Last Post… Sort of!

First off, I’d like to thank each and every one of you that have followed this blog. We have made some incredible memories and have loved being able to share them with all of our friends here. The comments you guys have left have been heartwarming to read. Thank you so much for everything.

Secondly, if you missed anything, you can start at my Welcome Post or my First Day Post and continue reading from there. Also, the Gelato Post is pretty remarkable. 😉

Thank you again for your interest. When we go back I will certainly try and keep this updated, and in the meantime, I will be updating it with advice and tips for traveling Italy, especially Rome. Check back for more info on where to stay, what to eat, and where to go!

 

All the best!

 

IMG_4430

–The De Piante Family

 

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Cars in London

Photographs courtesy of Andrew and Alex. When they were in London alone they took over 6,000 photos. Obviously I am not going to post all of them, but in the meantime, here are a few! 

If you aren’t interested in cars and would like to jump to the travel section, go to my Flying Back post, Madrid post or Gelato post and go from there!

Aston Martin DB9

Aston Martin DB9

Hamann BMW M5

Hamann BMW M5

BMW M3

BMW M3

Audi R8

Audi R8

Ferrari 458

Ferrari 458

Zagato Perana Z-One

Zagato Perana Z-One

Audi R8 GT Spyder

Audi R8 GT Spyder

Ferrari FF

Ferrari FF

Ferrari 355

Ferrari 355

Pagani Huayra

Pagani Huayra

Ferrari FF

Ferrari FF

Rolls Royce Phantom

Rolls Royce Phantom

Rolls Royce Phantom

Rolls Royce Phantom

Aston Martin DBS

Aston Martin DBS

Lotus Exige S

Lotus Exige S

Audi R8

Audi R8

Lamborghini Aventador and Gallardo

Lamborghini Aventador and Gallardo

Ferrari F430 Spyder

Ferrari F430 Spyder

Aston Martin Vanquish

Aston Martin Vanquish

Maserati GranTurismo Sport

Maserati GranTurismo Sport

Rolls Royce Phantom

Rolls Royce Phantom

Jaguar F Type

Jaguar F Type

Gucci Fiat 500

Gucci Fiat 500

Original Mini Cooper

Original Mini Cooper

Lamborghini Aventador

Lamborghini Aventador

Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano

Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano

Lamborghini Aventador

Lamborghini Aventador

Steve McQueen's car

Steve McQueen’s car

Rolls Royce Phantoms

Rolls Royce Phantoms

Ferrari F430 Spyder

Ferrari F430 Spyder

Rolls Royce Phantom

Rolls Royce Phantom

Ferrari 458 Italia

Ferrari 458 Italia

Porsche Boxster

Porsche Boxster

Lamborghini Aventador

Lamborghini Aventador

Pagani Huayra

Pagani Huayra

Pagani Huayra

Pagani Huayra

Ferrari 458 Italia

Ferrari 458 Italia

Ferrari 458 Spyder

Ferrari 458 Spyder

Audi R8 Spyder

Audi R8 Spyder

Bentley Continental

Bentley Continental

Ferrari 458 and Ferrari 599

Ferrari 458 and Ferrari 599

Jaguar E Type

Jaguar E Type

Ferrari 458

Ferrari 458

Ferrari 599 and Audi R8 GT

Ferrari 599 and Audi R8 GT

Ferrari 599

Ferrari 599

Pagani Huayra

Pagani Huayra

Pagani Huayra

Pagani Huayra

Pagani Huayra

Pagani Huayra

Pagani Huayra

Pagani Huayra and Andrew

Fiat 500 Abarth

Fiat 500 Abarth

Ferrari 458 Spyder

Ferrari 458 Spyder

Ferrari FF

Ferrari FF

Ferrari 458 Spyder

Ferrari 458 Spyder

Ferrari 458

Ferrari 458

Ferrari 458

Ferrari 458

Lamborghini Aventador

Lamborghini Aventador

Aston Martin Cygnet

Aston Martin Cygnet

Mini Cooper

Mini Cooper

Lamborghini Aventador

Lamborghini Aventador

Lamborghini Aventador and Gallardo

Lamborghini Aventador and Gallardo

Lamborghini Aventador

Lamborghini Aventador

Lamborghini Aventador

Lamborghini Aventador

Maybach 62

Maybach 62

G65 AMG

G65 AMG

Ferrari 458

Ferrari 458

Lotus Elise

Lotus Elise

Bugatti Veyron

Bugatti Veyron

Bugatti Veyron

Bugatti Veyron

Bugatti Veyron

Bugatti Veyron

Rolls Royce Phantom

Rolls Royce Phantom

Bentley Continental GT

Bentley Continental GT

Ferrari 458 Italia and the Maserati GranTurismo

Ferrari 458 Italia and the Maserati GranTurismo

Audi R8 GT Spyder

Audi R8 GT Spyder

Ferrari 458 Italia

Ferrari 458 Italia

Nissan GTR

Nissan GTR

Land Rover used in the James Bond film "SkyFall"

Land Rover used in the James Bond film “SkyFall”

Lamborghini Aventador

Lamborghini Aventador

Ferrari California (in Milan)

Ferrari California (in Milan)

Rolls Royce Phantom and Hummer Limousine

Rolls Royce Phantom and Hummer Limousine

Audi R8

Audi R8

Ferrari 599 and Rolls Royce Phantom

Ferrari 599 and Rolls Royce Phantom

SL 65 AMG

SL 65 AMG

Lotus Exige S

Lotus Exige S

Audi R8

Audi R8

Aston Martin DBR 3

Aston Martin DBR 3

Aston Martin Vanquish

Aston Martin Vanquish

Jaguar F Type

Jaguar F Type

Bowler WildCat

Bowler WildCat

Vintage Aston Martin

Vintage Aston Martin

Ferrari 599 GTB (Red), Mercedes SLS (Pearl White), Ferrari 458 Italia

Ferrari 599 GTB (Red), Mercedes SLS (Pearl White), Ferrari 458 Italia

Ferrari 458 Spyder

Ferrari 458 Spyder

Hamann BMW M6

Hamann BMW M6

Mercedes SLS AMG

Mercedes SLS AMG

Mercedes SLS AMG

Mercedes SLS AMG

Audi R8 V10

Audi R8 V10

Audi R8

Audi R8

Rolls Royce Phantom

Rolls Royce Phantom

Mercedes SL 63

Mercedes SL 63

Ferrari FF

Ferrari FF

Lamborghini Aventador

Lamborghini Aventador

Lamborghini Aventador

Lamborghini Aventador

Ferrari California

Ferrari California

Ferrari 458 Italia

Ferrari 458 Italia

Lamborghini Aventador

Lamborghini Aventador

Ferrari 458 Italia

Ferrari 458 Italia

Bugatti Veyron

Bugatti Veyron

Rolls Royce Phantom

Rolls Royce Phantom

Bentley Continental GT

Bentley Continental GT

Radical RXC

Radical RXC

Radical SR8

Radical SR8

Ferrari 458 Spyder

Ferrari 458 Spyder

Pagani Huayra

Pagani Huayra

Pagani Huayra

Pagani Huayra

Ducati Hypermotard

Ducati Hypermotard

Mercedes SLS AMG

Mercedes SLS AMG

Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560 Spyder

Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560 Spyder

Lamborghini Gallardo

Lamborghini Gallardo

Ferrari F430

Ferrari F430

Maserati GranTurismo

Maserati GranTurismo

Ferrari 458 Italia (the BatMobile!)

Ferrari 458 Italia (the BatMobile!)

Hamann BMW M5

Hamann BMW M5

Audi R8 V10 Plus

Audi R8 V10 Plus

Dukes of Hazard Dodge Charger

Dukes of Hazard Dodge Charger

Ferrari California

Ferrari California

 

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Flying Back

On Friday the 21st of June, we left Madrid. 

Coming Home! 5:15 am, coming home

What we were doing at 5:15 a.m.

Jacked up

The flight attendant couldn’t get the cable to latch to block off boarding. This scares me slighlty about the plane’s condition… <gulp>

Charlotte bound!

Charlotte bound!

Charlotte Bound!

Getting ready to leave

Coming home

Goodbye, Madrid! Hello, Charlotte!

 

 

 

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GELATO

At the beginning of this trip the boys decided to eat gelato at least once a day while we were in Rome and take a picture of one cone every time we ate it. And on special days, such as Alex’s birthday they ate it three times. Now in my opinion that is slightly vulgar. The following pictures are going to be nothing but gelato; The gelato itself and us eating said gelato. I am truly sorry if you feel like punching your computer screen out of envy as I torture you with pictures of lusciousness. 😉 

gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato

A bishop in line at Old Bridge for Gelato!

Gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato Gelato GelatoGelatoGelato Gelato GelatoGelato Gelato

Mary licked Andrew’s ice cream right as this picture was taken. Haha!

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Madrid Day 2, Boys Leave

On the 20th we all packed up, the boys for London that evening, and us for Good Ol’ Charlotte the next morning. The boys left around lunchtime and then we spent the rest of the day in Madrid. Leaving Madrid

Leaving our apartment

Saying goodbye

Mom and Big Al saying goodbye

Saying goodbye

Mom and Dad on the escalator in the train station.

Saying goodbye

Andrew and Gus saying goodbye. Someone please explain to me why Gus tried to hug Andrew around his neck? Gus is a tiny peanut.

After leaving the boys we spent a little time in Madrid before we went to Pablo and Carolinas’ house.

Fernandito, the fat baby

Fernandito, the fat baby

Me and Fernando, their latest model. (Isn’t he CUTE!?!)

Pablito, a tiny wrecking ball

Pablito, a tiny wrecking ball

This little monster went through my purse and found some stuff to accessorize his pajamas. 🙂

Enjoying time with friends

Sitting around talking.

Pablito, a tiny wrecking ball, is all tired out

Poor Pablito was beat…

How to be princesses, taught by Isabela

Isabela was instructing me and their au pair on how we (princesses) were supposed to act. 🙂

 

 

 

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Toledo

On the 19th we went to Toledo. Toledo is 70 km away from Madrid. We took a high-speed train that was very comfortable. We got into Toledo and took a bus around the outside of the city. After that we walked around. Toledo is famous for being known as the “City of the Three Cultures” because it was peacefully inhabited (and still is) by Jews, Christians and Muslims. Because of these three cultures it has a very interesting mix of architecture and art. 

Toledo

The city from the outside.

Andrew and Dad with Toledo in the background.

Andrew and Dad with Toledo in the background.

Going into Toledo, Spain

Alex, Gus and Dad with Toledo in the background.

Dad and Alex and some little ragamuffin that keeps tagging along with us. We think he escaped an orphanage.

The facade of the Catedral Primada Santa Maria de Toledo.

The facade of the Catedral Primada Santa Maria de Toledo.

The facade of the Catedral Primada Santa Maria de Toledo. The facade of the Catedral Primada Santa Maria de Toledo.

 

 

We went to the Alcazar and walked around it and the shops in the surrounding area. The Alcazar is most famous for when, during the Spanish Civil War, Colonel Jose Moscardo Ituarte held it against the Spanish Republican forces. The Repblican forces captured Jose’s son (Luis) who was 16 at the time and threatened to kill Luis if Jose didn’t surrender. So Jose talked to Luis and said “Then commend your soul to God, shout ‘Viva Cristo Rey’ and die like a hero.”. And so they killed him. However, in the end the Nationalists (Ituarte’s “side”) prevailed.

The Alcazar

Family picture!

The coat of arms of Toledo, Spain

The Coat of Arms of Toledo.

At this point it was time for lunch. We got some cured meats, some fresh hot bread (he pulled it out of the oven and gave it to us. It was fantastic), some beer and some fruit and ate outside at a park bench in a lovely little area. Dad decided he was going to quit Market Source and become a hippie/bum. He immediately put this plan into action as you can see….

Dad being a bum, sleeping on a bench with beer

After leaving Toledo we went over to have dinner with a colleague and friend of dad’s and his family. At dinner we tried to take a picture and all the sudden everyone was picking up random bottles of alcohol. Augustin started it when he grabbed the Irish Cream and by the end we were all dying laughing.

Dinner with friends

Nice picture

Family dinner with friends and alcohol

Gus…. (and actually, little Alfonso, Alfonso’s son was giving us a thumbs up.)

Family dinner with friends and alcohol

And now it’s building…

Family dinner with friends and alcohol

Wow….

 

 

 

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First day in Madrid!

On the 18th we left Milan to go to Madrid. 

Arriving in Madrid, Spain

In the Madrid airport!

Walking around in Madrid

Walking into the center from our apartment.

Plaza Mayor, Madrid

Plaza Mayor! Here we met some friends and then they took us to get some hot chocolate, churros, and porras.

Churros and Porras in Madrid

Here they come! Look at how balanced the guy is!

Spanish Hot Chocolate

The hot chocolate. This isn’t stuff you really drink. It is mostly to dip your churros in. Churros are plain small ones that are a little more airy. Porras are the bigger ones that are a little more chewy.

Spanish hot chocolate, churros, porras Spanish hot chocolate, churros, porras

Alex and Isabela sharing (Alex’s) chocolate. 🙂

How to travel with kids in Madrid!

Andrew and Pablito.

Almudena, Madrid

Almudena Cathedral

Almudena Cathedral

Almudena Cathedral inside.

Spanish Royal Palace, Madrid Spanish Royal Palace, Madrid

The Royal Palace

Spanish Royal Palace, Madrid

Another of the Royal Palace.

 

After leaving that area it was time for dinner so we went to the Ham Museum and ate mixed salami and of course, Ham with some super fresh, warm bread.

Museo del Jamon (ham museum) Madrid Spain Beer at the Ham museum (Museo del Jamon) Madrid Museo del Jamon, Ham museum, Madrid Spain

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Milan and Pavia

On Saturday we got up bright and early and went into Milan. We knew we were going to go to the Milan center and then we wanted to go to the Certosa of Pavia as well as we had dinner planned with a friend and colleague of dad’s. So you can imagine that we had a very full day planned. 

Duomo, Milan

The Duomo of Milan. It is just as spectacular as everyone says it is.

Duomo, Milan

Stunningly beautiful.

Duomo, Milan. Facade shot

Downright scary it is so awesome.

Rose window in the duomo of Milan

A lovely stained glass window that though it seems small was enormous. Giant.

Crypt in the Duomo of Milan

The crypt down below in the Duomo

Lions in Piazza del Duomo

In the piazza del Duomo there were these HUGE lions. And we all know just how De Piantes act around lions or other such statues. So naturally we got a picture.

Walking in Milan, Italy

As we turned the corner from the Duomo, we happened upon the filming of the next Samsung Galaxy 4 commercial.

Commercial filming in Milan. Some street style!

Filming it!!

Street style commercial filming in Milan

 

All of the people on “set” were models, but the main people were the extremely tall, skinny, pretty girl, the dude in the cranberry pants. (Yes, they were cranberry.) and the little boy (he needed a haircut, just sayin’). It was very intriguing how they kept on shooting over and over again all the while trying to capture the finicky sun perfectly.

We next went to the “big disk” – a very imaginative name, no? We started out…

Big disk of Milan

Like this

Big disk of Milan

And this

But gradually progressed to…

Climbing on the big disk in milan

This

Climbing on the big disk in Milan

Annnnd this. Yes, we climb on stuff.

After leaving the big climbing wall, I mean monumental piece of art, we went to the Magnum store. Magnums are a type of ice cream bar that is actually based out of Milan. And at the store there you can actually have a Magnum custom made. We ordered two for the family to split around. They start with the ice cream on the stick. You pick whether you want Vanilla or Chocolate, then they ask you what type of chocolate you want covering the ice cream. After that you get to choose 3 toppings.

Magnum ice cream topping bar in Milan

The topping bar

Magnum ice cream topping bar, Milan, Italy

Decisions decisions!

Magnums in Milan

Next they move onto what type of chocolate drizzle you want.

Custom Magnums in Milan

This one that we got we had them put rose petals, dried raspberries and pine nuts.

Eating a custom Magnum ice cream bar in Milan

 

Omnomnom!! Andrew chowing down! This one had little chocolate/brownie pieces, nuggets of salted caramel and pistachio bits. It was yummy. very yummy. I am drooling on my keyboard now. 😉

 

After that we went to the Certosa of Pavia. The Certosa was commisioned to be built by the Visconti family (he was the first Duke of Milan) and was built in 1396. The Certosa originally belonged to the Carthusian monks, then it went to the Cistercians, the Carmelites and ended up back in the hands of the Carthusians. It then went to some Benedictines for a short time and then went to the Cistercians who currently reside there. We all loved the Certosa because of its beauty but also because of the serenity that seemed to exude from the buildings and gardens.

Certosa in Pavia.

A close up of the facade.

La Certosa di Pavia

A shot that has been backed out a little.

Obelisk in a water fountain in La Certosa di Pavia

Inside the actual church there was this really cool holy water font that had its own obelisk. I don’t even have an obelisk. It was insane.

La Certosa di Pavia

Some of you might notice the resemblance of this ceiling and the ceiling in Santa Maria Sopra Minerva in Rome.

The courtyard in La Certosa di Pavia

The Courtyard. Each of those little buildings was actually a small apartment for each monk. They now live in community because the apartments are in dis-repair and to save money on heat.

La Certosa La Certosa

 

After site seeing, we went over to Lattanzio and Carlas’ house. We ate a superb dinner courtesy of Carla and her lovely family before getting a guided tour of center-city Pavia.

Eating dinner in Milan

Sitting down to dinner.

Eating

Three of the boys. Andrew, Francesco and Alex.

moon in Milan

The moon peeking out.

The church of St. Augustine in Pavia

The Duomo of Pavia. It houses the remains of St. Augustine. Unfortunately it was closed when we were around.

Winterass

Also while we were out walking we noticed this comical sign selling insurance. The company’s name was… WINTERASS. Andrew mentioned that he was using his Summer one. 😀

 

 

 

 

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