Return to Yellowstone & Grand Tetons National Parks

Rick and I don't usually want to visit our national parks in the peak Summer months, but we we received an email from Rick's Ford buddy Jim White saying his family was heading to Yellowstone with their 5th wheel, we decided to join them.

It was HOT! 115f in Vegas when we stopped there the first night. Whew! Our trusty Ford F-250 diesel registered 140f while we were pulling the RV uphill. No problem for the truck. We on the other hand were too hot!

Still, we enjoyed our time with Jim & Kathy, their daughter Wendy, her husband Doug, and their 10 year old son Noah. He's a great kid and it occurred to me that the last time we visited Yellowstone we had 10 year old Julian with us! What a great age for a boy! Jr. Park Ranger, frogs, and all that good stuff!

We went here, Artist Point in the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
on our honeymoon. But I broke the film.

Jim & Kathy White
with grandson Noah

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Meeting Eduard Simioni (from Cittadella)

Allora, the Simioni adventures continue! I just never know when I might meet one!

Earlier this week I saw on Facebook that Eduard Simioni (from Cittadella, Italy, but currently working in Germany) was in Las Vegas. I asked if he might come over to California and we were able to work out a plan. Eduard and I had chatted on Facebook a few times but not much. Still, it was exciting to get to meet another Simioni!

Eduard had had an "interesting" trip after having his driver's license stolen (not in the USA) and he had to take Greyhound buses to get around after a conference in Berkeley California.

We ended up meeting in San Diego -- I was able to show him around some of our favorite places in the little time available. We had plans to do more but got stuck on Coronado Island when the bridge was closed due to a potential "jumper"! So we stayed there and enjoyed an American barbecue dinner. Later we were able to drive back to San Diego, and take a drive-by tour of our "Little Italy". We ended up inviting him to stay at our home overnight.

Rick and I were happy to host Eduard, treat him to an American breakfast, show him our gardens, great beaches and Oceanside Pier, before heading over to an Italian restaurant to meet some of our friends for happy hour. We shared some vino and many laughs! Instant friendships!

Eduard has a fascinating scientific background and we think he and Julian will have a lot in common. They are now friends on Facebook too.

Time went too fast -- next time will plan something ahead of time!

Lisa DeLucchi, Rick, Eduard

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Our first visit to London

Post to follow

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Return to Salvatronda, Italy 2012

Back in Simioni-land!!

updates and photos to follow.

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A Busuito, Gigli, and Simioni in Rome!

Big surprise!
I was contacted on Facebook by a Busuito living in Rome!
Elisabetta Busuito. a criminal law attorney.
Her father was born in Sicily, she in Rome.
...we met. and, her sister is married to a Gigli from Rome.

more later.....

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Rome for my 60th Birthday

more later ( I hope!)

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Julian's 26th Birthday

Rick and I took a trip up to visit Julian for his birthday which fell on Easter this year. He's in Mountain View, California.

We also enjoyed time with Carole Polan and Hank Love. The newlyweds moved from Michigan to Berkeley last Fall. Julian and Carole grew up together, especially Summers at Higgins Lake, as we are close family friends. It was fun to have the "kids" together. Now we just need her brother James to get out there and take on Silicon Valley.

Julian directed us around the best of Mountain View and Palo Alto, with a drive through Stanford University, and by the high tech companies we all know so well: Facebook, Google, eBay/PayPal, Intuit, AOL, and more.  Then we took a drive up to Skyline Ridge which gave us views of the San Francisco Bay and surrounding cities. It was a long winding road through beautiful wooded scenery and while just minutes away for all that is Silicon Valley.

Julian just left his job at Zynga to take a few months off, and that give us time to spend Monday going to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is always cool!

Dinner at La Strada Restaurant in Palo Alto!

Julian, Carole Polan, Hank Love
Skyline Ridge near Palo Alto, CA

Monterey Bay Aquarium

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