Photo blog: Our Italian wedding weekend

A weekend in Italy.....maybe the last "adventure" together as just a couple, before becoming parents. So amazing and so exhausting all at once. Exhausting, but oh so worth it!

We left on Friday evening and came home on Sunday evening and I've been spending my time ever since recovering. I knew this would be a challenge for me right now, physically speaking, but I wanted so desperately to see my friends getting married and to feel "normal" (meaning: not just like a pregnant blue whale), if only for a couple of days.

The wedding was stunningly beautiful and the bride and groom were absolutely radiant and sooo full of happiness! This was our first Italian wedding and we both agree, it's very different from both the Swiss and Swedish style weddings..... In a way, less organized and formal, but in a very relaxed yet very elegant manor and with a major focus on FOOD (amazing food I might add!). We didn't understand many words during the ceremony, so we just went with it......with the flow I mean....and during dinner, we were kindly placed at an English speaking table. All though we parked the car just outside so I could go and lay down in between, I didn't last as long as I would have wanted to.....I think we had to say our thank you and goodbye's at around 22:30, but at least my back didn't break down until we were back at our little Bed and Breakfast ;))


Some photos to share a bit of the atmosphere with you.... I was incredibly trigger happy with my camera this day as there was so much beauty around and happy moments to capture, am however just sharing a few since I only had the opportunity to ask the bride and groom for permission to post pictures of them. Am not comfortable with posting photos without asking the people in them if they are ok with it. At least not ones in where you clearly see their faces.

Me before the ceremony starts.... Pregnant at end of week 35.
Fail: Yes, I know I talked about curls, but my pregnancy brain forgot that the curling iron has a Swiss plug and I didn't have a converter with me ;)

Chris, in his new suit...

At the home of the bride's parents before the wedding started. So gorgeous! 

On the way to a photo session with the official photographer......and we tagged a long to take some unofficial ones =p

The beautiful church of Bernate Ticino - Chiesa di san Giorgio

Arriving at the church

Proud father, walking his beloved daughter down the isle....

Decoration outside the church

Congratulations with rice and rose petals

Chiesa di san Giorgio at sunset

The location of the dinner party

Details ;))

The buffet of starters was AMAZING!!! Let me add to this picture that there were lots of other things, but this is my veggie plate ;))

The cake, which was accompanied by an abundance of desserts.
I don't think anyone felt hungry or disappoited after this incredible dinner ;)) We are still talking about it!

On the way home, we had a stop in the charming village of Aosta to, take a brake from the car ride, seep in some Italian mountain atmosphere and to buy some wines and cheeses. A very good decision!

The beautiful Aosta village

Gelato - A given when it Italy ;))

We loved this little shop called "La Bottegattccia" and made all our food shopping in there...

3 bottles of wine, 1 bottle of olive oil, 2 goat cheeses, 1 salami and some pasta is what we came home with....

xox

Wedding outfit...for a Barbamama?

Heels....absolutely out of the question for me in middle of pregnancy week 35 and on Saturday, we are attending a wedding in Milan. Lucky for me, they have a little boutique here in Rolle, called "A ma fille" that sell amazing shoes from Melissa Campana. A brand I know from my friend Aryan whose comfy, but glam looking shoes, attracted my attention since quite a while ;)) The slogan for the ones I picked: "For those who love bows and lace,  but don’t want to sacrifice comfort". Says it all, no? ....and I tell you this slogan ain't no lie! So pretty and like walking around barefoot or in a pair of MUCH less glam looking, old, comfy slippers.... Not entirely sure what they're made of, but a kind of rubbery/jelly kind of material. 
Cute, no?

I'll be wearing these with my favorite Betsey Johnson dress (...and yes, Chris has a matching tie ;)). Am so happy I can still fit in it with this huge Barbamama-belly of mine.....but as you can see, I have to practice on my posture a bit as it looks like I'm about to fall backwards ;)))

Now I just need to decide on accessories and hairstyle (I'm thinking curls-something!) and I'm good to go! It will be an absolutely exhausting weekend, I'm sure, especially the traveling there and back (as flying is no longer an option), but this will be my first Italian wedding and I'm soooo excited that we are able to be there when my friend is getting married.... Considering my hormone levels at the moment, I forecast the need to wear waterproof mascara!

xox

Photos from a train window

I spent the last few days in Milan for work. When I go there, which you will know I do quite frequently if you read this blog, I always travel by train..... The train is just more convenient than flying as it only takes 3 hours from Lausanne with the direct train. 3 hours can however get quite boring sometimes. Especially if your internet connection breaks down while traveling through and around the mountains.... What I sometimes do to make the time fly by faster is challenging myself to take a good shot with the iPhone through the train window. Not as easy as pie, trust me.... The fast movement, the unexpected tree branches and whatnots and the, let's call them, not exactly well polished windows turn this into quite a challenging task ;)) This time, I'm however quite pleased with some of the results..... Pleased enough to share them with you and at the same time, give you an idea of why taking the train is sometimes a good option to flying.

Taken close to Stresa in Italy....an absolutely gorgeous place!

Stresa, Italy

Milano Grand Centrale

Not entirely sure, but I think this is close to Brig in Switzerland

Could be either Italy or Switzerland.....must be close to the border somewhere.

In Switzerland for sure, probably close to Montreaux. Also a stunningly beautiful area!!

 xox

Diving weekend in Camogli

Sometimes, I forget one of the biggest advantages of living in magical Switzerland: The closeness and accessibility to other amazing places ;)) 


When living in a place like this, there is so much to enjoy inside of these borders and hence, it is very easy to forget or feel the need to go elsewhere. BUT, before I decided to accept the new job opportunity we did have plans to go for a week to Sardinia for diving. With this upcoming job change we had to however put that thought back on the shelf and this has been a bit disappointing as we want to maintain our diving skills now that we finally have our PADI certificates.


With this in mind and an empty weekend ahead, we spontaneously booked a weekend of diving in a little Italian fishing village called Camogli (not far from Portofino) on the Ligurian coast. A drive of about 6-7 hours......pretty amazing!!


We used BB Diving Center. A great PADI dive center with super friendly and accommodating staff. We did 2 dives and the amount of fishes we saw were surprising. The Portofino area in which we were diving is a marine protected area and this is probably the reason. We saw many different fishes, mainly small ones, but also met a Moray and some pretty big Groupers. I would love to go back there one day and explore some of the other diving sites!! Especially since we never got to see any Dogfish ;))


Oooohhh and I finally got to use my amazing birthday gift, a diving computer, which makes the diving even more fun and interesting!! .....not to mention it makes keeping your diving logs up to date MUCH easier!


We also had some time to explore the area and relax (thankfully) and hence, could enjoy our dinner on the Saturday watching a beautiful sunset from a great restaurant overlooking the sea..... If you go, I would give this place my warmest recommendations!! The food was delicious and well cooked and it had a very romantic atmosphere ;))

La Bella Italia!!

The fishing theme of this village was not hard to spot ;))

I give you: Camogli!

A gorgeous little lighthouse on the pier

Lots of doves....

An appetizer on the pier

Me walking up to Ristorante Rosa

I LOVE mussels....and their mussels were very good!

A local speciality.... Panzotti - a pasta with nuts. Soooo good!!!

The magical sunset....captured from the restaurant terrace...

A little beach in a nearby village called Zoagli...

....and I had some Gelati of course (...and yes I know, I look a bit like a horse in this pic ;))

Stunning sunsets!!

Ciao for now ;))
xox