Down in the Valley

This is where the mountain road meets the main road and where the mountain stream crosses under the bridge and flows into the river on the other side of the main road.

Just the other side of the hawthorn tree there is a fountain where people come to fill their bottles with mineral water. We used to do it until I was able to translate a sign posted nearby. It said: "Caution, water may contain biological matter." :-)

In July everybody gathers here for a festa where there is free wine, bread, peccorino, prosciutto and many tortas, all provided by the local winery and merchants. This is an echo of the old days when estate owners threw a big party for the workers once each year.

Entertainment varies from a wonderful local band, which sounds for all the world like something out of "The Godfather" to young girls twirling about on a make shift stage or fashion shows of vintage clothes -- almost entirely wedding dresses.

Passed this olive grove on the way to the supermarket. Wild flowers are blooming along the roadsides but do not show up too well in this photo.