heading home for the holidays...

Milan is gorgeous and festive around the winter holiday time...

Gorgeous sunsets on a clear day (this one was taken at the Vigentino bus stop)...

The view of the Christmas tree of lights from my apartment:

And get-togethers with friends!

Carrie had a bunch of us over for a lovely brunch at the end of a recent three-day weekend:

I've enjoyed the past few weeks... but now am excited to head HOME for the holidays!

I haven't spent a Christmas in New York in about 7 years and am really looking forward to the time in Rochester with family and friends. My suitcase is packed... and it's mostly all gifts and little yummy things from Italy and my recent travels through Europe... I was also able to stuff some clothes in there but might end up wearing some of Mom's!

Rochester, here I coooooooome!

Markt - Market Square, Bruges

The main square in Bruges is absolutely stunning. I read on the Wikipedia article (here) that it was rennovated in 1995. There used to be parking in the square but now it is mostly traffic free (...although I do recall almost being plowed down by a huge tour bus!).

Markt (or Market Square)... shown below in some pictures:

Mom and Dad checking out the beautiful square:

The Provincial Court:

BRUGES, BELGIUM

I really enjoyed our day-trip to Bruges from Brussels. The train was a couple hours and super easy.

Bruges is very walk-able and such a cute, quaint city.

Below are some photos from walking through the city... I liked the buildings' colors and architecture a lot!

Momers!

We also walked into this gorgeous church:

FAVORITES from Brussels

Below are some of my favorite photos taken while I was in Brussels, Belgium.

A covered alleyway just off the main street...

within the Grand Plaza...

Er, cake please...

Me, Mom, Dad...

Belgium -- churches

The church/buildings shown in the photo above were really interesting to walk by. Mom and Dad read about it in their book earlier in the day and told me the story behind these storefronts built against the entire side of the church. -- Apparently, the people that gave money to help build the church were then able to have a shop here... and they still exist today. (I think that's pretty much how it goes...) I've never seen a church like this before - and almost missed it walking right by! Very cool.

Our last morning in Brussels, I took a walk with Mom and Dad through a different part of the city. I enjoyed it. We went by this great church... I really like the reading statue shown two photos below... :P

Beautiful stained glass inside the church!

Then a nice guy took some photos of the three of us  : )

walking around Brussels...

Brussels is a nice city... although I'm glad we had time to also go to Bruges for a day-trip... it is nice to be able to see such different parts of Belgium! I'd like to get back some day and see more. Below are photos taken while we were out and about in Brussels:

Reading and enjoying the sunshine  : )

Cute...

I love this street art!

The flowers and buildings are equally gorgeous...

(one end of the Grand Plaza...)

Mom, Dad, Angela, BRUSSELS!

Our few days in Brussels were great. My presentation with Mom at the conference went really well... and the rest of the conference was solid. Angela was there too! She is not only a great friend of mine in Milan but also the elementary librarian this year! We began at ASM together last school year... she was a 2nd grade teacher... and it's been really great to have her be part of the Library's team now (thankfully, she loves the change too!).

Out for dinner... sidewalk-style in Brussels:

Angela had mussels in Brussels!

Dad stuck to pasta bolognese... 

The friends that my dad just spent time with in Cork, Ireland (just before coming to Brussels) have friends from Ireland that have been living in Brussels for a number of years now. They put my parents in touch with these friends and we went to their place for a lovely dinner after the conference our first night! It was great. A really nice family... and a delicious, home-cooked meal.

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM!

I never imagined going to Belgium... until I moved to Italy and found myself surrounded by amazing travel opportunities all across Europe. I am loving this. The list of great places to be able to travel to just keeps going and going.

Mom and I presented together at the ECIS Librarians' Conference in Brussels late September. (ECIS stands for: European Council of International Schools.) It was a lot of fun to do something 'librarian' together. Our session was titled: Enhance Your Students' Library Experience with iMovie.

So... I was there for work, really... here's a photo of the second day's keynote speaker, Jim Cummins.

...BUT... we had fun too. It was awesome to be able to attend a great conference and spend time with Mom and Dad in a new city.

Here we are in the Grand Place - Grote Markt

and we definitely also ate

BELGIAN WAFFLES! (they really are that good)

rain and accidents...

Mom and Dad have arrived in Denver! They got in late Tuesday night... and yesterday (Wednesday) they brought the rain aaaaand a car accident. Thankfully, everyone is alright.

Mom and Dad always seem to bring rain to Denver... a place where it does not often rain. (They really brought the rain last September... and absurd amounts of flooding... for Lenny and Lexey's wedding. Yikes.)

It was not supposed to rain yesterday buuuuuut the sky clouded over, turned dark gray, and then poured. We were in Tony's Market during the worst of the storm and everyone inside was commenting on the rain. It was raining sideways; the wind was intense. After an hour or so the weather cleared up and the evening was beautiful - we had a lovely dinner on the back patio.   : )

...On to the 'accident' part...

Mom, Dad, and I were in Lexey's car (before the rain, actually), driving along Colorado Blvd. We were at a complete stop in a line of traffic but the car behind us came through the intersection at about 35 mph... then realizing the cars in front of him were at a complete stop, he (thankfully!) slammed on his brakes. He ran into the back of us. Dad saw it coming and kept his foot on the brake... but the car was still pushed about 5 feet forward.

It took a couple hours... the cops came, a report was made... the kid that ran into us was a bit shaken but very nice and apologized, saying it was completely his fault.

This is the first car accident Dad or I have ever been in. (Dad's comment to that is that he's a bit older than I am! True.)

Anyway - we are all alright and the car is too. There was surprisingly little damage made to the car and Lexey was incredibly understanding about the entire thing - happy that the three of us were ok.

Bizarre... but as we're on our way home (to safety!)... Mom, Dad, and I were stopped in a line of traffic (again - this time on Logan St.)... a car came to a stop behind us... aaaand then we heard a bit of a crash as a truck behind the car crashed into it. Seriously?!? Thaaaaankfully, the car behind us had enough room and did not hit us. Goodness. (I can only imagine what it would look like to the police and/or insurance companies that we were in two accidents - hit from behind - within a couple hours of each other. It would be like we were driving around the city trying to be hit!)

Dad woke up this morning with a bloody nose - probably due to the altitude and dry air... soooo... Welcome to Denver Mom and Dad!

hiking with Mom and Dad at the Bluffs, NY

I enjoyed the walk along the bluffs in Chimney Bluffs State Park with Mom and Dad. Hot day... fun hike.

I see a Mom!...

...more hikin views! at the Bluffs, NY

More views along our hike in Chimney Bluffs State Park: