Greetings from Barberino!
My first couple of days have been busy and very, very warm! Close to 95 each day (argh) but I think, believe it or not, I am actually getting used to it! My flat is just cozy as ever and my landlady Cindy, just as gracious and as friendly as the first time we met in 2006.
My flight from Frankfurt to Florence was canceled…twice…so she waited to pick me up later that evening. I learned that Lufthansa City Line will cancel flights when they are “not full enough.” Nice.
She drove me to Barberino where I promptly took a shower after my long journey. I went out for pizza at the pizzeria in the back of my building near the church and then slept until the next morning…I don’t think I moved all night!
The next morning, I visited the bakery in the little village and met Mila and Solvana and stocked up on a few things. Prices are a little high but oh well. Solvana’s husband even brought my groceries to my door! Very nice people here in Barberino. They know I do not speak any Italian and they try to teach me and I am catching words here and there so who knows, I may know a few words by the time I return home.
Cindy came by later the next day to say hello and take me to Il Palchetto, a restored villa just 15 mins away from where I am staying. This villa is now an 18 room hotel, VERY nice and beautiful. The owner, Solvano, offered to have me and my guests over for dinner in one of his restaurants that evening. (Note for David: I think you could sell this place to folks wanting a true Tuscan vacation…I highly recommend it and the rates in high season, standard room are about 130 E).
My German guests Eveline and Thomas arrived later that day from the beach in Rimini and we went for dinner at Il Palchetto. It was fabulous! (Eveline interned at my office and recently moved back to Germany so seeing her and finally meeting her boyfriend of seven years was such a treat!). Our dinner was outside and consisted of a ton of food…appetizers of melon and proscuito, salami, bread and of course olive oil. Then, our main courses came out ….lemon chicken, pasta and veggies and gnochi in white sauce. Wine of course! After about 2.5 hours of dinner we said our thanks to Solvano in our best broken English and came home.
2 comments:
Sheri, is that the bakery a few doors down where I went each morning to get bread? Also, have you seen Giovanni?
Michele
Yes, it is...same place. I have not see Giovanni....he seems to open when he wants to...it is so hot and hit and miss when folks are open. I will try to see him today and get some of his sauce! I saw Daniela last night. She remember me. We tried to get into the restaurants last night but needed reservations so we found this little local mom and pop pizzeria with REALLY good food,cheap. All the locals hung out there. Hope you two are doing well. We must come back together soon. :) (trying to record bells today for you Michele).
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