GROM

Today started early but turned out to be great. I went to the outdoor market with Pat to buy fresh fruits and veggies at 8:30 in the morning!! I really enjoyed picking out the fresh produce and liked the lady that helped us. Apparently Pat goes to the same lady everytime so they are friends. She showed us pictures of her kids and we met her husband. This outing is trying for when I have to go by myself to buy the food....buts it's okay cause they know I am American so they will help me. When I got back Anna came over for our weekly lesson. I am getting to the point where I get really excited for the lessons cause I never know where we are going to go. She takes me to the neatest places and always have good stories to tell about each place. I keep forgetting she is only 14!! Today we took a bus downtown and walked to the first metro stop. The metro is only a year old and not very big. It was made for the Olymics and they are continuing to work on more stops.. Right now there are 10 stops. We went to the very last stop which is a small town outside of Torino. We literally walked up the stairs to outside stood on the street corner for 5 minutes and then to the metro back to downtown! :-) When we got back to town we went to the official Olymic museum. I found out later that the building it is in was shaped after a special chocolate made in Torino. The museum was fantastico!! (and free) Right as you walk in the time line starts with each day broken down in its events. A list of the medal winners are posted for each event for each day. All the posters are in both Italian and English, which is nice. There are two theaters that play both the closing and opening ceremonies and small tvs throughtout the museum playing some of the record breaking finishes or disappointments. There are several bobsleds, luges, and sports uniformns. on display as well. Up stairs there are elaborate outfits from the ceremonies (dresses shaped like mountains complete with houses, trees and skiers) At the very front of the museum there is the timeline of the torch and pictures of each runner (the torch is also on display) After the museum we went back to the apartment and Anna went home. I still had time left on my bus ticket so I decided to go downtown again for lunch. I am not afraid of the buses anymore so I feel like an old pro getting on one. Downtown I went to McDonals. American food sounded really good and man how I missed chicken nuggets. After lunch I was walking around and past this place called GROM. It is the most famous gelato store in Tornio and there is always a line 20 ppl long. But today there were only 6 ppl so I jumped on the chance to taste this special stuff. I wasn't sure what to order so I took a chance on Crema Di Grom (sounded like the house speciality) Good choice. It was amazing. I'm not sure what was in it but I think cookies and chocolate. I am definately going back even if I have to wait in line. I found a bench to savor my flavor and then went shopping in some of my new favorite stores. I was just dream buying but my new pretend wardrobe is awesome. When I got back at two I decided to take a nap before I picked Ruggie up from school. After four we went to the park and then picked Filippo up. I fixed dinner for them cause the parents went out for the night. My least favorite part of the job is bedtime its like pulling teeth. But to my surprise it wasnt too bad. It has been so much worse so I'm counting my blessings. Well its off to bed for some sweet GROM dreams and I wish you a good night as well....Bouna Notte