4 October 2013

Friday, 4 October 2013

 

We had a great breakfast, during which confirmation for our hotel in Athens was hand delivered to our table. 

Josie has been so very attentive – bringing us extra coffee (that is a true luxury in Europe, we have found!), telling us how and where to park in the village, how to use the lift while there and many more little details that were a terrific help. 

We set out again for the village.  I took careful notes and diagrams on the way so as not to get lost returning. 

We experienced one of our “it’s a small world, after all” happenings during our visit that day.  Somehow we struck up a conversation with a gentleman sitting and people watching, his name was Ray.  Ray was from Alabama.  So, I naturally asked if by any chance he’d heard of SIFAT.  SIFAT, Servants in Faith and Technology see here is where my dear friends for about 60 years, Elvis and Betty North have spent many years doing God’s work.  And of course, Ray knew SIFAT well and it turned out his daughter – who we met – had taught there some years ago.  We had a great chat and Ray intended to follow up with his friends back in Alabama on the unlikely meeting that happened in Italy!

 

Larry and I enjoyed luncheon on the court, toured the Duomo and walked what seemed forever, still snapping pictures in every direction!

  

Toward the end of the day, we made the decision to have dinner back at the B & B, so we called to confirm and then stopped at a COOP for incidentals – toothpaste, mouthwash, bottled water and bananas.  While in line, we met and had quite a conversation with a couple from Australia.  The parking in the store’s lot was a bit scary!  First it was the extremely different way in and out.  Then it was the “First hour free.  After that a toll.”  We survived, got back to the villa and enjoyed a good, tho’ rich meal.  We met Jennifer and Emanuel from Stuttgart GY during dinner.  Jennifer had once worked as a Nanny in Philadelphia.  Nice young couple.

I took a short walk down to the vineyards to take a few snaps of the luscious grapes.

 

 And took this shot from our window.

 

That night we had wild thunder, lightening and torrents of rain throughout the night.  I didn’t get much sleep.