Germania!

I flew out of Frankfurt on my way home so I thought I would take a little side trip to visit my uncle and his family and do a little sightseeing on the way.  It snowed in Florence on the day I left (which is very unusual) so my train was a couple hours delayed but I finally made it to Stuttgart the next morning for Jenni to pick me up.  It was FREEZING!!!  I can never complain about the weather here in Florence again!
  After breakfast and a stop at their very happily nestled house, Jenni and the kids took me to a castle somewhat nearby: Burg Hohenzollern.  The kids started by playing in the snow.

After a pretty good little hike, we started getting glimpses of the castle.  The snow on the trees looks more like blossoms than ice.  The views of the country were amazing and the castle grounds were beautiful and covered with ice and snow.

 

I swear if you look really closely you can see the snow sparkling..

 We walked around the castle briefly before deciding that we were all pretty much frozen solid so we opted for the shuttle back down the hill and the warm car.  It was 4 F outside, probably the coldest weather I've ever been in (including Antarctica!!)

CHRISTMAS MARKET

The next day Stewart and Jenni took me to a Christmas market.  There were LOTS of people and lots of souvenirs, good food, great smells, medieval games, singing and stalls everywhere.  It was fun..and those Germans sure are tough - we only lasted an hour or so before our freezing hands and feet told us we had had enough.  It was fun to see though.

See the tight rope walking man?And the large pyramid at the market?

 
Although I don't think I'll ever visit Germany in the winter again, it was a great trip - very beautiful and clean and picturesque.

Luce di Natale

Okay - so I should be packing but somehow I can't seem to get motivated (plus it's cold and I don't want to get out from under my covers)..I made sugar cookies today and we're going Christmas caroling for Institute tonight but I still can't believe it's only a week away!

I took some pictures the other day of all the lights up around Florence.  They are beautiful!  Nothing like them in the US.. we really need to get some better city lights!  Of course, the lights on the houses are nothing like they are at home...so maybe if we could just combine the two...

The tree and carousel in Piazza della Republica

The Fleur de Lys is the emblem of Florence. The lights on the streets dowtown are awesome, especially the blanket of lights as a ceiling.

I love these ones!

Okay - so I'm going to pack now!  I'm excited to be going home, to see my family and to be warm for once!!

Giminy Cricket's Hometown

Tuscany is beautiful!  Saturday Meaghan and I went to San Gimignano (which didn't take me a month to figure out how to spell or say).  It is a beautiful walled, medieval town set on top of a hill with awesome views of the rolling Tuscan countryside and very distinct towers. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Gimignano]  Meaghan decided it must be where Giminy cricket is from (there are no J's in Italy) - and Pinocchio is also from Tuscany - so why not?  It was FREEZING like the rest of Tuscany has been for the past week. It even SNOWED in Florence last night, although sadly I missed it. (I am so not prepared for a winter of 30 degree weather) We had an awesome time enjoying the sites and the views from the tower, walking around the walls and eating gelato (somehow it's a requirement even when you are freezing) - and the Christmas lights, of course.  I wish I had time to go to more cities and see more lights - they are unique and beautiful in each city.  The best part was that there were almost no other tourists and we felt like we really were in an abandoned medieval city for a while...until all the Italians come out around 5 from their afternoon lunches and naps to wander the city and enjoy the lights.  Everything here has so much character - I love it!

The famous Medieval towers..I guess they had some mean neighbors in Firenze and Siena

  Sunsets never get old!

Immaculate Conception and Siena!!

It's been good here - busy teaching and enjoying the Christmas festivities.  Saturday and Sunday was district conference here (Saturday in Livorno and Sunday in Florence).  Elder Teixeira came and spoke, along with the mission and district presidency.  It was really awesome.  
December 8th is a festa day here in Italy..celebrating the the immaculate conception.  Basically it's just a day off work, and possibly a trip to mass.  I took the opportunity to visit my friend Christina in Siena..It was a gorgeous day, even though it's been cold and a little rainy, but the sun came out for the festa.  We enjoyed the day and saw the famous Piazza del Campo, the Duomo, Santa Caterina's Chapel, the Fortezza, etc.
Dec. 8th is also the day that ALL of the lights are turned on in the cities.  There are a ton in Florence and some great ones in Siena and I LOVE THEM!  So Beautiful!

Me and Christina with Siena 
in the background

 

Piazza del Campo

 

Tuscan sunsets are amazing..

 

 The Ice Skating Rink with an awesome slide.  It felt just like being in the US with the ice rink and cold weather, the hot chocolate, the piadinas and pizzas (well, maybe not so US there) and hot dogs and the American Christmas carols!

Only a week and a half and I'll be home!  I've got a lot to do before then: some shopping, hopefully a trip to San Gimignano, exploring Florence Christmas markets and walking around to see all the lights, some panettone eating, and a side trip to Germany..

Buon Natale!!

The Christmas lights are finally on in the city!!  They've been stringing them up for weeks but most finally came on the day after Thanksgiving (ironic, since that holiday does not exist here).  There are some Christmas decorations and nativities in the shop windows but I'm missing the constant Christmas music and houses lights. My roommates bought a tree and it is fabulous - finally Christmas and only three weeks away from a trip back to the US!!~

 

Our Christmas tree!  It's not live but it's still pretty - my roommate said if I want to smell a real tree than I can just go outside : )

Thanksgiving was just a normal working day here.  But one of my friends cooked us an awesome Thanksgiving dinner Friday night with some supplies her mom sent her from the states - chicken, homemade cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pumpkin bread and brownies - mmm..!  I can't believe it's already December!

And some pics from my daily walk to school..

The random Orhtodox church I found one day on my walk..

The fountain at the Fortezza da Basso

 This is the Scuola di Aziendali in Sorgnane where I teach my Business English class 3 times a week