Arrived back just in time to get a short visit with Cristina's folks before they returned to Greece. Only had one free evening to do this, so after meeting on Wednesday, I ordered in Pizza for everyone. Poor Marco was really not feeling well this night and would have preferred to have just gone to bed... sorry Marco. And it was very late too. The restaurant didn't open until almost 8pm and then when we phoned in our orders, they already had a long list of orders before us. We did not get our Pizza until about 9:45pm. I don't think I will ever get used to eating so late.
All this entertaining this month makes for lots of grocery shopping... always searching for jut that one or two things that are difficult to find here.
On the 15th Freda and Ester were here for dinner. On the menu:
oven herb potatoes, chicken, soup, salad, etc.and strawberries dipped in chocolate with brazilnuts & whipped cream.
Sunday, 17th, the usual day spent at Caputo's. Davide growing like a weed... just as adorable as ever. He is such a happy contented baby.
More entertaining on the 22nd when Ralf and Davide were on their visiting rounds in the south. Invited Flaviano to join us this evening for dinner and a visit and it was a wonderful evening. He is such a great young man... a cut above the 'typical' Italian... ☺
Sunday 24th... the weeks keep rolling around and here we are at Caputo's again ☺
Freda, Esther, Mario and his wife
Then on the 29th I originally planned an all Ladies Luncheon, however, Mafalda got sick and Annarita's fater was very ill, so decided to just have a regular luncheon. On the menu: Baked rice & chicken, spinach salad, pickled cabbage salad, asparagus sauted in garlic and olive oil with salt and pepper, and the leftover German Chocolate cake for dessert..
Saturday 30th, Liliana came over and I made a lemon pound cake which I took to Caputo's on ...
Sunday, May 1st. Another week has rolled around, and another day spent at the Caputo's. Franco took Freda, Esther and I home this evening. I had cut the remainder of the Lemon cake into portions and shared with Mafalda, Freda and Esther, etc., so when I went to the bach on...
May 2nd to have lunch with Freda and Ester, guess what we had for dessert ☺ In the afternoon Freda and I went to see Maria G. It is 93 stairs up to her apartment (no elevator), so I dare say we worked off most of the cake we had eaten the last couple days.
May 8 - 13. Friends from the USA were visiting, so I went to Rimini to meet up with them and as usual, had to take lots of photos. I always love this train ride up the Adriatic Sea.
" il Ponte di Tiberio, was started during the reign of Augustus, as part of his extensive series of public works for Rimini, but takes its name from Tiberius, the Emporor under whose reign the bridge was finished. Built in seven years, between 14 and 21.AD. The Bridge is a remarkable construction, proven by the fact that it remains largely as it was when built by the Romans – despite the ebbs and flows of nature, the numerous wars it has seen, and modern day traffic (the bridge remains in use). Built with Istrian marble, the supporting columns are inclined and have breakwater rams designed to divert the force of the river’s current. When there was a river, that is, as the modern day bridge sits astride a canal. The river Marecchia originally passed under the bridge, but in the twentieth century was diverted from its original course to minimise flooding damage.If engineering prowess doesn’t rock your boat, the bridge is still well worth visiting just to see and admire. The sturdy white stone, with original inscriptions (to Augustus, and Tiberius), easily give the visitor the idea of travelling back in time.The bridge connects Rimini’s centro storico with the borgo San Giuliano. During the summer months, often, there are concerts and events staged in the canal with the ponte di Tiberio as an impressive backdrop."
Now heading back to Bari. More photos on my return journey. It is a 5 hour train ride each way, so taking photos is a great way to spend my time when the scenery is this beautiful ☺
Of course, I have my electronics and my ever present Brita water bottle with me too.
As you can see, the further south I go, the flatter the country gets, and the more crop farming there is. In the north, it is mostly grapes and olives because it is so hilly.
There are a few industries in the south, however, most are in the north.
May 14th, back in Bari, catch up on laundry and my usual daily Lungomare Promenade walk
Then, of course, we had to finish the day with a Gelato!
May 18th was Annarita's father (Daniele's g'pa), Pasquale's funeral. Well, actually three Pasquale's.. two others in the north, with the same name had all passed away this week. I had an early rise this morning, since I needed to walk over to Freda's and from there we walked together to where the service was at a small room in the Hospital. We all stood around the refrigerated casket where Danny and Enrico had the service.
After the service, Freda, Mariella and I rode with Danny and Enrico up to Foggia for the burial. Danny & Enrico had driven the 6 hours down to Bari the day before, now a two hour drive to Foggia, two hours back to Bari where Cristina had prepared a luncheon for us, then they had their return trip to Livorno, another 6 hours after a 4pm luncheon. A lot of driving for these two the last couple of days.
Luncheon after the service. Shortly after, Danny and Enrico, made the long drive back to Livorno. After church this evening, I took the bus back into the city. Had been a long day and I was plenty tired.
Thursday, May 19th. Time to get busy with my Permesso renewal process again. However, in the middle of it all, my printer decided to pack it in, so now off to check out a new Printer. I took my roller cart this day, because I knew there was no way I was going to be able to carry a printer home without killing my arms and back. I found a nice but inexpensive one at a shop about half hour walk away. By the time I got to the shop where I actually purchased one, I had walked a half hour in another direction to a different shop, but they were closed this day. All in all, by the time I arrived home, I had been walking about 4 hours.
Friday, 20th. Printer worked great, now off to get my documents mailed. It rained lots today, so was a bit wet by the time I walked to the Poste and back, but it is in the Mail. Now I have an appointment at the Questura scheduled for June 8th. Not the best date for me, as I will be in the North, up on the Swiss border by then. I had planned to stay there through this date, however, as it turned out, Ralf needed me to bring a car back to Bari with Natalina and Maria, and we needed to leave on the 6th, spend the night in Pescara / Picciano and go on to Bari on the 7th. So it all worked out in the end. I made it back in time to get my paperwork sorted out and a good nights rest before my 8am appointment on the 8th. More about this in my June blog.
Back to the 20th... Flaviano wanted to come for a visit this day, however, I didn't see his note until much later in the evening, as I was so busy working on my Permesso, etc. By the time I contacted him back, he was otherwise engaged.
Saturday, 21st I baked a chicken, made chicken noodle soup with the broth and kiwi creamcheese pie. Yummy! Time to get things sorted out for my trip North.
22nd - 31st
Only a week now before I leave for the north, so always feel the pressure to make sure all gets done before I leave. If I was more mobile (as in, had a car) perhaps I wouldn't feel the pressure as much, but when I walk everywhere, I know how quickly my days go... takes a lot of time to get a little done.
22nd - 31st
Only a week now before I leave for the north, so always feel the pressure to make sure all gets done before I leave. If I was more mobile (as in, had a car) perhaps I wouldn't feel the pressure as much, but when I walk everywhere, I know how quickly my days go... takes a lot of time to get a little done.
Monday, got up early, did grocery shopping, then over to the Condo office to pay my monthly fee there. It is very unusual to mail anything here... usually transactions are done by online banking or cash.
Tuesday, I did not go to Capurso as Freda had already gone to Carema.
Wednesday Liliana came for lunch, (healthy one I might add). We are both interested in nutrition, so what you see is fresh made carrot juice, homemade split pea soup, salad, whole grain bread, etc. Then in the evening, I went to Caputo's as usual for the bible study.
The rest of the week just normal getting sorted out and packing etc. for my time in the north. Also doing a bit of extra shopping and cooking, as Mariano will be coming on Sunday evening.
After church, did not stay at Caputo's for lunch on this Sunday, but came home and finished my packing up, started dinner in the Crockpot for this evening, then met Mariano at the Train station. We had a short tour walk around the city on our way back to the house where we had dinner.
After dinner we took a hike down the Promenade on Lungomare, over to Bari Vecchio to have the "best Gelato I've every had" (Mariano's words). He should know, having been born and raised in Italy, and having eaten a lot of Gelato in lots of cities. Now it's getting late, so back to the house where we prepped food to take on the train tomorrow. Going to be a long day before we get to Carema.
Monday we got up at 5am, scurried around finishing up the sandwiches, etc., to take with us, grabbed the bus with our luggage and was at the train station before 7am. Daniele was going with us, so he spent the night at Caputo's, where Marco then was able to bring him to the station and meet us there.
They have a special lift for his wheelchair to be loaded on the train, so it was not difficult to get aboard... we just had to be there in plenty of time to make this arrangement.
Thursday, 26th was Liliana's birthday, so I wanted to surprise her. I made her some 'Reese's Peanut Butter' bites and with a card and plant took them to her office. She was ever so surprised and genuinely touched. So many things we take for granted in the USA, that these people have never experienced. Making her day, made my day!!
After church, did not stay at Caputo's for lunch on this Sunday, but came home and finished my packing up, started dinner in the Crockpot for this evening, then met Mariano at the Train station. We had a short tour walk around the city on our way back to the house where we had dinner.
Monday we got up at 5am, scurried around finishing up the sandwiches, etc., to take with us, grabbed the bus with our luggage and was at the train station before 7am. Daniele was going with us, so he spent the night at Caputo's, where Marco then was able to bring him to the station and meet us there.
These two slept for a few hours on the train, so I moved to another seat and visited with a young lady from S. America who was traveling around Europe. Eventually, the 'boys' got hungry and came looking for me... well came looking for the food bag anyway ☺
About 3pm we arrived in Modena, where we then picked up Mariano's car and drove the additional three hours to Carema. By the time we got checked into our respective hotel/B&B, we were about 6pm arriving in Carema. The 21st had been Mariano's birthday. He loves this kind of chocolate bar, (I remembered this from the time when I lived with them after I first arrived in Italy) and one day when I was out shopping, I found this HUGE one, so this year since I would be seeing him, I purchased one for him. He as thrilled!
Then when we arrived in Carema, this day was also, Danny's birthday. Mariano shared his chocolate 'treasure' with everyone, and as you can see Danny was giving it a taste test ☺ Also on the white board, was a welcome to Carema greeting for us. How nice.
Next morning 31st, I had a horrific headache, so stayed in the hotel and slept/rested until about noon. I needed to drink some coffee, which always seems to help, but my head hurt so bad, I couldn't even get up to go down and get some. Mariano had offered to come over to my hotel and bring me some, but when I tried to stand up my head would spin, so I just had to wait until it subsided.
Mariano and Daniele and Danny went to do some touring/sightseeing this day. I would have loved to have joined them, however, my head would not allow that. While they were out and about, they sent me a sweet note "Get well soon nonna nostra" (our grandmother). So nice to have such nice young boys/men here. They certainly do feel like my 'grandsons' and I enjoy spending time with them... glad they like spending time with me! Mariano had made all the plans for taking Daniele to Carema, and invited me to 'come along' with them. Otherwise, I would probably have just flown up, but was very happy to go with Daniele. You two are very special to me, Mariano and Daniele! Also, my Dutch buddy Danny! Got his first "Murse" for his birthday... he is a 'real Italian' now! All the men carry 'man purses' = murse, here in Italy.
This concludes May, so will post the rest of Carema days in my June blog.
In my walks around the city to do my shopping and going to and from the bus stops and train stations, I see all kinds of shops. This florist had the most beautiful Orchids!
