Beach Bodies and SOOO much more!

Venere Azzurra Beach, close to Lerici. Davide and Carlo Mannucci and Andrea showing off their buff beach bodies!

Nonno Carlo's birthday. Tanti Auguri! Looking good at 78. Daniele, Alice, Christian and Julian Carli. Missing: Johnathan!

Guido, Andrea and Nonno Carlo. More birthday photos.

Sitting around and "shootin' the bull" on the terrace in Follo. Tommaso Cardullo, Andrea, Dario, Carlo Mannucci, Carlo Carli and Guido.

The girls were in the kitchen making chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies. It's a tradition to make American cookies when we visit. Alessandra Mannucci, me, Ann and Katie Cardullo. (love that little girl!)

We all posed with our "Ciao Johnathan" sign to let Johnathan know that we are thinking of him! Andrea Mannucci did the art work and the other kids colored it in.

Pizza and Farinata at the famous Pia Pizzeria in La Spezia with the Carli, Mannucci and Cardullo kids.

The adult table. Andrea, Alessandra, Benjamin, Tommaso, Ann and Carlo.

This is a shot of Manarola from Via dell'Amore. We walked from Manarola to Corniglia in the Cinque Terre area.

Via dell'Amore, Cinque Terre.

Hillside farming in Corniglia

A shot of the beach area in Corniglia, Cinque Terre area. If you don't mind laying out on big bolders, this is a picturesque beach with clean water.

Guido on the drums playing for Irene (daughter of Zucchero). They opened for Simply Red in Sarzana.

Simply Red Concert in Sarzana. This was a fun evening--the weather was great and the acoustic music was so beautiful to hear. Simply Red CD music is more electronic sounding. The live show was a lot better.

Christian getting ready to get his canoe.

View of the Fiescharino Beach. This is a lovely place near Lerici. This is the beach Andrea frequented when he was in high school. The kids also remember coming here when they were younger. The scenery is lovely and the water is usually clean. There are rocks to climb on and explore and canoes to rent.

Evening spent strolling the passagiata at Viareggio with the Mannucci Family.

This is a pastry shop in Sarzana. I wonder why we don't have pastries that look and taste like this here in the U.S.?

We had a family dinner and invited aunts and uncles and cousins from both sides of the family. After the dinner, the Carli family "broke out" their instruments for a concert on the terrace.

Another evening in Viareggio. This is our favorite Fritto Misto (fried mixed fished) at the end of the passagiata. They catch the fish fresh everyday and then fry it up and sell it right from the boat. If you're ever in Viareggio--you HAVE to try it!

The Pineta in Viareggio is famous for their Bomboloni. It's a deep fried pastry that comes with vanilla or chocolate pudding inside or Nutella. I like the vanilla pudding and the boys prefer the Nutella--YUM!

At church with friends. Andrea, Davide Mannucci. Mauro, Carlo, Mannucci, Daniele and Julian in front.

Nonno Carlo is advertising in Italy for Simas Floor Company. Notice the pocket my mother-in-law sewed in for him.

This is a beach on La Palmaria, an island off the golf of La Spezia. We had to walk over boulders and cliffs to get here. A boat stops by every now and then to sell water, ice cream and other snacks.

View of the beach at La Palmaria.

Our last night together we ate at a restaurant in Follo. Alice and Julian.

Alessandra Mannucci, Cristina Carli and me.

Last night on the terrace. The kids didn't want to go to bed because they knew it was time to say goodbye.

This was a special trip for our family that helped us strengthen our relationships with family and friends in Italy. Andrea appreciated the time he spent with his brothers and hopes to be with them more often in the future. As we grow older we understand even more how precious and important relationships within our families are. Christian and Julian were able to spend time with their cousins Daniele and Alice and strengthen their relationships with them. Although they are far away, they are close by in our hearts.