Sleepy and resurfacing for the day!

(2:47 a.m. Kansas/Chicago—sunny morning Italy)

Going through the standard morning wake-up procedures with my mother, our grand host is out on a long bike ride. It is nice to stay with someone who doesn’t entirely adjust their routine because you are around—it makes me feel like less of an inconvenience and gives the mind a chance to rest in between making decisions. The decisions I am forced to make are rather simple ones—meat or pasta? Vino or no vino? Chocolate or vanilla? But none-the-less decisions to be made. With Bill off on his ride we are waking in a leisurely fashion and ready to face the day by the time he resurfaces.

Yesterday we spent a beautiful day in his small village, then down in Sacille. We walked down the river stream that flows under his street to find that the water opens into many caves tucked in the side of the mountain. The caves are not visible from the side of the river as the mountain rocks slide under the water as if turning on end at the bottom. The water simply disappears in blue brilliance under the base of the mountain—glowing blue its illuminated presence is rather aw-inspiring and the crystalline quality of the water forces all its inhabitants to the surface, each rock, shrub, and fish lighted and real, encased in its clean waters. I could have stood there all day watching the ducks splash around although some would have rather I kept going, after a few minutes they too seemed content in my position in their picturesque scene.

After an amazing meal and a bit of meandering around the river we headed to Sacille to scope out the department stores. It was a part of visiting Japan that I always cherished, perhaps it is what makes me enjoy design—but to see all the variations of daily products, the things we take for granted, the simplicities of daily design that varies so greatly and or even so minutely from our own products--stirs my creative juices and makes me feel privy to sights unseen. In fact, they had several kitchen displays, kitchen appliances and cabinets, all things Italian in spatial relation and style...I could have spent days checking out the subtle quarks of their efficiencies in relationship to our own products.

Dinner was spent at a grill outside Sacille. Amazing food served in luxury outside, enclosed in bamboo awnings above a pebble floor surround; the chef’s area lighted by lanterns and the glow of their fiery oven. My mother ordered a stake and I ordered a pasta dish, but there was plenty to go around and with the vino flowing in abundance a couple hours had gone by before all the food was gone and we were ready for gelato.

Our host is quite the social butterfly and has made the most of his time in Italy. Having many Italian friends scattered throughout the northern region, we were hard pressed to find an activity that didn’t involve a round of friends welcoming him with grand surprise and open arms, and subsequently we were subject to the luxuries of his acquaintances gestures as well. The Gelato place was no exception and with our amazing sundaes piled high we goofed around and took pictures with Bill and our adorably dressed staff!

It seems as the days go by that I have a) no idea of the time other than the placement of the sun (and really no desire to find out) and b) no idea of our activities until we are enjoying them. It is a leisurely and pleasant trip with good company and good wine…

More later! Ciao ciao!