....farmstay, situated below the small village of Pescosolido abutting Abruzzi National Park. Olive trees skirt grapevines. Squash lye in their beds. Goat, sheep, chickens and donkeys all kick about. Missed the grape harvest by 4 days, oh well, fermenters are bubbling away.
Walked around Sora, Italy too long. Seems nearly the entire town closes down from noon to four. Why? We do not know, theory is that all Italian men have a mistress, so this time goes towards lunch w/ wife and kids then off for "mistress mischief". Made our way to Coal super market and found 12-20 Prosciutto legs hangin, along w/ 20 plus cheese flavours. Tomato, bread, cheese and melt in yer mouth prosciutto created our lunch at curbside.
So fine and delightful, just as their grape, was Dominico's family. Along our meandering 45 minute walk back to the Italy farm stay a well fed yet stout, Oak of a man wearing a black tank top pushed a spewing wheel barrow across and down. Ah ha, pith and seed of grape can only mean large containers with spigots, iron and wood creating many pounds of pressure, sweat from brow and pit, wiped away with hands stained rich purple. My smile and wave leads to another. "Marina you know they are making something up there!?". As my body language is all but being pulled forcefully up hill. She nods and gives way by a sweeping hand motion, as if to say, "...follow yer gut I will follow you, this is one of the facets I love about you." So I did just that. Up the hill to smiles of invitation and words of zero comprehension. "Vino", with a drinking hand gesture is all I could muster. I believe "Vina" was vocaled in return and before long the Oak of a man was throwing his voice up hill, til a dear lady being his wife of decades made her way down below. One tier below us sat a man with eyes deep as bark, of which decades of time have sagged his eyelids, saying, "Yeap I used to carry a pack like yours and make passionate love to that apron wearing woman on your right and watch out--we are still hangin in there!!!" I wish I knew what this happy smiling 90 plus year old man was truly saying to me. He just sat quietly for a spell w/ his little hat resting on his cane and then all at once he would excitedly exclaim out to me.
Out came two plastic cups and a 1/3 full bottle of shiny purple gold. Our hosts all awaiting our response. After a toast, sniff and swig---ahh the smiles of glee and words of no literal meaning drowned the terrace.
Been articulated centuries over and once again "The best things in Life are free." Later that evening we paid 44 euros plus 20% gratuity for a exquizitely prepared 4 course meal, does wine count as one course? Anna Maria and Giovanni at La Quercia del Baronio were great to meet. The meal will be remembered years from now, but the FREE cache of our brains tap a deeper level. Dominico's family refused our offer to pay with intensity, so much so that when I reached for my camera bag hanging around my neck, all but the old timer rushed me and exclaimed out, they thought I was reaching for money. I thought they were going to tackle me.
Free with expression, desire, love, sharing and true delight. Sent home we were, full bottle in hand w/ diligent Italian instruction from all, not to drink too much at once and to leave the lid cracked open or perhaps the bottle AND us could have an explosion. Fair warning!
Connection of soul versus meeting via money exchange. Perhaps how ya meet, matters not, it's what was exchanged!
May your father belt out in passion for years to follow. Thank ya kindly, Ciao!
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