We had arrived at night! It was dark and we
were too exhausted from the long trip to really see what the
countryside looked like. 
The first day I awoke in Italy, I felt like a little girl just entering Disney World! Steve had left the hotel to report to the place where he would work. I was young, and had a 9 month old baby, but was curious enough to venture out of my room. 
First, I went to the hotel restaurant to order breakfast. I had no idea what to order, or how to order it in Italian. Thank god, the waiter spoke a little English. I was starving and ended up with Cappuccino and english muffins, the baby had scrambled eggs. It was my first cup of Cappuccino, but definately not my last...love the stuff. I then put my baby in his stroller and got up the courage to leave the hotel. I just started walking down the streets, stopping constantly to look at everything. 
I was totally in awe of the beatiful buildings, and the people who spoke a language that I had not known. I even took a bus the first day and ended up lost in the countryside by the Austrian border. Steve was relieved when I arrived back at the hotel. 
This was the beginning of the three wonderful years that we lived there. Yes, I did learn to speak the language and still do somewhat. We saw many beautiful towns, met many lifelong friends there that we will never forget and had one of the best experiences in our lives. Many happy times were spent during our years there. 
Simple, yet wonderful memories, like Steve feeding the pigeons in the square downtown, Vicenza. I have almost the same picture of him as a baby feeding the pigeons when he was two in Seville, Spain. In the warmer months...on a Saturday...we would go downtown to the open air market in the square. 
You could slowly stroll and buy fresh fish, cheese and vegetables, or just about anything. That's one of the things I miss the most. What a wonderful and relaxed way to shop! Occassionally, we would go to the station downtown and take the train to beautiful, romantic, Venice. 
One of the most beautiful sites I had ever seen! The architechtual style of the buildings and the golden paintings on them in St. Marks Square, Venice were breath-taking. You could take a boat and visit the other islands of Murano or Burano. There they made blown glass items and lace. Or maybe take a romantic gondola ride down the canals. The three years that we spent in Italy went by so fast. We went with the attitude to accept this new remarkably different culture. To understand that there is diversity and difference in the world and to respect that. We wanted to enjoy this once in a lifetime experience. Thanks for letting us share our memories, Deb & Steve