At L’Angolo Bar, Paul started the morning with an espresso and croissant while I had a cappuccino and a croissant filled with frutti di bosco (a multi-berry jam.)

At 7:30a Paul left for the Rome airport to pick up D but didn’t get back til close to 1pm due to an accident on the A1. It should have been only 2.5 hours roundtrip.

While Paul was stuck in traffic I accepted delivery of our first piece of furniture: a matterasso matrimonio aka European-size queen bed! I’m sure the delivery driver is accustomed to the narrow streets in villages like Pico as they had to park aways up the road as it’s only one car width wide.

We may not have bed sheets yet, but we have a lightweight duvet and five pillows so we’re excited for a solid night’s sleep. D will use the air mattress until we either buy a pull out couch or bed with trundle for the spare room. 

Upon returning from the airport, Paul picked up some pizza, a spinach pie and an Italian version of a full size pig in a blanket for lunch. 

I spent most of today cleaning the bathroom and spare bedroom. I also began clearing out the living room cabinets as Carlo left us a ton of glassware; crystal and plates — 99% of which we aren’t keeping. We boxed things up and D put the items in our cantina until we can figure out how to dispose of items that don’t fit in one of the five designated waste bins:

• Multi Materiali: we know this is for plastic, and we think metal too but unsure and haven’t looked it up yet 
• Carta: paper/cardboard
• Vetro: glass
• Humido: compost
• Secco Indifferentiato: other uncategorized trash

Each of the bins has a separate pick up day. (Note to self: add schedule to house doc for future guests.)

While Paul painted the bathroom, a very jet lagged D and I took a walk to the supermarket which was inexplicably closed, so we continued on to a cafe where he experienced his first true Italian espresso. It’s been three years since D’s been to Italy and at age 15 espresso was not something he consumed. Now as an 18 year old who runs on Dunkin, the art of standing at the counter to order and drink your espresso, the complimentary water, and paying after you have consumed your drink, was all new for him. The barista asked D and I if we wanted a glass espresso cup or one that was ceramic and I don’t know why. I’m adding it to my list of Italian culture questions for when we see our friend Antonella next. 

By 8:30pm, we had enough of cleaning and painting, showered in our clean and freshly painted bathroom, and hopped in the car for a brief ride to the next town (San Giovanni Incarico) for dinner at La Locanda Cascata. It was nice to catch up with D on his Chicago trip over a starter of potato croquettes shaped like mini mozzerella sticks. For dinner, a liter of house red wine, D had capriccioso pizza, Paul had grilled steak, and I had ravioli in red sauce. For dessert, to share a ricotta pear tart and glass of amaro. We were all very happy and full from the day. 

Paul and D ended the night with a walk to see the castle lit up at night.