Give a little bit of your culture to me.

Yesterday there was a festival in Urbino. I went with the whole family, including Guido who was here for a day and a half only. He works in Pisa, so he comes home every couple weeks. He is very nice and speaks some english. We were able to communicate pretty well. He is an auronautical engineer. He is very interested in Canada. The whole family is. We looked at the Atlas last night, and I showed them where I was born, where I went to college and some of the cities I have been to in Canada. Everyone asks me if I live near Toronto. So after Guido asked me this too, I had to show him. They were amazed at how big Canada is and how spread out everything is. It really is, looking at the atlas. Canada has to be shrunk before it fits on the page. Italy is expanded. Weird.
Allora. This is roughly equivilent to us saying, "anyways" or "ok" but not is the yes sort of way, in the ok-we-can-move-on-in-this-conversation kind of way.
Allora. There was a native exhibit in one of the piazza's. There were teepees and some tables with art and jewellery and keychains and things. I asked where they were form and they said everything there was American, and I told them I was Canadian and they said they had some friends in Edmonton! I was going is ask their names, just in case, but I had to run. The children went with Alessandra to take Guido to the bus and say goodbye. I stayed to have a look at the tables. Up and down all the streets that connect to the central piazza there were tables selling antiques, books, CDs, plants, sunglasses, prints, drums, greenpeace lifetime memberships, soap, jewellery, honey, meat, cheese, organic licorice and instruments. You could tell some tables were there for the festival, and some were just there because there was a festival and therefore people to buy things. Oh, the festival was called BioSalus. It was for biological (organic) food and sustainable living. I suppose I forgot the mention that.
I bought a few things. I REALLY wanted to buy this rainstick with a cool looking snake on it, but at roughly fifty dollars, plus I would have to eventually get it home, plus once the kids found out what it did and made noise with it all the time, I decided against it. I did, however, buy some CDs. I listened to them this morning. One of them is a bit more dramatic. The cover is a very closeup of the singer smoking. It is in black and white and is reminiscent of Neil Young. It is good music, but I like the other one better. It is a compilation album with crazy graphics. It is called "Targato Italia." The music is really upbeat and kind of folksy-hiphoppy. I listened to it all morning.
I also had my first Americano! Ahem, cafe americano. This are two very different things in Italian. Allora, it was amazing. I used to drink them when I drank coffee about two years ago during my stint at second cup. Having quit the coffee, I still have a great appreciation for it. It was the best americano I have ever had. Ahem. Cafe americano.
The children really loved the native exhibit, and Alessandra asked me if the teepee's were real. I very confidently told her yes, because I don't know what a fake one looks like. I was a little homesick, though, when I saw them. It reminded me of the teepee dad bought and how I wanted to have my birthday in there when I was 10 or so.
I have been having a lot of memories of childhood, being around the children. I think of things I have not thought about in years. Seeing them with their mother and how they interact with each other. Speaking of which, I would like to take this moment to personally apologize to my mother for every behaving badly or screaming any louder than 3 decibals. I'm sorry.
Allora, we were supposed to go back in the afternoon, but it did not happen. Which is ok. I had stayed until about 5, when Alessandra and the children were supposed to come back, and I was tired to I went home and they had decided not to go. Alessandra often thinks she can do about 36 things in one day when in reality there is only time for 7. She makes me look quite lazy.
Oh! And I thought of the funniest thing. Carrie. Ha. Get it?
Allora. I have some pictures! Yay.
Guido was unable to fix the problem of the internet, but Alessandra has a coworker who is a computer tech. He is coming over this week. However, I transferred my pictures to her computer and I am now able to put them up! So, off I go. Then, I will wash the floor, buy some tea, and pick up the children from their respective schools and go to the park for an hour or so. Then, dinner.
Ciao!