Another Day in Gubbio & The Corsa dei Ceri Mezzani

May 23, 2010 The boys wanted to show my friend Jerri the town of Gubbio.  Actually, I think they just wanted an opportunity to go back and buy more weaponry.  It was a good choice though because it is relatively close to us and has a lot to see and do – instead of driving [...]

Read Full Post »

Festa of the Madonna & the Clean Stairs

Last Sunday, May 9th, the Festa of the Madonna road rally continued with Jole and Romano’s house being on the scheduled tour.  The Madonna niche is right outside my front door on my terrace.  So, I had told Jole earlier in the week that I would clean up my terrace and wash the stairs but [...]

Read Full Post »

Learning the True Meaning of Labor Day

Festa del Lavoro (May Day) I found out this past weekend was Labor Day – Festa del Lavoro.  It was actually on Saturday, May 1st (May Day).  That was why everything was closed this weekend.  And of course, Deborah at the Borgo was having a Festa weekend (I originally just thought it was a May [...]

Read Full Post »

Liberation Day Revelations

Jole and Romano invited me down for coffee after their lunch on Saturday.  I got a chance to ask them about all of the many recent holidays.  That is when I found out that it was Labor Day or “Festa del Lavoro”.  However, the weekend before, on April 25th, there was also a big holiday.  [...]

Read Full Post »

Word of the Day – Colomba

Colomba – Not Colombo, the detective wearing the rumpled trench coat, but colomba.  A dove.  And more importantly, the traditional cake served during Pasqua or Easter in the shape of a dove. Generally a cake similar to the Christmas Pannetone, but there are several varieties out there now in various flavors.  I bought mine, as [...]

Read Full Post »

Easter in Sicily

Our first stop in Sicily was at an agriturismo near the town of Agrigento.  It was an olive farm and they of course as well, produced olive oil.  We arrived on Easter Sunday and planned to just spend the day on the estate relaxing, enjoying the pool and eating.  Easter lunch was at 1:30pm and [...]

Read Full Post »

Good Friday – Bad Friday

At 4:20am on Friday morning, Dante came into my room and woke me from a deep sleep with those nine little dreaded words: “Mom, I think I am going to throw up”.  I immediately jumped up from by slumber and ran him to the bathroom, where he did indeed get sick.  That started off the [...]

Read Full Post »

Pesce d’Aprile – April Fool’s

Huh?  Fish of April?  If you know any Italian, that is what pesce d’Aprile literally translates to.  No, I don’t quite get it either but Dante and Augusto came home from school and told me that the teachers were having them practice the traditional pesce d’Aprile (April Fool’s trick) of walking up to somebody and [...]

Read Full Post »

Benedizione della Casa

This Friday was a big day.  Everybody in my little village had spent the better part of the week cleaning their home both inside and out.  Dusting, sweeping, scrubbing, shining, mopping, and polishing.  Floors, furniture, counters, cabinets, windows, doors, and window boxes. It was time to get ready for the local parish priest Don Franco [...]

Read Full Post »

Pesce per Tre – Fish Dinner

Oh mio dio!  Translation:  Oh my god!  Mamma Mia!  Translation:  Oh my god! The food! The food!  We really had no idea what to expect when we went to dinner last night other than we were ready for some good fish.  As I had mentioned it was whatever the owner and chef Mario had picked [...]

Read Full Post »