Some months ago I was "googling" the name of my village, looking for history, and came across a website called "Giovani toscani nel mondo" where there was a two year old post from a woman in Argentina whose grandfather was born in Castiglione d'Orcia and so I e-mailed her. She replied within a day or so and it seems that she didn't have much information at the moment but will talk to some relatives. The name she gave for her grandmother is the name of a family who once lived in the very house I bought. This will be great fun to pursue! Can't wait to get at the comune's archives.

These are just some random thoughts that I've dredged up from the last year.

I have to remember to be excited that there are spas galore all around my village. And one very close, free, hot spring pool down by the Orcia river on the edge of Bagno Vignoni. Maybe I can soak under the stars and look up at the Rocca and the castle ruins.

I have to remember that one of the first things I want to talk to the geometra about has to do with taking out a few non-load-bearing walls that divided the huge rooms of the house into small ones.

I see I haven't mentioned that my friend from the organic farm commune (where they have let me play 'farmer' or 'princess' over the last half-dozen years), gave me a lovely antique washstand of ferro battuto (wrought iron) with a mirror, a large ceramic bowl and matching pitcher. My first housewarming gift.

Only twenty-eight more days until the coming trip.

posted by Joanna @ 3/18/2004 05:32:00 AM