While we had planned the outing to the Med to coincide with Kathy's departure (so they could see the beach, and we'd be close to the airport), we had the added bonus that Olivia's friend and classmate, Federica was there with her family, as well as another classmate, Vittoria and her family. Federica's family has a house just across from the beach club, and they invited all of us for lunch. The girls went ahead and I waited on the beach for Josh to return (with Avery) from Fiumicino.
When Josh returned, we walked over and were treated to a very nice, Italian lunch ie. multiple courses. We really like both of these couples and so enjoyed the conversation as well as the food. Meanwhile, the kids were having a ball in this house made for kids. There was a ping-pong table, a trampoline, a tetherball, a hammock, and a swimming pool! Avery played with all the 3rd grade girls, while Charlotte befriended Federica's sister, Flaminia, who is fourteen. Later, Avery would say "I love this whole house!" and that was before the four kinds of gelato were served.
It really couldn't have been any better. Especially since later, when I went to retrieve our belongings from the beach, I discovered that while we had been sheltered at Federica's house, there was a sand storm at the beach. It was gusty and the beach had emptied out. By the time we left to drive home at 6 o'clock, everyone was super tired, and the kids were a bit cranky (remember Charlotte came home late last night). As we were leaving Fregene, we stopped at fruit and vegetable stand -- I felt like I was in the beautiful countryside of the Hamptons.
Upon arriving in Rome, I made a quick dinner of pasta, we cleaned everyone up, and put the kids to bed. Then, tired as we were, Josh and I went to The Tree Bar -- a place in the next-door neighborhood that we'd been meaning to check out. It had cooled off and it wasn't as crowded as we'd seen it. But, we spent a pleasant hour having a cocktail.
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