Wednesday, 18 July 2007

Summer dreaming

It's not that I'm counting but I have eight days of teaching left and then I'm officially on my summer break. I finish on 27 July and am not expected back in the classroom until Sept 10th...at least that's what I've been told. I have booked tickets to Denmark and Germany for 1 - 13 August and am very excited to visit some wonderful friends there and go back to two of the countries I toured through in 1994. Then it's back to Naples for the peak of the summer break, when most of the city is empty (and somehow that is strangely delightful). I am hoping that we manage to run away for a few days at the beach. We have booked tickets for 29 August to fly to Venice and then train to Udine to join Gigi's family as they celebrate the wedding of his cousin on 1st Sept. I'm looking forward to seeing them again, and participating in what I expect will be slightly unconventional nuptials for Italians.
Other plans include a trip to Almaty in Kazakhstan. I just have to work out how to get to Istanbul from Naples. Why Kazakhstan? Well, Uncle Russell and Aunty Kathy (yep, never too old for 'uncle' and 'aunt' usage as it makes me feel younger) have recently moved there on a four year work contract. I figure it's my only chance to visit Kazakhstan, and it's certainly easier to do the trip from Italy than Brisbane.
In the meantime Gigi has run away to a farm just north of Naples and is labouring away digging and planting a new orchard. He tells me he is wearing boots, overalls and a hat (god forbid, Italians just don't wear hats as it contradicts their sun worshipping policy) all supplied by the priest that runs the establishment. He's enjoying it immensely.
Eight days...sixteen lessons...I am feeling increasingly Italian as I lose motivation with the rising temperatures and lazy atmosphere that creeps over everyone at this time of year.

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