After classes, a thunderstorm began to threaten a leisurely pre-dinner piazza gathering so Chuck and I headed off (code word for "willing to get lost with a general idea of an end destination and a great sense of humor") to Solomeo to visit the Brunello Cucinelli factory and the village after their Sagra Festival. It was a ghost-town. I understand that Italians don't like rain, but Solomeo had been teaming with activity just a few days before. However the vision of this 21st Century Renaissance Man is breathtaking. He has created an industry, restored a village and given the people of the region an entirely new recognition of their place in history, honor to their labor and a place for cultural enlightenment. He is a true visionary.The shopgirls (size 3, long waisted, delightful, sophistacted, wordly) were happy to show us a 340 euro ($420) sleeveless cotton t-shirt. The craftsmanship and quality is beyond description and his philosophy is tangible, ancient and generous. We discovered that their cotton is actually stretchy fabric so they cling to every moveable body part (so I am NOT a potential customer). The cashmere is like nothing I have ever felt - except Joe Biden's jacket. Do you suppose he shops in this little reconstructed medieval village?
Bless you, Lauren, for suggesting the blog format to Tina. I have been sitting at the computer for absolute days both exhilarated by and slogging through the bench butt and blurred vision aspects of working on my own book project. To say nothing of the periodic brain freezes. So I am finally catching up with these blog entries and have just gobbled them up like the proverbial box of chocolates. Imagine fluted paper cups mindlessly tossed on the floor as I remain glued to the images and refreshed by the words. Tina, I can hear your voice in every way. And that is a beautiful thing. Thank you for doing this for all of us. I'm so glad you'll also have it here in print to later remind yourself that this all actually did happen. And you were there. Come home to get your own book in print. It's irresistible stuff. And as for your command of the Italian language...Don and I only speak gelatinese. Salute!
ReplyDeleteBecause the Corciano Festival is starting, L'Art de Gelato (our gelateria in the piazza) is ordering special gelati: hot pepper and dark chocolate, pink grapefruit, fruits or the forest and many made from local wines. I can hardly wait!
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