bel-iss-ee-ma (zia gina)

When I walked into Zia Gina's apartment, she promptly smacked me on the arm, took a big step backwards (as big as her little legs would allow), put a sassy hand on her hip, checked me out from head to toe and said "Bell-ee-see-ma" (bellissima). Ha! I was immediately at ease. She's exactly the way I remember her from about 8 years ago, the last time she visited us in the US.

When Stef and Mum arrived later that day (yesterday), they jumped out of the car and came running to greet Roberta, Zia Gina and I. They both burst into tears the second they saw Zia Gina -- she is a spitting image of Nonna. She is also brutal, like Nonna, and HILARIOUS. She doesn't speak any english (she speaks German and Italian)...she loves that I speak Italian, but she corrects everything I say in the harshest way. She speaks slowly to me, and she repeatedly tells me that she is speaking slowly so that I might learn from her. When Stef and I aren't listening to her, she grabs us by the arm and pulls us whereshe wants. 'Stef-ahh-neee", she yells, squeezing her hand "per amore."

Mikey and Ana, I'm going to try to post a video for you because you're going to flip out when you see her in action.

We spent today with Roberta, Markus, Luana and Mauro exploring the area. Stef and I felt like we were living in the Sound of Music movie-set! Last night, Roberta and Markus made us a traditional Swiss dinner (raclette!), slabs of cheese, topped with various vegetables and pancetta, melted under a tabletop oven-type contraption and served over boiled potatoes. And tonight: pizza! Tomorrow we spend the morning with Zia Gina and then head to France with her to see the next round of siblings/cousins/family.