Oh Italia!

Yesterday morning I had set my alarm clock for 5:45 am, so I could shower and get on my way to the train station without forgetting anything.  However, there was one little problemo.  When I hit the snooze button, it never went off again.  I woke up at 6:18 am, and my taxi was going to pick me up at 6:30.  I was in a rushed panic mode!  I quickly got changed, brush my teeth, and threw all of my things in my bags and headed out.

I made it to the Gare du Lyon in plenty of time.  The train I took went from Paris to Milan, and the route we took was absolutely amazing!  We went through the Alps and went by what I think may have been Lake Como (not a hundred percent sure, but it was a big body of water).  After getting to Milan, I got on my next train to Ancona, where I was going to be picked up by the family I was staying with.  The train to Ancona went along the mare ('sea' in English) and a bunch of little beach towns.  Ancona was a larger town with a sea port.

I was picked up by Paolo, who works for the family, and he drove me to Potenza Picena, which is the town the family lives in.  We entered the gated entrance and drove up the drive to the Boccaccini's summer home.  It overlooks a vineyard and fields of sunflowers.  The Boccaccini's and their family welcomed me to their home.  I also got to meet their 5 month old Jack Russell puppy named Nina.  The puppy is a little big ball of energy, always jumping up and down and following you around.  They showed me my room and let me freshen up before dinner as I was on the train all day.  I went outside to their eating area which has a little outdoor kitchen that is enclosed and connects to an outdoor patio that overlooks the fields.  The view is straight from a postcard you would see of Italy.  Because it was beginning to rain, we ate inside the outdoor kitchen.  We had carne and eggplant.  The carne consisted of steak, sausage, bacon, and ribs.  Of course I had a glass of wine or 2 with dinner.

A few of the people there spoke English, so they kept me in the loop of what everyone was talking about.  The children asked me all kinds of questions about me.  Where do you come from? What is your occupation?  It was much fun getting to know about the family and friends.  I learned that the family is in the shoe business, which is actually quite big here it Italy.  After the fabulous dinner, we had tiramisu and a pie with the most wonderful fruit. (I can't remember the name of it, but it tasted like plum... so I will get back to you on that!)  We finished the dinner off with some limoncello, which is an Italian liquor.  After things were dwindling down, I said "buonanotte" and headed off to bed!

So far today, I went to town with Michela's friend Marta.  I got some groceries, and she showed me around the town.  We stopped off at the fish market, supermarket, cafe to get coffee and a gelato, and then our last stop was a pizza place.  Now being back at the home, I am writing to you all.  However, I am going to go and layout by the pool on this absolutely gorgeous day in Italy.  Pictures to come soon!

Ciao!