And photos for San Benedetto, Day 4
I write this blog as a special tribute to the family who took such great care of us (Bill, Maya and myself) when we stayed in San Benedetto del Tronto. "To take care of" is not a phrase of sufficient decription that will somehow come close to showing the kindness, the warmth and generosity of this family. All that I can do in this little space is to relay a few of the touching, generous and funny moments that we had together over these four days.
At the bus station in San Benedetto Lamberto and Titziana met us. Then we received a first class tour of the city. Lomberto told us that Monika was preparing a "light lunch". Was it a "pranzetto"? Lamberto said that we would eat a full dinner in the evening. With a pesto pasta to start, we toured the culinary reaches of Italy with Monika's lunch. All was so delicious, but we were totally full by the third course. Monika, Monika- you are such an amazing chef!
That evening we went to a warm and wonderful restaurant. (I am sorry that I do not remember the name.) After pasta we sampled so many wonderful appetizers. Seafood is the specialty of San Benedetto, grown into a center of commerce and tourism. I have a plan to write about the foods that I have experienced in Italy. I will tell you the truth. Between the cooking of Monika and the antipasti of this restaurant, I have never tasted any better food in my life. I was most impressed that each little dish had its own little delicious sauce or crust. Each one calimari, tripe, shrimp, fishes had a distinctive flavor. Monika, so shy with English, but so intelligent and can give Lamberto the same as what he gives her. Monika- you, I think, are the glue that holds this family together.
For the number of kilometers of beautiful places that I have seen, I thank Lamberto- Ascoli, Artigiana, Rtr, Genga and Frasassi Grotto, Urbino, and Aquaviva and all of the lovely Marche (Ancona, Ascoli Piceno, Fermo, Macerata, Pesaro and Urbino) I thank Lamberto for sharing his passion of bikes and letting us on his jewel of bike, his Harley. Lamberto, you were always so sensitive to our every need and let us share for a time the love in your family.
Riccardo- the perfect English speaker, player of the guitar, seeker of more and more information on American culture and life in general. You love the intellectual conversation and I wish that I could have given you more. Your sense of humor is so warm and wonderful. You are the one in the middle - who takes the good-natured "crap" from both your dad and Stephano. And you can give it back to them. I especially loved the warmth and affection that you have given your little brother.
Stephano- living in a paradise of loving, doting parents, friends who daily play calchio on the beach and swim. You remind me of my son Joey, when he was younger- full of life, vigor and fun. You never take a "ribbing" too serioiusly. I loved the moment where you hang upon your mother in Frasassi and she is so annoyed. But we all know how much love you have for her and it is the real reason that you hang on her, even if it is hot, even if she pretends to be annoyed.
And Titziana- lover of San Benedetto del Tronto who lives and works in Rome. You are a perfect hostess and speaks such great English to me who speaks such bad Italian. You have so much heart and show your feelings on your sleeve- as we say in English- and speak them too. we found out that you are so much a part of the sea and the place, San Benedetto. And we just wanted to spend more time with you, and I felt that you wanted the same.
Also I must add that I so much enjoyed the good natured "ribbing" that I took. Lamberto, I told you that I had DNA testing done, and that the people who I found that I was most related to was the Romanians. I have three out of five of the close genetic ties to Romanians. With this and my soon to come trip to Bucharest - you dubbed me "Lynchescu".
GRAZIE, GRAZIE, GRAZIE
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