A little magic at New Year's Eve

Ever since I met my hubby and dragged him onto the slopes in Verbier many moons ago, I have been hearing about how he used to ski in Roccaraso. Roccaraso is an Apennine ski town, 150km from Napoli claiming to be one of the largest Italian resorts outside the Alps.

It does have its history: The first ski race was held in 1910 and the first ski lift was the "Slittovia" in Monte Zurrone, built in 1936. Numerous competitions, both national and international, are held every year.

Not far from this ski resort where "see and be seen" seems to be as popular as in the ritzy St.Moritz, lays a little mountain village called Rivisondoli.

Rivisondoli rose in the 12th century in a strategic position along an important military and commercial route, the "Via degli Abruzzi" and was renowned for its production of weapons. A fire almost completely destroyed the village in 1792. Subsequently, the establishment of the Sulmona-Isernia railway helped the development of tourism. In 1913 the Italian Royal Family had its residence here.

Well, now Expat family was to take residence over the New Year holiday! The hotel design was a blast from the past as were the characters who welcomed us at the reception. Warm, helpful, curious and very local hosts who inquired how we had managed to get from Paris to Rivisondoli.

Family reunion was of course the reason for our trip and as my Dad used to say: "You wanted Italian, you got Italian!". Weeks ahead a general WhatsApp chat had been brought to life to discuss the menu for each day. Days were spent hunting for the perfect ingredients and hours of preparation by dozens of families before each of them brought their dishes to the table.

Fireworks had been shipped up in a station wagon and the New Year was rung in with lots of noise and bubbles... even a few snowflakes made it our way covering roads and christmas lighting, making Rivisondoli the little magic town my husband always raved about.

Welcome drink... Prosecco in a Ramazotti glass... we are off to a great start!

Phone cabin... anyone?!?

The hotel dining room: it is so vintage it's back in fashion! 

The center of Rivisondoli... can you spot the snow?

Moving from one dining table...

... to the next...

... to the next...

Pescocostanzo, excellent example of conservation of civil and religious architecture, 

is a magical and suggestive place

Counting about 1,500 inhabitants...

...and loads of local delicacies!

Your regular lunch aperitivo all'Abruzzese!

Never have I tasted so many delicious pies in one place... ever!

Back to the warmth of a chalet

Adios 2018

Snowy streets of Rivisondoli 

When there's just not enough space in the fridge!!!

Expat with Kids 2018

Thanking my followers for being part of my adventure in Lugano, Paris, Madrid and beyond...

Best of nine in 2018!

www.instagram.com/expatwithkids

Christmas in London

It is time to head back... leaving Expat boy behind for him to finish his six-month internship at one of London’s swankiest hotels, the rest of the family hopped in the black cab taking us to St.Pancras station where we heavy-heartedly caught the Eurostar across the channel to Paris.

Five days... and it seems like we know the city. We went from Christmas Carol services at St.Martin in the Fields to watching a football match at Fulham stadium. We had lunch at Quaglino’s, tea at the National Portrait Gallery and dinner at the Aquashard. We loved the Lion King musical and enjoyed skating at Somerset House.

We strolled along the London Southbank and took lots of photos on the Millenium Bridge. We opted not to pay 18.- GBP entrance per person to visit St.Paul’s Cathedral! Seriously?!? I have an objection, a mix of meanness and principle, to paying an entrance fee to see a place of worship. We attended a Catholic Sunday mass St.Paul’s Church instead and celebrated a sung eucharist on Christmas Day in an Anglican Church.

We hit Harrods on Boxing Day and couldn’t miss checking out Harvey Nichols’ Christmas Wonderland window displays. Fortnum&Mason’s, Liberty’s, Hamleys, Maison Assouline, Waterstones and Lillywhites were duly visited as were Bond Street and Covent Garden.

A teenage tour led us through Abercrombie&Fitch, Hollister and Thomas Hilfiger until we found what we were looking for at TopShop... where else?!? And how could I resist Victoria’s Secret?!?

Peggy Porschen and Spectrum were a must see if only for Expat with Kids Instagram account.

Carnaby Street and Kingsley’s Court were much to Expat Girl’s liking while a pub dinner at Shepherd market was a true British treat for the whole family.

A quick walk in Green Park for some fresh air while bumping into the squadron of the Queen’s Life Guards in front of Buckingham Palace and trying to avoid the horrendous crowds heading towards Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland.

By which time we were ready for some real Neapolitan food at Da Maria in Notting Hill just in time to watch the Napoli vs Inter match on Italian SkyTV!
A well deserved rest at the Savoy lounge covered in Christmas galore topped off our London holiday experience.

And although Expat boy could not join us for all the fun, it was great being together again these past days for we’ll have many happy memories to look back on when Expat Mummy finally got her British Christmas festivities after two decades of Natale alla Napoletana.

Annabel’s night club will have to wait for next time...

Carol Service at St. Martin in the Fields

Lion King at the Lyceum theatre

Christmas vibes at Quaglino's

View from the Aquashard

St.Paul's Cathedral admired from the outside

Panoramic view on the Millenium Bridge

Skating at Somerset House

Harvey Nichols' window champagne display

Burlington passage 

Pimp my car

Dinner at a local pub

When you go over the top with Christmas decorations

Peggy Porschen's Christmas wreath 

Hotel Claridges' tree of love 

Changing of a guard? 

Liberty at Christmas

Paddington Bear at Hamley's

Maison Assouline's inspiring world of beyond!

Covent Garden

Hitting the sales at Harrods

Christmas galore at the Savoy Hotel

Dinner Menu at Da Maria's

Spectrum's Instagram set-up

Annabel's at Mayfair

Joyeux Noël

A Christmas tree à la Parisienne

Of course, Christmas would not be the same without a stroll through the Parisian Department Stores... the most classic of all being Le Bon Marché. How many Instagrammers have immortalised their picturesque escalators? This year the Bon Marché's decorator opted for hanging Christmas trees much to my delight!

I cannot resist perusing through their Christmas department every year to discover the trend in Christmas baubles. From traditional to quirky, Christmas tree decorations don't come any more festive than this!

A view of the Bon Marché's escalators

Who would want to hang a Camping car on their tree?

A space inspired Christmas tree

Father Christmas' trip to the moon

NASA is calling

Pink onions anyone?

Broccoli, how eccentric can you make your Christmas tree decoration?

Gotta love these orange coloured carrot ornaments.

A little Dutch clog

Hmmm, do you feel the vibes?

Asparagus bauble, anyone?

Now, these are my colours...

Pick and choose!

Getting sidetracked by a lovely selection of cookbooks.

A great gift idea for French foodie lovers.

Even kids can have fun with Paris' themed gifts.

Most original Christmas gift idea so far... a glittery gold set of Ping Pong rackets!

A touch of pink can never hurt!