Family Hike

PapaJason had a great idea to go on a midweek day hike. After Navi finished his online school at home they drove to pick up Ada from their actual school.

They drove to Caluga, within the city limits of Bassano, for a quick lunch of piadine and then a hike.

It was a beautiful day with temperatures in the 50s.

Lots of beautiful spring flowers all around.

PapaJason has done this hike often and knows it well. He led the twins into a cave (it was safe to go inside).

A small one left over form the war.

There was one amazing view of Bassano towards the end of the hike.

One Last Hurrah - The Veneto Has Changed To Red Zone

 Last week the Veneto switched over to Red Zone. Similar to orange, but this time around all non-essential shops must close and you can only leave you house for essential reasons and individual exercise, it is encouraged you not visit family or friends. AND Italy's new prime minister has changed the rules and all school have been closed and gone DAD (distance learning) for three weeks. PM Draghi has officially canceled Easter.

But before they go to orange there was a celebration to be had. Somebody's birthday was that week. Ada and Marghe of course wanted to bake the birthday cake.

It was Vanessa's birthday. 

 She hoped to eat Mexican food so DaddyQuique made pozole rojo and other Mexican antojitos.

Come Monday they distanced learning began. Three hours a day, six days a week. We'll see how it goes.

Ada on the other hand does get to go to school in person. Unfortunately she's been placed on an educational learning plan (due to her lack of effort at school) which turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Because of this she's allowed to go to school for extra help. They are both no longer attending Dopo Scuola due to our color status.

It is great for her to leave home, even if it is for three hours a day. She does online classes in her classroom along with three other classmates with a teacher and a teacher's aid. The dad's hope this can help motivate her in doing better with her school work.

One Last Trip - The Veneto is Changing To Orange Zone

On Sunday the Lopezjoneses went on a walk with Vanesa's family and some friends. They learned the day before that the next day the Veneto would be changing from yellow zone to orange. This means table service at restaurants and bars would stop and one will not be able to leave their city.

To the Venetian Lagoon they all went for a long walk.

 It was very peaceful and the scenery was beautiful.

There was a stop for snacks and prosecco for the adults.

For lunch they all had reservations at an agriturismo. Beautiful place with lots of space for the kids to wander about.

And play.

Lunch was delicious. The food consisted of seafood caught in the lagoon and vegetables grown nearby.

It was such a beautiful day to spend before the orange zone lock down.

The walk back to the car wasn't bad either. That's Burano pictured above.

Sent Home From School

 

Well... Monday morning DaddyQuique had to pick up Navi from school. We had missed the second covid test at the hospital the day before. Actually, Navi told his parents it was next week. So they went to a nearby pharmacy, paid the €26 fee, results were negative. He was able to go back to school the next day and resume doposcuola.

Ps. Notice he's wearing his giubbetto and pants. The weather has been better, in the 50s-60s, but you wouldn't know that looking at pictures of Italy, everyone still dresses for winter only because it technically still is.

A Cousin Sleepover

The twins' cousin Alberto (with out his younger brother Andrea) came over on Saturday.

He and Navi immediately began their nurf war - against the girls, Ada, Gia and Lisa.

After about 10 minutes Ada packed her overnight bag and headed with Alberto's mom Caterina, Gia and Lisa back to their house for her sleepover.

Chicken wings were on the menu for dinner. Alberto loved them, unfortunately his lips were chapped and the sauce bothered him a lot, but that didn't stop him from eating them.

The next morning the boys went to the park to get some air and burn off energy.

That afternoon they all went to Rosà for lunch, and to pick up Ada and drop off Alberto.

Ada was not happy to see her family, she enjoys the company of her cousins. It couldn't be all the attention she gets from them?!

While the adults relaxed outside basking in il bel giorno, all the kids were outside playing.

Quarantine (kind of...)

Sunday night the dads received a message that a student in Navi's class tested positive for COVID-19, he was not to go to school for the next few days. As was Ada. Monday they hung out at home and did absolutely nothing.

The next day PapaJason took Navi up into the mountains to play in snow and DaddyQuique took Ada to the Brenta, where she wanted to feed a goose. Social distancing outings.

Ada also spotted a few other critters in the area. Note: There are two cats in this picture.

Later that afternoon Navi met all his classmates at the city hospital for a tampone rapido, a covid test. He was negative, as were all his classmates getting tested. They can go back to school! Navi will take another test a few days later.

Sunday Walk

Sunday morning the Lopezjoneses did the passeggiata lungo il Brenta. It's a walk that starts in Bassano, follows the Brenta River to pove, you cross on a bicycle bridge and walk back on the other side. Two hours, not a hike - a walk.

It was really beautiful.

And quite peaceful.

The twins hated it! They have gotten used to being home and busying themselves online. This cold weather has kept everyone inside.

But none the less, the dads made Ada & Navi get out of the house amongst nature and fresh air.
 

Martedì Grasso / Fat Tuesday

The night of Carnevale was a quite one. Since all of Italy must close restaurants and bars by 6pm and no festivities sponsored by the city, it was a quite night at home.

DaddyQuique did have to go out to get dinner. The campo they were staying up was lit up at night.

Pizza and family, Happy Carnevale!

The next morning it was time to head home.

This was our final glimpse of Venice as she said goodbye.

Carnevale - In Venice

Monday morning, the twins had three days off from school for Carnevale, the Lopezjoneses packed overnight bags and hopped on a train to Venice. Bassano to Venice by train: 1hour 12 minutes.

The day was beautiful with the exception of cold temperatures.

Vanessa and her family graciously offered us their studio apartment in Venice. A easy 10 minute walk from the train Station. Unfortunately for Navi, he came down with a cold. He went out for lunch on the first day and stayed home to rest of the trip.

DaddyQuique and Ada went on their own for an outing the next morning. To a Libreria Aqua Alta, it was a total picture worthy spot. Aqua alta is when the high tide bring water into Venice and floods the city. This bookstore makes the best out of it with their patio.

Ada was more impressed by the cat that lives in the bookstore.

To be in Venice in Carnevale is special. But also during this time because the many tourist one usually sees are a fraction of what they are pre-covid. Here's Ada at the Rialto Bridge, she is wearing a mask because there were some people around, but mainly because soldiers were there paroling. DaddyQuique was there early in the morning and had the entire bridge to himself.

Carnevale in Venice during covid was cancelled. But that did not stop Venetians from dressing up and parading on their own through the city.

Ada enjoyed the walk. DaddyQuique enjoyed it as well because of the lack of crowds.