One Year Later, The Same Question (When May I Go To Italy Again?)

And one year later, the same answer: who knows?

Last year at this time Italy was a few weeks ahead of the US in the pandemic and had the highest death rate from Covid-19 in the world.

This year they are behind the US in vaccine distribution and currently back in lockdown due to surging cases. Once again.

Currently our area of Tuscia is in the Red Zone.

There is not as much singing from the balconies this year.

Now there is weariness, fortitude, disappointment, hope, dashed plans, creative pivots, anger, empathy, fear, courage, the absence of love, and the embracement of love.

A great big steaming pot of mixed up stuff. Akin to Ribollita. (It’s difficult not to come up with food related metaphors  when you’re talking about Italy.) Ribollita is a bread and vegetable soup with many variations. It literally means ‘re-boiled’ ~ taking a leftover soup, adding, re-boiling.

It seems a fitting soup for the times. It is Italian, so of course, it is delicious. If you are stuck at home still, and want to make yet another pot of soup, you can find the recipe here.

As you chop, slice, and stir in the ingredients of the Ribollita, we hope you can add the italicized words from above into the pot. It is something we can do for now. 

Forza e coraggio che la vita è un passaggio!

~

Strength & courage because life is a ride!

When it is safe to do so, we will all be able to enjoy Italy anew. In the meantime, Live for Life!

With Love,
The IVW Team