From four nights in 1983 (on a tour bus with two children aged 9 & 12) to 77 nights in 2016, we have made 14 visits over that time. In fact, we have made 13 visits in 21 years! We have travelled to most parts of the country but spent the most time in Tuscany, Umbria and Rome. We adore Rome and have spent seven weeks there, always finding new and exciting things to see and do.
Today we celebrated with lunch, but first a 4.5 km walk. The Il Poggio grapes have been picked since we last walked this way...
... but further down the road a man was testing his grapes. He told us that they were 'ventuno gradi, perfetto!' (21 degrees, perfect!) so I guess his will be picked tomorrow.
One last look at our dreaming house.
The crocuses are blooming, creating vivid yellow patches in unusual places.
Later we went for lunch at Ristorante Masolino. The power has been off from 9 until 4.30 today in Macchie but luckily only from 2 until 3.30 pm in Panicale. That meant that we had almost finished before the lights went out.
Kel liked the pasta with lake perch so much that he had it again.
My pasta with gorgonzola cheese and walnuts was memorable. We again drank the excellent sagrantino brut with its beautiful colour and bubbles.
Another tiramisù for Kel and zuppa inglese for me. A lovely lunch in a charismatic setting was a worthy celebration of our 365 days in Italy.
Para-phrased from Dianne Hales book, La Bella Lingua (2009):
Eat like an Italian - not just with your mouth but with your eyes, nose, mind, memory and, most importantly, soul.
I feel your pain, amici.....
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