We spend the afternoon with Costantinos and Mirella, whose house in the countryside always filled with people, laughter and cheer (Says Mirella: "Better a noisy home than a lonely one"). This afternoon it is Costantinos parents, Mirella's work colleague Alesandro from Milan .. .another couple I don't quite place and, of course, the bambinos... a few cats and the five dogs, which Madeleine feeds under the table, and Penelope the pig (who Eitan names). This also means amazing food - Costanatinos father a retired restaurant chef while Mirella -
umma mia! - and, for Eitan and Madeleine, 5 kg of .. .
Nutella.
Tuscany draws the attention but Abruzzo the
same rolling countryside with similar white beaches (that still have fish). A 30 minute drive takes one into the mountains. There is no Florence but far fewer tourists, too. Certainly no Chinese which the Italians now complain about. Costantinos shows me a villa with 360 panoramic views of olive trees and sunflowers; he notes:
"half the price".
Below, Abruzzo countryside:
