It’s a typical Le Marche July day and it is going to be hot and sunny. Still lying in bed, the first thing we hear is the clatter of Luciano’s tractor going down the track near the villa. He’ll be off to work in the fields below us.
The boys are already up and in their swimming togs. They are watching a film while waiting for us to get up. As soon as they see us we’re literally dragged off to the pool. Marie and I feign horror as they push us in, but the pool is so refreshing. As we play I know this is my favourite part of the day. Already the sun is high and the air still and warm. Between the shouts of laughter and splashing, all we can hear is Luciano at work down in the valley and bird song.
The bread maker is set to be ready about now. So we all head to the shelter of the sun-sail and enjoy hot bread, marmalade and coffee, while taking in the tranquil view across the pool towards the valleys.
iPod and book time now. Everybody is lazing around the pool – even the boys are worn out for a while. Zak is playing Mario Kart on his DS while Charlie is watching an episode of Top Gear on his iPod. Now this is a holiday! Late morning we can hear Luciano coming back up the valley. As he reaches the top of the track he parks and wanders over. While he doesn’t speak a word of English and my Italian is basic, we can easily spend half an hour chatting about the valley, the crops and the lack of rain. He is one of those people who you just get on with – language really isn’t a barrier. He’s brought some home grown tomatoes (amazing flavour) and home made sausages (his pigs) with him this morning. He gratefully accepts a glass of wine and we watch the boys (now back in the pool) practice their diving.
Around midday we take the car in to San Ginesio which is a 5 minute drive. Passing through the medieval walls we park in one of the small restored piazzas. We visit Gianni the butcher for porchetta (Italian roast pork with fennel) and then across the road to visit Romina and Alessandra (Luciano’s daughters) who own the mini supermarket in town.
Laden with wine, cheese and porchetta we take a seat in the main piazza outside Terra Nostra (they serve fabulous home made pasta and pizzas). Monica and Giovanni always make us feel incredibly welcome here and we order cold drinks for the boys and ‘due cappuccini’ for Marie and I. We sit here for a while - waving at people we know and chatting with other visitors to this magical part of the world. The boys wander off to the playground and while they use up some of their energy we have another cappuccino and maybe a sticky bun. Actually, since it’s my perfect day - two sticky buns. (Diets aren’t allowed on perfect days).
As we head back to the car we bump into our friend Peter who runs the Shambala Retreat near us. We take the opportunity to make an appointment for a massage tomorrow. They are a 10 minute drive from us and an essential part of our holiday.
Lunch is a simple affair back down by the pool either under the sun-sail, the loggia or the pergola. It depends on what view you want! This afternoon we might head off to Lake Fiastra, about 40 minutes away in the mountains. It’s a stunning place to spend an hour or so walking and the boys are begging me to take them out on the lake in a canoe (which you can rent). We’ll see.
The evening is predictable. Ice creams in San Ginesio and more people watching – and being summer there is bound to be a festival of some sort happening. Then a barbecue back at the villa. We’ll invite some friends over. Gin and tonics will be the first course. Then Luciano and Graziella will come over with several bottles of home made wine and we will all finish up on the deck, counting shooting stars and satellites as the crickets and fireflies put on a show for us. Buona notte.
