THE PALIO!!

Ronciglione has many events but the Palio is one of the most important.  This riderless horse race has been in existence for more than 450 years.  There are 5 neighborhoods represented and thus the colors on the horses and clothes of the people.  Saturday is the a practice round to select the best horses to run on Sunday.  Saturday night is a parade of the respective neighborhoods followed by much celebration. We had a great time with the friends we have made here.

It’s quite a process to set up this event with days of placing hay bales and fencing along with covering the street in dirt all to protect the horses and people.  There are sound speakers set up and an interesting selection of music is played during the day such as - Freak Out, Macho Macho Man, and Sinatra’s Ney York.  Italy is certainly an interesting place.

 

Ronciglione part deux

 So …. This is what happened yesterday:  The day before, Lisa met the tourism director in an adjacent table at our local bar which led to the conversation if we could do a TV interview about why we are here.  We agreed and met.

During the meeting preceding the interview we got to know a lot of the local people and the mayor came to greet us.  Later that day we did interviews about what we liked about Ronciglione (Lisa much better than I). Great fun and with our lovely friends. Drinks followed and it’s being suggested that Lisa help with the local library and exposition space and I with the Italian Red Cross.  How does this happen??

It is so unbelievable here - Mayberry with better food and wine.  😀

Bellisimo

Ronciglione

 We are here in this lovely town about an hour north of Rome.  We are in love with this place.  Lisa worked with friends who have retired here and Livia is from here.  Everyone knows everyone.  We make at least 10 new friends a day.  It’s a big family.  I went to the doctor to get refill on meds - no charge, went to an attorney to see about buying property - no charge.  The butcher comes out to te street to greet us as we walk by.  Lisa is so charming that the local news channel person overheard our love of the city while having a beer at “our” bar she’s been invited to do a TV interview next week.  Not surprising as all the Italians love her attempt to speak the language. Tonight at the community dinner we were given free pulled pork and pasta.  The only problem is a 5 minute walk somewhere will take at least 45 minutes as you have to stop and chat with people.  I think we can do this ,,,

Lisa and I love Italy but ……

 Every Italian driver believes they are a F-1 capable driver.  Even the most kind grandmother who will kiss you on the cheek and make you pasta becomes Lucifer when given a set of car keys. She’ll tailgate you even though there are two lanes and then dive in front of your car when passing. The episode today was at a toll booth.  I approached the wrong lane and needed the credit card lane for payment.  I put the turn signal on and tried to ease into the adjacent lane.  Being in the wrong lane causes a huge back up and all sorts of Italian curse words. I was easing in to the appropriate lane when grandma/lucifer was having nothing of it and forced me and the line behind me to wait so she could save 15 seconds. I usually don’t flip off elderly women but this might have been an exception.

I’m googling Italian curse words ….