Starting to feel excited

Lungolago in Lugano

For our Friday date night this week, we rather randomly watched a light romcom movie that was set in Rome.

The movie itself was nothing exceptional, but…! Not only was it in Italy, much of the dialogue was spoken in Italian (real Italian) with subtitles.

It’s amazing how homesick I feel for Europe in general and Lugano in particular, especially not having been there in almost four years.

Lugano

Adding to my growing the anticipation is the fact that we’ll be visiting Cinque Terre, for my first time!

Cinque Terre

Capturing a memory

I’ve been on a bit of a decluttering kick lately, but not in a major, turn-everything-inside-out kind of way. This packet of sugar is an excellent example.

It’s from a one week trip to Europe we made back in 2008 (I believe), when Swami Kriyananda had a book launch at the Teatro Valle in Rome.

We stayed at the Hotel San Valentino, along with pianist Todd (who flew over with us from California), and Italian cellist, Dhruva.

We went first to Assisi for some rehearsals, then drove to Rome with Bhaktan and Mantrini, and their little baby Sabina.

One of the funny things I remember is that on the day we arrived the hotel clerk complimented Ramesha on his Italian. Of course, Ramesha told him Italian was his mother tongue, but the guy wasn’t a very good listener because all week he continued to comment on it. It didn’t matter how many times Ramesha explained!

Well, I’ve been hanging onto this sugar packet because it brings back such lovely memories. But, seriously! I’m never going to use the sugar. Odds are the packet would eventually break and make a sugary mess in the kitchen drawer.

So, I decided to take a photo and feature it in this blog post. Memory captured, and now I can chuck the sugar!

Hotel San Valentino, Roma