Grandmother's Birth Home

Before I talk about my day today, I forgot to mention two things from yesterday (I must have been tired). The gentleman that took me to Pratola Peligna was very proud of the fact that his farm produced the Farro (type of flour) that Obama ate when he visited L’Aquila. The Agricultural community of Abruzzo is very proud of their products and they should be. He has won many awards for the products he produces. I also met the gentleman that produces the oil that Paula uses in her cooking. He also has won many awards; his olive oil is amazing. I have his phone number and hope to ship some back to California.

Second, I was able to download most of the pictures to Picasso web site :

http://picasaweb.google.com/pmilano09/Farm4#

I know there are a lot of pictures but I am emotionally attached. Just breeze through the ones you don’t want to see. There are a lot of videos also.

Today was a very relaxing day; I even took a nap. I spent the day researching my family and found my grandmothers birth certificate and all the information on her parents. I even took a picture of the house she was born in. As I expected, there are many Pace and Bianchi’s in Pratola Peligna so it is useless to find my relatives.

I have fallen in love with Pratola Peligna and the people. Everyone is so nice to me and I have really enjoyed the conversations. I have a new goal of dual citizenship; I have added a home in Pratola Peligna to my bucket list. I have been welcomed with open arms from my Albergo to the community center, where I researched my grandmother.

I have had gelato both days and it is delicious. My stomach has definitely expanded because I was able to finish a large dish of pasta (prima course) and a large pork chop and eggplant (secondo course) for dinner. Don’t let me forget the half bottle of wine. Not sure what I will do when I return to reality.

Now that Mirta (the other wwoofer) has left, I find myself starting to talk more Italian. It is interesting how you adapt to being independent over night. It really is good being immersed in the language with no one to help you.

The hotel (a very nice woman that owns it) is taking me to the bus stop tomorrow to travel to Rome. I will be picking up my husband, Eric, to join me at my last farm. I think it is important that he understand how wonderful Wwoofing is.

I hope that this adventure will continue for a long time in other countries or in Italy. We will have three days before we have to be in Aversa for our last farm. Eric doesn’t know that most of the time is trying to buy all the products that were used in cooking before I leave. I had Eric bring a large empty suitcase. I plan on spending all the money I saved by working on farms.

Ciao for now