Our Last Sunday: La Campagna....

For our last hoorah, our upstairs neighbors, Francesca and Roberto, invited us to go with them "to the country." They have a house that they've been working on and they also wanted us to meet their very close friends who, as Roberto says, "make very many vegetables." Along with the vegetables, we would also barbecue! Our day was beautiful with a pleasant breeze. The day before there had been quite a wind storm so we were lucky with our timing.

Before leaving Alessandria, we stopped so that Roberto could vote.
Here, as in America, they utilize the schools as voting halls.

Happy voters...

After voting we headed out of Alessandria in a southwest direction. We took a route that we'd never been on before and were quickly in the more rural part of Alessandria's city limits. We passed through a little town called Villa del Foro and, a few minutes later, arrived in their town of Oviglio, just 16 kms from Alessandria.

We stopped at their house which they just started working on a month ago.
It had stood abandoned for about six years prior to their purchase.

Yesterday's windstorm knocked things down and broke a large plate glass.

The house was originally built around 1920.

Much to do and they are doing all the work themselves.

View from the upstairs bathroom window.

Please meet Roberto and Francesca, our neighbors and the happy home owners.

From Roberto and Francesca's house, we drove a bit further past many
wheat, rice, and corn fields.

Down another lane to...

our destination. The home/compound of Judit (pronounced "who dit?") and Diego.

We all greeted one another and headed inside...

Remember all those fields we passed? Well, their home is where the processing
and the offices of the company or, as they put it, "the factory" once resided.

While we were driving to Judit's and Diego's, Francesca explained that Judit is an artist and that her property reflects her art, adding that Judit has lived on the property for 7 years and it wasn't until 2 years ago that they finally convinced her to get electricity and running water.... She is a great gardener and grow all her own vegetables.

Take a stroll around with Kim and me. Judit immediately told us that her home was our home.

Welcome to my garden....

They had a different attitude toward us as company....

Heading upstairs....

Interesting sights here and there....

A bedroom window....

Meanwhile, Roberto gets the barbecue going...

Kim rests and patiently waits for....

YUM,YUM, YUM!

Kim drew energy from her rest and began to set the table.

Good new friends. We learned the term, "Lambrusco mi"....
Roberto, Kim, Diego, Judit, Francesca, and local neighbor, Dominico.

Afterward, it was siesta time....

And after siesta time, it was time for coffee and grappa (caffe corretto); yum!

And some singing....

And a political discussion over watermelon...a fascinating,
animated sight between Judit and Roberto.

They quickly made up; they've known each other since school days in Alessandria...

On our way out, we stopped by Dominico's. He runs an equestrian school.

Two of his students during their class....

Senore Eduaro....

and his friend....

For a finale, Kim and Roberto played ping pong. Did I know Kim could play so well??
No, I did not! She did me proud and surprised Roberto!

So, this was our day. Words fail me as to what an experience this has been, up to the last days. Never did I imagine that such fun and friendships would come of this trip. Kim and I are two very lucky people. We know it, oh, yes, we know it.
Have I mentioned that I am very thankful?