Saying the week has been busy would be an understatement. We
kicked off the week celebrating my birthday with a day at the beach and a nice
dinner. The following day the first of three friends met up with us and today
we filled out the group with more friends.
Though I’ve been in Italy since July 11, the time has seemed
to fly by. I can’t believe I am already in the countdown to closing up the
house for another year. I thought seven weeks was going to drag on and on, but
it really hasn’t this year. I found ways to pass the time, and always kept busy
living amongst the Italians. There is always laundry, cooking, or sweeping that
needs to be done.
With Melissa in town, we went to Termoli for Saturday night.
We walked the borgo vecchio (old city), and grabbed sandwiches at Eattico for
dinner. Termoli was buzzing with excitement. Musicians and performers lined the
streets, delighting crowds of all ages. And everyone seemed to be partaking in
a little evening gelato. Every gelateria was packed with people.
Sunday was my birthday, so we spent the day on the beach. It
was beautiful out, so we spent almost the whole day outside in the sun and
sand. After the sun started to set, we headed home to change, and then out to
Ristorante Netti for a delicious birthday dinner. I had pasta and pizza in the
same night.
Monday we decided to take it easy. I went for a walk and
Melissa rode a bike on the same route. We were expecting a friend of hers in
the early evening, but she was delayed so we stayed at the beach. Our plan was
to get some Italian street food for dinner and we did. It’s interesting what
Italians call street food, as it would be pretty gourmet back home.
Tuesday was the day that we were expecting a packed house. Melissa's friends Alethea, Erin and Melissa are in town til the end of the week. It is a lot of fun having so many people to share the house with. We all went
out to Ristorante Netti for the last time for 2019.
Isole Tremiti is a taste of paradise in the middle of the
Adriatic Sea. Palm trees, tiny beach clubs, grottos, and crystal clear water
greet you as you arrive on the ferry boats from Termoli. Wednesday morning, we hopped on a ferry and set out for a day on the Isle of San Domino in the Tremiti Islands. We all went out into
the sea to look for different fish, and we managed to find an octopus in the
wild. Without a doubt, Isole Tremiti is one of the most beautiful places I’ve
ever visited.
Melissa and I push off Friday for Rome, so we are in house-closing
mode. It dawned on me yesterday that we would be back to the US in one week. In
that week, we have a day at the beach, a two-day trip to Rome, nights in
Florence, Milan, and London, and a flight back to Newark. It’s going to be a
busy last week abroad.
