Keiko left this past Sunday to return to New York and her cats. We had a lovely visit with her, albeit a bit hectic as we both attended language school everyday and my promise to her that we will speak only Italian at home for two weeks was quickly broken. Four hours of class in the morning and then homework of thinking about and in Italian seemed to give us a brain drain. We did some other fun things though that gave up plenty of exposure to the language, including a corporate party
(courtesy of a friend) at an ex-monastary that is now a four star hotel in the hills, a weekend in the Marche to celebrate my friend Philippa's birthday (she just had a beautiful inground pool completed, some friends from their hometown of London even came, and Ray roasted his first marshmallow), and a sunset aperitivo on the roof of one of Bologna's medieval towers (pictured above and now a b&b http://www.prendiparte.it/. What a climb that was.). We also had a vegetarian lunch at a
nagriturismo which was better than expected, and I think Keiko enjoyed getting around Bologna on the back of my Vespa. We also attended the theater to see an English/Italian version of The Vagina Monologues (we know now how to say the v-word in Italian, among others we wouldn't learn in class). The weather was quite hot while she was here, so we kept mostly to the indoors until it cooled down in the evenings. The cinema festival is in the process of showing films on the big screen in Piazza Maggiore, but so far we haven't managed to see any (the Kubrick segment begins this week - every year they show 2001 but this year they include a number of others - Andrea is looking forward to seeing the beautiful women in Eyes Wide Shut on the huge screen).
By the way, James and Philippa put up all their guests at a hotel in a small town in the Marche that was bought in its entirety and renovated into something of a resort yet still sits at the end of a dirt road. A great place to stay if you are planning a trip through the region: http://www.castellodellapieve.it/
This photo is for SusieQ.
5 comments:
Holey moley! What beautiful scenery!! The pool looks amazing! I'm so glad you made such wonderful friends and that they welcomed Keichan so nicely! Thanks for sharing...
yfs
I want that life !!
Do tell -- who is the hotty in the pool giving Ray and friend swimming instructions ? (much too young hotty, but one can enjoy the view- nes pas ?)
Is life in Italy just one big vacation after the other ?? If so, sign me up. I hope you are enjoying what remains of your class and planning on doing something fabulous with your new found talent-- UN interpreter perhaps ? Can't wait to see what the Ricci family has planned next !!
Enjoy-S
Susan, that hunk of South African Luv in the pool is the husband of my friend, Harriet. She is happy to share him with her friends as eye candy! Perhaps I will add another photo of him...
mamma mia !!!!
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