It's funny how some days feel quiet on the surface, but end up full of movement--just in very different ways.
After the big meeting with all the trades, it was a treat to return to the apartment for a calmer walkthrough--this time with Niccolo and Chiara from the lighting store. (see here for the post on our lighting plan trip) She needed to review our choices in the space and also recommended optimal locations for the switches. Ira, of course, made sure everything followed a logical order. It's amazing how much thought goes into something you normally take for granted.
Olive Grove
Meanwhile, spring is slowly arriving here. On those rare days when the sun is out and the wind isn't howling, Ira insists on pulling me off the couch for a walk. It's no longer built into our routine the way it was when we lived in town--now even a trip to the grocery store or the organ museum requires getting in the car.
But when the light hits just right, especially over the olive groves, it's hard to resist. Even our little "Holstein kitty" made an appearance, wandering about like she owns the place.
Holstein Kitty
Between walks, we've settled into a rhythm of Italian lessons and--finally--our first dance lesson with Elisa.
We had so much fun. She practiced her English, we practiced our Italian, and together we worked on our dancing. Since we're interested in social dancing, we started with the slow waltz. We were definitely rusty, but managed to hold our own. At one point she had us dancing to Foolish by Johnny Mathis--which made me wonder if she was trying to tell us something!
Foolish by Johnny Mathis
After a few corrections and adjustments, we moved on to quickstep. Apparently, at the local Bolero dance hall, quickstep is one of the main dances. That was news to us. Social dancing here is quite different from the U.S.--they adapt the dances to fit the music, more like a relaxed, "slow" quickstep or closer to a cowboy two-step in the U.S.
By the end of the lesson, we were tired but encouraged.
Massimo, the studio owner, stopped by to chat and--unexpectedly--suggested we consider competing. That hadn't been our plan at all. We were simply hoping to find a place to dance socially. But since social dancing here doesn't include all the dances we love, lessons--and possibly competition--might be the better path.
We left it open: continue lessons, and maybe consider competing.
They also invited us to a competition that weekend. At first we weren't sure--it was an hour and forty-five minutes away in Camaiore--but in the end, curiosity won.
Before that, though, we had our weekly dinner at Caterina's. Always a highlight.
We shared the usual rotation of antipasti, and when Caterina had asked the week before if I had any requests, I said lasagna--whatever kind she felt like making. I was thrilled when she made lasagna bianca, just like the first time we visited with Sofia and Alberto. So good.
Counterclockwise from the top:
Black bread with ricotta and walnut
Onion and potato quiche
Sweet pumpkin tart
Savory biscuit with cauliflower mousse
Lasagna Bianca (without tomato)
Ira's Gnocchi with Pear and Gorgonzola
Ira ordered gnocchi with pear and gorgonzola--delicious, but very rich. Somehow he still managed to finish it and steal a few bites of my lasagna.
For dessert, I chose creme caramel while Ira went with strawberries and cream. With strawberries just coming into season, his choice was the clear winner--simple, fresh, and perfect.
Living outside of town has changed our routine in small ways. After dinner, we now have to drive home, which still feels a bit strange. But this time we parked at one of Ira's favorite sunset spots, and on the walk back to the car he captured a beautiful nighttime view of the Duomo, with the distant lights of Follonica glowing in the background.
The Duomo by night
The next morning turned into a three-hour session with Sofia--part catch-up, part intensive Italian listening practice. There's nothing quite like hearing a native speaker at full speed. Now that they're settled into their new home, we were also invited to dinner, which we happily accepted.
Then came the dance competition.
We arrived in Camaiore with time to spare, found parking (a small miracle), grabbed a cappuccino, and headed in--expecting a modest event.
We were completely wrong.
For a "small" competition, there were so many dancers. In a similar event in the U.S., you might see only a handful of amateur couples over 55. Here, there were multiple heats of ten or eleven couples each. It was incredible--especially considering the size of the country.
And they were dancing all the styles we love: slow waltz, foxtrot, Viennese waltz, quickstep and tango.
Maybe this is where everyone satisfies their love of dance.
Slow Waltz - 1 of 3 Heats
Elisa found us and introduced us to her partner, Michel. She still competes professionally, representing Italy internationally. She also introduced us to her dress sponsor--Ira thought this soft pink one was pretty. The favorite dress of the day was easily this elegant, black ombre.
Pretty in Pink
Favorite dress of the day
After a few hours, we headed back, hoping to make it in time for the local soccer match in Massa Marittima. We made it with minutes to spare.
It was a gorgeous afternoon, and even though the game ended in a 1-1 tie (and arguably should have been a win), it was worth it just to hear the passionate--and very colorful--Italian commentary from the crowd.
Massa Soccer Game
From there, it was off to the organ museum for piano practice. We've been enjoying our growing ability to chat with Dr. Ronzoni in Italian, even if it's still a bit slow-going. Ira showed him a piano he'd found online, but unfortunately it didn't pass inspection--so the search continues.
By the end of the day, we were more than ready to call it a night.
The next morning, Ira was back at it again with Melissa, working on her Sabina juniper. Watching the progression--from initial styling to the final repot--is always satisfying. Another beautiful transformation.
October 2024
After wiring and styling
After repotting
And that's been our week: a mix of planning, learning, exploring, and a few unexpected surprises along the way.
Little by little, things are falling into place.
Stay tuned--next up: Seafoodfest at Sofia and Alberto's.
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