I have company for awhile in the gym when the head (I figure) groundskeeper brings in another and asks if they can do a little something to the rock wall. Sure. The head guy tells the other, in Italian, exactly what to do. What to do involves spraying the crevices that hold the little succulents with a water bottle.

Shaun T and I continue our cardio, and on my own water break, I get a look at the crevices that now hold more plants. It’s really sweet and pretty, and I tell the guy so as he works on another part of the wall. I’m about a half hour in when he finishes, thanks me and goes off the join the rest of the crew on what seems to be their weekly work at the villa.

I work out. They mow the lawn, weed, prune, blow leaves.

Workout done, and it’s Zentangle time. Tend your garden seems an appropriate theme. Kat and I are both puzzled and impressed when a couple of the crew actually weed the grass.

Trip to Como coming up. I’m almost used to the insanity of the drive now. Almost. Both cars head to the same parking lot near Tent City, then eventually all gather on a shady street corner. I have hope—thin, but hope—we can all somehow stay together in this massive, blocks-long area. This proves futile, but we stay in touch through texts.

Clothes, clothes and more clothes hang on racks and lines or lay on tables. Jewelry, sunglasses, underwear, socks, linens, toys, hair and skin products, kitchen tools. Name it, they got it.

Lauren aims for a section of clothes with Logan. Kat spots yarn. I’ve already lost BW and Jason as I stick close to Kayla—my driver. I take Griffin, and wander with my driver, JR and Colt.

Griffin spots sunglasses. He’d like a new pair. Which ones? And I’m delighted he immediately picked the pair I liked best. Our group unanimously agrees he looks way cool.

Wander. Kat finds us. Wander, and there’s BW and Jason. Jason also bought sunglasses as he left his back in the villa. BW picks up some this and that he can use in his photography shoots, Lauren finds a pretty dress and top. Lots and lots of people walking through as we are, shopping, browsing, buying, bargaining in this massive bazaar.

Lunch is next on our agenda, but first we gather up again. The cars need to go to another parking lot as the one we’re in is about a fifteen minute walk to the main plaza. And it’s pretty hot. Jason, JR and I are willing to take that on, so while the rest head to the parking lot, we set out to walk it.

There’s sun, and there’s shade, and this way we get to see parts of the town we really hadn’t. We’re also assigned to find a spot that can take ten for lunch, or meet up with whoever does. Lots of little shops, small cafes along the way. I like the walk, but it’s a good thing I have two navigators as we turn this way, that way. Heading for the water, Jason explains. Well, that makes sense.

We find a place, smallish, but good menu. Still, no go for ten if we want to sit together. On we go. Kat’s group is stuck as there’s a back up in her lot. Kayla’s group escaped that and are on the way.

We find a place where they’re delighted to take ten. A long table almost all in the shade. And somehow we all make it to the same spot where they also offer brunch. This means French toast and scrambled eggs for Kayla. They’re also playing 80s music and doing a bustling business.

We eat, we refresh. Off to the stall right next door. Kayla and Lauren want fridge magnets. BW wants a Como tee-shirt. All wishes are granted, and it’s back to the parking lot.

Home to veg awhile, watch the boats on the lake, take a nap, read, video games—whatever suits.

Lauren suggests a game of Spoons. This is new to me, but JR knows it. Colt and Kat are interested. You get four cards, and the dealer takes another from the deck, keeps and or passes it or passes another from his hand. The another, another, fast, fast, fast. And the first one who gets four of a kind grabs one of the spoons on the table. Others grab, and with five people and four spoons, one’s out. Like musical chairs. Keep going until one remains.

It’s chaos, fun, noisy and competitive. And did I say fast??

Forage for food. There’s plenty here for anyone who’s hungry.

I think of one of the many card games my family played back when. I look up Oh Hell to make sure I have the rules right. Now it’s JR, Lauren, BW and me before Kat joins after Griffin retires for the night. With five, we start with eight cards, and the dealer turns one over from the deck. Playing it simple, that’s the suit everyone must play. Don’t have that suit, you throw another, but can’t take the trick. You look at your cards, say how many tricks you think you’ll take. Hit it, you get that number plus ten. Miss it, you get only the number of tricks. After each hand, another card’s turned over, and that’s the suit you have to play.

Next dealer, only seven cards, and so on until you’re down to one card. Then work your way back up to eight.

There are many oh hells, and other fiercer words through the game, but everyone liked it.

And time for bed.

Cool this morning with a quiet lake. I had to pause in this blog as a bird decided to poop on the cuff of my white hoodie. It took considerable hand soap, cool water, then a Tide stick to deal with it.

It’s our last day in Italy, so it means packing, organizing, getting it all together for our departure in the morning. Two weeks here and ten people mean a lot of getting it all together. We’ll have our last dinner in the hilltop restaurant in Torno.

It’s been absolutely lovely, and as always, so special to have time with family in a beautiful place.

I’ll get my workout now, Zentangle, organize and enjoy our last day and night.

Nora

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