Pomaria

Today the four of us, and Maya's friend Milena, took the train to the town of Cles for an apple festival called Pomaria. Cles is a small but prominent town in Val di Non, a valley known for growing apples. The festival is sponsored by the company Melinda. Melinda is Del Monte if apples were pineapples and Italy was 1950's California. The girls visited a booth run by the scouts in which they got to cram a bunch of chocolate in an apple (and sprinkle some sugar on top, 'cause neither apples nor chocolate are sweet enough) before having it baked in coals. Maya liked it, anyway. Then the girls constructed, with guidance from some grandfatherly Italians, apple crates. They proudly carried the crates the rest of the day (mostly because we forced them to). We did a quick walk-by of some farm animals. There was some cider drinking and some cheese eating. We contemplated taking the three tired girls apple picking. Instead, we purchased some Evelina and Renetta apples from a stand and jumped back on the train home.

 Super excited about the train ride.

 Maya as a confused drop of water. Obviously.

 Maya asked for this picture. I think she thinks she knows a secret.

 Apple coring.

 Apple core replacing.

 Chocolate core apple wrapping.

 Wrapped chocolate core apple baking.

 Your guess is as good as mine.

 Auditions for Santa's workshop.

 Cora's chances of becoming the next Santa's helper were enhanced by her height advantage.

 Milena was very polite while waiting her turn,

 and then she politely and repeatedly struck the nails with a hammer.

 Returning to the Scout booth for the fruits of their labor (see what I did there?).

 See? They loved it! Despite the face, Maya actually did. The other two not so much.

 The girls were sure that the grass was greener on this side of the sheep fence.

 We shared a plate of nostrana, casolet, and ricotta with jelly.

Maya was very offended that there was ricotta in her jelly.

 Mmm, cheese.

Mmm, juice.

 Hey look, three genuine smiles.

 Maya is either feeding Milena or punching her in the nose.

 Mmm, raisins.

 Very scary apparently.

 Cora practicing her muppet face.

 Mmm, raisins.

 Mmm, pretzels.

 Mmm, raisins.

 Maya is not impressed.

Arr, pretzel pirate. Or a Monocled Mutineer impression. You choose.