This morning was our last Friday market of the summer. We
bought some items to eat here over the next few days, and a couple of things to
pack in the suitcase to bring to the US. I have a feeling Mom and I are both
leaving clothes behind to make a lighter load in the suitcase, thus making room
for gifts. I know I’ve lost a bottle of mouthwash, a large thing of powder and
about 12 oz of gel deodorant, as I’ve been using those things here and will
leave behind what’s left. Mom and I also picked up some fresh veggies. We got
over four pounds of pomodorini (small tomatoes), one pound of fagiolini (string
beans), one meloni giallo (yellow or canary mellon), one cipolla Bianca (white
onion), two big heads of trocadero lettuga (bib or butter lettuce depending on
store), and a fistful of basilica (basil) and prezemolo (parsley) for 8 Euros ($10
dollars). I also realize that I’ve spent maybe a bit too much time here. I went
up to the vendor and immediately grabbed a bag not waiting, filled it, and then
cut the line to pay. It was what everyone else was doing and no one seemed to
mind.
When we got back from our morning shopping, I decided that
getting all sandy at the beach was not appealing, so I did some patio tanning.
I started with topless gardening and chopping down some fast-growing vines,
then I did topless sweeping, as I cleaned off the patio. When I was done, I sat
in one of the patio chairs, and let the tanning rays rain down on me. I feel
the heat as I was already pretty tan.
Tonight we did some of our last shopping here for the year.
It’s always a crapshoot of what to get when you never know who is coming to
dinner, or who is going to host you. At this point we open what’s necessary and
watch expiration dates when we buy things. We went to Lidl, which is a German
owned store. It’s a lot like and Aldi in the US, and the prices are tough to
beat when compared with other supermarkets.
Waking up was hard to do today. Last night, Mom and I rode
down to the end of town (me on my bike and mom on her scooter) to watch the
fireworks over Termoli, the next town north. On all of the flyers and signs in
town (only two of them) it stated that the fireworks would start at mezzanotte
(midnight). Mom and I overestimated the time it would take her to ride down
there, so we got there way too early, at like 11:20 p.m. We waited there at the
farthest point Mom’s scooter could travel and midnight came and went. More and
more people showed up, well into the hundreds between those on the free beach
and those at the beach clubs at the northernmost end of town, all with a clear
view of Termoli. Then, just after 12:30 there was a loud boom and a flash over
Termoli. About 5 minutes later the sky erupted. I know this country claims to
be in crisi (crisis mode), and everyone is hoarding pennies, but they spare no
expense when honoring their saints. Last night was the second of three nights
honoring San Basso, the patron saint of Termoli. The days include concerts,
processionals, a boat regatta, and the fireworks, along with a street fair and
carnival. Termoli truly comes alive and the fireworks display they put on was
tremendous. 
Today, though, we were playing international host to family
from both Italy and Hollanda (The Netherlands). Zia came down, along with my
Aunt Dini, my cousin Mariella, her husband Nik, and their sons Fabio and Elio. Mom
and I had prepped the meal last night before we went out to see fireworks,
knowing how long it would take to cook tomatoes, prepare meats, cook meats, pass
the sauce, combine, and cook until a delicious Sunday gravy was born. All of
the meats were butcher fresh, and the meal was an incredible success. All but
one piece of meat was eaten, as there were eight people at the table speaking
three languages (Dutch, Italian, and English). Needless to say, I didn’t get
out of the house this morning. But watching the look on people’s faces as they
ate made all of the work worth it. 
