Cibo e Famiglia (Food and Family): Verona, our beautiful home away from home.

We have now been in Verona for a week and have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Our home is three miles out of the city centre with an easy bus trip. As I sit here writing, I am in a beautiful garden filled with bright green herbs, under an olive tree. Behind our home are grapes (they are everywhere) and mountains.

We have ventured into the centre on most days to walk the cobbled or marble (yes marble) streets. On the 4th of July, we were invited to a party to celebrate a 14th birthday and as well Independence Day. You see, a family living here has roots in the USA as their father was an American. The 14 year old and family were visiting from Orlando and her dad Mark was excited to know there were English speaking guests! So were we. This celebration was like turning back the clock to our Sunday celebrations in Watertown, MA with my relatives. It was in a beautiful park with a public pool and the party didn't begin until 7PM. The water and wine were brought in cases and the food kept coming and coming for four hours.

Course after course, with people who made you feel like famiglia. I was so busy enjoying myself, I didn't get pictures of every dish. At 11PM, they made us leave. I will remember this day with gratitude, forever.