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| grapes & sky..... |
Ciao tutti!
I hope you are all well, it's been a couple of weeks because I was without internet access for a time. I also was without a phone for about a month, it was somewhat refreshing to be liberated from those communication, it's hard to even imagine what life was like before the age of email & cell phone. I remember being super opposed to cell phones when they came on the scene, we all caved in at some point, didn't we. In fact, just bought a new phone yesterday & I couldn't be more pleased with it. :)
And, just like that, I am back in Rome for about a week, catching up on things & visiting friends. It is always so lovely to be in Rome, I do adore
it so. I had an excellent few weeks staying in Le Marche region on a small farm & vineyard. Le Marche is not a region that tourists hear too much about, somwhat of an undiscovered gem! I found it absolutely beautiful and charming, with many small towns dotting the hilly landscape, and relatively tourist free! I was lucky enough to visit many places & take many walks about the countryside, really soaking in the atmosphere.
I was staying with a very sweet & generous family, we only spoke Italian & they became like friends/family. I met so many nice people in the area I really felt at home & when I left the other day it was sad, like I had become part of a really nice community (which it seems I miss being on the move so much). I hope to return one day, to harvest grapes & drink wine with my friends!!
I learned so much about making wine, there is a real science to it & it requires a lot of skill & expertise. I would love to own a vineyard & make wine here in Italy. LOVE IT! I did try my hand at making a plum wine back in Berkeley one time, apparently I did not follow my instructions well enough because it turned out, not so good more like a poor vinegar. Obviously I will have to try again.
I do apologize my friends, I could not resist putting too many photos into this posting. This is what happens when I let too much time pass between writing to you all. Just scroll through them & enjoy.
First, some maps for orientation!
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| Le Marche is the blue region |
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| I was staying to the left of Ancona near the dot of Jesi. |
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| my hosts, strolling through Gubbio, which is in Umbria |
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| Gubbio is medeival! |
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| one day you will be mine old, orange fiat cinquecento. |
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| meow. |
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| pretty sky, terra cotta rooftops |
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| the classic, old round bodied vespa approaches! |
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| Gubbio! |
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| ornate old thing to rope your horse to. i think. |
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| these fiats are lurking everywhere! cream is also a cute color. |
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| this was a really cool old bridge built by the ancient Romans! probably reinforced since then. the Romans built many ancient roads connecting Rome to ports all over Italy |
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| the tiny town of Genga |
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| at the farm, there were these two baby kitties, so adorable! about a week before i left another cat had three kittens. it is a virtual cat explosion around there! fortunately they are all well fed & taken care of but... maybe about ten too many cats for my liking. |
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| Yum! I had some tasks of writing & affixing labels, wrapping & packaging bottles, turning the bottles in the cantina 90 degrees to prevent uneven sedimentation & flavor, etc. |
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| she really does a great job with this spumante, i was lucky to sample it many times & was gifted a couple of bottles to bring to my pals in Rome. |
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| setting out early to harvest grapes of a neighboring friend. it is her first harvest this year & i learned a lot about what goes into it! |
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| one day maybe i will own a sweet vinyard in Le Marche!?! |
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| bringing the grapes up to the cantina |
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| went for a hike a couple of times with the local hiking group, it was awesome!! they really haul ass & i met some great new people. :) |
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| it had been quite rainy for several days so there was little to do outdoors, the clouds sure were pretty though! |
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| ancient walls of Maiolini (?) |
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| view of Cupramontana |
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| visited some cute town I forgot the name of :( |
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| the Polish ladies! |
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| walked up a cliff to find this church nestled in the rock. molto particolare! |
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| bet there's good rock climbing around here! |
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| there is a huge cave that extends back into the rock here, it is totally dark, open & unguarded, you could just drift off back there & get completely lost. I reflected on how, in the USA, this would certainly be closed off. Italy is more trusting. |
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| quaint! |
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| the Polish were trying to eat gelato every day, a noble pursuit. |
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| we had a pizza & took a walk in Senigallia |
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| this is out in the sea, looks like the jetsons |
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| a dark castle that appears to be floating |
I'm really sorry, I know it's too many photos... just hang on a bit longer.
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| in Jesi, some guy was giving a fabulous concert playing glasses, an enchanting moment! |
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| going for another hike with the group, many tiny walled towns like this in Le Marche |
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| I treated myself to a beach day @ Sirolo! |
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| I wasn't the only one with the idea... |
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| Sirolo is a cute little town. |
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| my new WOOFING buddies, in a piazza in Ancona. miss you ragazzi!!! |
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| heading back to Roma, had the whole train car to myself. i have to put at least one photo of myself in here, for you Mom, so you know I am alive. :) xo |
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| oh my god!!!!! will I ever be able to finish this book? seems I can't give up, because it's supposed to be a CLASSIC!!! A classic bore, have been hauling it around through several countries now... |
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| typical Umbrian hill town seen from the train |
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| one of my very favorite spots ever, the Pantheon. thinking of my Roman Emperor crush, Hadrian, who designed it. :) |
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| always love love love this view from the bridge I cross daily in Roma. magic! |
In health news, I am still having the good old eye problems & am going to see a Dr. tomorrow, hopefully I will receive a miraculous treatment for a low price! It has been a real pain trying to deal with this. Just last week I was lucky enough to receive two cortisone injections directly into my sweet and tender eyelid, you can imagine, the pain was brief but exquisite! It helped a little bit. Please feel free to sympathize with me & wish me well. ;)
On Monday arrives my friend from US! (it's funny sometimes when I write or speak I am using Italian grammar structure, like that last sentence) We will set out to do some hiking in the Dolomites & hope for good weather & fun times!! I will try to give you all an update. I arrive to my next volunteer position on about the 27th, in Courmayeur. It is a small town in the alps, near Mont Blanc, the highest peak around. I have it in my head that I will climb Mt. Blanc, you know how I like my peak bagging... We'll see if it is doable.
Miss & love you all!!!!! Hope you enjoyed the photos & silly comments :)
Until next time!
un bacione,
Anni
