Wrapped in the warm bubble of families and friends we have had a good year. We have been free of any serious illness, we have eaten well and drunk many glasses of good Italian wine, we have enjoyed time spent with our many visitors, and have been able to travel more freely than in recent years.
Looking outside the bubble we see many things that make us sad, angry and anxious. Notably Putin’s aggression in the Ukraine; bringing war once again to the boundaries of the EU and with it hardship, misery, fear, and the wanton destruction of life, livelihoods and property. His justification? That developments in democracy, capitalism, and the liberalisation of society in the Ukraine pose an existential threat to Mother Russia, its culture and society. A threat he must therefore eliminate. An evil man who could easily extend the same criticism to most countries in Western Europe and North America. The response of the west comes at a high cost economically and socially. It is deeply worrying that many countries, notably China, India, Saudi Arabia, and Iran have refrained from criticising him and indeed have acted to make the defence of the Ukraine more difficult and more costly. We watch developments with apprehension and deep sympathy for Ukrainians everywhere.
Köln
Köln is roughly halfway between Brussels and Würzburg. Louise, Mauro and I met up there for 24 hours in early April. It was the first major outing for Mauro since the replacement of his aorta in February. It was good to see him making a strong recovery. We visited the magnificent cathedral, and the nearby Museum Ludwig with its wonderful collection of modern and contemporary art. We went to see the redeveloped harbour area with its Chocolate Museum and three distinctive Kranhäuser (crane houses), reminiscent of the cranes that used to transfer cargo between the quayside and ships.
An 18th Birthday party in Brussels
In late May we flew to Brussels to join in celebrating the 18th birthday of my granddaughter Giulia. It was a very happy occasion for all of us.
Return to Bodensee
We returned to Umbria in my car in time for Easter but late May found us driving north again to have Uschi’s German registered car tested there.
While waiting for a replacement part we visited Bregenz to view progress on the set for this year’s production of Madam Butterfly, and to Friedrichshafen where the Dornier museum celebrates 100 years of engineering innovation and excellence. So much to see and to learn, with this beautiful Dornier Do 24 ATT parked outside…
Autumn in the Po Valley
In the Autumn we spent time in Venice to see some of the treasures of La Serenissima: the Biennale, the Guggenheim, Il Redentore, Il Palazzo Ducale.
The theme of the Biennale was “The Milk of Dreams” the magical world where life is constantly re-envisioned through the prism of the artist’s imagination. A world where everyone can change, be transformed, become something or someone else. The Guggenheim complemented that theme with an inspiring exhibition celebrating the contribution of women to the Surrealist movement.
Being in Venice we had no difficulty finding romantic restaurants and appetising dishes
From Venice we moved on to Padova where we met up with Mauro and his mother, Bruna. We explored many of the delights of that historic city. It also provided us with a base to drive to the foothills of the Alps to view the Villa Barbaro at Maser. It is a beautiful example of Paladio’s mature work. We decided that we could live there very comfortably – providing someone else paid for the upkeep of the villa and its extensive estates!
Up to that time we had not spent any time at the seaside this year so we headed south along the Adriatic coast at Porto Recanati where we spent a few days on the beach recuperating from an excess of culture and food. From there we headed inland to visit the house in Recanati where Giacamo Leopardi lived; a remarkable man and, to me and many, the finest Italian poet of the 19th Century. His “l’Infinito” is one of my long time favourites, and compulsory study by Italia schoolchildren. This is his original draft with the very few revisions he felt were needed on rereading it. (Many less than I have already made to this blog!)
Our final stop on the way home was in the Gola di Frasassi where we climbed the long, steep path up to the L’eremo di Santa Maria Infra Saxa dating from 1029 and the Tempio del Valadier dating from 1828
Italian Citizenship
I arrived home to learn the good news that, after 46 months of anxious waiting, the Minister of the Interior had approved my application for Italian citizenship.
On 21 October, in a very emotional and joyous ceremony, I was sworn in by my good friend, the mayoress of Monte Castello di Vibio, Daniela Brugnossi.
Once again I am a citizen of the EU; having been stripped of that status by politicians who denied me the right to be represented or to vote directly on that matter. Once again I can enjoy the benefits that all other citizens of the EU enjoy.
A New Apartment and a new Garden
My home in MCdV is fine for a bachelor but has significant shortcomings as a home for two of us: principally a lack of space, no ground level toilet, and a garden that doubled as a car park. This year we have tackled all those issues.
We solved the first two by taking over the rent of the adjacent apartment, 3B, when it became available. So Uschi now has her own front door, a living room/kitchen, a shower room, and a bedroom that, in the near term at least, will be her studio
I created a scale plan of the existing garden and, working together, we adapted it to create new parking areas largely out of sight from the apartments, and to reconfigure the car park into an attractive garden. which would include a terrace outside Uschi’s front door surrounded by shrubs and plants; somewhere we could sit with friends and enjoy lunch and an evening aperitif in the summer
We retained a well regarded local company to do the detailed design and construction of the garden. in mid-October they began work. The weather was kind and they worked fast. So, by the time we left on 8 November, they had completed all work including seeding the new lawn.
Wintering in Bavaria
After harvesting Uschi’s olives we returned to Bavaria with a car loaded with freshly pressed olive oil. An opportunity for Uschi to renew long held friendships and spend time with her family.
Würzburg has a rich cultural lifeand we have already attended a concert by the Würzburgs Philharmoniker with the exciting solo violinist Nancy Zhou here performing the Carmen Fantasy by Franz Waxman.
We close with our very best wishes to all who have read this far.
And with our encouragement to those Ukrainians sitting in the dark and cold with no water or electricity and little food. We fervently hope for a just resolution of the conflict, and with it a return to peace in Europe.
"Christmas is a coming..." 