The Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta on the road from Pienza to San Quirico d'Orcia

In 2001 I came to live in Italy. I had some fun, wrote a journal and this is the blog of my story...

"Tuscany is a state of grace. The countryside is so lovingly designed that the eye sweeps the mountains and valleys without stumbling over a single stone. The lilt of the rolling green hills, the upsurging cypresses, the terraces sculptured by generations that have handled the rocks with skillful tenderness, the fields geometrically juxtaposed as though drawn by a draughtsman for beauty as well as productivity; the battlements of castles on the hills, their tall towers standing grey-blue and golden tan among the forest of trees, the air of such clarity that every sod of earth stands out in such dazzling detail. The fields ripening with barley and oats, beans and beets. The grape-heavy vines espaliered between the horizontal branches of silver-green olive trees, composing orchards of webbed design, rich in intimation of wine, olive oil and lacy-leaf poetry. Tuscany untied the knots in a man's intestines, wiped out the ills of the world. Italy is the garden of Europe, Tuscany is the garden of Italy, Florence is the flower of Tuscany." Irving Stone from my favourite book " The Agony and the Ecstacy" A fictional biography of Michelangelo



170. Big Night 2

It's party time at the Cooper household! Even though our flat isn't big enough to swing a cat in we've decided to invite ten of our closest friends. Much cleaning and cooking ensues and they all turn up! I've cooked my legendary melanzane alla parmigiana and Jaime Oliver inspired rice. We've got our classic 'toasty bits' and of course various bottles of red and white wine. The only questions are, will they speak to each other and will they have a good time...



Fortunately the answer seems to be yes! We have Nadia and Alberto, Gemma and Tiziano, Alison and Piero, Bea and Riccardo and Jane and her friend, Luca. That's three English and seven Italians.


The music I've chosen in true 'Lee' fashion doesn't inspire anyone to dance... maybe they needed something more to drink first! Everyone seemed to get on well, the food is eaten and wine consumed. So a great success!
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