R0bert076's Blog

Città della Pieve

r0bert076 — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 08:41:25 +0000

Beatrice graduated from the university a coulpe of weeks ago and now she’s a nurse. Of course, this event deserved a proper present, and I thought it would be nice to “give” her a special week end. Since we share a love for travelling and for rural contests and environments I thought a week end in a farm might be the right way to spend some good time together. A “B&B” or an “agriturismo” was the solution. But we also like a friendly and unformal contest, so I immediately thought about WWOOF, and I looked for an accomodation on that organization, expecially in Umbria and Tuscany, places reasonably close, that I love. There were several good choises, and in the end I picked a farm in Città della Pieve, called Cimbolello. It offered a whole flat, a little one, with a bedroom, the bathroom and a kitchen: just perfect. I also loved their business, with wine, olive oil, and cheese. Their interest for greenbuildiong (they follow this way to build the two flats they rent) and their lots of connection with alternative and sustainable subjects and organizations. Thinking about WWOOF spirit, when I called them to book the flat, I even ask them if we could have the saturday night dinner together, and in the end, we had it, they invited us to their home, and we had a lovely meal with a very pleasant conversation about them and us, our volunteering in england and Italy, their business, their projects to get a better self sufficiency, their interest in movement such as Genuino Clandestino, just to say the first who get on my mind. This was just after a lovely afternoon too: when we got to their farm Luisa at first, and Francesco later too, showed us the farm, the buildings, the rooms where they store their goods and the wine, the sheep and the special politunnel where they stay and much more. They suggested to visit Città della Pieve, which is a very nice place too, just a couple of Km from their farm.

Città della Pieve

At the tourist office we were told about some Spa, really close to the town, where we could have a warm bath in outdoor pools even in the night. So, after dinner, at a reasonable time, we lead to the Spa, and we enjoyed the warm water for quite along time, in the night, with a nice steam which came from the water, and a bit of rain too.

Terme di San Casciano in Bagno

I often heard about nightly bath in Saturnia, maybe the most famous spa in Tuscany, and I wished to try. Even if not in that spot, this nightly bath of our was really cool.

The day after, we left the farm after spending some more time with Francesco and his family, and we went to Chiusi, where we were told we could find some good Etrurian itinerary. We were lucky to find a large fair down the new city, and some interesting spot up the old one. We couldn’t visit the Etrurian Tombs in the countryside, but we could see the tunnel the Etrurian dig in the city underground. Under the city of Chiusi there’s a real labirint from the Etrurian time, which was made to collect the water necessary for the people in Chiusi.

Cunicolo Chiusi sotterranea

It was a really interesting taste of our past, back even before the roman time. It would be great to learn and see some more about this , visiting some other spot expecially in Tuscany. I already visited Volterra, for example, but I’m sure there’s much more to see.

last week end

r0bert076 — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:30:20 +0000

the last week end there was Beatrice’s degree party, which was a dinner at her place with some good friends of her. It was a lovey evening, and I could enjoy it even more, since I already knew all the partecipiants. this is due to the fact that since the very beginning Beatrice introduced me all her best friends.

But, we had a really good sunday too. At the beginning of november we went to visit some oil mill in Cartoceto, an old town from the middle age, which is quite famous for its olive oil.

So, there are some old oil mills in the town and in its surrounding area, a countryside where you can find huge fields full of olive trees. We went to a really nice one, in the centre of Cartoceto, in an old building with rooms at the firts floor, and the olive press at the ground floor. We met there a lady, one of the owner i guess, who told us to come back the last sunday of november, to attend the opening of the hole in the basement, where they keep their cheese. It’s a very particular kind of cheese,

I had already heard of and watched on the television, that is seasoned underground, in a hole, following an old and typical process popular in this area. So, we didn’t forget the invitation, and last sunday we went to this event, to be honest, without great expectation. But we was wrong, because it was a really delightful event. At the beginning there was the speech of the owner, Beltrami, and few words spoke by the major. Then, we went down the basement, where the hole was, to see its opening. Some cheese, taken in bags, was bring upstairs, and share with all the participants.

The day was perfect, sunny and warm, and there were people outside, in th elittle square in front of the bulding, enjoying this really good cheese served with home made bread. Of course they had also some bruschetta with their oil. But it was possible to taste bread and cheese inside too, where the presses for the oil are. And people were sitting at the first floor, in a nice old room, with a wood roof and old piece of forniture. After lot of cheese, we were offered a nice warm plate of lentils, and then some pasta made with cheese and lemon. In the end, a lady came out in the square bringing a cake too. It’s not needed to say that since the beginning, we could enjoy as much wine as we wanted, either red or white. So in the end, we went to assist an old process of making cheese, and we got a really good meal, in a cosy and nice place with good people and friends. From now on, We will look for free meal of high quality only!!

Macerata Transition Town

r0bert076 — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:25:46 +0000

Last week end I went to Macerata for the first local transition initiative. There’s a group of people involved with the “decrescita” movement who has organized several events for informing about transition, climate change, permaculture and other issues of high relevance nowday. On saturday there was a transition talk, held by Massimiliano Rupalti from Urbania Transition Town. It was a very interesting evening, where Massimiliano spoke about the challenges we have to face in the recent future, such as climate change and peak oil, and the way the transition movement and approach is trying to find an answer and a way to sort the problem out. It was positive to see the large participation of peole came to the talk.

On sunday the event was focussed on permaculture, with a film called “A farm for the future” and a speach held by Francesco Quondam, a pioneer of the permaculture movement in Italy. Francesco spoke about permaculture beginning from the experience in his farm in Cupramontana called “la tana del bianconiglio” and ending with wide isses and info about the italian permaculture accademy and several comment about the present society end economic system.

More films are to be showed on the next three wednesday: “the end of suburbia”, “home”, “gasland”.

Week end on the mountain

r0bert076 — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 22:13:53 +0000

after the sea, the mountain. my region is great because in one hour…

CS Beach Meeting

r0bert076 — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 13:00:59 +0000

This first week end of september, I went to one CS meeting I wished to join since i saw it while being in England. I saw the pictures from Braziers computer room and i thought “I missed a nice event, i Hope they’ll do it again”. And here it is. Thanks to many friends of mine from CS, there s gonna be the second edition. The party it’s about meeting at a chalet of a CSer in Marotta, from friday to sunday. We can enjoy the sea, the sun, the food, the good company of friends and interesting CSers and a tour in the surrounding towns inland. Everything is organized on the CS website, where we could find the description of the event which any memeber of this social network could join. All the directions were there, we payed with postpay to buy the groocery. Them some details have been organized by FB. It s interesting to see how easy and possible it is to organize such events as this, setting oneown party, instead of waiting and looking for private venues, parties and concerts. Internet changed our way to enjoy our spare time!! I got at the meeting point and location of the meeting at 5ish, after a slow ride by car. I met first some friends i haven’t seen for ages (Francesco from Pescara, Marco from Ascoli), and friends I met several times in the last months and I wish I could see more often. Then BEatrice came, we went to set up our tent, and we met Sabrina, who came from Ancona, and Marek, and Dante from Pescara, who gave us some really good and homemade genziana. We played table football a lot, and we had dinner all together, for long time, with pasta, arrosticini, other kind of meat and fruit. I would loved more drinks, to be honest! By the way, there were 70ish of us at the party, and only few people helped at the BBQ, which was the hard job of the whole week end, so, they deserve a picture here indeed!!

The cooks. Thank you all!!

After dinner, we stayed chatting, someone went for a bath in the sea, many people divided in groups. We went to sleep not that late, at around one o clock. i really liked to see all the people i met in the last years, with CS, but Ithink I don t like this kind of huge meeting, because I don’t have the chance to meet new people at all, expecially if i like to spend time with my friends. Maybe it would be better to check the profile of the people who are coming, to see if there’s anyone with common interests or so on. Also, we used so much plastic and we made so much rubbish. We have to work on it to make our meeting more environmentally friendly. The sunday was dedicated to the beach, and to some more food, which I helped a bit to make, even though the group from Monsampolo was so great for it. After the 30th arrosticino I asked Dante how many one can eat, and he replyed 10 in a normal meal, up to 30 if the meal is just based on arrosticini. Then he added that when he was young he ate up to 80 arrosticini. After this, I was relived and I had some more of this traditional dish from Abruzzo!! But, after all this meat (I forgot to mention that we bought 850 arrosticini, and we had only 500 on saturday night) we need to recover; thank Godf there was a yakutzi waiting for us!!

Reinvigorating water massage!!

When we left, we went to Fano, for a walk in the city centre, with Sabrina and Bea. We had a very good ice cream in one of the 25 best italian gelateria (they say!!). We all agree, as a matter of fact, that their icecream is really good. After a while Alessandra and Jorge joined us, we ended the walk and went to the Caffe del porto, to drink the local and traditional Moretta. A good way to close the week end!!

At caffè del porto

Last stop: Lanbourn

r0bert076 — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 19:55:07 +0000

On our last day, friday, we had a rainy morning, and a fresh afteroon. we left Indira’s house late, and we decided to spend the few hours we had in a different way. Beatrice went shopping, I went to pay a visit to Matt and Andrea at Lower Shaw Farm, where i volunteered last year, in august, for one month. I went there wlaking, as I thought it would taken half an hour at most, but I had to walk a bit more, with a light rain. When I got to the farm, I found andrea at the washing machine, and she was really surpised and pleased to see me. Even though she was busy organizing the week end – they were expectinga juggling week end and workshops – she found the way to welcome me, offr a tea and stay for a chat.Matt was having a nap, or a siesta, and I just met him for a second, before hedesappiered. So, in some way, my visit at lower shaw didn t ork properly, ot at least, it wasn’t as i was hoping, but that’s it, it’s done. Back to the centre by bus – this time- I met Betarice at the main street, and went togetehr home, waiting for Indira and a quick goodbye. We had to go by bus to lanbourn, that was the plan. But Lyla called me sayng she was coming to Tesco to buy grocery, and she could give us a lift, so, after the greetings with Indira, we went to Tesco, met Lyla, did shopping also for the evening meal, and drove home. nestor was waiting for us. We had fun cooking, together, chatting, until late. We found out they didn t have a printer for our check in, so we went to sleep with the plan to go and print the check in at Nestor office. the morning after we had some problem to print the document. we went from the office, to the post office and eventually the public library. Then, more greetings and the train to London, paddington. Then Victoria station and by terravision to stansted, where our plane flew one hour late for the bad weather. For that we got stuck at falconara airport, and w ehad to change our plan, go to Fano ande ask a lift to Federica, Bea’s friend. I nded this crazy day forgetting my PIN, for the mobile. I wrote three times th ewrong pin and my card was blocked, damn!!

About this holiday, as a matter of fact, I’ve just found the way to do what I can’t while working: travelling, couchsurfing, cooking, practicing a foreign language, being active from a social and politic point of view, spending time with so many different people and friends. Sharing this with Beatrice made it even more pleasant.

The magic roundabout

r0bert076 — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:54:40 +0000

We met Indira at the railway station, and then, with Junior, we all went to Indira’s. It was a lovely 30 minutes walk, up to the ld part of the city. It was the chance to me for talking with Junior, while Beatrice, ahead, was talking with Indira. Junior was just arrived from Costa Rica, after a long journay and I don’t remember how many hours without sleeping. He was tired, but so exited for his journey, which was also his first journey abroad ever. He tols us about his trouble at the American airport, hisfear to lose the coincidence to Europe, and then his problem on the plain, his pain at the back, and other funny story. He told me his itinerary, from England to Croatia, his fear about safety, his exitment for every single unusual view – also this tunnel here, for me, is special, an unusual view – he told me while walking on the street. I liked junior since the very firt time. And I liked Luke too (Indira boyfriend, from Swindon). After a quick dinner with piadina, some beer and a nice chat, the 5 of us went to the pub, with another girl from CostaRica. She was working for the same company of Indira, but staying just for a couple of weeks. We had a pint in a typic english environment, and then back home. Indira’s house is very cosy, modern, and very ready for receiving guests. Indira has got this job in England, with the company she was already working in Costa Rica. She’s enjoining the experience above all, such as living abroad by herself. She will stay a couple of years at least, as the contract says.

The they after, thursday, we didn’t have aby plan. I was thinking to go to Avebury, but also liked to show Beatrice Oxford, which is worth a visit. Rather surprised, in the morning, checking the web, I found out that Oxfor was just one hour far from Swindon, so we quickly moved and rash to the bus station, where we separeted from Junior, who went to Bath. We found Oxford really pretty, and I liked lot to being back. We had a beautiful walk in the city centre, a walk at the Christchurch garden, where, by a creek, we had a nice pic nic, enjoining the company of many ducks, fed by Bea. Since we saw many people passing by boot, we went to see if it was possible to rent one ourself. It was cheap, so we did it, and had fun, for an hour, trying to deal with the paddle and the other beginners on the water.

Back late at home, there was a chance for a short chat, and then it was sleeping time. This was a disappointing CS experience, for my point of viev, for what concerne our relation with our host, since we spent really not enough time with them.

Bristol museum

r0bert076 — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 11:06:28 +0000

On tuesdaymorning, after another rich breakfast, we go to the museum. We wanted to go the day before, but it seems that in Bristol, on monday, most museums are closed. First, we went to the M Shed, a brand new museum mainly about the history of the city. We didn’t see a lot in the museum, to be honest, but we had fun, expecially with the gospel workshop. At the entrance, in fact, there was an info point, where we were told about this workshop, which lasted half an hour. We joined it, and when we were introduced to the program, we found out we would learn something about the slavery ages, we would learn a gospel, and, with great surprise, we would performance, after all, the gospel down at the ground floor, at the entrance of th emuseum. I thought it was a joke, but it wasn’t. So we tryed to do our best, enjoining the song, and singing it as it was meant to be…sadly, the public was’t really a huge crowd!!

After a break in the coffe shop nearby and at the felafell stand on the road by the river, we went to another musem, and then, after shopping, home, to cook gnocchi for us and Irena katzakistan guests.These guests deserve a short introduction. Since we arrived, Vi and Irena tolked about them in a funny way, saying they could not understand the guys behavior, which they found really unusual for any 19 years old guy. They kept on saying those twins from katzakistan didn’t eat enough, spent all their spare time in their bedroom, talked almost at all with Irena, and seemed not interested in going out, visiting England, having fun outside, socialize with Irena and so on. So, since the very first time I was really keen in meeting the twins, and trying to talk as much as possible with them. The first evening, when i saw the first time one of them (i can’t remember th ename) entering the room with an ear phone and his laptop, a pale face and amost saying nothing, I gave a look to Irena thinking “you’re right, they are too weird”. Then the second twin came, and he seemed a bit more talkative. They ate our dishes and escape in their bedroom, as usual. On tuesday, though, after while dining, we talked a lot about their school, theyr cat, England, Katzakistan, and they even went to take the laptop and show us some picture about theyr hometown and their Country. Irena was surprised indeed. After dinner, Beatrice, more tired then usual, went to bed, and I stayd longer with Irena, having a nice chat.

the morning after, on wednesday, we had a late breakfast, while Irena riceived some friends. She had a funeral, and a weird situation to deal with, and it was lovely to see how her friends went to spend some time with her. At midday we got a train to Bath: I had already visited this famous city, but since Beatrice had not, and many people told us she should see, we eventually decided to go. Bath is famous because of the roman bath and the Cathedral nearby. We had few hours, which we spent on a quick tour of the centre and some shopping. Bea finds England a good place for shopping, expecially for clothes and shoes, because they are cheap, and of the right size.

At 7ish we went to Swindon, where our costarican host was waiting for us.

From Dartington to Bristol

r0bert076 — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 22:56:28 +0000

On sunday morning, once a month, there’s the farmer market in Totnes. It’s a bit smaller then the other which happen every friday. It’s still a good chance to buy some good food, and also other shops are open, so on sunday morning the town is busy too. We went to the market and then we headed for Dartington, walking on a pretty path way along the river. It took more then an hour to get there. Dartington is a realy nice area, not far from the town, with many shops, coffee shop and a restaurant. At the top of the hill, in the middle of a green area, there’e the main building, where the college was, with its courtyard and the gardens.I thought the college was still there, and the Schumacher college as well, but it seens it isn’t, which is a pity.

Back home we had lunch, we waited for Clare to get home for the greetings, and then we went to the bus station, where we had the national express coach to Bristol. The day before I called Irene, a lady I met first at a volunteer week end at Lower haw Farm and then at Braziers. She’s retired, and since she had much spare time, she started to volunteer in communities and farms. I always wanted to visit her in Bristol, so I got the chance, this time, to visit her and her city.

To get to her home, from the couch station, we walked quite a lot. Beatrice wanted to get there by ourself, without calling Irene to pick us up at the station. I was sceptical, but in the end, step by step, asking to few people (N.B. ask to the pubs for directions in England) we did it!We met Irena in the streets, she was waiting for us, with her friend Ve. We spent the evening eating something – unfortunely our hosts had just had dinner so they couldn’t try piadina – talking, drinking and smoking a lot. I knew life in the city is unhealthy!! It was such an enjoiable evening, Ve is really funny and unaffected, and Irene as well. It was a pity Ve couldn’t join us for visiting Bristol, the day after. On monday, in fact, with Irena, we had a massive walk and a great tour of part of the city. We’ve been unlucky, to be honest, with museums (closed on monday!). We decided to go to the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge made by Brunell. On the way to it, we visited the Cathedral, we mannaged to see the Beryl Cook exibithion at the University Museum, and also the pretty area of Clifton, a rather luxurious suburb near the village, where many people who got rich with the slavers trade used to live. It’s interersting to see how near are poor and rich areas in a city, get through tourists, posh and ruined building, social project, social houses, drug dealer, culture and so on.

With Irena, she's great!!

Back home, really tired, we cooked for us and the two students from kazakingstan who are renting a room at Irene’s. We had dinner, and a nice chat before going to sleep.

To Dartmouth by ferry

r0bert076 — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 22:55:44 +0000

on saturday morning we went to dartmouth. clare suggested us this itinerary. from the river, in totnes, there are boats going to dartmouth. the trip lasts one hour and a quorter. then you can come bach by steam train and bus, or just by boat again. we chose this second option, and it was a good choise, since on the way to dartmouth the weather was poor, raining all the time, while on the way back it was sunny and hot and we could enjoy the trip sitting outside at the front of the boot. dartmouth is lovely, by the river and the sea, with lovely buildings. the walk to the castles was lovely and we spent there a couple of hours, just sunbathing, in a really beautifull beach just below the castle itself.

back home, we had dinner, and then, surprisengly, we watches a spy fiction in italian (Montalbano) with english subtitle. Neither clare nor me could follow the story, while beatrice was really into it.