NEW TOUR!
Rural Life Revisited: A Tribute to the Past, to the People
This new tour is targeted at providing participants with an "inside" look at rural life of the past, as still lived by so very few. Our tour starts in the bellissima Assisi countryside at our farmhouse - now being restored by my husband Pino, fine artisan - in order to learn about the restoration of the rural architecture, now strictly preserved and considered part of Italy's artistic heritage. I will tell you about the restoration of the house, while also explaining the former structure and how we lived, worked the land around us.
We will then visit farm families who live near us, those people who taught Pino and I everything about farming - and life - when we moved here in the 1970's and set out to work the land, with few resources but molto determination. Today, few farmers still work the land, using the methods used 40 years ago - a rarity. What a privilege, therefore, for us to visit the homes of a couple of our neighbors, catching them in the midst of farm chores, chatting with them about past farm life "quando c'era la miseria" ( loosely - but aptly - translated as "when we were poor"...) - and enjoying a taste of their wine. Our tour will wind up with a buonissimo farm lunch (or dinner - if our tour takes place in the afternoon) in the home of some of our dearest farm neighbors (and still today, some of our best friends).
This tour is for those who wish to:
• take in the beauty of the landscape
• interact with local rural people in their own ambience
• learn about past lifestyles from our farm neighbors, told with deep insight and profound wisdom
• enjoy a superb meal of la cucina genuina (the best in home-cooking)
• ...and have a completely out-of-the-ordinary and unforgettable "tour experience"!
Recommended "pre-tour" reading on this site:
"Memoirs of Rural Life" and the Zsa Zsa Story.
Comments
"We were part of the inauguration tour Rural Life Revisited. It was a great view into a fast-disappearing way of life. The farm people are friendly, humorous and earthy. Conversation with them was a treat. The food at lunch was delicious, and it was such a treat to eat a meal of all foods grown on th e farm. But remind signora to keep your portions small unless you intend to work in the field after lunch."
Peter Roth, Palo Alto, CA
"Yesterday I had the magnificent opportunity to see, taste, and meet the people of Umbria and have come to know why it is so splendid during a personally guided tour of local farms and their owners. It is actually rare to know an experience is an event of a lifetime, but yesterday was!! I know I can only thank Anne for this Umbrian adventure. I became a part of this community - the people, their way of being and living."
Karen Boose, Boise, ID
"The most impressive part of the tour was meeting the rural people, hearing their stories, seeing their faces and their stories written there. They all - men and women - worked long hard days but were content, happy and really spent quality time with their families and neighbors. Hard work yet happiness etched deeply in the faces of the farm families. A slice of life that is dying and not to be missed!!"
Joanne and Mike Kaeske, Park City, UT
"Thank you so much for all of the wonderful tours and classes and for letting us get a close up view into everyday life in Italy. That is a gift that we could never have seen on our own. The farm friends of yours that we met simpply made our trip much more special than simply going on yet another 'walking tour'. We loved all the shared meals, wine and conversations... oh that cooking lesson!"
Joan King, NC
© Annesitaly - Anne Robichaud