Hidden Treasures of Italy

By Judy McMurtry

May 15, 2021

My journey will begin in late August into early September to ensure that I am there to enjoy the Venice Film Festival, which is the oldest film festival in the world.

Starting to make my dream a reality while flying over the great Atlantic Ocean in style and comfort, while enjoying a delicious meal onboard a luxury aircraft, relaxing in the comforts of my favorite airline.

Oh, how I long to take to the skies to places that many people only dream of visiting. I have a burning desire to visit Italy to taste the great food, indulge in the fascinating cocktails and wines. I love to delight my palate with the creamy sensation of the many flavors of gelato. 

My journey will begin on Delta Air Lines, in a spacious Delta One suite, sipping on mimosas and enjoying the wonderful food and entertainment onboard. Building up my anticipation of arriving into Italy and visiting all of the magnificent shops and picturesque sites. 

I will land in the beautiful city of Venice; it is an extraordinary city on the water. Venice is an incredible city because of the arts, small historic hamlets, nature oasis and mountains, fortified citadels, noble villas and holiday resorts by the sea and lake. I will check into the breath taking “The Gritti Palace, which is from the luxury collection of the Marriott Hotels. I will wake up to a beautiful view of the city, after resting in the comforts of this glorious room.

While I enjoy room service overlooking the grand canal, I would plan my day full of spontaneous fun crazy adventure. I plan to relax and explore the city by taking to the atmospheric waterways. Keeping with my wonderful luxury theme I would visit the stunning Ca d”Oro Palace.  I will finish my visit in Venice with a historical walk through the Jewish Ghetto. I would finish my evening with a sophisticated concert at the Venice Jazz Club in the Dorsoduro quarter. I will enjoy a delicious dinner at Ristorante dalla Marisa.

It is a known fact that the canals of Venice are among the world’s most romantic places to visit.

My final stop will be the glorious city of Florence. According to Wikipedia, “The city is noted for its culture, Renaissance art and architecture and monuments. The city also contains numerous museums and art galleries, such as the Uffizi Gallery and the Palazzo Pitti, and still exerts an influence in the fields of art, culture and politics.” After reading about the rich culture of Florence, I decided to jump on Rail.Ninja high speed train to Florence to embrace their fabulous culture.

Keeping with the Marriott theme, I will check into the beautiful Westin Excelsior and wake up with this magnificent view of the city. I will enjoy a lovely brunch at this beautiful hotel, before taking to the streets of Florence to explore the rich culture of this historical city. I plan to just relax in luxury and rejuvenate after several months of being restricted to travel. 

My vacation will end with a smile on my face and joy in my heart, as I prepare to travel back to the United States.

About the Author – Judy McMurtry

For 33 years, I was the person behind the scenes of successful businesses making it all happen. Driven by my passion for leadership development, I had a successful and diverse leadership team. My name is Judy McMurtry, and during those years, I thought I had it all. Maybe you’ve been there too. 6 years ago, I realized that I was stuck and wanted more than just a career in someone else’s corporation. That is when I decided to retire from the corporate world and start a new chapter in my life. On this journey I have been trained and mentored by world-class leaders. I am equipped with the tools, resources, and experience to help any team improve productivity, performance, and profitability. Now instead of leading successful teams myself, I help leaders find success through their teams and grow organizations, from the outside-in. If you are looking for a team transformation, email me at jmexcelconsultant@gmail.com and I would love to sit down for a free exploration for together we can transform your team.

By: Karen Titus – May 1, 2021

With the potential of return to travel and Europe loosening restrictions and opening borders, I am optimistically creating a trip to Sicily.  Sicily is easy to reach, you can connect through Europe to either Palermo or Catania and many carriers offer service year round.

So what to do in Sicily, where to stay, when do you go? Do you drive, ride bikes, vespa?  Since I have never been to Sicily it is like a blank canvas that I get to paint

My ideal getaway would be spend a few days on a the beaches of the Tyrrhenian Sea or the Mediterranean Sea and read a book under an umbrella.  Ideally, I would be able to walk to a café with a view of the sea to have lunch, enjoy the fresh foods a sparkling water for me please rather than still.  Over lunch, try to take in conversations if possible and meet new people.  After a long lunch and walk, return to the beach for the late afternoon and watch the change in colors in the sky and water as the sunsets

After a day of sheer relaxation and having your senses touched,  jump on a vespa and go to a  local restaurant for delicious dinner al fresco that lingers and lingers and then on that most fabulous way home, you know you have tomorrow to do it all over again.

Ideas to consider:

Visit the Eastern part of Sicily, specifically Catania.

Rent a villa, they rates range of course based on time of year but for Spring time, you could rent a villa from a wide range of prices, from $150 USD a night to over $1200 per night or higher, depending on what amenities you may want.    During the day, you can spend time on the beaches of Playa.  Here you are close to the foot of Mt. Etna, and have history of a volcano and the sea stretching out ahead of you.  I may never even open my book because of the beauty of nature.   In Playa,  are plenty of restaurants along the beach and you can make a reservation in advance for a table.  You can enjoy all the flavors of the town.   

There are several beaches in the Catania area in addition to Playa, here are few including a dog beach.

Lido Cocoa Beach

Lido Azzurro

Dog Beach by Lido Azzurro

Renting a Vespa is fairly simple to do, as long as you have a valid driver’s license. Or you can even rent a bicycle for a minimal cost per day.

While I am in Sicily, I am going to take some time to try to trace my roots as my grandfather came from Sicily.  I will look into the family names and see if I may any extended family.  Even if I am not able to trace any distant relatives, I will get a feel of history and bring me a little closer in my heart to my Pop-pop.

Happy Travels!

Karen loves to travel and spent 15 years with Delta Air Lines exploring all parts of the globe.  AS an avid animal lover, I have a few rescue animals at home and am involved in the community through volunteer programs, and helping those who are underserved.   In between that, I am looking for my next adventure.

For more information about Karen, please visit: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-titus-22b4a1b

By: Joanne Natale Spigonardo

April 3, 2021

One of the fondest memories of my childhood is celebrating Easter with my family. On the day after Ash Wednesday, my Mother would start planning for the festivities. Lent was always observed diligently with no sweets to be consumed until Holy Saturday at noon. Her planning was truly appreciated when we got a chance to break into our surprise Italian Easter Egg. It was always dark chocolate with a little toy surprise.

We also baked and baked for days, we made sweet and savory treats. Our kitchen was a haven for Easter bread, cookies, ricotta pie, and la pizza ripena or la pizza rustica. La pizza ripena, is a pie filled with salami, parmiggiano reggiano, and fresh basket cheese. All of these recipes are hidden treasures brought back from our home town, Nusco, Italy. These traditional wonders are those that we savor still today.

After a sumptuous feast of homemade pasta with a meat sauce that cooked for hours, grilled lamb, roasted potatoes, asparagus, and many more dishes, the meal would end with a Colomba di Pasqua. The family was around the table, telling jokes and enjoying each other’s company. No matter how full we were, we always had room for this delicious cake with candied fruit with a glass of Prosecco.

I hope all of you have a wonderful Easter celebration, and take time to remember your Italian roots, make new memories with your family, and toast to a beautiful Spring!

About the Author:

Joanne has many years of experience in travel to Italy, Italian art, history, wine and cuisine. She is an advocate for Italian immigrant women, and the author of White Widow, which is available on Amazon. For more information about Joanne please visit her Linkedin page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-spigonardo-b4824a9/

By: Linda Thatcher Raichle

March 2021                                                                   

In June 2019, we had the pleasure of spending 11 magical days cruising from Rome throughout the Mediterranean Sea including stops in Italy, Malta, Greece and Croatia. Anticipating our stops along the Italian coastline, we pre-arranged a small, private boat tour for ourselves and 2 other couples. Our tour included the services of a local captain and tour guide. We spent a glorious day cruising along the Amalfi Coast with stops at the Furore Fjord, LiGalli Island and the Blue Grotto. Our day included time for swimming, snorkeling and a stop for lunch at a small restaurant nestled among the high cliffs of Positano overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. 

The highlight of the day included a stop at the Blue Grotto (Gotta Azzurra) a jewel of a sea cave located off the coast of Capri in the Bay of Naples. As we approached the Grotto, we were met with a floatilla of boats bobbing and weaving in the turbulent sea near the cave. We heard a cacophony of shouts from the boat captains wanting their occupants to have a chance to see the Grotto.  Since visitors may only enter the cave in small, official Grotto rowboats at low tides, time is of the essence and a sense of urgency prevailed amongst the chaos.

When our turn came, we were instructed to quickly climb into the official rowboat and lie flat so we could enter the ever-decreasing small mouth of the cave as the waves ebbed and flowed. The rowboat captain stood in the boat with his oars poised high while shouting orders.  I was positioned in the stern next to our somewhat larger friend. A former football player, whose wide berth was limited by the size of the boat, his head seemed to protrude far above the limits of the small cave entrance.  I worried he would be injured as we entered the small opening of the cave and expressed my concern.  He agreed and tried to wiggle his way further down into the rowboat while pushing my head down shouting “get lower” to give him more room.  Years afterwards, we continue to laugh about the scene we must have created.

Once inside the Grotto, we sat up and the chaos of the past few minutes was immediately hushed by the brilliance of the turquoise water.  The reflection is caused by sunlight entering the cave from outside and inside through an underwater breach, creating bluish-green colors depending on the time of day and weather conditions. We were among only 4 or 5 boats in the Grotto at the same time.  We slowly made our way around the cave in quiet reflection admiring the stalactites (gallery of the pillars) and the underwater rocks shown through silver reflections.  The rowboat captains began to gently sing O Solo Mio with the melodious tune softly echoing in the cave.

We were captivated and awed by the Grotto’s beauty. While we spent only about 5 minutes in the cave, we emerged with a sense of serenity having witnessed the beauty that only nature can create. 

This is Italy.  It is sometimes chaotic and crazy, bubbling with turbulence and energy, but always revealing something new and seductive…always wanting us to return. 

About the Author: Linda Thatcher Raichle, PhD

Linda’s quest to become an Italian citizen began when she found her Sicilian grandfather’s birth certificate in the back of her cousin’s closet. After a 5-year quest, she is now a proud dual citizen of the US and Italy. Linda and her husband, John, a semi-retired surgeon and avid photographer, have enjoyed their retirement years “Dolce far niente”(the sweetness of doing nothing) by traveling extensively throughout Europe and Asia.  Italy is a frequent and favorite destination.  They look forward to more travel as the COVID restrictions are lifted.

Resources

The 10 Best Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra) Tours & Tickets 2021 – Capri | Viator

The Grotta Azzurra, Italy’s Amazing Blue Grotto (allthatsinteresting.com)

Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra) – Isle of Capri, Italy – ItalyGuides.it

The 3 Tenors O Sole Mio 1994 – YouTube

By: Karen Titus

As there seems to be a little light that one day soon we will once again be able to travel, I started daydreaming of where I would want to go first. Of course, Italy is top of the list, and then wondered how could I make this trip different.  I have never had the opportunity to golf in Italy and in the last several years have fallen for game of golf, so why not combine the two.

If you are thinking of the same, you can find over 150 18-hole golf courses in Italy, with the majority found in the north, specifically the Piedmont, Veneto and Lombardy regions, all stunning in their own way.  

There are several courses in Piedmont, one of which was designed by Robert von Hogge, and is considered one of Italy’s most spectacular courses. Circolo Golf Bogogno. This course boasts of the backdrop of the Alps and Monte Rosa. Here you have a hotel, restaurant, wellness spa, fitness center and a pool. 

On Lake Como, sits Golf Club Monticello.  You can spend the day here, be short distance from the restaurants around Lake Como and Milan. You can combine your day of golf and then take in sightseeing Visit Duomo of Como and highly recommend one of my first and favorite places in Italy, Villa del Balbianello.  From here, you can wander the garden, take in the view of the lake, one of the best in the area.  And there is so much history here, and fun fact, it was in scenes in James Bond movies as well as Star Wars.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month and most recently International Women’s Day, I am thinking this would be an awesome girl’s trip.  While golf can be intimidating, and tends to be a male dominated sport, why don’t we make some changes to that.  Pick up our clubs, take a trip and spend some time on the courses in Italy.

Karen recently retired from Delta Air Lines and has always enjoyed traveling the globe, with special love and interest for Italy as it was her first trip to Europe.

For more information about Karen, please visit: 

  https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-titus-22b4a1b/

By: Joanne Natale Spigonardo

If you have ever been to Italy on International Women’s Day, you know that it is an extra special day in many ways.  Most regions celebrate women by honoring them with sweets and mostly with mimosa flowers, which are some of the first to bloom in Italy in the spring.  Landscapes are ablaze with them and create a golden aura on the countryside. Not only are the mimosa flowers beautiful, but they are also generously abundant, fragrant, and are often used to describe the nature of Italian women. Given that the flowers flourish after harsh winters, pandemics, economic issues, and social strife, they also can offer happiness and hope for everyone, just like women.

               The origin of International Women’s Day is in the early 20^th century globally when women were fighting for equal rights.  In Italy it became particularly popular in post-World War II, when the country was faced with a break-down of government, poverty, and uncertainty.  Women were at the forefront to fight for fairness to all, then and now.  The strength of women to organize, educate, nurture and to generally get the job done is a credit to the world.  Women are often able to do this without violence or hostility, with a focused leadership quality.

               A special memory that I have of International Women’s day was when I visited Florence on March 8^th many years ago.  Even though I had heard of the massive mimosa giving tradition, I was not prepared for what transpired.  Just imagine walking along the beautiful Ponte Vecchio and taking in the early spring sunshine on the flowing Arno and being greeted by mimosa bearing strangers.  These strangers became friends in that moment of giving, it was such a random act of kindness that still brings joy to my heart.  I had an armful of the flowers given to me in minutes, by children, adults, the old and the young.  As I walked, I shared these flowers with those that I met, saying a friendly word.  The act of giving was infectious, on that day we were all on the same path, in the city of the Renaissance, on a day of rebirth and enlightenment. 

               While there is so much that separates us, there is so much more that can unite us. I hope that you can honor women today by sharing something special with others.  If you can find the mimosa flowers that would be the most traditional, but anything will do, the point is that giving of yourself is a liberating and rewarding experience. Others need us and women have so much to give.  Happy International Women’s Day!

About the Author: Joanne Natale Spigonardo

Joanne has many years of experience in travel to Italy, Italian art, literature, film, history, wine, and cuisine. She is a lover of nature and beauty.  She is an advocate for Italian immigrant women, and the author of White Widow, which is available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/White-Widow-Joanne-Natale-Spigonardo/dp/B085DT65DB.  For more information about Joanne please visit her LinkedIn page:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-spigonardo-b4824a9/.

Due to COVID, the opportunity to travel to Italy is limited to many so I sit daydreaming of how fabulous it would be to in Italy during the month of February, celebrating the month of love.

Whether it is a romantic love, family love or love for oneself, or maybe all of them? There are so many ways to fall in love in Italy.

Historically, celebrating St. Valentines started as a festival, it was a time that Italians would spend time outdoors in parks and gardens.   One story of St. Valentine is that he served in the third century Rome and disobeyed the orders of the then Emperor by marrying young lovers in secret.   The Emperor thought that soldiers were best if they were single and banned marriage.  St. Valentine believed in love.

Thinking of parks and gardens brings my memories to the Lugano region, which is actually two countries, as it lies on the southern border of Switzerland and northern border of Italy.  There is a lovely park, Parco Ciano   If you wanted to celebrate Valentine’s Day and love, try a day wandering around Parco Ciano.  It sits on Lake Lugano, and the sight of the beauty placed in front of you can make you fall in love with nature. There you can soak in the flowers and trees and views of the mountains.  Maybe you sit a bench for hours talking, or you sit on a blanket reading a book, soaking in the sun.  

Another area to explore the parks would be Park San Mamete, this sits nestled between the lakes and mountains of the Como region of Italy.  Here you have the splendor of the still water,  the mountains whether they are lush or maybe slightly snow covered caps.  No matter what your interest or activity level, there are options for all, young, old, single, or couples.  You can make your own festival rituals.  One never knows, the act of simply being present and soaking the beauty like sponge could stimulate your hypothalamus.  And as the legend says the first person you see on Valentine’s Day is who you will one day marry. 

So why we may not be able to travel to Italy, maybe we can day dream a little and fall in love all over again.   Buon San Valentino, Amore Mio.

Author: Karen Titus. February 3, 2021

For more information about Karen, please visit:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-titus-22b4a1b/

By:  Judy McMurtry

January 10, 2021

As I reflect on past travels, I reminisce about my special trip on Norwegian Epic cruise ship to Western Mediterranean. It was a 7-night cruise that started and ended in Barcelona with stops in Naples/Rome (Civitavecchia)/Florence & Pisa (Livorno)/Cannes/Palma, Majorca. Of the three countries that I visited my favorite was Italy. I enjoy taking cruises because it allows me the opportunity to visit many places to determine which ones, I like the best, and this trip was my dream vacation that I planned my entire life. I’ve had fantasies of traveling to France, Spain, and especially Italy. I loved Italy the best and look forward to visiting this exciting country for more than a couple of days in the near future. My favorite city was Rome, in addition to the cruise experience which also included culture, friendly people and lots of fun was something that one could not forget. A great deal of preparation went into the trip such as, making arrangements for the necessary travel documents and studying the culture, historical sites and the history of each country, so that I can truly have an experience and not just enjoyment.

                        The travel experience in Europe was wonderful. It was educational as well as a culture awareness learning experience. The country with the most culture experience was Rome Italy, because out of the three countries it was the one that retained most of its old charm and heritage. It was still the authentic version of itself; Italy remained the same image with a few small changes over the years. I learned from my studies that in 1700s the modern pizza was birth in Naples, Italy. I had an opportunity to enjoy a couple of slices of the famous Margherita pizza, which was named after Queen Margherita. The Queen requested her favorite pizza maker in Naples, whose name was Rafaelle Esposito to create 3 different types of pizza. The Queen selected the pizza that was made with mozzarella, tomato sauce, and a spring of basil. I indulged in a Margherita pizza at a family-owned café, sitting outside enjoying the beautiful setting and the flavor that burst with all natural home-grown ingredients.

http://royal-splendor.blogspot.com/2018/10/queen-margherita-pizza-margherita.html

The friendliness of the people and the taste of the food. Everyone in the restaurants were so laid back and relaxed, no rushing, but simply taking their time eating and enjoying the company of whom they were dining. The staff were very friendly and they understood the art of customer service. The next stop on my journey was Rome Italy, this was a dream come true. I was only in Rome for one day and it was not enough. I decided to purchase a tour bus trip ticket to maximize my stay in Rome, because there were so many sites that I wanted to see. The bus tour allowed me the opportunity to hop on and off the bus at all the tourist locations I wanted to visit. The bus stopped at great tourist sites like the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Pantheon to name only a very few. I took lots of pictures and just wanted to be in the presence of greatness. It was a wonderful, but short tour of one of my favorite cities.

I decided to do a little shopping in Rome, because I heard about the great leather made for clothing and shoes in Italy. I found a great shop that sold beautiful shoes and another shop sold leather jackets, so I purchased a cute pair of sandals and a leather jacket.

Leather shops – Saddlers Union the best Italian leather stores in Rome.

One experience in Rome will always stand out, Gelateria | Caruso and I went to a nice café in Rome. It was located on a quiet street, with very little to see around it. The tourist bureau recommended it to me, because I asked for a nice quiet café that served gelato. The café served freshly made gelato of many different flavors; the ladies only spoke Italian and it was quite remarkable to communicate with them, however I managed. It was a great experience; the shop had an old time feel to it and the recipes were probably past down from generation to generation. This was the last stop before my time was up in Italy, was to locate the best ice parlor for the famous gelato. I was very excited to have discovered a beautiful place called Gelateria | Caruso that served the best gelato that I have ever tasted in my life. I enjoyed the pistachio and it opened up my taste buds to new levels. I have not been able to find anything like the gelato at Gelateria | Caruso and I have tried.

My trip to Italy was over 8 years ago and I remember it as if it was only yesterday. I will hopefully return soon to Italy and I plan to stay at least 14 days to really enjoy this beautiful country; especially, Rome. I would encourage you to one day travel to this wonderful place and I promise you will not leave there the same.

Author Judy McMurtry BIO:

For 33 years, I was the person behind the scenes of successful businesses making it all happen. Driven by my passion for leadership development, I had a successful and diverse leadership team. My name is Judy McMurtry, and during those years, I thought I had it all. Maybe you’ve been there too. 6 years ago I realized that I was stuck and wanted more than just a career in someone else’s corporation. That’s when I decided to retire from the corporate world and start a new chapter in my life. On this journey I’ve been trained and mentored by world-class leaders. I am equipped with the tools, resources and experience to help any team improve productivity, performance and profitability. Now instead of leading successful teams myself, I help leaders find success through their teams and grow organizations, from the outside-in. If you’re looking for a team transformation, email me at jmexcelconsultant@gmail.com and I’d love to sit down for a free exploration for together we can transform your team.

Niente di Grave

January 1, 2021

By: Pam Lazos

          What is it about Italy that makes our imaginations soar and our spirits run free?  Is it the incredible array of art and architecture?  The notion that many of the world’s most renowned painters, sculptors and thinkers were domiciled there?  The amazing Italian wines or the food, which miraculously, and perhaps due to the Italians energetic emigration during the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a way to escape both poverty and the rise of fascism, has made its way across the globe?  Today, Italian Americans are the fifth largest ethnic group in the U.S.  [https://to.pbs.org/3rBIfcq] and I am happy to claim my spot alongside them.  Descended from Italian grandparents on my mother’s side and Greek grandparents on my dad’s side, I grew up in a mixed-marriage family.  That sounds odd to say now, but ethnocentricity was everywhere half a century ago. 

          Still, I was never sure what all the fuss was about.  My friend, Rosina, who grew up in South Philadelphia but spent about a decade of her life living in Rome would say “una faccia una razza” — one face, one race — meaning there really was no difference since the two countries practically grew up together.  Sometime between the 8th and 7th century B.C., Greeks began colonizing Southern Italy (Sicily was at one time known as “Greater Greece”), but eventually the Romans took over, occupying Greece when it conquered the Greek peninsula in 146 B.C.  If you’d been living together for centuries, you’re going to be swapping more than a few recipes so it’s no wonder the two cultures share such similarities.  [https://greece.greekreporter.com/2019/11/16/una-faccia-una-razza-the-fascinating-story-of-greco-italian-bonds/]

          It’s also no wonder that on each of my trips to both places I’ve felt so at home that I’ve dreamed of a reverse-emigration — or at least fantasized about spending my summers there.  Art, beauty, history, education, World Heritage Sites and more awaited me in both countries and I used every excuse I could to get there when I could, living in Athens for a summer on a study abroad and adding several weeks to my journey home by taking a few-week romp through Italy.  Maybe I was in search of my roots or perhaps just some good gelato, but whatever the excuse, the excursion was always well-worth the time.  A couple dozen years ago, I convinced my then husband to take a three-weeklong honeymoon and do a European tour of our roots, Germany for him, Italy for me, and Switzerland thrown in for kicks so we could visit friends there. 

          We started in Germany, and I’m glad we did because after five days of eating bratwurst, sausage, schnitzel, sauerbraten and pickled veggies, I was gastronomically in distress.  I practically kissed the ground when we crossed the Alps into Italy.  It was late in the evening, so we went to the first restaurant we saw where a plate of spaghetti and meatballs and a nice glass of red wine tasted like 5-star fare.

          The next day we drove to Trastevere, today a hip neighborhood [https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/perfect-day-in-trastevere-rome] that was once a Jewish Ghetto as well as home to the first Jewish settlers in Europe.  [http://www.understandingrome.com/jewish-ghetto-trastevere-tour/]  Rosina’s apartment in a 2,000+ year-old building in Trastevere boasted a 20 or so-foot double-wide arched doorway with cobblestone rails running at the edge of each side — originally constructed so charioteers could pull right into the building.  The actual working door — cut into the larger door — was dwarfed by the size of the arched doorway.  Throughout the four-story building, niches had been cut into the walls of the hallways where statutes of the Madonna and other saints sat patiently and protectively watching over the building’s inhabitants.  The food in Trastevere was brilliant, as is the food in most places in Italy, but Rosina, herself the daughter of an Italian immigrant, was no slouch in the kitchen and some of our best meals were at her table. 

          Is it an Italian thing to say that as long as you have beautiful food on the table and friends and family around that it makes no matter how rich you are because your life is already magnificently abundant?

          A few days later, we drove to Manciano, a feudal town with its own castle situated in the rolling hills of Tuscany.  Manciano has a long history — the castle was built around 1188 — and much to boast about, being less than an hour’s drive from the Mediterranean Sea where sun, sand, and squid pasta — they use the ink from the squid to make it black — await you.  Rosina’s friend had a house in Manciano, a small two-story, two bedrooms that he had been painstakingly rehabbing for the past several years, one room at a time.  It was laborious work since the walls were at least a foot thick, but it was a labor of love and well worth the effort.  Across the very narrow street, maybe 12 feet away — it felt like you could touch the neighboring houses from the second-floor window — I gazed up at the winding cobblestone street for a short distance before the street disappeared around the bend where I knew it continued on, circling the town all the way to the top where the castle sat, looking like the fortress it would be used as in the 14th century.  Everyone had pots of herbs and flowers outside their doors and some had laundry strung out to dry.  It was glorious, a scene from a movie of an era long gone, but it was not without its drawbacks.

          Imagine a trip to one of the most beautiful places on earth, as many would likely agree Tuscany is, long on history, architecture and agriculture.  [https://www.summerinitaly.com/guide/manciano]          

Manciano, like the rest of the globe, has suffered a bit from an overpopulated world and an infrastructure that has not kept pace with the times.  In order to service those who lived there, a few concessions needed to be made and one of them was no electricity after 9:00 at night.  That in itself was not a big deal, but it also meant no running water.  So, if you had to get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, you also had to pour water into the toilet tank after you flushed. The toilet was gravity-fed and could transport the waste away from the domicile, but it was not regenerative without the electricity so the next person to use the bathroom would be out of luck.  To remedy this, Rosina’s friend filled several gallon jugs and left them in the bathroom each night for users to fill the tank when done.  Not quite camping, but possibly a level of activity that we in the States would find inconvenient on vacation.

          In almost any other situation a lack of access to clean water, especially if it’s a 24/7 thing, would leave me feeling disturbed and distressed, but if you’re still reading this, maybe you have guessed my reaction at the time which was — thank you; everything is fine; I have no complaints whatsoever. 

          If you have food on the table, and good friends and family around, then what are the lack of a few creature comforts?  Niente di grave — no big deal.

About the Author:

Pam Lazos is an environmental lawyer with a passion for assuring access to clean water for all, a blogger, and author of the novel “Oil and Water”, about oil spills and green technology, and “Six Sisters”, a collection of novellas about the family ties that bind us.  She practices laughter daily.