Sunday, May 24 – Torino to Bra transfer day

Although the District Conference continued on Sunday, we were not expected to attend as we were transferring to our next home-base that day. We had free time in the morning before we set off. I used a laundromat for the first time (it had been hand washing in sinks and bidets up to that point!). The nearby laundromat was closed on Sunday, so I hiked a ways to a confirmed open one (confirmed by the front desk).

Train tracks coming from the station near our hotel, seen on the walk to the laundromat.

As the walk to the laundry took me most of the way there I continued onto a riverside park and medieval Borge. The medieval Borge is a recreated village and castle, interesting, decorated, and full of gift shops, pigeons, and American tourists (it is really a neat place...you can see more and get closer than you are allowed to in any remaining real places similar to what they were recreating). I strolled leisurely through, then ran into Ruth as I was contemplating eating lunch in a river-side restaurant. She joined me and we had a good time watching a First Communion celebration lunch and a group who gave their best seat to their adorable Dachshund. We split ways for the return to the hotel. I ended up walking back as all the Italians I asked near the bus stops claimed there was no way I could buy a bus ticket on a Sunday (I had time and could use the workout, so I walked rather than wait and ask a bus driver).

Entrance to the Borge.

Inside the tower...the many pidgeons kept flying off right as I'd try to take a picture!

Me by a metal tree fountain.

Ruth at lunch by the river, with the spoiled dog in the background.

We got on the road to our very unknown next resting place. We were told it was a Rotarian’s house in the countryside near Alba rather than in Bra. That is all we knew (including Gianni...although he had the owner’s phone number!). The drive was half the expected time. We were winding up a mountain with spectacular views of vineyard-covered hillsides and quaint houses. When we reached the town at the top we discovered that idyllic little town was where we were staying! We made it to the house and were amazed. Uccio, our host, has an L shaped house – one side the part he lives in, the other a multi-bedroom guest house. The house also includes beautiful furniture in every nook and cranny, art all over the walls, and best of all...drum roll please...a yard with a small pool next to a hedge and rose-covered trellises with a view over the surrounding land...all the way across to Monviso, Italy’s tallest mountain, on a clear day! We could not ask for anything more!

Our new home's yard...with roses, canopies, and an olive tree. (and the pool beyond the canopy!)

Pool with a view!

Rose garden.

View over the vineyards and rooftops from a break in the yard's hedges.

Me unpacking groceries in the kitchen.

The upstairs hallway, all the doors lead to bedrooms.

We swam and relaxed until dinner, which was spaghetti with olives from the tree in his yard. Delicious!

Relaxing by and in the pool.

Dinner! Including pasta with olives from Uccio's tree.

The olive tree.

Jim relaxes in the hammock.