Message from Milan: Market Day

Today was a day of accomplishment! Brock and I have been going to a Market a few Metro stops from our house. It has been so neat to see all the different vendors and be surrounded in the true culture of Milan. So many people come here every Tuesday and Saturday and we have truly enjoyed being a part of the scene and watching the conversations and transactions take place.

You can buy practically anything at the Market. There are blocks and blocks of tents and eager Salesmen ready to sell you their products. As you walk, you notice the purses hanging, the clothing, and of course, tent after tent filled with shoes. There are personal products, house cleaning supplies, and baby clothes. The prices are great and the quality isn’t too bad either. If you’re lucky, some days you can find unique, “one of a kind” pieces of art and handmade jewelry and handbags.

Our favorite block of the market is the “Farmer’s Market” and Deli Street. Every time we go Brock and I “oooooo” and “ahhhhh” over the lush looking vegetables, fruits, cheeses, and meats. And every time Brock and I always say, “We should get some of those oranges!” “Look at those strawberries!” “Ohhhh I would love those olives!” “Holy cow! Look at the size of those loaves of bread!” I bet you get the picture. But every time we go, we are reminded we don’t speak, read, or understand Italian! We have no idea how to request an amount of anything because we can’t read the sign and we are never exactly sure how much it costs because… we can’t read the sign.

We inevitably, always, at the same time, every week, we get overwhelmed! All we hear is “Signorina…Signorina!” which means Miss, Miss; followed by something else (which I can’t understand) and lots of yelling, which we think is them yelling the prices (which, if we understand the number, we don’t understand for what!?).
But today was different. Today we made a commitment to ourselves and the fine vendors at the Market that we were going to push through, tough it up, and make a purchase! We brought our, Say It Right in Italian book, and we were not leaving without some goods! I’m not going to say it was easy, but after our first:
“Parla inglese?” (Do you speak English?)
“Parlo poco Italiano.” (I speak a little Italian.)
“Quanto costa?” (How much does this cost?)
We bought some strawberries! And then some bananas and oranges! Brock wanted some potatoes so I said it was all on him…and he did it! Then he was feeling brave and he bought some fresh broccoli!

Although our accomplishment today was small, our dinner tonight was different than any other night and most importantly it was fresh because of it! Our small success also contributed to some much need confidence. The vendors were great and really tried to help us. Most of them didn’t speak any English and they seemed confused at our requests or attempts at their language, but we left with our goods! Now, I can’t wait until Saturday’s Market to get more fresh food!


Brock thinks the picture with me and shoes is funny..."what a girls dream..." I'm still wearing my comfy tennis shoes though ;]

Messages from Milan: Rain & a Rainbow

The weather here, for the past several weeks; actually, almost our entire stay so far, has been rainy and cloudy. We rejoiced the other day when we enjoyed an afternoon of sunshine! It felt so good to feel the sun and have a clear day. We spent the whole day outside exploring. “Yes! I love this! Finally the sun on my face, it makes me feel good!” The next two days after… rain!

I guess I spoke too soon but on our sunny day without rain we were able to enjoy Carnevale! Carnival is a traditional celebration: much like Halloween or even Mardi Gras, all the kids dress up and play in the streets. The Duomo was swarmed, literally mobbed with thousands and thousands of people in costumes, throwing confetti, and spraying silly string. Every night Restaurants, Bars, and Cafés open their doors and host parties. There are bands playing, people singing and dancing, great food and drinks, and great company. The monotony of the Metro is even interrupted with people playing instruments and entertaining the people on the tram. For Carnival the town freezes and everyone celebrates.

Something about Carnival makes you feel like a kid again. Although Brock and I did not dress up, we attended several “dress up” functions where people were in customs embracing this tradition. We enjoyed the company of our American friends at Fiori Oscuri where even we felt like the Carnival bug might have crawled up and bit us. I danced with a man in a Monkey costume, Brock sat next to a woman dressed as a Bunch of Grapes, we laughed and laughed, and we felt for a brief moment that we were Italian!

Brock and I have both been battling colds because of the weather and it probably hasn’t helped that it was Carnival weekend either because we stayed out late more than we probably should have… but it was Carnevale! Despite the rain, we had a little bit of sunshine and we look forward to the warmer weather that is desperately trying to make an appearance. This weekend is our trip to Florence with the Kramers (the American Offensive Line Coach and his wife). So after every bad rain storm there is a rainbow, ours: Florence.



The kids were so cute in their costumes! Girls were dressed up as Princesses and little boys as knights, warriors, and Spiderman and Batman. When Brock saw Batman eating a Gelato he said: "SEE...even Batman needs a break for a Gelato!"


The Grim Reaper and the Surgeon... best costume I think I saw. The Duomo looked beautiful that day. Notice the mob of people too.

The Price of Beauty... Pain!

The ultimate shoe lover, (me), has met her match! Now from previous blog posts, you may have gotten the severity of my shoe obsession. I just love them. All kinds, for all occasions; I wear them equally and utilize them to their full potential! Really I do. And for those of you who know me intimately... you are probably shaking your head and chuckling (slightly).

Before our trip, I packed one too many… 15 too many shoes. One’s first reaction may be; “But you’re going to the shoe capital of the world!” or “The more you pack, the less you can bring back!” Well… I have a confession to make… I brought too many! Way too many and to make it worse, I’ve only wore one pair… my ugly, worn out tennis shoes!

I don’t know how the fashionable, attractive, Italian women do it. Walking the streets of Milan, getting on and off Metro stops, and walking literally for blocks upon blocks, KILLED my feet my first day! But these women wear the most beautiful, very high, and oh so terribly painful high heeled boots! With my tennis shoes, I stick out like a sore thumb! Now it’s probably not just my tennis shoes that cause me to stick out like a sore thumb, I am secure enough to admit that it is mostly my unfashionable, very unstylish, American look about me.

We walked into a cute store one day,Zara, and after several stare downs and what I felt "mean looks", I looked at Brock; “Is everyone looking at me?” I was wearing American Eagle jeans that I had since high school that flared out at the bottom and were really comfortable; fashion no no number 1, skinny, straight legged jeans are in, with my ski jacket because it was the warmest thing I had and it was FREEZING out; fashion no no number 2, black and white, bulky ski jackets are never an option,and to top off my outfit with… drum roll please… my reliable, worn out, ugly, outdated tennis shoes; fashion no no number 3, walking shoes should never be walking into a clothing store! We left!

Today I broke under pressure and despite the pain I experienced last time, I wore my boots. Oh boy! Was this a mistake! We hadn’t even walked far, just down the block to the Metro Station and I was dying! They don't even have too high of a heel and my outfit was cute. I even noticed I didn’t have too many stare up, stare down, and stare back ups; with the expression: “you look like a slob!” We walked and explored different little towns and I was in pain! We walked for about 4 hours, in and out of shops and up and down different cobble stone alley ways! I fit in but by the time I reached my miserable limit (Woman you know what I’m talking about…that feeling where you just want to die if you have to take another step!) I wanted my ugly tennis shoes and I didn’t care about looking like a goober!

So now, I have a new perspective. The pain I felt walking around, sticking out and not fitting in and getting “those looks” wearing my comfortable, ugly, walking shoes, is a whole lot better than the pain I experienced of my toes cramping, feet aching, and ankles wobbling in pain! And just another thought; maybe they weren’t dirty looks at all, maybe it is the face the beautiful, stylish, high heeled boot wearing woman make when their feet are in pain. And maybe the stare up, stare down, stare back up is them looking at me in envy that I am wearing comfortable, ugly, tennis shoes without shame.

Oh the pain of beauty!

Verona for Valentine's Day

“Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” Cheesy, I know. But I just want you to get the same lines Brock did when he woke up Valentine’s morning. “Please Brocky… today I’m Juliet and you’ll be Romeo.” I just get a look. That look that says, “You’re cute, but not right now.” Before we continue with our romantic, Verona, Valentine’s Day; let’s rewind to the very beginning of our morning, the way Brock was woken up; early, Valentine’s Day morning. I set the alarm extra early because I wanted to shower, do my hair, do my make up, and pick out my cute, Valentine’s Day outfit. So when the alarm went off at 7:30am, the “non-morning” grouch Lauren… guiltily had Brock turn it off (it was in the other room). I finally rolled out of bed to find that our breaker had blown a fuse. Our chilly house was colder than ever and we had no hot water! This was a major problem, to my major details to my perfect Valentine’s Day plans! But of course, my Romeo came to the rescue after hearing my moaning, groaning, complaining, and frustrated sighs!

Verona; the City of Romeo and Juliet was just as expected; beautiful. When we arrived it was as if the town knew we were coming and knew that some American named Lauren expected a romantic scene straight out of the time of Romeo and Juliet; and boy did they deliver. The town square was filled with live music, children dressed in costumes, Renaissance actors dressed the part, free wine, free hugs, people in the streets embracing their lovers, and lots of dancing. I could have stayed there all day and skipped touring the town.

The first place we stopped was Juliet’s tomb! I was thrilled. “How romantic Brocky? Her tomb! Where she was buried after dying the death of true love!” Giorgio, a coach for the Rhinos, a dear friend, and our tour guide for the day, heartlessly gave me a little piece of non-romantic information, “You know Lauren, it is probably not her real tomb. And the houses of Romeo and Giulietta that you want to see; there is no way they actually know it is their home. It is just a guess! And the town is a guess too. How would Shakespeare even know, Did he ever come before writing his story? The only reason they think it is Verona is because a family here has a similar name.” I was crushed, devastated, and I wanted to scream out, ANTHING ELSE GIORGIO, LOVE KILLER! There is no way my book on Italy and Verona could be wrong about these must see spots! My Romeo Brock saved the day of course, and whispered to me, “It’s really her tomb, and their houses you’ll see.” So for the rest of the day, the other tourists and I believed that it was all the real sites of the actual romance of the two star crossed lovers.

We spent the day walking the streets and taking in the lively atmosphere of Valentine’s Day love and the historical beauty of brilliant architecture. We entered the Church of St. Anastasia and saw breath taking Italian Gothic architecture, spiritual art and painting, and impressive sculptures that reach the sky; all inside the cross shaped building. We toured the Duomo, the Roman Amphitheater, the Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore, the Arche Scaligere, and the Piazza dei Signori. We browsed through markets where little booths and tents were set up with authentic crafts, Italian glass, and leather was sold. We gazed at the Castelvecchio; a real castle with a mot and all, and it was then that this romantic Valentine ’s Day, spent like a Princess, came full circle.

We also enjoyed partaking in the traditional lovers’ rituals of Verona. At the balcony of Juliet (yes, the real balcony where her lover comes beckoning) there are layers, upon layers, of love letters couples post before entering the courtyard outside Juliet’s balcony. There is also a statue of Juliet where it is a tradition that one must rub, grope, or fondle the breasts of Juliet for luck. (We took a picture, but because of the crowd it may be hard to see). It is also a tradition in Verona where lovers take a lock with their names written on it and profess their love by securing the lock around a light post and throwing the key into the river. For me, it added to my experience, for Brock, well…he just rolled his eyes and laughed, “It was probably a woman’s idea!”

Verona was breath taking. There was so much to see and so much to enjoy. Walking the cobble stone streets where the beautiful story of Romeo and Juliet, may have, taken place makes the town that much more magical. There was no better day to explore Verona than on Valentine’s Day.


Walking into the city of Verona.


The Valentine's Day party.


The Piazza


The tomb of Juilet.


Juliet's Balcony, love letters, and Statue


The Roman Amphitheatre





Around Verona. Notice the locks! Every so often they have to cut them down because the weight of the locks make the light posts lean.


The Church of St. Anastasia


Architecture around Verona


Castelvecchio & Ponte Scaligero. Our view as the sun was setting at the end of our perfect day.

Valentine's Day: The Woman's Holiday

Brock and I have decided to take a trip to Verona, the “City of Romeo and Juliet,” for Valentine’s Day. And as the trip is approaching, I have been reading up on the area; Romanesque churches, historical landmarks, Renaissance architecture, and the cultural “must sees” of this city. Being only a few days away from the “Love” holiday, my studies of Verona released something more from me than a desire to learn about the history and culture, but it released… my little Romantic Bug, and it got me thinking about the romance and love of Romeo and Juliet. Not only the famous love of these two destined soul mates, but of the meaning and celebration of Valentine’s Day.

Now it is no mystery to the world (MEN!)what Valentine’s Day is really all about… NO not the chocolates or the roses, or for some lucky women the diamond necklaces or expensive perfumes… MEN, IT IS ABOUT THE WOMEN. Most importantly it is about celebrating not only the love shared between you and the woman in your life, but the beauty she has to offer and unveil to you.

It is in every woman’s genetic make up to strive for the confirmation and acceptance of the love and beauty she has to offer. It is why little girls twirl in skirts and beg the question, “Am I lovely?” Or why they stand in front of the family at holiday gatherings performing (for me it was singing and dancing) and desperately striving to captivate the audience (especially her daddy). All women start off at a young age knowing that they possess a special beauty, a special quality that God only gave them. And all women start off at this young age looking for the answer to the questions…”Am I lovely?” "Am I beautiful?"

This Valentine’s Day; whether you are married or single, male or female, a sister or a brother, a mother or a father; tell a woman how beautiful she is, that you cherish and appreciate the beauty that she possess inside and out because it represents God’s love and beauty. Eve was the crown of God’s creation, not an afterthought, but a missing piece to His masterpiece. It is an honor to be in the presence of a woman, because her beauty represents a side of God that wouldn’t be worshipped without the help of a woman. Juliet captivated Romeo with her love and beauty and he expressed and showed his love and appreciation for her. Valentine’s Day should be about celebrating love and celebrating the beauty of a woman.

Buongiorno from Bergamo

We did it! We ventured out from the hectic hustle and bustle of the city. We surprised ourselves because we have actually only have been here a little over a week and our adventurous, spontaneous drive was running a little low and was extremely worn from the Milan move, culture shock, and basic survival mode we have been in. Now the truth about our little excursion to Bergamo is…we did in fact venture out BUT it was in a way in which “Lauren likes to do it.” It was planned, mapped out, slightly controlled, and we partnered with English speaking; American friends we had met. But nonetheless, we did it!

And it only took us, a short walk from our apartment to the Metro, a ride on the Yellow Line to Centrale Station, and an hour Train Ride to the charming down of Bergamo. We had a map but hardly used it because our sole purpose was to simply explore and take in what this “country” town had to offer. It was far from the city, which added to its appeal. It had beautiful architecture with intricate details and the town was filled with historical landmarks, Cathedrals, statues, fountains, and cobble stoned alleyways. It was nothing like the city of Milan and it was everything a picturesque Italian town dreamt of being like.

Bergamo is in Northeast Milan in the southern foothills of the Alps and it crowns a very steep hill. (You will see a picture of us taking a Lift to the top.) Bergamo is divided into the medieval Citta Alta which is the upper town and Citta Bassa which is lower town. Citta Alta has a Medieval and Renaissance feel in its buildings' architecture and style. The views of the town were beautiful and although our vision was clouded by some fog, the quaint town’s homes and villas were still stunning to see from the top.

We made our way to the very top of the town and we walked our way to the very bottom. It took us over 5 hours and we just couldn’t stop taking pictures. Each new street provided a new “must take” picture opportunity. We enjoyed some authentic pastries when we arrived and sat down for a gourmet, late lunch at a fancy Restorante Café after we walked ourselves an appetite. We enjoyed getting away from the smog of the city and breathing in some fresh, open air. But we mostly cherished the time we spent sharing our stories and exploring a new Italian town together.

People All Over The World, Join Hands...

Last night Brock and I attended a Super Bowl viewing at the ONLY American Bar in Milano. I look back to my feelings this week; feeling alone in this new world and feeling a little “home” sick, and last night we were able to experience a little slice of America. It was exactly what we needed. Funny how God works; He gives you exactly what you need when you need it the most.

The Bar was exquisite in style and decorations and the atmosphere was cozy and it was filled with high energy. It almost would be more accurate to call it a Lounge and not a Bar. The lights were dimed low and there was a spiral stair case that exposed the several levels of seating that the building had. The center level had a large screen and a projector where the game was shown. The players, of course, had reserved V.I.P seating at the very top area; a Loft that had prime seating for viewing the game.

All around us, EVERYONE, was speaking English! We met Marines stationed in Milan, Students studying abroad, and Au Pairs who were living with American and Italian families taking care of their children. Everyone’s story was so unique, so liberating, and so adventurous. We all came to the American bar desiring the same thing; familiarity, family, friendship, and all of these were accomplished simply through American Football.

“How cool!” I thought. Football brought everyone together tonight and it didn’t matter the team you were rooting for or what brought you to Milan. All that mattered was that you were there, talking in a language that everyone had been craving to speak. Don’t get me wrong, we are all in Milan to experience a new culture and a different lifestyle that brings about a new opportunity that will ultimately and forever change us. But there is just something about being able to connect with people and share a little bit of your new adventure with them. Because everyone’s adventure is, like I said, unique, and sharing our stories gave me strength to continue our new adventure.


This is the view from the V.I.P section. The picture doesn't do it justice. The place was filled with tons and tons of people packed in cheering for the Colts and the Saints. Behind the people on the ground view in this picture is another level where more people were packed in at the actual bar watching the game on another T.V.
This place also hosts every Wednesday night, Americano Night, where you can pay 10 euro for a burger, a drink, and watch a movie in English. It is a very popular place and the owner is super nice.