Couples Conference - San Gimiagno

The day after Christmas was the Couples Conference that was held in Firenze.  We drove the van down with the Roses, and the Office Elders and a washing machine for the Hydes. It always so wonderful to associate with the other senior couples.  We will really miss them when we go home.

 Saturday we all had breakfast at the hotel and then loaded up in the cars and drove to San Gimiagno

 Here is a Wild Boar, "Cinghale" dressed up in his Santa suit.

 Tuscano and the country side around San Gimiagno is so gorgeous.

 We discovered several spots in San Gimiagno that we had never seen before.

 Peggy with Sister Pederson

 Elder Kekoolani and Strang.

We finished out visit to San Gimiagno with lunch at a great restaurant with a fabulous view.  Peggy and I had Pappardelle with a Cinghale meat sauce.  Multo Bono

Christmas

Several weeks ago we went to a High Priest Group party for our ward.  It was rather interesting because the starting time was after 8pm and after everyone arrive they had a lesson / discussion on a gospel topic.  Following that we ate the snacks that folks had brought.  We were the 1st to leave at about 11pm.  Italians work on a different schedule.

We were asked to host the next get together.  Because our mission release date is January 1, it was decided that our party would be on Monday, December 22. 

It was announced in church to start at 7:30 but no one showed up until about 8:15.  We had the past 3 bishops, thier wifes and the Rose couple that we are training to replace us.  Peggy gave a great lesson on Pioneers with lots a good stories coming from Elias Harmer.  She had also prepared Chile and corn bread to go along with the Pioneer theme.  The were all amazed at the cornbread.  Over and over they exclaimed "Dolce Polenta?  Dolce Polenta!"  They ate it all.  It was a great time.

We had Christmas with the office Elders and the Assistants.  Here we have Elder Kekoolani, Miller, Gnighting and Strang.  We had a fabulous day with them.  Here they are opening their gift from us - Peggy put two pair of socks together to look like a pair of long johns.  We also drew names for Secret Santa gifts.

Cuneo, San Remo & Imperia

On Saturday, December 20 Peg and I went on a last apartment fixing trip to Cueno, San Remo and Imperia, three cities we had not yet visited.

 We left at 7 am in heavy fog.  2 hours later we were still driving in the fog, but it began to clear up and 30 minutes later when we got to Cuneo it was a sunny clear day.  Cuneo is Italian for "Wedge".  There are two rivers that have carved valleys that slowly come together forming a wedge.  Cuneo is built on the high ground between these two rivers.  Above is view of the mountains and the road bridge and railroad bridge crossing one river valley to the city on the left.

 After fixing their faucet and delivering mail and a few other items, We drove 2 hours to San Remo.  We ran into the Sisters walking down the street and they showed us the Church.  It is upstairs of the local sea front grocery store!

 San Remo was warm, almost 70 degrees F and very beautiful.

 There were flowers everywhere

 A very ornate old building

 After getting something to eat we drove to Imperia.  We got there before the Elders so we had a chance to wait for them on the local sea front walkway.

 There were many fabulous old buildings

We met the Elders and delivered book cases, replaced bed slats and many other things. We then had a 3 hour drive back to Milano.  As we left Liguria and passed through the coast range of mountains we were suddenly back in the fog for the last 2 hours of the drive home.  It was a long day but very rewarding.

Santa Lucia at Verona

Amazing that it is December, Our last month in Italy.

On Saturday, December 6, we picked up our replacements, Anziano & Sorella Rose

 After a week of training and new missionaries and departers, we went to Verona on Saturday to see the Santa Lucia festival.  We had some great brats at the Christmas markets.

 Here are some sling shots exactly like the ones that our granddaughter bought at a market in St. George!

 Scaligargi door handle

 Scaligari window

 Santa Lucia is known for lights and candles.  Here are hundreds of candles hangling over Piazza Erbe

A falling star coming from L'Arena over and into Piazza Bra.

Leigh & Bryce Tour - Week 2

It took us a couple of days to get caught back up n the office Because we were gone for 2 working days.  Meanwhile Leigh and Bryce spend 3 days in Rome and 3 days in Venice.  They road the train and had a great time.  Friday after noon they came from Venice to Milano and we met them at the Metro right after we finished with Consiglio (Mission Council).  Peggy cooked lunch for 100 on Thursday and lunch for 50 on Friday.  Lots of cooking.

 Saturday we drove to Verona.  1st thing we had Italian Hot Chocolate.  WOW!

 Piazza Erbe

 There was a Christmas market

 With bread made in a wood fire oven - YUM

 We all got giant brats with sauerkraut and potatoes

 The brats were very long a stuck out a long way from both ends of the Italian bread.

 Roman Ruins

After Verona we drove around Lago Isola.  Very beautiful.

Sunday Peggy and had to give talks in church.  Not something I enjoy doing, but it went very well.  I resurected one of my old talks and cut it down to about 1/3.  Peggy translated for me and it was OK.  Peggy talk was great!  She is such a great story teller.  She got lots of great comments from folks.

 After church we drove up to Como.  Then drove along to lake shore, braving the narrow rode, to Bellagio.  After wandering around there for a while we drove south along the other shore down to Lecco.  It was a great day.

Monday was our last day before they flew home.  We decided to drive up to the Matterhorn.

 The ski lifts were not operating but folks were sking.

 Nice flowers for this time of year.

 I asked Leigh to take my picture hiking up the Matterhorn. I do have to admit that I did not quite make it to the top.

 We then drove down the moutain about 10 miles and took a cable car up tot he village of Chamois.

 These are chamois goat.

 We then drove to the town of Aosta, Ate lunch and walked around the roman ruins

It was an awesome day.