Today I start with After because I like high notes. That is, good things that have happened. First, we have redesigned a small garden area next to our garage, and second, Mike has gotten his Tessera (health card) renewed for another year. Two big accomplishments for us! But getting here is a long story.
I have surprised myself with taking a (small) interest in gardening. There is an area next to our garage that has been sadly neglected for several years. And while we’ve lived here almost a year now, we too just walked past it as if it wasn’t there. However, Mike and I both needed some kind of relief from our studies, so one day I got a burr under my saddle and dragged him to a garden center in San Salvo. To see photos of this change, click here.
Plus, we both were feeling stressed about Mike’s Tessara (Italian health card), which expires at the end of March. We went to the ASL (health office) on Wednesday to get it renewed, but were unsuccessful. The very nice clerk told us that he would look into Mike’s case with the questura (state police) and for us to return on Friday. Maria, our neighbor and translator, accompanied us on Friday. That trip was amazingly successful. YAY!
So, now, the back story. This past Wednesday was a transition day. We left the ASL, went to the garden center, had lunch at the sushi restaurant, then went grocery shopping. It was a full, exhausting day.
We’ve had some good weather, some not so good. There were a few days we didn’t even go outside because the wind was so strong.
However, we have had some nice days. So to take a break, one nice day we hopped in the car and drove up to a town called Monteodorisio. We’ve driven through it many times on our way to Vasto, and each time we say to ourselves that we need to stop and see the town. There is a stately castle dating back to the 10th century, and amazing views of the mountains and the sea from an overlook. It was really good to get out, and finally explore the town a little. The castle wasn’t open, but we had a nice walk around it and stopped at the plaza for a soda and snacks at a café. Click here: photos.
Another recent get-away was a food tour of Pescara. Anna Swan, editor of the Abruzzo Magazine, gives occasional tours of small Abruzze towns and is known for her walking food tour of Pescara. This was a great day with great food and a nice group of people. Photos can be seen here.
Well, the garden still needs some work, but it feels much more welcoming. Check out the photos here. You can see how Mike and Robert did all the heavy “lifting.” Our studies continue, and so will our excursions around this beautiful region of Italy.
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