The Trail Is Chiusa!

This past week, Kevin and I decided we needed to get out of town for a few days.  The weather forecast was great so we decided to drive to Cinque Terre.  We had never been, but always heard great things so we booked a hotel a few nights before, planned our trip, and headed out on Tuesday.

The drive took us about 4 hours and Alessia slept the whole way.  After checking in and feeding our girl, we hopped on the train and headed to our first village, Vernazza.  Not two minutes after we stepped off the train, it started to rain.  But don't worry, we came prepared with umbrellas.  Or not...they were laying on the bed in our hotel room.  Luckily for us, it was just a light sprinkle and it only lasted about 15 minutes. 

The sky cleared up, the sun came out, and we were able to get some great pictures.  Since Alessia was starting to stir a little in her wrap, we decided to just grab a quick slick of pizza and head back to La Spezia (where we were staying).


Rain, rain, go away
 



Vernazza

The next day, we knew we were in for a full day.  We wanted to check out the remaining four villages, plus the city we were staying in.  We headed out at about 10 am to our first village, Corniglia.  There are 377 stairs you have to walk to get from the train station to the actually village.  Since we had Alessia and were going to be hiking all day, we decided to take the bus up to the village instead of the stairs.

After checking the village out, chatting with old ladies using hand gestures (old ladies love babies), and walking down the 377 stairs, we headed for the start of the trail to the next village.  And we were greeted with a sign that said it was closed due to landslides.  WHAT???  It was okay though because there was another trail we were going to take once we arrived at the next village.  So, we headed to the train station...only to find out we had just missed the train by about five minutes and would have to wait another hour for the next one.  This is where I would insert the f-word. 



Corniglia



The view was amazing.

Our next village was my favorite, Manarola.  Here we had focaccias, a must-have when visiting Cinque Terre, and gelato.  We watched kids swim in the water, which had to be freezing.  And we even saw a little naked girl running around...I never did understand why she was naked.  After all this, we went to take the trail to our next village and, as luck would have it, it was closed too.  Son of a bitch!  



Manarola



The sunbathers were out in full force.



Manarola was definitely my favorite village.



Focaccia

We had to take the train again to the next village, Riomaggiore.  It seemed a lot bigger than the other three villages we had visited.  If we were to have actually stayed in one of the villages of Cinque Terre, I would have probably picked to stay there.   There were a plethora or restaurants, cafes, and little shops.  We grabbed some fruit from one of the places and the mandarin oranges were delicious...the regular oranges were not (Kevin picked those out). 



Riomaggiore

I love all the bright colors.

Once we made it to the train station in Riomaggiore, Alessia was awake.  We decided it was probably best not to go to the last village and just head back to our hotel in La Spezia to feed her.  After showering, we set out to see what our surroundings were all about, but Alessia wanted no part of it.  She didn't want to be in her stroller, she didn't want us to carry her, she wasn't hungry...she was just pissed (and a little gassy).  So instead of a nice Italian meal, Kevin and I ate at a kebab shop.  For you Americans, you probably have no idea what this is...Google it.  Needless to say, Alessia's tantrum lasted for a few hours and Kevin and I were actually almost on the verge of jumping in the car and driving back to Vipiteno that night.  But eventually, she fell asleep and woke up being her normal self...not the devil baby that possessed her the night before.

We had planned on going to the last village that next day, but after the night before, we decided it was probably best to play it safe and head back home.  We made a quick stop at the pier to check out the water and then made the four hour drive back with a sleeping baby in the backseat.



A quick trip to the pier before heading home.



La Spezia

Even with the trails being closed, we had an amazing trip.  And despite the one night of hell with Alessia, we would have to say she was an angel, especially when it mattered.  And who knows?  Maybe one day we can take Alessia back and she'll actually remember it.

Family Stroll

With the season over and the weather getting warmer, Kevin and I have been trying to get outside more.  I feel like all I've done for the past 6 weeks since Alessia was born is sit on the couch, watching tv, with my boob hanging out.

She is starting to get on a better feeding and sleeping schedule now so it's easier to do things.  This past week we either walked the trails around Vipiteno or walked into town everyday.  Usually she is pretty good...usually.

Yesterday, it was beautiful outside.  It was 70 degrees and sunny, but there was a nice breeze so we decided to put on our trainers and hit the trails.  I would say it was perfect; Kevin would probably say it was too hot.  We parked at the ice rink and headed to where the trail starts and before we even got to the trail, Miss Alessia started getting fussy.  We spent a majority of the walk carrying her, which gets a bit tiresome now that our fat girl is over 9 pounds.  But, all-in-all, she was good and it was nice to just get outside and get some fresh air and vitamin D.  My pasty white body also got a little tan too.

The Eisack River that runs through town.

  Reifenstein Castle

Taking a break to enjoy the view

Someone was not very happy to be in her stroller.

I got my cardio and weights in on the walk.

What Alessia wants, Alessia gets. 

View of Vipiteno

Right now, we still haven't planned any trips, but we are hoping to get out of town next week for a couple of days.  Stay tuned.

Another Season Down

While most leagues in the United States are still playing, the 2012-2013 hockey season has officially come to an end for us (and most of Europe).  Kevin's team, the Broncos, played really well throughout the season, finishing at the top of the standings.  Unfortunately, they lost in the Finals so the season didn't exactly end the way we would have wanted. 

Most of our North American friends here have headed home already, with the last of them leaving tomorrow.  On one hand, I am jealous; on the other hand, I'm glad we still have another month here.  I'm definitely looking forward to getting home so everyone can meet Alessia.  I also cannot wait for my breast pump, a bouncer, a swing, and a car seat that actually passes safety standards.  Of course, I am looking forward to all the amazing American food...Chipotle, hot dogs on the grill, Marzetti Ranch Dressing, and hot wings.  And I'm counting down the days until I get to go to Target. 

We are excited to get home for an amazing baby shower that my cousin, Steph, has planned for us.  She's been working on it for months and I know it is going to be the best.thing.ever!  And what's more exciting than coming home to a new niece or nephew?  Kevin's sister, Melany, and her husband, Brett, are expecting their third child right around the time we get home.  Maybe our first stop will be the hospital to meet the new little peanut.   

I'm not looking forward to the flight home.  We are going to be "those people."  The people no one wants to sit next to because they have a newborn.  The people who have a million bags.  The people who take 30 minutes to get everything together so they can walk through security.  I'm having nightmares about our travel day already. 

Our living situation is also something I dread.  Like most hockey players and couples, we live with our parents in the summer.  While we are beyond thankful that our parents allow us to do this, it sucks to lose your privacy and space.  Plus, we are throwing a baby into the mix and that is definitely going to make things ten times harder.  Kevin and I are just getting to a place where we have a routine with Alessia and are used to the way the other does things.  I don't want to mess that up.  Our living situation is also going to require us to travel back and forth.  Nine hours in a car from Pittsburgh to Springfield will be a real treat.  Kevin and I have already made the executive decision that we will be driving overnight.

The end of the season also brings the off-season...the time where we must make tough decisions about where we will be and what we will be doing next season.  For me, the off-season is the hard part.  Traveling and living somewhere new and unknown is easy for me.  Deciding where that is going to be is tricky.  And, again, this is going to be a lot harder now that we have a little person to think about.  I know Kevin and I will make the decision that we feel is best for our family, but getting to that decision is always tough.  One thing is for certain, there is never an easy answer. 

Parents Of The Year

Babies are supposed to like music...right?  So Kevin and I downloaded Baby Einstein's Lullabies a few weeks ago.  Alessia seems to like the music and we usually put it on during bedtime, but I wouldn't go as far as saying it puts her to sleep. 

However, throw on some rap or R&B and the girl is out.  During the day, we usually put a music channel on the TV because most everything else is in German or Italian.  I think she heard so many of the songs when she was in my belly that they bring her comfort...I am serious.  She is a sucker for 50 Cent and Nicki Minaj.  Does it make us bad parents if we let her listen to this type of music?  Probably not, but we definitely aren't going to get the "Parents of the Year" award.  But if it lets us get an hour or so of time to ourselves or allows us to hop in the shower, then we will keep on playing it.

Here are a few of Alessia's favorites at the time...she told me.

Join Us For The Ride

When I decided to start blogging, I wanted to use it as a means to keep our family and friends posted on our lives over here in Italy.  It mainly revolved around traveling and new discoveries here in Italy.  Then this past year, it transitioned into a "baby blog."  I would say 90% of my posts this season (hockey season, that is) have had to do with something baby or pregnancy. 

Last night during one of Alessia's feedings, I was trying to think of blog topics I could write about that don't contain the word "baby" and I kept coming up blank.  I have nothing and I'm disappointed by that.  I know that this is partly due to the fact that, right now, I have a one track mind.  I eat, sleep, pee, and shower on Alessia's schedule.  Most of my day consists of me sitting on a couch in my pajamas feeding, changing, or entertaining a one month old.

Besides taking care of a baby, I'm still trying to hold things together here at the house.  Hockey is just wrapping up so things have been crazy.  Over the last seven days, Kevin has probably spent 80 hours at the ice rink between tournaments, practices, meetings, and games.  Then he comes home and relieves me so I can shower or nap. 

Things are about to change though.  Once hockey is over, the Reiter's are getting out of here.  Whether we're discover new things in Vipiteno, taking a day trip to a nearby town, or traveling for a few days, we are going to take advantage of our last month here in Italy.  And I promise to take everyone along for the ride.