Italy, anyone?

O.k., so it probably goes without saying that we recommend Italy to anyone who gets the chance to visit. In fact, as I sit here thinking about it, I'm really not sure why we aren't moving to Rome to teach there next year...

So, we made a quick stop in Rome before heading to Florence to join Frank and Leanne for New Year's. The city was incredible and the food was great! We did a quick tour and saw the major sites in the Forum area, including the Colosseum above. We walked across the grassy field where the Circus Maximus once stood, and we saw St. Peter's as the sun went down. Not bad, considered we only went there because our stopover in Milan ended up taking 20 hours and we just had to find a way out of there!

Next, we jumped on a train and went to Florence.

We had a great time in Tuscany and even had time for a day trip to Siena. Both cities were lovely, with exquisite cathedrals that cause a sharp intake of breath followed by the unbidden "where the hell did they get the money to build all this?" Still, one look at it all and you have no trouble believing everything that you read in school about the Italian Renaissance and its incredible achievements. Some of it was like looking at the pyramids, seriously.

Well, it's been hard trying to find time to do this update and the little that we have is about used up. We just wanted to say hi to everybody and give a quick note about what we've been up to. If it's cold where you are we can report that it is now (finally) getting cold again here. Last weekend we were walking down the beach in T-shirts, and today I'm not sure if I want to walk down the beach, period.

Abrazos,

Los Stuhan

Overdue Catalan Holiday Update!

Hey everybody, howdy-hi! That's what I imagine the Catalan Caga Tio talks like (Mr. Hanky). The picture shows a bunch of the little log-men with smiley faces, hats, and wooden dowel legs. This is an integral part of the Catalan Holidays, and his name is Caga Tio (crapping uncle).

Caga Tio is put out several weeks before Christmas. The traditions vary, but many families have the kids leave food out for Caga Tio every night before going to bed. In the morning, the children discover that only crumbs, banana peel, ect. remain. The Caga Tio begins to "fatten up."

On Christmas morning (or Eve) the children will come down and find a nice warm blanket covering Caga Tio's backside. They sing songs to him and tap him with sticks to encourage him to "crap" presents and sweets. The parents reach under the blanket and remove the goodies that the kids have coaxed out of poor old Caga Tio. This tradition is very popular here. In fact, in many town squares there will be a giant Caga Tio and kids wait in line to hit him with a stick to get sweets. I've never seen a line of kids quite this long waiting to sit on Santa's lap at the mall, maybe we should introduce the sticks to our tradition, just to help Santa remember.