Concerto di Organo

This morning we agreed to meet Elena at 8:00am to join her on her Follonica beach walk. She likes to arrive, walk and be done before the crowds arrive at the beach. This was where we started our walk at the Golfo del Sol resort. 

Although my back was bothering me, it's always better for me to keep moving, albeit slowly. Plus the sun was shining and the wet sand was hard packed and easy to walk on, what's not to enjoy? Along the way, we ran into this guy. I instinctually looked for the boat, but this guy was considerably more self-sufficient, having attached some kind of motor / propeller. 

We walked until we reached Elena's turnaround point then headed back. Before going back to the car, we stopped for a quick coffee and pastry on the beach. On the drive back, Elena invited us to her parent's house to meet her mom --  and of course, more coffee. Elena's mom was lovely. She was tending to her cactus garden when we arrived, so while she finished up, Elena gave us a little tour. Naturally, we were curious to see their terrace view. Given the location near the city walls, we expected it to be expansive. 

Not so bad, right?! The Ronzonis have lived here for over 25 years ago. Directly below them is ours and Dr. Ronzoni's favorite bakery. Elena had already told us that her father goes there every single day to buy a half a loaf of whole wheat bread. Half. A loaf. Daily. Like clockwork. 

After the tour, Elena's mom joined us for coffee. At one point, Elena turned to Ira and prompted him to tell her mom the first Italian word her husband, Dr. Ronzoni, ever taught us. Ira, in his most careful and deliberate Italian, explained it was "ignoranti." 

I probably don't need to translate that word, right?! Elena's mom was mortified -- but not even slightly surprised. LOL

The next day we were excited for the concert at the organ museum. Elena's goal this year is to boost awareness and foot traffic to the space. We arrived early in case she needed help setting up, and found her fretting over the timing of the corteo (parade). The comune had assured her that the marching band would be long gone before the concert began.

Naturally it was running late.

But still, it wrapped up just in time. Whew.

The reason for this corteo? Oh, just the 800th Anniversary of Massa Marittima becoming a Libero Comune --a free township. Eight hundred years. And that's considered recent history in Italy. Meanwhile, San Diego has been a city for what -- about 150 years? Sheesh. 

With the parade out of the way, we returned to the museum for the concert. 

The artist was a young musician, Deniel Perer, he plays both the organ and the harpsichord, focusing on music from the 17th and 18th centuries. That evening, he performed several works on three different organs, with commentary in between.

Two of three of the organs included in the concert

This last organ was a travelling organ -- it folds up neatly into a box for transport. Kinda like baroque Ikea. The manual bellows are cool, right?!

The concert was a great success. Elena was very happy and so were we. If the museum can't sustain itself, it will close -- and then what would we do? 

After the concert, we had a chance to chat a little with all three of the Ronzonis. Elena's mom took the opportunity to chastise her husband for teaching Ira such an absurd first word. She even gave him a mock theatrical double-cheek slap for good measure. He took it in stride, of course, with that twinkle in his eye that says, "Guilty as charged." 

A dopo!