My last full day in Italy, and it began with fog and rain. The kids, including Giorgio, talked about making me pancakes this morning. I really can’t think about eating after last night but we’ll do what we must. I watched, mostly giggling and suppressing outright laughter, while 3 Italians, one with the precision of an engineer and the other 2 with the awkward and messy approximation of children, made pancakes. They were pretty good, all things considered. They were served with whipped cream and nutella since there is no maple syrup in Italy.
Took a shower while they went to Mass. G & S are not particularly religious but Rebecca will have a her first communion Nov 3rd. So.
We had lunch with Giorgio’s sister Cristina & her husband Daniele, hands down, two of the nicest human beings on earth. I just love spending time with them. Cristina told us that she has enrolled in a women’s defense class because she travels for work. If she feels threatened, she was instructed to first raise her hands in a defensive position and then yell forcefully Stand BACK! (Stai indietro!) She was nervous at her first practice run, so she yelled Stand THERE! (Stai la!) Giorgio said that a would-be attacker would have cracked up and not have been able to regain their composure before she just ran away.
Came home around 4pm, Sara, Rebecca and I went to downtown Mantova just to walk off lunch. Gabriele and Giorgio reluctantly went to catechism class. Yesterday, when Giorgio and I went to the Clock Tower, downtown was virtually empty. Today it was packed with people attending a Sbrisolona Festival (a specialty of Mantova, it’s a very large cookie that you break off into pieces to eat) A Sbrisolona, made by his mother, and a cake dish large enough to hold it, were the first gifts Giorgio gave us when he came to Atlanta. He also gave me his mother’s recipe. I should try and make it sometime.
Walked around lesiurely in spite of the crowds, went inside the Basilica of Sant Andrea, a Renaissance church designed by Leon Battista Alberti, so breathtakingly beautiful. Lit 2 candles. The last time I visited, I was with Charlie.
Need to get up at 5:30 am and hit the road at 6. I’m going to bed now.
