Picture this: Campomarino 2019. A family gathers before,
during, and after a big feast. August 15, the day of the assumption, or
Ferragosto was celebrated yesterday. Ferragosto is a big summer holiday here in
Italy, and kind of like the unofficial signal that the summer is winding down.
The weeks following Ferragosto see an exodus of people from Campomarino
transforming it from a slightly bustling outpost back into a sleepy, little
community.
Melissa and I were playing host yesterday. We woke up with a
long to do list and managed to get it all done. I did most of the cooking while
Melissa cleaned, prepped the melon, and got the table ready. It was just us and
Zia for dinner. We had a feast with leftovers for days. Everything was delicious
and we spent most of the afternoon reminiscing about times of old and people
who are no longer with us.
In the afternoon, my cousin Renato, his wife Dorrette, and
their son Mario and his wife Cassandra visited. We sat outside, talking al
fresco and continuing to reminisce. Ferragosto is a holiday I look forward to
every year as it brings families together in a comfortable, casual summer
setting.
After everyone had left, and we had cleaned up, Melissa and
I headed to Lido Ritz for some twilight sun, and a round of Aperol spritz
cocktails. It was a beautiful tramonte (sunset) yesterday, and a fitting way to
end the holiday.