home from a fun evening with the Adkins in Florence (making Pizza and Gelato!), and a street performer (Charlie Chaplin?) started grabbing passers-by and seating them in a large rectangular area around a pedestrian street in the heart of the town.  Naturally, Chris was one of the first people he seated.  And, naturally, when Mr. Chaplin selected 3 unsuspecting souls to be “onstage” and part of his show, Chris ended up in the spotlight.

The two others were 1) an awkward teenage girl from California, and 2) an awkward middle aged man from England.  Neither of them much wanted to be up there.  Chris, however, was right in his element.

The 20 minute show had lots of slapstick antics involving a chubby englishman having to stand there with his shirt off, and everyone wearing goofy hats and doing silly movements.  Charlie had his helpers blow up balloons, play the air banjo, and he TRIED to get everyone to give him a kiss on the cheek. There were a couple hundred people gathered around, watching the performance!

I can’t post the entire show (plus some of it is PG-13), but here are a couple of fun snippets:

1) Chris is shown how to bow the right way.

How to bow

2) Chris helps Charlie blow up a balloon.

Balloon

3) Chris catches right on to doing the Charlie Chaplin wobble.

Charlie Chaplin Walk

What a treat, stumbling into an adventure like that!  Everyday we are on our trip I pinch myself – wow, we are all so lucky that we get to see all these places and spend so much time together.  Not every day includes such unique special memories. Some days we are just tired and a little homesick and can’t find a WC.  But sometimes, when we think we are just walking home at the end of a long day, something unexpected and wonderful happens.

…after the Adkins visit!!!  They left this morning… but not before they left their mark.

Highlight 1

The four “adults” went to a “traditional” Italian dinner one night.  Traditional means a) no menus b) no prices.  They bring you what they want, and you pay what they tell you.  Fair enough.  The deliciousness of the food was only surpassed by its quantity. Holy cannolis, they never stopped.  Once we unbuttoned our second pants button, it was time for the check. Some dude that looks like a cross between Tony Soprano and Tony Soprano strolls over (this is the first time you’ve seen him all night).  He surveys the table.  He surveys the inhabitants.  He strokes his chin.  Then writes down a number on a receipt and says, “You pay”.  180 euros.  Ouch!

Well my sister never met a negotiation she didn’t think she could win, so she said “Let me handle this.”  She started sweet talking him… first time in Italy… staying in a youth hostel… need an operation when we get back home… etc.  He wasn’t having any of it. Finally, she said, how about a picture?  He perked up!

He said, “OK, for you, new bill.”  10 minutes later he comes back with this gift:

Yep, he bumped it up to 190 euros.  Apparently it’s 10 euros for a picture with the Don.  We paid it and got the heck out of there before he changed his mind again.  Lisa is now 976 – 1 in lifetime negotiations.

Highlight 2

We all took a train to the beautiful beaches of Cinque Terre.  If you aren’t jealous of me already, google “Cinque Terre”, then prepare to really hate me.    Everyone but me rented standup paddleboards and cruised around the bay, while I sat there under an umbrella and drank vodka and red bulls (they were about the same price as the ones in Monaco).  Oh yeah… I have a long history of shooting my sister the moon in inappropriate places.  Maybe you can see where this is going?  She paddled over a couple hundred feet to me and said, “Hey lardo – get off your tush and take my picture!!!”  So I did, but right before I did, I shot her the aforementioned moon, just so I could get the right reaction on film.  Not to be outdone, she tried to do the same thing.  Luckily for all of us, she forgot she was on a standup paddleboard.  I’ve never seen such a small person create such a loud splash. The ripples made it all the way to the 5th town (the cinque of the terres), along with her paddleboard.  Nor have I ever heard my daughter laugh as loud as she did.  Classic.

Sorry, no photos.

Highlights 3-100

We’ve been away from home for two months now, and seeing our family here in Italy has been the best part of our trip by far.  From riding gondolas in Venice, to touring the Coliseum and Vatican in Rome, to making pizza and gelato in Florence, we had a blast.   But the best times were simply sharing great meals and conversations with my awesome sister, wonderful bro-in-law, and incredible niece.  We can’t wait to see all of them again when we get home, and recount all the wonderful adventures we shared.  Love you all!

Hey!  The Adkins family (my sister and crew) are visiting us in Florence!  We’ve got a lot of great things planned: Rome, Cinque Terra, Venice… and of course LOTS of food and drink here in Florence. I keep telling my sister to repeat the following two things:

1) I AM ON VACATION

2) ITALIAN CALORIES DON”T COUNT

She’s getting the hang of it.  I have photographic proof, but she won’t let me post it.

Cheers!

I am so happy I got my first hair cut in Florence! The lady spoke a little english so it was that hard to tell her what to cut. Here are some pictures:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I hope to get a hair cut in Croatia, South Africa, and Australia too!

I think some of you may know by now that I have been wanting to play a piano really badly.
Well, we are in Venice on a day trip and when we got to the front of our hotel, dad said, “Chris, come look at this!” And the store RIGHT next door to the hotel was a music store with guitars, accordions, and best of all, pianos!
Of course, most pianos are a little big to carry around. But, there was one small piano that weighed about five pounds and dad asked if I wanted him to get it for me… I was already jumping up and and down and I immediately said, “Sure!!!” So he got it for me, we checked into our hotel and I brought it up to my room and started playing it!
Now, I am still sitting here playing it but the hardest (and funnest) part is that it is powered by air! So there is a tube that I blow into in order for the keys to make sound!
I am just really glad we found that store, now I can finally play piano whenever and wherever I want!
So why is it magic?
1) no batteries or electricity needed… Just my breath!
2). I wanted to play piano so bad for so long… And magically there was the perfect one right next door to our little hotel in Venice!
I will NEVER forget it!

We’ve been in Italy for a few days now and it has been a blast! We are stationed in Florence but already have taken a few day trips out to cities near by. My favorite part of Italy has been going to Cinque Terre (5 lands) and hiking through some of the villages and also kayaking and stand up paddle boarding on the beaches there! And also I must say that all of the rumors of Italy having amazing food… are TRUE! We have experienced some mind blowing Gelato and Pasta and we can’t wait to try more!