Tuscany

Yes. Rome again. Mostly errands, but also a pleasant Sunday lunch with the Roman cousins. Then off to Tuscany to reunite with one of Robert’s long-lost second cousins.

Rome

It was a simple drive from Naples to Rome. Although getting out of Naples in morning rush hour traffic was terrifying for Bonnie, who was only half awake. Cars and scooters coming from all directions at all times on twisting streets at high volume. All with scrapes and dents. Pedestrians stepping into traffic unexpectedly. But Robert, the driver, was undeterred.

Wanderings

We did a quick errand in Rome near the upper end of the Spanish Steps. (Bonnie needed new sneakers.) We were surprised to see many less tourists than a few months ago. As we walked to and from our bus stop, in some areas of central Rome we hardly saw any people at all. A pleasant change from Naples and from the busy summer months.

Since our last time in Rome, the city has banned people from sitting on the Spanish Steps. The stairs seem empty.

Marta’s New Job!

Cousin Marta, a college student, picked up another job near the store where she works part-time. The restaurant serves piadine (Another name for crescia. Or is crescia another name for piadine?). Very nice casual place. Very good food for a light dinner. And it is near our favorite gelateria Gori. So, dessert after dinner is a must.

Dinner at Adriana and Gino Secondo’s

Adriana and Gino Secondo invited us for dinner at their home in Monterotondo—about 30 minutes outside of Rome. Great food (as always). And Gino did his part too (serving that is).

Lasagna
**Bob Colegrove**—I am sure Adriana will fix you lasagna when you make it to Rome.

Porta di Roma on a Sunday evening

Porta di Roma is a LARGE shopping mall about 15 minutes from Luciana’s home. We’ve been there before. But this time when we got there about 6:00 PM on a Sunday night it was packed.

The red lights indicate the parking stall is occupied.

Traded in the Leased Car

Our car lease was expiring, and turning in the car was very easy. Because we had full insurance coverage, they were not concerned about the “few” dents and scrapes Robert picked up in our journeys. Then we went to Hertz for a rental car. Robert is not happy. The car is totally banged up and the interior is filthy. More to follow with Hertz when Robert returns home.

7,580 miles in 5.5 months on the leased car

Another Cousin!

Yes. One more second cousin. Gabriella. Her mother Ebe was first cousin to Robert’s dad Abramo. (Remember that his dad had six aunts on the Sabbatini side of the family.) Robert needs to do a family tree!

Gabriella and her husband Dinesh live in San Casciano dei Bagni, Province of Siena. The town has been known since ancient times for its thermal baths—public and private.

Gabriella practiced psychiatry for many years in Britain’s public health system, dealing with extreme mental illness. She had some great stories to tell. Her husband, Dinesh Sethi, also a doctor, recently retired at the mandatory age of 62 from the World Health Organization where he specialized in injuries including those from war and land mines. Like all good professionals, he is now consulting for a few months each year.

After living part time in San Casciano for a few years, they bought a property outside of town and renovated a farm house from the 1700s. An exquisite job especially when we learned that the ground floor was the quarters for cattle and pigs. The separate guest house where we stayed was used for the sheep. The garden was nonexistent except for the cypress trees, a few olives, and some oaks. You drive up to the home on a very long gravel road. The house is set on a hill overlooking a big sweep of Tuscany. Quite a view. It is always changing with the light and cloud-fog cover.

Robert had not seen Gabriella since 1974 when she visited London near where Robert was working. It was great for him to reconnect and to meet her nephew Matteo. Matteo‘s mom Patrizia (Gabriella’s older sister) is an archaeologist and has done extensive work in Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar. She specializes in areas that have been badly impacted by war.

We made it a point to invite ourselves to come again the next time we make it to Italy! We think that Gabriella and Dinesh agreed.

Patrizia, Gabriella, Ebe (L-R)—1962
Note: Gabriella’s hair style has not changed!

The kitchen. Once a place for cattle. The pigs were housed beyond the arch.

Matteo Cucarzi (chef and son of Patrizia Zolese)

Pienza

Gabriella and Dinesh took us on a drive to see a few sites in the UNESCO-recognized countryside. Despite the rain, we made it to Pienza and explored a medieval church.

Pienza—Sante Messe

Pienza—Wanderings

Arezzo

On our way to Florence, we stopped off in Arezzo for lunch and a walk. Worth a half-day excursion. Much of the city near the train station suffered heavy bombing in WWII. But the city is now lively, attractive, affluent, and known for antiques.