Italy

Our first 5 weeks here in Albertville flew by. We’ve learned a lot of French, even if it doesn’t seem like we can speak much of the language yet. We are definitely getting the basics and will soon be speaking a lot more. We are in the middle of a 2 week break (our schedule coincides with the local schools, since many of us have kids in school).

Since we were so busy getting settled, taking care of the kids, and keeping up with class, we didn't have any time to plan a voyage during our winter break. However, Micah and I really wanted to go somewhere. We did a little research one night and booked a rental car for a week (because it was cheaper than 3 days), found a hotel, some sites to see, printed off directions (because we still don't have a cell phone) and headed in the direction of Italy.



We were headed for Turin, Italy, only about 200km (124 miles) from Albertville. Google said we could have been there in 2 1/4 hours, but we decided to add 2 hours to avoid the $50 tunnel toll through the mountain. We figured we had time on our side, why not?! We could drive over the mountain, instead of through it.


Driving through Lanslebourg- Mont-Cenis France, aka "ski town" to us. While driving through (the first time) we saw lots of people carrying skis. We soon found out why.

Unfortunately, when we arrived at the road that would have taken us up the mountain, all we saw were people skiing; no road. Little did we know the road we needed to take turns into ski slopes during the winter months. So we turned around and drove back.

Past where we pulled off the road and got stuck in the snow.


This is a view out my window while we were stuck in the snow (on the side of the road where there was an area to pull off).  It was around 10 minutes before a nice couple came and helped push us out.




Past Le Fort Victor-Emmanuel (above), still wanting to stop, but definitely no time now, and back into the town we had stopped at for lunch, to connect with the toll road to cross into Italy (below).


It's not getting dark yet, we were just in the shadow of a mountain.
Brr, was it cold compared to being in the bright sun.


Micah paying the $50 toll.


Into the mountain we go...


Mama: "We're in a mountain!"
Sam: "We're going through a really, really, really, really, reeeeaaaally long tunnel!"


Welcome to Italy


And another tunnel


Only in the United States is 102 too fast


Our interesting hotel room, newly renovated by the great owner.  Where's David?!

The owner pointed out a lot of interesting places and fed us very well. It wasn't a bed and breakfast, but we had the personal treatment as if it was.


Sam & Liza's room

The owner suggested we eat at Cianci, so we did. We tried a few authentic dishes which included rabbit and lamb, all very tasty.

The next morning we had a great breakfast at the hotel. The owner made sure we had hot croissants, freshly boiled eggs and a nice plate of meat and cheese on our table even though most of the food was out on the buffet.



We took the tram downtown and got off at the market, which had overtaken the parking lot in which we had parked for supper the previous night. This is the largest open air market in Europe. Produce was so cheap, that we bought a bunch to bring back with us.


We enjoyed some delicious pizza for lunch before really getting into our site seeing.


Walking to Piazza Castello


Palazzo Madame


at Piazza Castello


at Piazza Castello


Duomo di San Giovanni Battista

The main reason we decided to go to Turin (or Torino) was because we wanted to visit Duomo di San Giovanni Battista (Cathedral of St. John the Baptist) where the Shroud of Turin is located--a linen cloth that bears the image of a crucified man believed by many to be Jesus of Nazareth. Alas, the sign on the door says they're sorry they're closed until April.

The day was flying by, but we wanted to see one more thing before leaving. Tunnels. Not tunnels to drive through, but tunnels to walk through. Under the city of Turin are lots of tunnels from e dell'Assedio di Torino del 1706 (the Siege of Turin in 1706). Even though the kids skipped their naps they were well behaved and loved the tour through the underground tunnels.

 

Sam climbing back out of the tunnels (railing added years later)

Liza fell asleep on our way back to the tram.

We rode the tram back to our hotel where our rental car was and grabbed a quick bite at a nearby foreign restaurant...


Sam enjoying a McChicken at McDonald's in Italy, while playing a game that was projected onto our table.

We changed a couple diapers, hopped in the car and drove home.... Haha, if only it was that easy to get out of the city. We had our directions and our map pulled up on the iPad, but it took us 3 times before we got on the right toll road out of Turin. If only we were more familiar with Italian signs, we may have saved about $8 in tolls. Oh the price you pay for not knowing a country's language.  Good thing we are learning French before we go to Togo.