March 04

Ciao tutti
The stop sign's changed to green in the countryside, we're having a heatwave. For a few days now temperatures have been up to the seventies. Clear blue skies and sunsets the colour of blood, spectacular over the ragged mountain skyline.
And, we're turning into locals. This week, swathes of the land have been tilled, fertilized and sown with barley, by arrangement. Grazing and fencing preparations are afoot, as is the strategic re-location of a number of olive trees. There's a long forgotten spring been uncovered on the territory too, ideally sited for horse watering and to be re-commissioned, (shades of the film 'Jean de Florette'). Undergrowth clearance continues, and now we're back at the farm for a few days, thoughts turn to il vigneto (the vineyard). Top of the shopping list is a pair of secateurs, pruning's thing of the moment, seems you've got to cut last year's growth back and train just two or three of the vines to the wires, that trail for more than five hundred metres, at four levels. Ready reckoning, that's more than two kilometres. Apparently, if you can take the word of the man known as poco cervello (small brain), the vineyard produces something like eighteen hundred litres of wine, sangiovese, every year. The same grape chianti's made from. Our advisor's jocular name coined by Luciano, lately, during one of our pidgin exchanges. It came out that this chap has one or two properties in the area, or rather had, but he's dismantled them and sold the materials; stone, bricks, terracotta tiles, etc, for a pittance. Lately, property prices here have soared and he's got nothing left to sell, hence the name. Must be gutted.
Our house also occupies the mind. This week the geometra's (architect) been to call and ideas bandied, how best to develop the space. Because we plan to do as much of the work as possible ourselves, the project has the look of a civil engineering curriculum. Plumbing, brickwork, wiring, carpentry and groundwork, among the disciplines. Soon we'll be talking drains. The learning curve's steep, the headaches numerous and the aching back only partially relieved by foaming hot bath. I'm not complaining though, wouldn't have it any other way.
jt


April 04

Ciao tutti,
Sally's been working on the website again this week. Following exhaustive
research the compilation's virtually complete, an information resource to
guarantee visitors undiluted pleasure on, and from arrival, here in
paradiso.
What's your bag? High culture did you say? The starlit opera takes some
beating. Two festivals bring emotion and spectacle, to balmy summer nights.
You must take a cushion though, every first-timer will tell you. Two hours
or more, of derriere on chiselled stone, can play havoc with your attention.
The Macerata venue's inspirational, a segment of the inside of a huge
diameter sphere, contained by a towering arc of theatre boxes. The Rossini
concerts take place in his home town, by the Adriatic coast. Timing is July
and August, various composers' works are featured. Black tie and posh frocks
optional, a champagne cocktail al fresco, before taking the limousine.
If you prefer to appreciate classical music, or perhaps rather jazz, then an
alternate suggestion could be to check out what's on at Teatro Lauro Rossi,
a spectacle in itself. 18th century, intimately proportioned and an
exhibition of rococo interpretation, Italian style. This theatre sells
tickets for just 10euros apiece, to those in the know. Did you just spot a
pocket-friendly bargain? Picasso's in town too, plus, many public buildings
contain great paintings and ask no charge to enter.
When your thirst for art is quenched, you might pursue culture and spirit at
a sporting level. Ancona's football team play in Italy's top division and
they host Lazio, Juventus, Milan etc. There's a link below, straight to the
dates of upcoming matches.
Misano and Imola (San Marino) race circuits are also just up the road. World
Superbikes perform at Misano, April 18th. The San Marino Formula1 GP is also
scheduled in April. Homegrown talent Frankie Chilli, Valentino Rossi
(Italian/bike GP champ), and of course Ferrari, give motorsport crowds
something to get all frothed up about. Imagine the intensity of atmosphere,
enough to make even your teeth bristle. Go, via Sally's website, to the
links that'll give you all the important dates.
Excuse me, am I boring you ladies? Well how about the various food and drink
festivals? Truffle's (£2,800 a kilo in Fortnums) are happening now (for
peanuts), in Montifortino, on the leeward side of the mountains. All local
produce takes a seasonal place in the festival calendar and is celebrated to
excess, in every imaginable guise.
We enjoy the mediaeval re-enactments, set against the backcloth of
Renaissance architecture in towns of the region. These events are played out
with pride, attract mostly locals, and there's a real party feel. More food
and drink are in the offing, the palio (horse races) and fireworks never
fail to excite. Mostly summertime stuff, July and August guarantee plenty of
choice and shirtsleeve order after dark.
I've mentioned all the participation sports stuff before, see previous
despatches, but what hasn't been highlighted is the ease of getting away
from it all. There are probably more sheep per square mile than people, once
you head for the National Park. There's peace and outdoors in abundance, and
you don't have to get too far off the beaten track to find solitude and
plenty of personal space. Particularly during siesta, which is prime time
tv, and when most Italians, apparently, are conceived.
Remember, forward planning = maximum satisfaction.
jt
www.holidayinmarch.com/Sport & Activities.html for the links you'll
need.


Go Back