personal connections...

I was in CoOp, the main grocery store in my little town of Opera, and saw Massimo - one of the guys that works in the produce section. Massimo is super nice - he first helped me last Fall (when I had just moved here)... I was looking for hot (chili) peppers. From that first time - on, he always gives me a smile and a hello... calling out, "Ciao Stazy!"

When my parents and brother, Sean, were here last Christmas they met Massimo as well... and he loved meeting my family. Massimo especially loved Sean. The two of them connected right away.

On his last day in Opera (or at least the last time he was in the CoOp before leaving Italy), Sean said that he had to go find Massimo to say goodbye.   : )

So now... Massimo saw me and asked how my parents are. ...He then asked how Sean is doing ...and told me (in Italian) to make sure to tell Sean that he says hello!

I think it's really awesome that connections and friendships can be made even when fluent communication is not there. In this instance, something about their energy or personalities... or something... spoke to each other.

My dad is great at forming these kinds of connections as well. He will use what Italian words he does know and have people smiling, laughing, and speaking back.

My mom gets in to town today - YEAH! She is, unfortunately, landing about 5 hours later than she expected but I plan to meet her in the city soon and it's a beautiful day in Milan today  : )  She'll be here for the week ahead and I'm really, really looking forward to soaking up some Mom-time!

FISH LUNCH at Silvana and Vincenzo's!

When we were invited to Silvana and Vincenzo's house for lunch, they asked us if we like fish. YES! SI!

Vincenzo said that the entire lunch would fish(es)... and he was right. Amazing. We had six different types of fish made a variety of ways. This is truly one of the best meals I've ever eaten.

Primo (first) course - pasta with fish:

Secondi (second) course - four different plates of fish:

These stuffed prawns (shrimp) were absolutely amazing, mmmmmm:

Cold salmon with onions, tomatoes, and a juice sauce... amazing!

Angela, Christopher, Denis, Gina, Silvana:

I was already stuffed and then Vincenzo brings out a huge platter piled with aluminum foil packets. I asked what was inside and he said 'a surprise' - haha. Inside was a breaded fish... teeth and all! I felt like I was back in Vietnam but without chopsticks. This was awesome. We basically picked at the fish to get forkfuls... so soft and flavorful.

Aaaaand, of course, rounding off the meal with a caffe!

Silvana and Vincenzo's FRUIT GARDEN

Silvana and Vincenzo have a really beautiful backyard with many flowers and fruit trees/plants. Below are some photos of their fruits. Vincenzo asked Angela if she wanted to take a lemon home from his tree... and her response was perfect... "Perche no?"... Why not? Haha.

Clementines

Strawberries

Oranges that don't look orange:

Banana plant:

Lemon tree:

Silvana and Vincenzo's FLOWER GARDEN

Silvana and Vincenzo have a really beautiful backyard with many flowers and fruit trees. Below are some photos of gorgeous flowers:

old-but-still-beautiful rose:

Silvana and Vincenzo's animals

Angela and I were invited to Silvana and Vincenzo's house for lunch our last day in Abruzzo... before getting on a train to head to Verona. Christopher and Denis are their sons... and they have two cute dogs as well. The dogs truly eat pasta! (Now that's an "Only in Italia!" moment!)

They are also taking care of their neighbor's cat for the summer holiday...

They have a number of turtles:

Aaaaand the doggies   : )

San Benedetto del Tronto - mercatino!

Returning to Gina's house after a morning at the beach with Elisa and lunch at Maria's house... Angela, Gina, and I walked over to the pizzeria. I pretty much love that we can walk a few blocks and be at the family pizzeria. Truly. This could be a television series... I love it. The parents - Silvana and Vincenzo - are there helping... and the two sons - Christopher and Denis - run the place. We went each afternoon to just sit and hang out... spend some family time together... perrrfect.

While there our third day in town, Christopher invited Angela and I out with him that night to San Benedetto del Tronto - a nearby town... on the beach, bigger than Alba Adriatica. I was pretty tired from the night before in Teramo and an early morning at the beach... but Christopher said that we could go to a mercatino (flea market) and get gelato... OK! Both of those things sound right up my alley.   : )

Angela and I met Christopher back at the pizzeria around 10:30pm, when they closed, and went out from there. San Benedetto is really cute. Many people were vacationing there and out for the evening. We walked through the town, then through the mercatino, and THEN went to the oldest gelateria in the town... yes, please!

The gelateria was packed with people. Christopher asked for a table for 3 people... and the guy said something about facciamo - meaning, we make. I laughed and said to Christopher that it would be awesome if they really made us a table... I'm picturing a hammer and nails! Funny enough... the guy comes walking over, carrying a table and three folding chairs. Hilarious. Even without a hammer and nails involved, he did make us a table... and set it in an open spot. Ready to go! I loved it.

On a walk through San Benedetto with Christopher:

A favorite photo/moment of mine... which one is not like the others??...

Angela ordered a coffee instead of gelatoooooo! (And ours were fancy, giant gelatos at that!) 

Angela and I left by train the next day - early evening. Vincenzo, Silvana, and Gina drove us to the train station in San Benedetto - and stopped by the pier on the way to the station since we hadn't been able to see it when it was dark while we were there with Christopher the night before. It was a really pretty spot:

Gina, me, Angela, Silvana:

at the beach - Villa Rosa, Abruzzo

The morning after going to the festival in Teramo, Angela and I got up early to go to the beach with Elisa and her daughter.

This was the first time I met Elisa. She is the daughter of another cousin of my grandpa's. I have met and spent time with her mom -Maria- and her aunt -Italia- both other times I've visited Abruzzo with my parents and brothers. (Maria and Italia are also cousins of Mario... Gina's late husband.)

About a week or so before going to Abruzzo, I called Italia to let her know that I was coming. I was extremely pleased when I put the phone down... as I understood the entire conversation AND she seemed to understand me! (Especially with a full summer without speaking any Italian.)

A day or so later, I received a phone call from Elisa - Maria's daughter... Maria, being Italia's sister. Italia had called them to let them know that I was coming and Elisa called me, on her mother's behalf, to invite Angela and I over for lunch one day! Very sweet!

So... before lunch, Elisa took Angela and I to the beach in her area - Villa Rosa (next to Alba Adriatica). It was a great morning - a lovely walk on the beach... and I really appreciated how good Elisa was at speaking slowly and clearly for me... as well as re-wording some sentences when she could tell that I did not understand.

At the beach with Elisa...

With Maria - at her house for lunch!

The family!

Elisa's husband, son, me, Elisa, Maria, Elisa's daughter, Kimberly (Italia's granddaughter), and Italia: