Italy Journal
Sunday, December 24,
2012
CHRISTMAS EVE CHEER
IS EVERYWHERE!
Today, we had lots of fun visiting shopkeepers that we have
gotten to know well. Everywhere we went to buy food for our Christmas Dinner
(with any of the students who don’t have other plans), we had well wishes and
sometimes gifts from them. First we visited Mara and Valerio Grimaldi’s Fresca
Pasta Shop, where we had a gift for their family. We were surprised when they
showed us a large bag they had prepared for our Christmas present, too. It was
one of Mara’s delightful Nocciola Cakes and a bottle of wine. That was so sweet
of them to remember us that way at Christmas. We go there at least every other
day to get Valerio’s fresh pasta. What’s the quote? “A day without Valerio’s
pasta is like a day without sunshine!”
Afterwards, we dropped by Giolito’s Cheese Shop just in time
to join them in a toast to Christmas and good friends. Get ready, Victoria and
Kyle, they are preparing Aperichees-o for you while you are here at the end of
January! Gina and Will can tell you how much fun THAT is!
From there, we discovered a Christmas Street Market was
going on, and I “helped” Peter choose a couple of Christmas presents for me. I
was desperate for warm hands and warm ears because of the outside event we plan
to attend tonight. He was very agreeable and liked my choices.
Our last stops were at the bread and veggie shops. In both
places, energetic “Auguris” sent us on our way feeling well-loved. There are so
many people in Bra that have welcomed us into their shops, families and lives.
It is very heartwarming to us.
Before we went back inside our house, we noticed a LARGE
water drop walking up and down the street. Our good friend and former Italian
tutor Sara was with him, and we got a chance to wish her Merry Christmas. She
asked if I had received her text this morning, which I had overlooked. She
invited us to a Pirate Dinner at their house on January 28th, and we
accepted with much appreciation for including Peter and me in another one of
these important events. We will look forward to that.
LAST VISIT WITH THEO
We got one last visit with Theo in the afternoon. She went
with us to Eataly to shop for some things we hadn’t been able to find in the
shops, and she told us that she was leaving tonight to go by train to Venice.
After staying 2-3 days, she plans to fly to Finland. I can’t wait to hear about
that trip! She said she may get an opportunity to do an internship in England,
and if so, she would not return to Bra until maybe graduation in March. Good
luck, Theo, and thank you for the bottle of wine we found on our doorstep from
you. That was so thoughtful.
WITH LEE ANNE TO DOGLIANI’S NATIVITY SCENE
We welcomed an invitation to take Lee Anne to Dogliani (10
km) to see the outside human nativity scene tonight. She said it was very
unusual and supposedly the most wonderful nativity scene in the area.
CHRISTMAS EVE LEFTOVERS WITH LISA AND ENZO
Thank you so much, Lisa and Enzo! We thoroughly enjoyed your
leftovers with you last night! We look forward to meeting your friends Sheila
and Joel, too.
Merry Christmas to all!
Colleen
No comments:
Post a Comment