Quiet Day

Today is my brother Scott's birthday and we wish him a Happy Day. As I told you last night, Mom and Dad went to Montenegro. While there were some beautiful sights,  they also reported the area seemed very depressed and run down. Many people had no teeth,  and a man running a border crossing area sat with an ice pack on his face for his own tooth ache. They surmised there is poor dental care in this country or something.

There was also a shortage of toilettes, as they call them here. Mom finally found one where you could pay only in Euros, not Kunas which is the currency of Croatia. For some odd reason she happened to have some on her. He sold her a few sheets of toilet paper as well!! After washing her hands on her way out, she noticed no towels to dry them. When she came out shaking her hands to dry them out, the man handed her a single sheet of a paper towel and smiled a toothless smile. They are glad to be home.

I, on the other hand, tried to find a new beach today but did not and ended up walking a great distance until I landed at the same great one I have been on. The weather was nice today and when I got hungry I walked to the market and bought what looked like lemon "jogurt" but it turned out to be plain. I bought two pieces of cheese and homemade bread and some nuts and raisins to snack on. Then I tried for an afternoon nap but that white coffee got me again and I stayed awake worrying about not going to the Sister City of Yountville because it would be a ten hour round trip and require accommodations other than ones we have already paid for. We need to rent a car too. What to do, what to do?

We have seen a little critter here two different times and finally learned it is a hedgehog. I have only ever seen one in story books! Also my pictures will contain a photo of the world's largest moth and also a preying mantis which lives in my room. I forgot to tell you about the small lizard that also lives there but he was too quick for a photo. I can't help but think of my good friend and coworker, Janet ,who would have checked out of this hotel long ago.

Soon it will be my cousin's fortieth wedding anniversary. We have learned of three local women who make special bouquets from flowers they grow in their gardens, but only for friends upon special arrangement. Of course that applies to us now! In fact, I have become known as "Signorina Bianchi" (my ancestor's surname)  at one of the local restaurants. I think that is all for today.

The biggest thing on my mind now is deciding about visiting the Sister City to my city; it is so far away.  I am also thinking of how much I miss my family. I try to focus on the fact that I am here in one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen and what a miracle it is that I have been so successful in my research and what a fantastic family I have met here. We have an open invitation to visit anytime and plenty of family homes to stay in. All of them also rent parts of their homes and one of my cousin's sons has an apartment for rent with the most fantastic view in town. I have yet to have my photo taken holding the Yountville Sun Newspaper in my hands, as our local paper prints these types of photos. But I think when I have it taken, it will be from the balcony of the aforementioned apartment. Adio!