These stories tend to focus on special individuals or couples who have something in particular to say, or represent something specific worth documenting. They certainly aren’t always big names, or popular figures, but can be quiet and unimposing personalities as well—with a story to tell.

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The crumbling stone walls needed a new cap and so the work began!

Alfonso asked us for a piece of the old tile to check the dimensions. We looked at each other with a shrug as Cheryl said, “il cotto vecchio non è qui, the old clay tile isn’t here.” Whoops! Since he was at a critical point in capping the wall, we jumped in the car and tore down the hill to Gionni’s salvage yard to pick one up. We hoped to get back in time before the cement set. Cheryl dialed the cell phone to tell Gionni that we would be there in 30 minutes while Em negotiated the twisting, narrow roads on the shortcut route. (more…)

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They mentioned that they might  “breeze in” one day on their way north. Sure enough, on a Sunday afternoon Joan and Erin arrived from Rome. We walked into the train station and there they were, as if we had been planning this rendezvous for years. Stowing their luggage, we made our way through the narrow streets, past the market at San Lorenzo, around the corner to the left, arriving at Trattoria Zà Zà for lunch. We took a table out front in the warm midday air and settled in for a couple of hours. (more…)

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There was a strange high-pitched noise in the engine. Proactive is always better, so we drove down to Sieci where the local autofficina, mechanics shop, is located—tucked in just beneath the residences above. We asked Moreno what he thought about the noise. Moreno knows everything about cars. We trust Moreno. (more…)

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Admiration.

That’s what comes to mind when I think of someone living alone. I’m in awe of the courage it must take to say “I’m going to do this on my own, no matter what.” The underlying self-confidence is inspiring. My brief experiences are nothing in comparison, but they at least give me glimpses and insights into what it must take to be solo, as we say in Italy. (more…)

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Our friends down the hill Sabrina and Roberto, hired Alessio Merciai, a local historian, to research and write the story of their beloved villa, Il Trebbiolo. They have been working non-stop for 10 years to restore it to the grandeur of its finest hour in the 16th century, and they’ve done a fantastic job. The book is now finished, so we picked up a copy the other day to check it out. It reads like a reverse murder mystery—instead of trying to find out who done it, as in something really bad, they are trying to solve the riddle of who done it so good, because it is such a beautiful place today. That alone makes this story very different from any other. (more…)

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Saturday night was my big event of the week—dinner at Torre al Sasso, Stone Tower. My celebratory meal consisted of a calzone farcito with birra, beer followed by the ever popular caffè normale, espresso which is a cultural requirement. Of course I did start off with a complimentary glass of prosecco, champagne’s Italian cousin, because that’s just what happens when we go to Sasso. Even though I was solo, alone tonight, I still got special treatment and even warranted a table for four right in front of the calcio, soccer game. As you can already see, I wasn’t kidding about this being a big night. (more…)

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There are some people in this world who are absolutely unforgettable. Even if the encounter is brief, the experience becomes indelibly etched in memory. Perhaps you meet someone with a big and charismatic personality. Maybe their line of work has a memorable quality as well. And then there are those who combine the two. Dario Cecchini is one of those people. (more…)

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Our good friend Giacomo Martini just arrived in his three-wheeled truck, the Ape (say ah-pay) which means “bee” in Italian—since that is how it sounds. He has started cutting the scarpate, slopes around the olive trees. Good-bye to the fading yellow wild flowers and poppies. Hello to a well manicured hillside. (more…)