Greta & Family



Time to catch up on what's been going on the last couple days.  Tonight, I just returned from Stefano's beautiful family who treated me like royalty, and fed me fantastic food.  But, Stefano, you will have to wait for more details tomorrow, as I first relate last night's events.  (Also, once again I discovered I had the camera on video, so everything from yesterday up until Stefano's brother-in-law discovered it, were in video.)

I met Greta, another of Maria Grazia's students, last Saturday.  I may have mentioned her in a previous post.  She's about 21, very much fun, and full of life.  (If you can see the video, Greta is the second from your left, between her brother and mother.)  She adores Maria and vice versa.  She and her family always have homemade pizza night on Fridays, and yesterday Maria was invited to join the family, and hence, so was I.  Greta picked us up for a late dinner at her family's place.  Her mother kept bringing out pizza after pizza until we were stuffed.  All were good, but I found the one with thin sliced potatoes and another with zucchini particularly interesting.  The whole evening was in Italian, except for a bit of English practice by Greta and her brother.  Greta related many stories of when she and her brother were growing up, and anyone who grew up with siblings would relate to the stories of how brothers can torture sisters, and vice versa.  Of course the pizza was followed by a few dessert choices, and a good selection of after dinner drinks, including home made Limoncello that was 12 years old, and quite good.  It was a very warm and comfortable family meal and conversation.  Greta drove us home, and said she would see me today, as she had her weekly lesson scheduled with Maria.  Anyway, I was out today, and returned just after Greta had just left.  But, she left me this letter that I will share.  It was in English, and I'm sure Maria corrected her grammar:

Dear Joe,  I hope you had  nice evening with us yesterday.  My family liked you a lot because you are a very nice person and also because you can talk to everybody as if you had known us for ages  Although I have just met you I consider you part of my family because I have felt myself at ease talking to you.  Therefore we wish you wouldn't go away.  We want you to stay here in Italy!!  Why don't we spend tomorrow together?  We could go to Tivoli and show you Villa d'Este and Villa Gregoriana.  They are very beautiful.  I know you are leaving soon but I hope you don't forget us.  See you tomorrow for the nice trip.  Greta

There's really no way to refuse requests such as these.  So, we are all going to Tivoli tomorrow.  And, I need to check out property in Italy.  Ciao


Comments

  1. RoaminForumApril 16, 2011 at 5:17 PM

    You most certainly are; you most certainly do. Buona fortuna e non dimentici tuoi amici qui! I am bouncing-off-the-walls happy for you, and this experience. You may want to seriously consider that writing career, or have me connect you with my lawyer friends in Italy! Enjoy Tivoli!

    ReplyDelete
  2. EmilyRoseApril 16, 2011 at 7:38 PM

    Having just spent the evening with your family I understand how warm and comforting it can be with people who's company you enjoy. We went to an Italian restaurant and had mediocre food but good company and your cousins Pat and Diane were there to liven things up. You were missed but we relayed your stories to your cousins and will be getting together again in the morning.

    If you find a place make sure it is big enough to accommodate everyone who will be visiting.

    ReplyDelete

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