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A sad day for Sonia - it is a year since her mum passed away so we stayed in the village. We headed up to the town centre to the florist Pina for some flowers for the crypt and the florist shop was quite lovely. I bought a potted olive tree to give Zio as a small thank you for making me so welcome. It might be like bringing coal to Newcastle as he has an olive grove but I thought he might enjoy having a baby tree. It is a double tree and covered in olives and looks healthy.
We then went to the cemetery and arranged the flowers in a couple of vases, a sad task for Sonia. Mili and I roamed around the crypts and graves looking at all the photos and wondering about the people. There is comfort in the fact that the dead here are so honoured and loved after they pass, flowers are brought often and visiting is a common thing. There is a day of the dead later in the year and the cemetery is given a total clean up and all the families visit and celebrate at the cemetery. I like the concept.
We headed back to the villetta and had some lunch and a siesta and then headed to the beautiful church for a mass for Sonia's mum. It is a common occurrence to do this on the anniversary of a death. It was very moving and the ladies of the village sit and go through their rosary out loud before the mass, we sat and listened. During the mass Don Antonello spoke and sang quite beautifully, joined by the ladies of the village, communion was offered and the ladies all filed up to receive the sacrament. My first Catholic Church service and I think fitting that it was in Italian. It was a nice experience. After the mass I lit a candle for my loved ones who have passed and we then walked through the village to the old family home.
It is a beautiful old massive house right in the centre of the old village and is 600 years old, the walls are very thick and is is in good condition. We opened shutters and enjoyed the views down across the village to the mountains beyond. Sonia's mum had many happy memories of visits and holidays in the family home and Sonia has stayed there when her paternal grandparents were living there. It is a beautiful old house with amazing rooms and balconies with views over the village and to the mountains beyond. We finished the day with a drink at Pierinos bar then home for some spaghetti marinara for dinner
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