Quando in Italia...

Hello dear readers!

Apologies for not updating, but as I've named this blog Shelby in Italia... well, I'd need to be there right?! I'm back in NYC and working on some new projects, while of course keeping Italia dear in my heart.

I am still connected to the Internet though, so if any posts catch your eye and you have questions, definitely feel free to comment or email and I will get back to you ASAP.

And no worries, I'll dust the blog off the next time I'm there - vacation, living, or working! And... if you've got any ideas how I can make that a reality, holler!

xo and thanks for checking on me!
Shelby

Americans in Italy for Obama

Al Mare...

Viareggio, Forte dei Marmi, e Castiglioncello... che bello!!

On a day that happened to be overcast and rainy in Firenze, we took a day trip to the Tuscan shore... luckily, once we hit the coast it was a beautiful, sunny day and unseasonably warm. I'm glad we weren't deterred by the original weather... it's always worth a shot, I guess!

The day was entirely lovely, so not to single out... but highlights:

1. Driving up and down the main strip of Viareggio and Forte dei Marmi reminded me a lot of a South Beachish kind of place (heavy on the ish). It's a way longer, beautiful boulevard dotted with palm trees... hotels on one side, and the bagni (bath houses) lining the beachside. Basically, each bath house has a different name (I think I saw every Italian name I've ever heard... I'm still waiting for Shelby. Though curiously, they DID have Haiti - which I snapped for V).

Each bagno gives their customers access to their own strip of the beach, has a parking lot, and often a restaurant. It wasn't very crowded when we went, so I can't imagine what it's like in the full swing of summer season. That said, I need to go back!



2. Lunch at Marechiaro. The most fantastic, freshest seafood -- sitting outside and taking in the seaview. If you have the chance to go -- you have to get the guazzetto and fritto misto (the former being this amazing tomato-based octopus soup... CRAZY). We killed this meal.



3. Una pausa on the beach to recover post-lunch... in addition to regular chairs, Marechiaro had these loungers I'd never seen before. Which is probably saying more about me, than the bath house, but I digress. They were flat, elevated lounge chairs... almost like a bed - add a pillow and you could seriously knock out. Note to self...



4. Coastal drive to Castiglioncello, a little town about 30 minutes away. The views are so incredible, I didn't even bother paying much attention to the windy (and scary) roads. We stopped for a gelato, then caffè at one of the bars in the tiny center. Everyone was hanging out doing the equivalent of stunting, Italiano-style. At first I thought it was a bike convention as everyone had their motorcycles out, people-watching, and otherwise enjoying the day.



5. Stroll/hike down to the sea and take it in up close. I'll let the pic speak for itself here.



Una giornata bellissima...

It's Been A Long Time

Ok -- I'm feeling the heat... I know, I know... I've been bad about updating. It's funny how you don't have a lot to do, but have a lot to do at the same time. Being back in NY for almost a month now has been interesting. I've caught up with a lot of friends, and not caught up with a lot at the same time. I went campaigning for Barack almost as soon as I got back... and since then time has been flying.

Now, I'm on a much-needed break visiting my family in Maryland. A household with little children goes to bed early... so I've had some time to actually relax for a bit, enjoy the quiet, and maybe get around to updating this thing?

Like I said... I'm sitting on so many unblogged experiences that are still relevant to the title of this blog, so here goes...

Popemobile & Politics

Naturally... everything is going to remind me of Italia, right? Yesterday on the news, I got to see the "Popemobile" cruising 5th Avenue. Gotta love: 1) the "informal" name of this safety vehicle, and 2) the kind of world we are living in that requires it.

In any event... it was a gorgeous afternoon, sun beating through the windows, and sipping on an Italian Spritz (my new drink of choice).

Tomorrow... off to PA campaigning for Barack!!

Yikes

I'm so ridiculously backed up on posts right now, it's a joke!!! Thank you all for sticking with me and checking in. I recently was featured on the Black Women in Europe blog, and while any new visitors have a lot of posts to read from the past -- ugh, maybe it'd be good if I was currently updating as well?? Uh, yea.

I've been busy living and soaking up Italia for the past couple of months -- as very, very (too) soon I'm head back to the States for a few months (visas do expire and an amazing job needs to reveal itself) ... but I'm determined to return sooner than we all think. That being said, that means I still have so many Italia posts to write -- so no worries, I will continue sharing my Italian life... even if I'm posting from NYC for a bit... stay tuned!

Weekender

Sorry y'all I know it's been a while -- I'm backlogged on a lot of pictures from my recent trips around Italy... sneak peak above..

We're in Prague now for the weekend, it's absolutely beautiful so stay tuned for updates when I'm back!!

xo

The Po-Po

The title of the post is in dedication to Abdul who will forever be associated with the term "po-po" aka police. I don't know if he's the first person who ever said it or not, but whenever I hear it I immediately think of him and how he'd refer to our hometown squad all the time.

Anyway... today as we were minding our business, riding the scooter to drop me off at school (late), I saw a man in a dashingly handsome uniform - regal almost - color scheme of the carabinieri (aka the special Italian police. They wear different colors and are more powerful than the regular polizia but I still haven't completely figured out exactly what they do). This well-dressed officer was walking with a bit more strut than the carabinieri officers normally have, and then as he was walking towards his logoed vehicle, it clicked that he actually WAS the carabinieri.

S: Oh my, check out that guy's uniform? It's Really nice?! Is he someone special? (this uniform had tails and cords hanging from the shoulder people)
N: Oh... hmm, those must be the Ferragamo ones.

THE POLICE HAVE FERRAGAMO UNIFORMS?!! THE POLICE??

After us laughing really hard at the ridiculousness of whoever made that decision -- I mean, come ON -- Ferragamo is NOT cheap -- I'm informed that there is also an Italian basketball team that wears Armani uniforms. Still, I find that a bit more reasonable as it's known to be a money-making enterprise anyway.

NYPD I guess you better get some DKNY really quick.