by Francesca Di Meglio

Thursday, June 19
Today is Antonio's birthday, but we can't celebrate. He has to work in the morning, and I wake up early to go to Naples again to get that document notarized. This time I trade in my soon-to-be husband Antonio Gerenini for my cousin Antonio Scordo. We go to the office of immigration and wait for at least 40 minutes to have someone look at my passport and stamp the document in under two minutes. Then, we head back to Ischia, where we have lunch and sing Tanti Auguri to Antonio. In the afternoon, I work and we start to have Internet problems at home, so I have to transfer to the nearby Internet café.

Friday, June 20
Both Antonio and I take off today. I start my day early by making orange ricotta pancakes and chocolate chip muffins in the shape of hearts for Antonio's family. The night before, I had decorated the kitchen with happy birthday signs, a centerpiece of pinwheels and horns, and lots of colorful tissue decorations. His family is happily surprised and appreciates waking up to the smell of American breakfast. I even fried up some speck, the only thing close to bacon we could find on the island. We take funny photos of Antonio and his young nieces wearing their birthday hats - and we eat!

Then, Lea arrives and we head for a day at the Maronti beach at her family's Hotel Smeraldo. Very hospitable, they allow us to use the hotel's beach chairs and hydro-massage pool, and offer us lunch in the main dining room. It was delicious - buffet of antipasti, penne with eggplant and melted mozzarella, and grilled calamari in a green sauce. After lunch, we head back to the beach, and I get a bit sun burned on my chest. I missed a few spots with my number 55 sun block. The Italians are always making fun of me about using ultra strong sun block and being white like a mummy. Had I been more careful with the sun block, I wouldn't have these red blotches.

In the evening, I have to file a story, but the Internet does not work at all at Casa Gerenini. This time I head to Michele Souvenir, a friend of ours who has that nickname because he sells souvenirs. He puts me in his storage room, where I get Internet access and can work but I also get eaten alive by the mosquitoes flying in from the alley outside. It's the one time I didn't use my bug spray. You need a large supply on Ischia!

Saturday, June 21
Antonio has a full day of work ahead of him. In the morning, we try to work out the Internet problems to no avail. I head back to Michele Souvenir's storage room and do some work. When I return home, the Internet is up and running again. I thank the Lord!

Later, I play Trivial Pursuit Disney with Antonio's nieces. I'm particularly bad at this game because the Italians have different names for all the films and characters in the films. Pimpi is Piglet from Winnie the Pooh, and I can't even pronounce Captain Hook's Italian name. My soon-to-be nieces think my ignorance of these things and American pronunciations are hilarious - and they love that they're beating me. Soon, it's time for the afternoon siesta and the girls must go take a nap by decree of their parents who will do the same. I do some work while Ischia sleeps. In the evening, I catch a Euro 2008 game (Holland vs. Russia - and I can't believe Holland lost after such a strong showing in the first round). Finally, I take a shower and go to bed with sweet dreams of Sunday dancing in my head.

A freelance writer, Di Meglio is the guide to Newlyweds for About.com, where you'll find everything from advice on having a summer of love and choosing a honeymoon destination. You can find out more on all things Italian at www.francescadimeglio.com.

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