I was sitting on my terraza watching the sunset on my last day in Guardia and reflecting on a week that went by way too fast. Wishing I could bottle some of this up and take it home with me..
Sunset to the Left
City View to the Right
It had been a week since I’d left Dallas in a frantic rush of trying to meet last minute requests from work, packing, and shopping for things I thought I needed for Italy. Arriving at the airport almost 3 hours early, I thought I had assured myself a relaxing start to my trip, only to have my main piece of luggage lost by the airline as they were checking me in ( I did not even know this was possible!) but they forgot to tag it before they sent it down the chute. Despite a huge effort by several people to retrieve the bag and get it tagged and on the plane on time (thanks Linda!) , I was not surprised when I arrived 14 hours later in Rome to find that my bag did not arrive. While reporting my missing bag in Rome, I managed to misplace my passport as well! (a full blown travel disaster!)
Even though I was exhausted from the travel and day’s events, after getting picked up at the airport by friends and we started talking about all of the fun things planned for the week, it was hard to think about lost luggage or passports. ..and so began another magical week in Guardia Sanframondi
My first stop was to see the Orso family at the Tanna Dell Orso, where I was received with a lovely bouquet of flowers and a glass of wine (heaven!)
Me with my good friend Ana Orso
Then was whisked away to see my house which had been fully set up for me: the bed was made, towels, shower curtains, champagne and water!!,( and I had been worried about how I was going to manage with my lost luggage!!) What more could a girl need!
It really touches my heart when I think about all the small details that went into making me feel at home when I first walked in the door. Simply amazing!! In addition, our project manager (and by now also a close family friend) Pasquale Orso, did a fantastic job with the renovation projects and I could not have been more pleased!
Entryway to the house
Master Bedroom
Living Room & View from Balcony
2nd Bedroom (the armoir came with the house)
Kitchen Fireplace
Notice that the bag that arrived had the margaritas!!
Later that night Laurie and Francisco arrived in town (from Los Angeles). They also have purchased a home in Guardia and were signing the final closing documents for their house that week. Also arriving from Miami were Mariluz and her lovely daughter Sofia who will hopefully be neighbors with us in Guardia soon!!
We all met at the Meridiana for dinner and wine. Everyone was so excited to be back in Guardia!, and it was such a treat to be there together!!. We closed the restaurant down late that night .. 36 hours of no sleep, no luggage and no passport, still a perfect day!
I had the most peaceful night’s sleep in my house.. I thought it might feel strange, in a new place all by myself, but the house was like the town itself..warm and cozy and I went to bed with visions of Italy dancing in my head.
My first breakfast in my new place.. it was fantastico!
The next morning, a little miracle, I called the information number at the Rome airport they had given me to find the luggage. They had found my passport and my lost luggage!! I was shocked! Since Rome is 2 hours away from Guardia, they told me they would bring both items to me in 48 hours. I was ecstatic!! Mostly for the passport because I had resigned myself that I would likely lose the luggage, but did not want to spend the rest of my week trying to get another passport.
Piazza in Cerreto ..
The next few days went by with a blur, of shopping and eating.. mostly eating! My birthday was on Sunday, and it seems like it turned into a 3 day birthday celebration!! , but a BIG PARTY was planned for Tuesday night, since Wednesday was a holiday. Meanwhile, Monday I excitedly awaited the arrival of my suitcase and passport, and as promised they arrived with my passport and a suitcase that evening.. except they brought the wrong suitcase, (wuawuawuah!) and so continued the adventure of my lost luggage.
The luggage finally arrived and was delivered to the Tanna Dell Orso on Tuesday evening, but by then, I had already made due without most of the contents and had lost interest in these THINGS that I felt the need to drag across the world with me.
The Party on Tuesday was a spectacular event!! . An outdoor paradise, fantastic live music, dancing, incredible food and 75 liters of wine! Pasquale and Roberto, hats off to you, you hosted the most amazingly fun evening that I think people will be talking about for years to come!!
Over a dozen musicians came to the party from as far away as Naples.. the soundtrack to the evening was a wonderful combination of American and Italian classics. How they managed to get all these musicians that have never practiced together sound so wonderful, was incredible!
At the end of the party, I was surprised by the most AMAZING birthday cake I have ever had!! Thank you Thank you Benny & Doriana!! The top of the cake is the American flag and the sides are the Italian flag. I cannot imagine how long it took to make this masterpiece!
Benny & Doriana
And just like that, the week was over and I am reflecting on this lost bag.. In the end, I am glad that I lost it. I finally hauled it back to my house and unpacked its contents on the eve of my departure. (ironic!) Losing this suitcase made me appreciate the THINGS that are really important to me, which are my family and friends,(old and new), and that letting go and just letting THINGS just naturally happen as they do in Italy “piano piano” is where the magic happens..
Ciao Italia.. alla prossima!
Ciao Italia.. alla prossima!
