Marmelatta Man

Ciao!!

We arrived in Italy on our 31st wedding anniversary ... and were just too stanco (tired) to celebrate properly.

After catching the 6 am shuttle to Atlanta on the 13th, flying Atlanta to Boston, then Boston to Dublin, then Dublin to Milan, catching a train from Milan to Florence and a bus from Santa Maria Novella station - well, we weren't "feelin' the love" too much.

Our bus route had changed during the past three years, and standing in the broiling sun for almost an hour at the bus stop with all our luggage strained our marital bliss to the choking point. Fiorenza had offered to pick us up at the station, but I'd insisted that we could make it to the nearest bus stop if she would pick us up there. Of course, that was before I knew the route had changed!

Seeing Fiorenza's smiling face at the bus stop made it all worth it .... and arriving at the casa (house) was a joyful moment ..... Antonio, Kora (the big dog) and new kitty, Bafinna, greeted us with all the warmth we've come to love about this wonderful family and place in Italy. When their son Gabriele came home after his exam, the circle was complete. Unfortunately sweet Micia, the cat we loved so much - especially when she brought us those mousey treats in the middle of the night - died the week before we arrived. We miss her gentle presence, but Bafinna is entertaining us with all the energy that new kittens possess.

Thursday and Friday are blurry - David and Antonio worked on this and that, Fiorenza helped me review my duties and brought me up to date on changes, Gabriele and David ran errands .... we tried to help as much as we could ..... and stayed out of the way whenever we couldn't ..... as they prepared for their vacation trip.

Among the acres of olive and fruit trees here - the apricots are coming in. Fiorenze had picked a big bucket-full, and after the marmelatta (jam) was cooked, David helped fill the jars. I hope he remembers how much he enjoys helping in the kitchen when he returns home :) Actually David is quite a good cook, so I'm glad he's adding to his repertoire.

Saturday was D-day (Departure Day) for Antonio and Fiorenza. Our guests from the Netherlands also departed for their trip to Cinque Terre - and I went into high gear to prepare for our incoming guests from America. That's another story - so until I have time to tell all that -

Ciao!

from the Untourists

p.s. David is a bit miffed at me for the photo without a shirt, but I can't Photoshop him a shirt - I have a great photo of him . but he still doesn't have a shirt on......