Last night, the Doll family invited us downstairs to their apartment for an open house, family style dinner. We all had a great time, talking to each other and playing with the kids but what really made the night for me was the family atmosphere. The first thing that we saw was color - reds, blues, greens, evidence of life (We live comfortably ensconced in ikea-white) on the walls, shelves, furniture. I was comfortably sandwiched with 4 other people on the red couch, covered in stuffed animals and pushed right up against the kids table, painted blue and covered in elephants (!!!) Giraffes and hippos. It was completely wonderful in every way - and then we got a home cooked meal to boot! Red soup, salad, and a Mediterranean chick pea salad with red and white wines. Everyone took their time, laughed, stayed for hours. The kids all drew us pictures and paraded around in superhero capes and race car pajamas - it was the perfect pick-me-up.
Then we woke up to a very happy Fat Tuesday! (Happy Mardi Gras everyone!) Today is also International Women's day, which is celebrated in Italy by the men giving every woman in their lives mimosa flowers (not the drink - these are yellow and look kind of like pollen grass. they're the national flower of australia too). We had all made a few jokes to Andrew and Nick, that living with 22 girls was going to make this day a challenge, but each and every one of us woke up with letters and flowers waiting outside her door in the morning. They dressed up, ties and all, too. It was very sweet.
Also, in celebration of the holidays today, Locanda del Luca, the restaurant that feeds us 12 meals a week, has invited us all to stay for karaoke night and dancing. Apparently they do this frequently, but are having an all out party, with drinks and masks and as many people as they can convince to come to spend the night listening to each other sing and celebrating Fat Tuesday. I am actually really excited to go! Although none of us are really planning on singing, it should be very enjoyable.
All-in-all, the beginnings of the new week have been positively lovely, and can only get better with a trip to Sienna on Thursday and then Florence on Friday. I feel so blessed!
I hope you are all celebrating the coming of the Easter season in your own way, and that all is well!
Ciao!
OK...alright...when you come home I'll pull out my old Superman cape and jump off the couch or something like that. ~ Papa
ReplyDeletewow - just catching up greta - i feel like i'm right there with you - you have such a gift for writing and capturing the mood and flavor of the land!
ReplyDeletewe were just in chicago - rain, snow and sun - wacky place! we had fun with josh and sam and stryder loves being there! we went to second city comedy - had a great time; went to a meg whole foods store for wine flights and dinner; worshipped at a church called "park" - you would love the unusual architecture there...music was outside my box but i worshipped just the same -- uncle jim and i were definitely the oldest people there...by a few decades (haha); Last nite - we went to the Phila Flower Show "Spring in Paris"...a breath of fresh air (not the paris part - i dont; care for the joint!) but the flowers were gorgeous - God sure makes nature grand! well, i am dying for gelato and some of that pastry!!
we love you tremendously alot! aunt nanyc and uncle jim
love you, Greta! So glad you "caved" and did a blog...I love reading about your adventure!
ReplyDelete-Krissy (steve and crew)