Advent-sure!
This morning involved cleaning up yesterday's baking craziness, far more evident in daylight. I stayed in my PJs because I could! My sweeping, mopping, and re-wiping surfaces started the day, but I did sit with Joe and have coffee while we looked at a few things for when Rachele comes to town.
While sitting on the sofa, my phone rang. Mariella said you're coming to lunch, right? Of course! Why would we ever say no?
I quickly showered, finally washed my hair, then dressed and got ready. We spent some time looking at our Thailand honeymoon trip before we final book. I found a Black Friday Weekend offer where the second guest gets 75% off, so I'm angling to be the second guest!
Lunch included pasta with zucchine and cheese, breaded cutlets, a multi-ingredient salad, ficodindia, the pandora Christmas cake, Christmas biscotti and pistacchio croccante. And lots of talk about Rachele's upcoming visit.
I had to get some last-minute details completed and queries sent for the Mexico trip. I would never be a travel agent... it's like herding kittens. The Thailand booking deal may fall through, as there's not enough time to research flights to Singapore, and I have to do that long flight as cheap as possible, which could be hell. And I want to extend the trip with time in Kuala Lampur beforehand, so all that won't happen before dinner. But I'll figure something out soon.
After a lazy, long, filling lunch, I needed a walk. Joe joined me for part of it, but I needed to continue on, to stretch my legs.
Main piazza
Main piazza
Main piazza
Via Vittorio Emanuele
Kitchen store
Trying to give perspective -- it's often uphill both ways here. Glute workout!
A offshoot Sicilian Christmas
version of Nighthawks
Looking down at a little street off Via Cristoforo Colombo
Bar Selenia is also getting in the spirit
Tonight, we meet with Alessandro, Maria Teresa, Rachi, and Elena (who explained, "Because Alessandro is like Joe and will just say "fine, perfect" to everything; I need to translate") to book tickets and talk about the tournament camps. Exciting! And they're ordering pizza, and though I'm still full from lunch, I can't wait. I love the pizza here.
We, of course, had multiple conversations going on at full volume, which baffled the Delta representative who was trying to be heard over the din. Rachi will be an Unaccompanied Minor, and there are certain steps we need to take beforehand, to ensure that the flight is seamless for her. We must then book through a phone call and not online.
Delta nonstop flights are at a shocking cost, so I suggested checking with Condor to see if they have any direct flights in the summer, FCO>MSP. No luck; Frankfurt always wedges itself in as a stop. But the prices were a third less than Delta. We're checking Cyber Monday and Travel Tuesday deals before committing on, hopefully, on Wednesday. Maria Teresa liked Condor's prices, and Elena thought Rachi could handle the transfer.
I had thought about returning here in springtime; perhaps I'll consider summer instead. If Rachi flies out of Rome, I can finally visit my friend in Molise, then get to Rome to meet Rachi and head home. Fingers crossed.
The pizza was as good as I thought it would be. I ate the grilled melanzane variety, along with the prosciutto and arugula, and naturally, the pistacchio. Agnese and I toasted with our pizza slices, since pistacchio is both our favorite.
Elena brought an enormous extra torta left from Ettore's birthday, and it was divine. Whatever she did to create it, I want to learn how to do it! Light and fluffy, but full of flavor, with just a mere suggestion of lemon.
Mariella, who is always watching what Vincenzo eats, was cutting and serving the slices. She called my name, and nudges her head toward a plate with the merest cake sliver on it. "Per Vincenzo," she said, smirking.
Giuseppe Greco is getting funnier by the hour. He's learned a lot of English, and interjects English phrases with comedic timing.
At the end of the evening, Alessandro brought out a gift-wrapped rectangle for us. "Un piccolo regalo," he said; "...un pensiero." A little gift; a thought. He handed it to me, and I asked if I could open it right there. It's a dictionary of Sicilian food! I don't know how many times a day I ask about Sicilian food names, especially after a morning at the Wednesday market. It's the perfect gift for us, but especially for someone like me, who's always trying and asking about new local things. We should leave it here, since that's where we'll need it most. What a sweet and thoughtful present.
We bid our good nights, and thanked Maria Teresa and Alessandro for the nice evening.
And now, off to get some badly needed sleep. Lots of planning to do tomorrow!
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