Back from Italy. Lots to share.

My intentions were good, but I posted not one photo, not one story, not one anything while Harry and I traversed Italy.  We had a grand time, loved the people, loved the landscape, saw incredible ruins at Ostia Antica, and ate our way across the regions of Umbria, Abruzzo and Lazo.  Sometimes, though, we went hungry.   Not possible in Italy, you say!  Yes, it is -- a story I'll tell you later.

Actually, I have lots of stories to regale you with.  It will take awhile to unfold them all, and they will be slightly patched together, definitely not in order of occurrence.

Today, I start with the people. 

...the people who made our journey so very special.  We went to Italy for the people, but we had no idea how many would touch our lives.  We encountered the kindness of countless strangers and two now-even-dearer American friends, in part because the trip was not without incident -- but those tales come later.

Harry with Christine and Mark, Santa Feans living part-time in Italy.  They came to our rescue the first time!

Viviana and me.  Owner of Hotel Europa in Rieti with a lively, sweet personality, she was my rescue angel #2.  (More later.)

Meet Giada - what a sweetheart!  Owner of B&B Il Viaggiatore in Popoli.  Gracious, smart, and a real live-wire, Giada "made" our visit to Popoli.

Found someone online with family from Popoli!

In early July this year, googling Popoli for seasonal temperatures, on page 1, I found a "travelogue" written by an American whose grandparents emigrated from Italy.  Not unusual - except it showed up on the weather page because his grandmother was from Popoli!  I couldn't believe what I was reading.  It only got better when I clicked to his blog and he was talking about his trip to Popoli and searching for his grandmother's home.

Well, fortunately, when I reached out to him, he supplied me with many great tips for my upcoming trip.  Plus, he shared things he was unable to do while he was there that he thought would be valuable in my search.  Go to the Comune di Popoli (equivalent to our municipal hall of records) for the addresses where Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop were born.  Try to find a 1900's map because street names have changed.  Visit the cemetery to search for my great grandparents or possibly other family members, etc.

This chance online meeting energized me even further and greatly enriched my experience.  I accomplished all three of his major suggestions (which you'll read about as I pull my story together) and, now that I'm back, I'm doing the best I can to enrich his knowledge of Popoli as well.  Thank you so very much, Armando.