Life in Alessandria...With Rita, Chiara & Friends....

The very best part of being back in Alessandria was the opportunity to see and visit our friends.  Rita was incredibly gracious, offering us her bedroom while she stayed on the couch!

  She greeted us with breakfast each morning:

Chiara has turned 10.  She is quite striking and quickly growing up.  She was more comfortable with us, helping us with our non-decipherable Italian and kindly saying, "Good, good" each time we'd attempt.

In addition to cooking, Rita is keeping very busy these days with acting.  She has joined a local acting troupe that goes to different villages doing various plays.  Most of the the plays have spiritual, religious themes with moral dilemmas.  She took time to show us her most recent costume for an upcoming performance.

A blessing AND laughter.  It was a fantastic combination that required no translation.

We also watched part of a video performance:
That's her on the far left.

Later, we all took a walk together around Alessandria.  She loves to window shop and there are many opportunities to do so.

I just love the combinations that Italians come up with:

So well said.

 The fruit stands remain beautiful:

Others have not fared so well....

And just like many places in our world, there is ambivalence:

OH, MY! Speaking of bicycles, look what's been installed since we left:

Only technical detail is that you have to be local to utilize them.  One has to register with the police to get a code for their utilization.  Other cities allow tourists to use them by popping in your credit card and riding away.   Perhaps in time....

Before we knew it, it was time for Rita to feed us our lunch.
Did I mention what a good hostess she is??

Happily yours!