Escaping to: Cinque Terre

The decision is in. Granted a flu vacation by the Bulgarian government, we purchased tickets last night for northern Italy, where we will spend four days in the Cinque Terre.

"It's almost unfair how much intense beauty, great cuisine and amazing aromas are jampacked into such a compact space." -The New York Times

See more pictures like these at the Cinque Terre park site:

http://www.cinqueterre.it/info.php

Corniglia (http://www.italy-revealed.com/cinque-terre-2/)

Swine Flu Vacation

Well, it's official. The Bulgarian ministry has declared an epidemic in the country, and all schools are required to take a vacation for the entire week. We are lucky not to have any symptoms, despite the plummeting attendance rates in our classes Thursday and Friday. My last section Friday had 7 students of the usual 17, so we just spent the time on our (wonderful) outside reading books. It was strangely silent in the room.

No one at ACS is too worried about the flu - from all we hear, it is just like any flu, except it spreads more quickly. The students were pretty much euphoric when the news came through on Friday that we had gone above 30% absence and would therefore qualify for the epidemic vacation.

Faculty on campus are dashing madly through the virtual world of travel opportunities, choosing between Montenegro, Zagreb, Bulgarian resorts, Greek Islands, etc. This is a travel chance to unexpected to pass by. Having considered Zagreb, Dubai, and even Tokyo, we are currently leaning towards Cinque Terre.

Maybe we'll get some of those masks to wear on the flight, I saw a happy-looking couple downtown today sporting them.

Image Source: Scrape TV Online.

My Kugelhopf

Venice Photos from "My Kugelhopf"

I haven't discovered what "Kugelhopf" means yet, but I have discovered "My Kugelhopf", a site filled with some of the best photography and travel food writing I've ever seen.

There I was, spending a few idle minutes searching the internet for good gelaterias in Venice and English-speaking yoga studios in Hamburg, when my browser suggested I visit "My Kugelhopf." Why not? I thought. And boy was I NOT disappointed. Now it's your turn. Check out the Venice features here, then explore the site if you have time! It's amazing.

Christmas in Italy

Some of you know that Brett and I have decided to spend our first Christmas out of the United States. Back when we first met, we went to Germany together for the week leading up to Christmas, but then flew back in a flurry to make it to Duluth for the big day. Which means we spent about $2000 to travel abroad for 5 days.

This might give you a sense of how closely I associate Christmas with home.

Still, this year the time is right to try Christmas in a new kind of winter wonderland. We've rented an apartment in Venice until Christmas day, and then we are heading for a farm outside Lake Bled, Slovenia for the rest of the vacation. Priorities include walking over the Bridge of Sighs, eating Gelato, sledding on the "sled run" at our farm, and making our own new Christmas traditions.

I was pleased to see on a fellow traveler's blog today that one of the traditions in Italy is elaborate nativity scenes, reminding me of the one my mom has been adding to for many years. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised to see just how many directions those scenes sometimes go in - the picture above, for example, is from a nativity set store in Napoli. You can see more photos and read about Italian nativity sets, like I did, on Ms. Adventures in Italy.

Perhaps one of our new traditions will be a nativity set of our own, and we'll choose our first piece in two months as we wander the winter streets of Venice.

Happy Halloween!

Last night, after the student Halloween Dance, there was a Halloween party for faculty (and their children). Although Halloween isn't really celebrated in Bulgaria, you can see that ACS faculty have no problem getting into the holiday spirit. If the younger Bulgarian generation is looking for Halloween inspiration, they need look no further than their teachers, many of whom have whole-heartedly adopted this holiday.

Betsy and me in our last-minute costumes, courtesy of Shannon and Jeff's Halloween obsession. Seriously, how many people do you know who pack three or four costumes when they move abroad?

The witches of ACS.

Shannon's Matrix look, which seemed to take her students by surprise.

Celia and Grace, the daughters of our Head of School. Don't worry, they're drinking cider.

Pumpkin Quest Part II, or...

How the pumpkin went from this (a pumpkin)

To this (a pumpkin with a hole in it)

to this (pumpkin pieces)

To this (pumpkin mashed up)

To this (pumpkin butter)

To this (pumpkin in a jar that is actually sealed!)

To this (pumpkin chocolate oatmeal cherry walnut cookie dough)

Well, let's just say when I used to use pumpkin puree in the U.S. I definitely DID NOT APPRECIATE IT ENOUGH. This Thanksgiving, as you run your can opener around the lid of your future pumpkin pie, just remember there are a few steps between the patch and the pie!

European Panoramas

People all over the world are uploading photos stitched together to create panoramic interactive images of their favorite places. They are all on an amazing site called "360."

Here are a few from spots we've visited...


Prague City Skyline Panoramic View:


Prague Skyline from Petrin Tower - Gigapixel in Prague

Beneath the Eiffel Tower:


At the foot of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

Inside the Sagrada Familia:


Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

Behind the Scenes: Halloween Cupcakes

Amanda and I decorated cupcakes for the Halloween party last night - we used this lovely cupcake collage as inspiration.

A ghost gummy bear rises from its grave.

Amanda with her SUPERB witch cupcake. Can you believe it started as a get rid of frosting cupcake?

It's a black cat going as a moose for Halloween.

Trick or Cupcake

Betsy with her aproned helpers, Shannon and Amanda. The hardest part wasn't baking them, but trying not to eat them before the Halloween Party.

In Our Own Back Yard

Just another gorgeous fall day in Sofia. Betsy and I are so happy to be living on campus now, where we are greeted by this view outside our door, rather than the traffic and barking dogs of Mladost. We fell asleep last night to the falling rain, and woke up to blue skies.

Parting Shots from Paris

Why not?

This hat was...

A) Knocked off the head of a giant clown by hurricane-force winds

B) The only evidence this fountain recently hosted the Cirque de Soleil underwater production

C) Originally conceived as a Bed and Breakfast for pigeons visiting Paris

D) Created for goldfish camouflaging bad hair days

E) Just another of those fun Paris moments when you just have to ask yourself "Why not?"