Where we live.

I thought I would post a few pictures of our neighborhood to show everyone what it is like here in Opera, Italy. Opera is a small town south of the main freeway the circles the city of Milano. It is rather quiet, but still very European in nature.  We are currently living in the assistants to the president's apartment which is just down the street a half block from the office.  We live on the 7th floor in a nice two bedroom apartment. 

Our apartment is on the top floor just right of the middle in this building. 

All of the homes and apartment buildings here are inside of a locked gated fence. So you end up with a key to the gate, a key the building and a key to the apartment. All of the apartment buildings have small garages that are under the buildings and sometimes under the grounds that surround the apartment building. Not all apartments come with a garage. Our current one does not. 

Our current apartment is nicely landscaped, with small trees, some flowers, and grass that they mow about once per month.

Here is a picture of a wonderful hydrangea in our front yard we walk by each day.  It is about 5 feet tall and very beautiful. 

Here is a shot looking south down our street, Via Antonio Gramsci.

And here is one looking north up our street.

We only have a short walk to the office each day.  People are quite friendly and greet each other on the street as we pass by saying "Buon Giorno". Most of the natives just say "Giorno".  They are very courteous and say "Prego" when opening a door or standing to the side. This means "you're welcome".

Here is a picture of the front door to the mission office. Inside there is the mission presidents office, a store room, 3 offices with 2 computers each, a small conference room, lunch room and 2 rest rooms. Very nice digs.

Here is a picture of the building with the office on the ground floor and apartments above.  We will be moving into this building on Thursday of this week when the couple we are replacing fly out on August 1st. Also living in the building is the other office couple, the Molinari's who come from Rose, just outside of Blackfoot ID. They got here almost 2 months before us.  The office elders also have an apartment in the building. 

As I take more pictures, I will write more.