Mirage

Unforgettable Summer

Beach, apartment and pool, bridges and gondolas, pizza and pasta…Guess where were we one summer time?

We’ve had fun trips mostly during summer especially when we don’t have plans of visiting home (read: Philippines). Italy was one of those memorable summers we had…though Pinas would have been more enjoyable since we get to spend time with the family not to mention that the money spent  anyway for flight and shopping is the same amount spent for a week at the coasts of Italy. I bet we’d have the same fresh seafoods too!

The apartment we rented in Lignano is in a small compound with it’s own pool and a few minutes away from the beach. When we’re not so ecstatic going to the beach then we let the kids play at the pool. Since this is Italy, where pasta and pizza are originally from, we maximized the opportunity and ate with much gusto…Pasta ala pesto, marinara, carbonara, tomato-based, topped with shrimps, with salmon, ground beef or simply just the sauces, they were awesome. Since pasta can be used/cooked everyday for a year without repeating a dish there’s an endless choice to which we would stuff our selves next. Pizza topped with almost everything edible, cooked by the modern oven or the traditional one…they’re all a delight. We didn’t forget risotto (little rice) too! Chicken, shrimp and anything on it is like eating during a feast at home…and the Gelato of course, pistachio, strawberry, vanilla, straciatella, gum and chocolate, name it and they have it for as low as 0.80€ per cone!

The highlight of our trip was when we visited the City of Bridges, Venice. Armed with a map and our two cameras, hubby and I toured the city well, as real tourists.  We  bought Murano glasses, some souvenirs (no masks unfortunately), we witnessed a musician playing on wine glasses with water and we reached the Grand Bridge and finally ate canelloni just at the foot of it. We got lost once but got back on track and ended up at the Piazza San  Marco.

This summer we would be home for my brother’s wedding. Surely, we’d be having new memories, new photos to take and new friendships to rekindle.

Happy:

Summer days are here…

Well almost.

The days are getting longer and it’s ok wearing thin jackets now, so slowly the sun is being nice and sunny! One of the mostawaited to-do-things in the summer is swimming….for my kids anyway. They love the water unlike me, and would spend a whole day there if allowed. lol.

I never allow the kids on water without their arm floats. Safety is of course a primary concern. It is with the help of the floats that they learned how to swim, our little boy learned when he was 2.

Summers…I don’t like the sun too much because I brown easily, same for the kids but come autumn, their color would pale again.  Sun protection is also important when going out in the summer. A lotion with SPF 30 is best during those fun days.

Don’t forget the beach ball, floats, goggles and water gun for additional fun…oh swimsuits and swimwear!!! I always buy one size bigger a year before, (read:when they’re on sale .

Summer means shades, hat and ice cream time too! (Photos are from our Italy vacation last summer.)

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Ausflug (Field Trip)

Ausflug zum Uhrenmuseum-

My daughter is in the second grade, and field trips are scheduled often by the teacher and parents in connection with studies. The kids are learning how to read time so we went to a trip at the clock museum last month. Nevermind the cold, the kids had their smile ready as I aim the camera. Below photo is my daughter (middle) with two of her classmates. Whenever we go on trips outside the school they would be in pairs as we walk and if there are available seats at the tram or train they can each occupy one…but as mommy, I prefer walking about taking photos of them.

The museum is located at Vienna’s 2nd district, not far from the city center thereby frequented by tourists. It was a one ride trip to the endstation of the tram, merely 30 minutes travel time. We had to walk from the station and I found some interesting spots to photograph along the way. I haven’t been back there yet, but I plan to photograph the ‘hidden’ treasures of Vienna that I spotted as we walk along. We arrived about 8:45 am and since it was still closed we walked a bit to kill time.

Our guide was very able regarding knowledge of clocks, time, era and he has very effective humor to get the kids listening and “ohhhwing” as he explains. Below is the first clock to welcome us, a 600 year-old ensemble which has been used as a town clock.

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Here, you will see the teacher (wearing glasses) and a parent as they listen along with the children about cuckoo clocks. There were 3 floors of display in total and all of them has a story to tell, an era where they belonged and of course unique design according to trend.

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My daughter was not much in the mood for photos, was glad that her classmate was and she was able to persuade my daughter to smile. I was prohibited to use flash so pardon the blurring of the photos….

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There were so many clocks on display….some were parts of a painting, others were hanging clocks, wristwatches, artisan clocks, those owned by emperors and other famous Austrians, still others were bigger than the kids and I.

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