So we started with a trip to Greece, flying into Athens for a night and day, which was perfect to see the Parthenon, and archelogical museum etc, they enjoyed this, the weather was lovely. The next evening we flew to Rhodes and stayed at the Armathus Hotel, which was perfect for us, the boys participated in all events during the day, beginning with bocce at 10.15, beach volleyball at 11, then darts, table tennis, cocktail challenge! with water polo at 3 and then soccer at 5. It was a typical resort hotel, with the biggest selction of foods at breakfast and dinner which the boys and l loved, Jayne not as much. We had great weather, the service in Greece was some of the best l have had ever!! and everyone was very helpful and happy. We flew back to Bologna well fed, brown and happy.
The next day l flew to NYC to work with 8 for 5 days, it was an eventful week with Beth the CEO leaving, Andrew the NZ starting, and an upgrade on the user interface beginning, as well a change back to the SMI office soon. Not much time to do anything, though l got to the Frick collection as a breather, and picked up two paintball guns and equipment we ordered for the boys.
Stayed in the number 1 UN hotel, which had great views of the major buildings of NY and the river and the UN, as well as a hotel called POD 39, which has hotels around the world, very clean, modern and fun, worth staying at if you are in NY.
Returned to Bologna after finding out the Fennesseys would not be coming with us to Umbria, as too much work with all the changes at 8, very sad, especially for all the boys, and that Guisseppi had a medical issue and we have had to move our trip sailing around Sicily to September, which is good actually as the boys are coming now, and the weather will be better than late June.
The boys went to a 2 week tennis camp towards Modena in the hills, quite a famous camp, most Italians who play tennis have been to it as kids. It has about 10 clay courts, a hotel to stay in and other activities to do. Hunter did very well winning 3 out of the 4 championships in the second week, and Ewan doing also well, but has not got the killer instinct that Hunter has, though l know Ewan plays tennis very well, hits it extremly well, but Hunter just studies the game very well and uses his pace around the court.
So they enjoyed that, loved playing around at night sneaking into others rooms and playing about, all tired. They complained that there was not enough food and the extra activities where a bit boring and few. I think the 2 weeks was perfect, and gave Janye and l a week without them, and Jayne another week without any of us!
So we have just had a week in Bologna with the weather heating up, thank god we joined the tennis club with a pool. Hunter had specialists and doctors look at his shoulder that he said was sore, and they all said he has some issue and should not play any sport that involves throwing or hitting, luckily we found a sport doctor who said he was fine and if it got sore to stop, and then gave us the permit for him to play on the tennis camp, and he had no issues except a sore wrist in the last 2 days. Bloody doctors here l feel get their licence from cafes! And the specialists from the gutter!, all over rated and over panicked.
So on Saturday we leave to Umbria for 2 weeks, and though the Fennesseys cant make it we have got a few friends dropping by for a few days through out the time, as we have a 14 bed villa! We are taking Katerina with us who we organized to help with all 5 boys, which are 2 now, and felt we could not cancel her as she had changed things to come, but she will help the boys get through most of their homework, only their reading to do themselves. We have Francesca and Dario, Dodo coming for 3 days, Dina and his family for a weekend, two friends of the boys for 3 days each, so they will have some company, and no one for too long.
We are staying near Citta di Castello which is where Alberto Burri has two wonderful museum's dedicated to his work, also Spoletto is near by, Assisi, Gubbio, Arezzo. The villa has a pool, gym with window looking into the pool, and a large enterainment area, along with the 14 beds. We are taking badminton , cricket, soccer, frisbee and many board games, so we should be right.
So until next time, after Umbria we come back to Bologna, and then a big drive with Megan Hollick up north through Europe towards Copenhagen, so farewell.
view from the UN hotel
Parthenon
Theatre of Dionysus
Athens, gate to Olympieion
