Italy

So we've been quite busy the last couple of weeks. The updates will be a little slow, but I promise, they'll come.

First, Italy. After we left Miami, we made our way to Italy. The trip was long and tiring, but we finally made it. We first arrived in Naples where we picked up our rental car. From there, we drove towards the east of the country. The landscape was beautiful. We came across lush green mountains as well as golden hills ready for crops.

Sooo green!

Ready for veggies!

Our first stop lead us to a city built into the mountains. We made our way up the tiny winding roads....we probably only went about half way up. All around the area were homes built into the mountains. As time passed, the structures were more and more advanced, but some of the old homes still remains. I guess it was easier back then to carve into the mountain than to bring stones to build a house.

City on a hill

You can still get an idea of how the old houses use to be

Next, we made our way to the heel of the Italian boot on the east coast. This region, Puglia, is known mostly for the old farmer houses that are now protected. Some are located randoming in an open field, others are located as a group in the city.

So cute!

In the city

Some are people's homes and other are businesses

^_^

Look! So many!

The city of Locorodo

We also visited a natural cavern in the south of Italy. Pictures were only allowed in the first room, but it was quite impressive. Although we've recently walked through another natural cavern near Houston, this one is special because of the natural light it brings into the first room from the opening in the ceiling.

Look how small the people are! (all the way to the right...)

More trulli houses

Finally, the reason for our little trip in Italy.... A friend of Germain from college married an Italian girl and they decided to hold the wedding in the city she grew up. It was a very sweet wedding and it was nice to see some friends....it was just sooo hot and everything was in Italian....haha. I guess it wouldn't have been a huge difference for me if it was in French =P Nonetheless, we are all very happy for them.

The happy couple

Now we're in Cannes, almost settled, but still with no internet. Will update later on our roadtrip from Paris to Cannes!

Puglia, Italy

So we're back in Europe. But we are not yet finished with vacationing. Before I can do a detailed update of my summer vacation....here is a quick glimpse of our trip in Italy so far. I promise I'll write more later.

We are currently staying in the Alberobello, Puglia region of Italy. This region is located right at the boot of the heel of Italy. This particular area is well known for their old Trulli houses. These are little buildings with cone shaped roofs where farmers use to live. They are unique to the culture of this area, so they are protected and can not be destroyed. Many of the trulli houses are now transformed to be more modern and some are even converted into little hotel rooms for guests. Of course, Germain booked us a stay at on of the trulli hotels.

Aren't they cute?

Bordeaux

This past weekend we attended a wedding of Clarie and Martin in Bordeaux. We actually met the couple in Miami (where they lived for two years) Germain was one of the bestman, so unfortunately, with errands, rehearsals, and rainy weather, we were not able to explore too much of the city itself.

Here is a map of Bordeaux relative to Paris:

Bordeaux is a city well known for it's wine. In fact, there is a wine named Bordeaux. With that being said, the city really lived up to it's reputation, there was fields and fields of vineyards everywhere!

Vineyards

 The wedding took place all the same day. We first attended the civil ceremony at the city hall, then we made our way over to the church for the religious ceremony. 

Bride and Groom in the church

Afterwards, we drove about 20  minutes to a chateau for the reception. It was a very lovely wedding with yummy food. 

Us at cocktail

My outfit. My feet were dying!

For dinner, they had a roasted leg of lamb. They presentation was interesting. They waiters carried the leg lit on fire into the darkened room. From that, they cut pieces to serve everyone.

Leg of Lamb

The entree

Unfortunately, a lot of pictures came our blurry so I really don't have much more to post about. It was a nice weekend in Bordeaux with friends, and the wedding was simple, but nice. Until the next one!

Week in Cannes

I just returned to Paris today after spending a little over a week in Cannes. During my stay there, there was a heat wave in France so the whole country had record lows. Luckily I was in Cannes and not Paris. Can you imagine the packed metros in that weather?! Also, we got to enjoy a little bit of air conditioning in the apartment we stayed in. That is a luxury in France.

View from the apartment

And of course we had to go see our tree. Not sure if it grew very much, but it had 3 little olives!

Maybe it grew a little?

One of the main event for this week was the wedding of a friend of Germain. They were friends from college. The wedding took place in Aix-en Provence, which is about a hour/an hour and a half from Cannes. They had the wedding ceremony at the town church and the reception in their parents' garden.

Church of Puyricard

Germain with the house in the back

Me in theyard

Before I left Cannes, Germain took me to one of the local markets. He knows how much I like just looking at the fresh fruits and vegetables. They're all from local farmers. However, they were unusually expensive because it's tourist season right now =P

So many tomatoes!

Fresh fruits

So many Olives!

Fresh herbs and peppers

Different types of mushrooms

Canvas photo and Passport

We hung up the photo a day or two after we got back into Paris, but I kept on forgetting to put up a picture of it. It looks very nice.

Thanks Dad and Mom!

We also renewed our passports. Germain needed to renew his French passport and I needed to renew my American passport. It was pretty quick. We mailed out everything the week before last and we received everything in the mail today!

(image removed)

but my picture looks funny. It wasn't the same picture as the one we submitted to them. They stretched it or something....my face isn't that long! =P It makes me look more chinese and older too. Well...at least it doesn't look bad....but it doesn't look like me. But look at the name! It's legally changed on my passport now to "Yuen Vialatte" Now I just have to work on getting my social security, my driver license and other documents changed =P

2 weeks later

So a lot has happened in the last two weeks.

So we did it....we got married! My family stayed in France for a little while and then they left. We went on a mini honeymoon to Prague and now back to real life.

Germain's back in classes and I just started another French class. yay.......

Here are a couple pictures from the last two weeks!

Us on our wedding day

The new family

View of Cannes from the mountain tops

Mom and dad at the Eiffel tower by night

Prague. Crossing the Charles Bridge

A church by night

Roasting pork. yum.

Us with view of Prague

Inside the church in the Palace

the astronomical clock