I have recently realized that we don’t have much time left before we leave and I am starting to freak out. The next month is going to be a whirlwind! But I just need to stop freaking out about the stupid things, like I didn’t get to visit this place or that place – hello you just lived in Italy for 9 months, what more do you want? Most people don’t even get to visit Italy, let alone experience their way of life for 9 months!
We decided to stick around the villa this weekend as it was going to be quiet with most of the students gone on travels. So with lots of bottles of wine on hand, the hammock hung in the villa garden and my makeshift desk set up, we enjoyed a nice quiet weekend of school work, garden time and napping! We have come to love the “wine guy” in Casteletto, they have an awesome selection of vino, and are always so kind to explain to us their selection, especially the new bottles that have arrived!
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| Our favorite wine store in Casteletto |
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| Small, but awesome selection of vino |
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| My new office in the garden |
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| Nick enjoying reading in the hammock out in the villa garden |
Luca and Anna invited us to a special concert with them at the theatre on Friday night. We stopped prior at a small resteraunt near the theatre for a delicious, but rushed apertivo. The concert was not one that is in Luca’s normal schedule, so our seats weren’t the usual classy ones that we have, but they were just fine. However, Luca has promised next time I can have the special side balcony ones, where I if course assume that royalty sits – ha ha!
To begins, we enjoyed the music of West Side Story and then Rhapsody Blue. The orchestra was lead by an amazing director and they were joined on occasion by one of the most amazing pianist we have seen before, his improv was killer!
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| Teatro Carlo Felice |
Saturday was another day of lounging around, long naps and school work, we then joined Luca and Anna for dinner in centro at a quaint resteraunt with some pretty amazing frescos on the walls and ceiling. Luca tells us up until three years ago this space was used to sell Scotish clothing and the walls were covered and just uncovered to show these amazing frescos when the restaurant opened. I enjoyed a delicious basic pasta dish and course chocolate tort to finish and Nick had an octopus dish, which he really enjoyed.
Sunday morning was spent rushing around making final preparations before I had to head out to the airport to pick my mom up. I decided that I would attempt to take the bus that leaves from the train station, as this would be much cheaper then a taxi both ways. Of course I just missed the bus to take me to the train station and had to wait 25 mins for the next one, therefore fearing I would miss the bus out to the airport. But luckily the 36 bus pulled in as the other was closing its doors, I begged in my broken Italian for the man to let me on. I think the only reason he did was because I had money in hand and no luggage. He was turning everyone else away! Then I realized once I got to the airport the next bus to leave back to town left on five minutes, I quickly bought tickets and at first sight of mom hurried her through the door onto the bus, poor lady didn’t even get a hello, but I was on a mission! I wanted to get us back to town for 12:30 Palm Sunday mass, and I am happy to say we made it, even with time to spare for her to have a potty break at the villa!
After mass Nick met up with us and we showed her around “our city”, we made our way through Genova eating our weight in gelato, granita and pasta. Mom enjoyed her first pesto dish, we had lunch at l Tre Merli and it was delicious! My poor mom, I think that on her first day in Italy she has drank more wine then she has ever cinsumed in her lifetime, welcome to Italia mom 😉🇮🇹
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| Palm Sunday procession through San Nicola |
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| Mom and I enjoy the first of what I assume will be many gelato’s and granita’s of her trip |
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| Hanging out at the Port |
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| Look – it’s Violet gelato! |
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| Spices / Teas at the market at Pallazo Ducal |
For dinner we enjoyed pizza at Re Mida, where the poor lady was falling asleep at the table – ha ha!
Now onto a fun filled day at
Villa Montallegro, I wish that this was a beautiful villa with even more amazing gardens, but unfortunately it is actually a private clinic where Nick will have his third of four surgeries. We are praying that this one will do the trick and allow him to have full range of motion soon. Great way to spend a birthday huh?! But in the meantime mom and I are going to attemp to make a quick trip to Camolgi and back before his surgery starts – we shall see!
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| View from Nick’s room at Villa Montallegro – way better then the one at Ospedale Galleria |