Monday, December 22, 2008

the Count and a Castle

that is quiet a headline, but we did meet a real italian CONTE, he has not a castel, but the most wonderful expressive gesture i have seen so far here in italy. the way these italians talk with their hands, arms, yes feet too, makes my understanding much easier. the Count is not only a gifted stonemason, a fast rider on his 1/2 arabian horse (and car!!! too scared to drive with him, just watching..) he is also a ballerina and danced in the pizzeria boogie-woogie for me.
Jon and the Conte made a deal between guys, he shoes his horse and Mario helps with our fireplace. that's how i like it , as little money involved the better it is.

and than we had a castle day, we went in the morning to visit this old stone building and discovered that our dear friend Renzo is not only involved in the excavation of this forgotten place, he also owns it. not that you can live there, but the castle is beautiful located with a view almost to the sea, surrounded with oak trees and lots of history! just another valley away from us (this is where we live - still a miracle to me).
in the afternoon professors from rome were talking in an old church about the progress and the findings in and about this old walls, built in the 11th-12th century. not that we understood anything,- no really hand talk involved in that kind of speak. but afterward i understood much better:
antipasti with olives, prociutto, salami,
fresh made rigatoni filled with ricotta and shaved tartuffo,
tagliolini with tomato gusto,
5 different meats (i passed - even it looked really good) with the best fried potatoes ever.
green salat and a kinda fruitcake.
espresso, house-wine, of course an anis-schnaps at the end, bread, aqua minerale 20euro each. salute!