Italy 2023

Giorno Nove

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Questa mattina siamo stati pigi. (This morning we were lazy.) Ho lavorato il sito web. (I worked on the web site.)

We are going to Katia & Andrea's house for dinner tonight so we are not going out for a sit down lunch.

Fa bel tempo. ( A beautiful day.) Perfect temps in the 70's. Last night again no air needed. We have turned the corner.

La nostra camminata è stata più facile oggi del tempo. (Our walk was easier today because of the weather. Ci siamo fermati per panini alla Tana del Boia. (We stopped for sandwiches at La Tana del Boia). Interesting name translated – The Den of the Executioner. Brought the sandwiches home to eat on our balcony.

Katia picked us up at 6:00pm - a 10 minute ride to her house. We had long discussion with Katia before dinner. Saw her parents again. The children came a little later and dinner lasted over 3 hours . Tempo per la famiglia. (Family time.)

Andrea does most of the cooking and Katia helps out – great team. Andrea made a pasta sauce with the mushroom he gathered in the woods, last Sarturday, with his aunt. Second course we had Florentine (T-bone) steak, baked potatoes, bruschetta, sausage and green beans. Andrea said the steak must be at least 3 fingers thick and cooked rare to medium rare. When cooking it he put on some salt.  After cutting to serve, he applied a mix of sage, rosemary, thyme and lemon juice – tender and tasty . The mushrooms (morel) were so fresh and the pasta cooked to perfection. Third course was lemon cake that Katia made (recipe from a Canadian friend). Then after dinner drinks and conversation by all. We were home by midnight.

Nonna and nonno are Katia parents. They joined us which was very special. Nonna always asks us - will we see you again? And the answer is always “si”.  She likes to hear English, having lived in the states for many years.

Niccolò and Letizia are Katia and Andrea's children We have watched them grow up as our first trip to their house was in 2011. Niccolò is finishing up college and is now doing his internship in fashion design. Letizia is now working and has boyfriend Niccola, who is a geologist.  Hopefully we will be here when they are married.

What can a couple ask for but, to be welcomed into an Italian family's home and be part of the family? Very special evening!