Un Giorno Tranquillo?.....quasi

Looks like another beautiful day.......but rather than running off like the tourists we really are, we are going to calm down and just act like we are living here.  We have a variety of errands to do and we might even take on the laundry for a load or two!

The sunlight and blue sky were particularly striking this morning, so here are a few shots after breakfast.

view from the balcony

view from our stair hall window.......they just mowed the grass this morning

Ducks in the forecourt fountain

the lawn and gardens behind the main Villa

beautiful apple trees in bloom

they planted tomatoes yesterday.......very cool bamboo trellis

Model Views of the American Academy Grounds 

We thought we might also post a short video from yesterday's trip to Villa d'Este and the water organ.  At 12:30 there was a brief performance.......and half of the fun was watching the school children.  There was a fairly large group of about 30.  We showed a couple of pictures in yesterday's blog.  Here is the video.......a bit of fantasy.......some more 'Disney' ambiance!

We headed out to Via Carini to pick up some groceries and stop for a cappuccino.  Along the way, Andrea found a children's store........and Addie now has a new dress!

We headed back to the outdoor market on Via Giovanni Battista Niccolini.  We saw our buddy Carlos again and loaded up for the weekend.  On the trek back we stopped at a local Vineria Enoteca (wine shop) called Al Grammelot.  The owner was very nice and gave us some background on the very bad year of prosecco grapes......which has drastically affected production.  He also explained the difference between Prosecco and Franciacorte, which is both in the grape and the length of time in the barrel.

In any case, we got a bottle of a cousin to Prosecco that was quite reasonable.  We are not sure about the name of the store, but Grammelot seems to be a term of French origin coined by comedian actors......and the word itself is devoid of meaning.  It refers to a babel of sounds, so maybe it is what one aspires to after much drinking!

When we got back to our apartment, a group was gathering in front of the main entry.  Yesterday morning, the Academy lost their long-time head of maintenance, Giovanni Cimoroni.  He lived at the Academy in 5B and had worked for the Academy for 52 years.  He died suddenly from a stroke.  Today was his memorial service.  Very sad for the AAR community.

This afternoon I did a bit of work in my studio.  We have been enjoying the sights and sounds of Rome that I have drifted away from any immediate inspiration for work.  Now the urge is growing and I think we will both be spending more time here over the next week.  It is just so hard when the weather is nice. 

Our Studio

Entrance Loggia

ordinary terra cotta planter in the lawn......do they have these at Russell's?

Tonight there was a nice early evening event.......an "Open Studio" at Eleanor and Jeff's studio right at the front entry gate.  It was a very nice show combining her work on hand-painted and cut images of ox(en).  It was quite intriguing and the individual pieces were quite intricate and beautiful.  His project involved a reinterpretation of Louis Kahn (architect) drawings from travels to Greece and Italy in 1951.  The work was interesting, but not quite as alluring as the Ox wall!

Eleanor showing us how she made the ox pieces

The Studio space with the Ox on the wall in an organized pyramid representing the food chain

getting into more details

outside it was a beautiful evening........inside the art was nice and the prosecco was cold!

We had dinner right after the open house.  It was 'family night' and the fellows with children were all invited (Saturday night tradition).  It was a nice meal served in buffet style......so more than enough to eat.  After a nice dinner and lots of wine, we decided to go for a walk (dinner was early - 7:00 - to accommodate the kids).  We ended up at Bar Gianculum for a limoncello......getting to be a habit!