We spent the past week in Italy during Max's Easter vacation from school. For a break from big city life, we decided to stay in the hill town region between Tuscany and Umbria. We loved staying in the countryside near the little town of Tuoro. Here is a picture showing Lake Trasimeno and the fields of olive trees for which this area is famous.
Looking north at the morning fog in the valleys.
Many Italian families were traveling during this time, as well, so our three generation group fit right in. Here we are in the piazza of Tuoro, having cappucino and hot chocolate.
We spent the evening of Good Friday in the medieval town of Assisi watching the torch light procession of church guilds and hooded penitentes carrying crosses through the town. It was a very moving experience.
Assisi around sunset.
We also spent time sightseeing in the hill towns of Siena, Panicale, Montepulciano, and Cortona. Built high on the hilltops over 1000 years ago as a way to protect their citizens, we were amazed at how beautifully preserved they are.
Food was also a big highlight of the trip. We had a real Italian Easter dinner in Cortona.
Max and Katrina got their first taste of gelato and Italian pizza. Charyssa and Phyllis also spent a day being initiated into the secrets of Italian pasta and ravioli making at a local cooking class. Now the pressure is on for them to make a meal of their own!
Finally, we had to spend a day at the beach near Follonica. While the Mediterranean was still too cold to swim in, we all had a fun day in the sun.
Beyond Max is the island of Elba (able was I...)
Now it is back to school and work for us, while Grandma and Grandpa do some traveling on their own in Germany and Austria.
Prague is famous for its spring (both natural and political) and we've been treated to some beautiful mild weather recently. Our activities are moving out of doors again. Max is back to soccer...er...football, on Saturdays and also signed up to play on a touch rugby team after school. 
Spring time also means that the many castles in the Czech countryside are once again open to visitors. Here is a picture of Konopiste Castle about 20 miles south of Prague where the Archduke Franz Ferdinand lived. His assassination set off the events leading to World War I. The setting is so pretty and we enjoyed touring the castle and the grounds. 
The nice weather has also given us the chance to take advantage of some parks and playgrounds in Prague. Petrin Hill is full of blossoming fruit trees, and Sarka Park with its deep gorges and rock formations was a great place for a Sunday afternoon picnic and hike.
As always in the Czech Republic, one is never too far away from a handy snack stand selling ice cream, hot dogs, and, of course, beer, and we have to admit that we couldn't pass it by.
We also had to say goodbye to Grandma Phyllis and Grandpa Ernie this week. Luckily, they just missed the volcanic ash airport shutdowns and were able to travel back to the US as scheduled. We will miss them! Here they are on their last day in Prague at a cafe.
