Expat with Kids 2017 best nine

You may or may not have seen the "Best 9 of 2017" grids popping up on your Instagram feed these past days? Well, I could not resist the trend and let the feed locate the nine most-liked posts from Expat with Kids in 2017. This is what my #2017bestnine looks like... my heart is clearly torn between big city life and the sunny beach.

Napoli's biggest temptation: food!

As in any part of Italy, Neapolitans are passionate and quite opinionated about their cuisine. The food of this city is as exuberant as its natives. The cooking of this region aims to preserve the flavors of the local fresh ingredients as well as their fragrance, thereby maintaining a focus on simplicity rather than sophistication. Southern Italian food is considered to be the "soul of Italy".

Spending a few days in Napoli over Christmas means adding roughly one kilo a day to the scales. Seriously! The food is so delicious and Nonna's cooking is the best. Like any self respecting Neapolitan family, the best meals are found in the homes where nonna and mamma make dishes using the decade’s old family recipe. Each family, of course, has their own unique version of the dish.

Walking through the airport upon our arrival, Expat Girl mentioned with a smile that we would be taking off from this gate in less than a week but weighing at least 5 kg more... each of us. 

And she was right!

As we prepare the New Year's Eve menu we will just conveniently forget about the extra kilos and concentrate on more scrumptious food... there are always the New Year's Resolutions to be made!

Core e mamma comme me piace e te chiamma accussi.

Core e mamma si a vita mia.

Restaurants don't need to look flashy but the food needs to taste good, preferably with home cooking by Mamma or Nonna who are standing behind the stove!

Pizza fritta is an absolute must in Napoli...

...as are spaghetti alle vongole.

Neapolitans are also known for their preference for sweets! The desserts of this region focus on citrus and pastry and here are just a few of the region’s favourites.

Zeppole are my latest discovery.

 Dolci alle mandorle are my personal favourite.

The family Christmas lunch table at 17:30... 

... and we are still going strong!

When you run out of homemade struffoli...

...the only option is to buy some. 

However, they will never be as delicious as Expat Girl's homemade ones thanks to Nonna's recipe!

These little balls of deep fried dough are drizzled with honey and decorated with "diavulilli" (colored sprinkles) and preferably served warm.

Baba al rhum in all its variations are Expat hubby's favourite.

The classic version is served plain and soaked in a rum, strega, or limoncello-based syrup, but you can also find them sliced and filled with pastry cream, ricotta cream, cream chantilly and fruit, lemon cream or Nutella.

Sfogliatella riccia is Expat boys favourite!

Paper-thin layers of beautifully baked clam-shaped pastry pockets filled with an oozing, buttery filling of creamy ricotta cheese, sugar, cinnamon, and little bits of candied citrus.

The streets of Naples

After five years we have returned to Napoli to celebrate Christmas with my in-laws. Every year is a controversial visit with much expectation, a little tension but always guaranteed fascination on my part for this city is a corner of Europe that is and always will be unique in so many different ways.

Neapolitan reality... religion and washing ...

...hanging out the window wherever you turn!

Naples' historic city centre is the largest in Europe, covering 1,700 hectares and enclosing 27 centuries of history and is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. 

Much of the city's 20th-century periphery was constructed under Benito Mussolini's fascist government, and during reconstruction efforts after World War II.

Sadly Napoli has not escaped the 21st century phenomena of graffiti...

... nor the tourist traps...

.. but it still has its charms hidden in the little alleys.

Everywhere you look you'll find alleys going off into areas you probably don't want to wander into on your own.

Old world charm: Naples is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.

Naples' 2,800-year-history has left it with a wealth of historical buildings and monuments, from medieval castles to classical ruins. The most prominent forms of architecture visible in present-day Naples are the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque styles but you need to look for them...

Naples' sports scene is dominated by football club S.S.C. Napoli.

Forza Napoli!

Last minute Christmas shopping along via Toledo.

Castel dell'Ovo: the castle's name comes from a legend about the Roman poet Virgil, who had a reputation in medieval times as a great sorcerer and predictor of the future. In the legend, Virgil put a magical egg into the foundations to support the fortifications. Had this egg been broken, the castle would have been destroyed and a series of disastrous events for Naples would have followed.

It might be falling to pieces but the architecture is still spectacular.

Piazza del Plebiscito is named after the plebiscite taken on October 2, 1860 that brought Naples into the unified Kingdom of Italy under the House of Savoy.

The Vesuvio is ever present

Time to return to Nonna's

Merry Christmas

It's cool to be kind

Today the International community of the kids' school spread their love again at the Holiday Bazaar. The organising team had even chosen a theme: "It's cool to be kind". I was happy to support their cause by participating with a Christmas gift stall. Admittedly, I had a secret Santa in the US who supplied me with lots of glittery ornaments.

Walking through the gates half an hour before school started I was greeted by Christmas carols sounding out of the Principal's office adding an extra spring to my walk, despite feeling a bit under the weather. I passed little messages of kindness and love along the wall of the Primary school before I entered the gym that had been decked out from top to bottom with Holiday cheer by the good fairies that worked until late last night to make this an unforgettable experience for the little ones.

Sure enough one class after the next came through the gym admiring all the handmade merchandise that was at offer. Many parents had been busy for weeks crafting, creating, teaching and learning from each other sharing experiences and traditions that form this supportive community.

The children did not know which stall to visit first as their eyes tried to take it all in. The little ones needed help with their coins while the big ones already bargained. I overheard one little boy tell his mum: "Look I bought you this lovely jar so you can make me home-made jam." That's what I call Christmas spirit.

Home-made jingle bell hairbands

Fancy a little gift box?

You always need a pompom keyring.

Giant paper wind mills

You are so smart!

Recycling a tomato basket

Many clever hands have been at work here.

Original gift boxes

Paper flowers in my favourite colours

Feeling the love

Christmas tree decorations

It's cool to be kind

It's all in the tradition

Candles in recycled yoghurt glasses

Recycled Christmas wrapping paper

Delicate paper stars: big and small

Colourful gift boxes made from toilet rolls

Couldn't resist these little fellas

These decorative nutcrackers were a hit with the kids... who knew?!?

Candy cane got everyone dreaming since it is hard to come by in Paris.

How to decorate the gym with a little imagination.

It is definitely cool to be kind!