An Italian Dream...A Chestnut harvest!
Yesterday, we were introduced to Leonardo. While chatting, we told him we would love to pick castagne. To make a long story short, his dad, Lucciano picked us up this morning for a truly unique, beyond our wildest Italian dreams, day in the Umbrian countryside.
We met with Giancarlo, Anna, and their amazing group of friends for a day of work amongst the chestnut trees. One does not pick chestnuts, one discovers them, like shiny auburn treasures, hidden within the leaves at the base of trees. It is truly a treasure hunt and we were thrilled to be included.
At 1:30 PM, we were told we were finished and it was time to eat. Everyone was moving and talking. Two men hammered hardy branches into the soil. Then a large wooden plank became the table top for a dozen hungry 'hunters'. Anna barbecued the most succulent meat selection while proscuitto was sliced to accompany the roasted bread. Wine flowed. Food was savored. Conversations were enjoyed. At one point, when the first bottle of red wine was depleted, one of our companions said his "ciaos" until he found the hidden supply. It was a day that is truly difficult to explain to anyone. It is exactly what we had hoped to experience and we are still in disbelief that we did.
We met with Giancarlo, Anna, and their amazing group of friends for a day of work amongst the chestnut trees. One does not pick chestnuts, one discovers them, like shiny auburn treasures, hidden within the leaves at the base of trees. It is truly a treasure hunt and we were thrilled to be included.
At 1:30 PM, we were told we were finished and it was time to eat. Everyone was moving and talking. Two men hammered hardy branches into the soil. Then a large wooden plank became the table top for a dozen hungry 'hunters'. Anna barbecued the most succulent meat selection while proscuitto was sliced to accompany the roasted bread. Wine flowed. Food was savored. Conversations were enjoyed. At one point, when the first bottle of red wine was depleted, one of our companions said his "ciaos" until he found the hidden supply. It was a day that is truly difficult to explain to anyone. It is exactly what we had hoped to experience and we are still in disbelief that we did.
Non ci ricordiamo dei giorni,
noi ci ricordiamo dei momenti
Italian to English Translation:
We do not remember days,
we remember moments
noi ci ricordiamo dei momenti
Italian to English Translation:
We do not remember days,
we remember moments
2 comments:
That sounds amazing! You are getting a great sense for life in Italy!
How are you meeting all of these people? I have a terrible feeling that if Fred and I were in your shoes we would just be eating gelato all day by ourselves! How are you doing it?
How is you Italian by the way?!
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We actually have fresh picked chestnuts from our neighbor, they have a huge tree and pick them and share every year! We make a yummy Hungarian (Nick is from Hungary) dessert it is chestnut puree served with fresh cream! Yummy!
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