Artists in Italy

Monday, August 17, 2015

Last day with Gretchen, Logan and Marshall

On our last day we took G, L and M to the museum at Cellano, the big square castel near Avazano. We were going to go to Alba Fucens, the Roman ruins, but got lost. There were some Roman ruins in a mall parking lot where we stopped, one of several times so I could ask directions. People made it seem so easy, but we had to give up and then headed over the mountain to Ovindali. We stopped to have our picnic after it stopped raining and I would like to say that it was not hot: it was freezing. 20c.

Our lunch spot. We may not look cold, but it was a quick lunch.

San Rocco special bread

View from our picnic spot

In the Sirentes at the Meteor Lake which impressed no one.

Gretchen takes a picture

Gretchen takes another picture

Marshall and Logan: fashionistas

Sun comes out

It was the festa of San Rocco and the day started with fire works at 8 a.m. Some people slept through it. Then there was the band. Some people slept through that!! Some people slept through us going to get coffee and visit the church.

Band from the terrace

We did not get to see the procession, but we did get to see San Rocco being prepared in the church of San Francesco. He is covered in real gold. Rings, chains, pearls. It was a careful and scared adornment.

The saint in regalia.

The decorated alter.

The town florists decorating the alter

decorating committee

San Gretchen and San Rocco

As you know all Saints love a good party and that night San Rocco had one.

The band and two singers were great. We were pretty excited and then on came the main guy. He had a nice voice and I guess it is not really his fault as he is a tribute singer (like an Elvis impersonator) for some guy I never heard of, but he kept coming into the audience and putting the mic in to men's and women's faces. I was in terror. His dancing reminded me so much of Annie. She would have LOVED him, but remember she thought Snape was handsome.

Today we spent a long time lost in Avazano AGAIN. We finally found the bus station with minutes to spare only to discover the bus did not come to that station even though we went through and stopped at that station on the way to and from Rome, but a bus pulled up that said Rome and I asked if our friends could take it. We paid 30E and they were on their way. We promptly went to IKEA and the beach. It was great. I slept almost the entire time.

In Castel di Ieri with Gretchen, Logan and Marshall and dancing in the piazza CVS

We have been having our usual great time and had fun sharing it with some Okies.

Views of Castel di Ieri.

A small thing I may or may not have taken a picture of some other year.

A cat I have never photographed.

We went to D' Lise's for dinner. I have never been when they had there arrosticini oven going. We had arrosticini and fresh pasta. It was really great food and so fun. Surprisingly we were the first ones there.

After dinner it was on to the piazza for a DJ and dancing. These guys are playing a game that looks sort of like Punto, but isn't. When they have the winning card, they slam it on the table. They play day and night and I think money is involved.

Okies dancing in Italy! Someone told me I was a ballerina, but it just means dancer here. Brava, Jeneane e Gretchen e Brovo Logan e Marshall and Bravo Jim for taking the photos.

Saturday, August 15, 2015

National picnic day

Waiting for my friend Gretchen and her two sons at Fumucino, Rome.

New Rome fashion. Tight legs and baggy butt and shorts in a crack.

So far we are having a great time. We left the Rome airport around 10 pm and arrived in Castelvecchio around midnight. After driving through little towns and seeing how many people were out we decided to head directly to the piazza. A small kid with a gold hat was playing an accordion at least 1/2 his size. He was very stylish with a lot of panache. We got there near the end of his set and the next act was prominent people of CVS doing karaoke. That was when we decided to go home.

After second breakfast, Friday was spent at our beach and at our gelato shop.

Today, National Picnic Day, we drove up to Rocca Calascio, where usually we were the only people there. Not today. The place was crowded and since cars had parked both directions on the two way, narrow road there was no way for oncoming traffic to get by. We decided to skip RC and headed for the Campo Impertore where there was also an amazing number of people. Eventually we pulled off the road and just sat on the ground and had our picnic. It was delicious because Jim made it. Unfortunately we were sitting on the off road track for people who wanted to go see a small statue, but did not want to walk. Amazing.