isauramatani and I managed not to miss any of the connecting trains and made it here right on time. There was a big family reunion at a pizza place, there have also been some outings to the beach (just to walk along it, not to swim -too early in the year), to some caves near Gran Sasso and to a beautiful 120 inhabitant village that has survived perhaps nine centuries and many wars to end up, apparently, bought by an Englishman. There are worse fates, the place is beautiful and well kept if a little touristy. There will be pictures of some of these things.Lots of blue sky and sunshine, beautiful views, family that look genuinely pleased to see us (and in some cases, to meet us for the first time). I should do something about my Italian -I understand everything (except when they speak in the impenetrable local dialect) and can make myself understood but still murder grammar and syntax every time I open my mouth, which is not so good for someone who is the holder of an Italian passport and has, by the looks of it, hundreds of relatives in this part of the world.
Only one thing. Maybe I should have brought a guitar, given that we came by train. A week without playing at all, more without practising and I feel my fingers slowly freezing...
