Boating at Balexert

Our local mall has a huge courtyard that they use for weekly exhibitions.  About fifty percent of them are targeted at children.  I don't mind because they are generally free, fun, and keep them distracted from those coin-op shake machines shaped like motorcycles and spaceships.  I despise those.

For two weeks we were able to enjoy the boats you paddle with pedals.  They were contained in a inflatable pool that contained one foot of water.  Very entertaining.  And a little bit pathetic.

Genova

We headed to Genova, Italy for the Fourth of July.  We thought it would be novel to  visit the birth place of Christopher Colombus.  Really it was hot and stinky.  I served for one month in Genova with a companion who didn't leave the apartment.  I hardly have any memories of the city-except for CC's house.

Here is the corner of the house.  Henry took the picture.  He wasn't interested in being in any of them.

This was a lovely tribute to the man.  It stood about a hundred meters from the train station and 10 meters from the bus station.  It seems to be the gathering spot for Hobos.  In contrast the man who liberated Genova had the most beautiful garden surrounding his statue, but I didn't catch his name.  
After our sightseeing we headed down the coast.  We had a delicious lunch.  The kids ordered the ever popular spaghetti noodles with butter.  The chef loaded on the butter.  They couldn't have been happier.  Henry didn't leave a noodle in the bowl.  That seemed to take care of the grumpies he'd had.

We visited a local beach and hung out with the locals.  Ansel made quite a splash with his blonde lockes-that and his fearless swimming techniques.  The water was amazing warmer than our favorite pool in Geneva.  A wonderful introduction to the ocean-and a refreshing break from the heat.

Before we left we had to have some gelato.  We found a great little place near the restaurant.  Having eaten my fair share of gelato, I don't like to eat just any old gelato.  It has to pass certain requirements:  A. Be "arteginale" that means that is made there and is usually a good sign.  B. It should look soft.   If it passes those two tests, we can go in.  Not too tough.  After filling up on the usual chocolate, strawberry, lemon and coconut that we all tried Greg was stricken with curiosity to try lilac.  He went back for a cone of the stuff.  It was wacky-like eating a bar of soap without the soap.  After one lick I went back for more confused, my brain was waiting for the gag reflex to kick in, but it never did.

Like lilac ice cream our trip was enjoyable, but doesn't need to be repeated.  The drive was beautiful.  And really, even hot stinky Italy doesn't disappoint.  There is a bit of a sting looking at our family's blogs and seeing them enjoying the local parade and relaxing in Nana's pool.  I love the Fourth of July for that.

It's Been A Year!

It's been a year since this was our only seat in the house.

To celebrate we bought a couch.  It will go on the opposite wall in the same room as this picture. . . when we figure out how to get it from it's point of purchase to our house.

Here's how we did it a year ago.

We spent hours with those little wrenches from Ikea.  

With the house put together we'll spend this July swimming and barbecuing instead.

One of my first memories when we arrived was how hot it was.  I was surprised Geneva got so hot.  The heat of the sun wasn't helped by the modern aid of air conditioners.  It made us very irritable.  (well that and jet lag).  I didn't know how we would make it through the entire summer.  

We soon learned that Geneva summers aren't hot forever.  70 degrees is perfect when there isn't air conditioning.

Now here we are same week a year later and Geneva is again going through a little hot spell.  I'm surprised how well we've adapted to not having the luxury of cool air-except what is produced from a little fan.