Just last year.

Saturday 9:27 pm
40 degrees
Cloudy





Hey, Mambo. Mambo Italiano! Seems like it was just last week, not last year, that we were living la dolce vita con la nostra amica, Doris e il suo marito, Douglas, high in the Tuscan hills. {I probably got even that simple Italian phrase wrong, I've neglected the language for so long.}
Il Mulino is their little wonderland tucked between two hills high above Lucca in the little, and I mean little, town Tofori. Blink, and you miss it.

Doris left the rewarding and glamorous world of advertising, sold her house and in reverse immigration left for the Old Country. She's living her dream in the town where her mother was born. Post WWII, Doris' mother and two sisters left Italy and ended up in Milwaukee. Of all places. It's a long, long story, but Doris and The Husband bought an ancient property. Renovated it. And are now the Host and Hostess with the Mostest. You haven't vacationed in Italy unless you've been hosted by Doris.
If you don't believe me, head over and see for yourself. The best vacation ever! Il migliori di tutti!



Just a 20 minute terrifying drive away from Il Mulino is the town of Lucca. It's surrounded by an intact medieval wall with 6 gates. So. Like history? Check. Lucca's got it. Not to mention terrific food, terrific shopping {someone edited the best of Milan shops and put it on Via Fillungo} and beautiful people. Gorgeous men. Unfairly handsome.




Shopping. And resting. Mama Mia! She looks good for 88. And Rita, she looks so good the elderly gent in the photo below was flirting with her. Italians are friendly. Very friendly. Regardless of their age.





My new Italian friends. They were patient with me. "Parlo Italiano come una bambina!" Let's do it again. Real soon. It was a lovely time in a season that -- for our family -- is tinged with sadness. But more about that in another post.


Listening to: Jazz Image with Leigh Hammond on MPR.
Reading: The Devil in the White City.