L-O-S-T

Monday, May 30
Today will be a traveling day.  We need to get from Gravedona on Lake Como to Greve area in Chianti.  It is supposed to be about a 4 3/4 hour drive.  We start off with a nice breakfast, say good-bye to the beautiful lake, and then say a misty good-bye to Giana.  We're on the road!

good-bye Lake Como

And it's raining...of course!  The rain has followed us most of this trip.  I brought one long sleeve shirt and have worn it at least half of the days.  I'm learning that I really can travel lightly...because I just keep wearing the same few things over and over while all my summer attire stays wrinkled in my suitcase.

We plan to stop in Parma for lunch...home of the prosciutto de Parma, Parma ham, and Parmesan cheese...not a bad choice!  Nicoletta has recommended a restaurant in this town which we miraculously find!  And the food is delicioso!!

the town of Parma

John and I have their specialty of a chicken roll stuffed with Parmesan cheese and Parma ham. Jacque had pumpkin ravioli.  And Larry had a mixed seafood sauté.  We all loved our lunches...so much so that we had to have dessert.  We had to!  We had the most velvety panna cotta with three sauces...chocolate, caramel, and strawberry.  We left there quite happy...and stuffed!

 our delightful lunch break in Parma at La Forchetta

silky panna cotta with three sauces...to die for!

dessert after dessert?  if you insist!

We find a little shop that sells the white wine that Nicoletta had introduced us to...so we stop to do a little shopping in this delightful store with prosciutto hanging everywhere.

yep!  we're in Parma!

We continue with our drive but when we get near our destination, we realize we are lost.  We drive one way, turn around, try another.  Our GPS seems confused.  I've actually given Jacque the wrong address.  We finally call Jamal, the owner of the farmhouse we're trying to get to. He says we're doing fine and should find it in about 20 minutes.  Although he speaks English well, it is difficult to understand him on speaker phone with an accent.  But we pursue.  About an hour later, I call him again.  "Oh now, you are five to seven minutes away," and gives us directions.  About 40 minutes later we are still driving in circles in this small town.
We see a diner and hope that some kind Italian soul with help us out.  The waitress, while rolling about on roller skates says, "Oh, Poggio did Gaville.  Yes.  Hmmm...it is difficult."  This is not a good sign.
But she gives us the best directions she can and off we go.  Her directions were actually great.  But I had no idea that this agriturismo is so far away from civilization.  We drive on so many winding roads that my stomach starts to churn.

our charming agriturismo

Poggio di Gaville

a treasure...if you can find it!

Jamal is so relieved to see us arrive.  He was about to get in his car and search for us.  He has held dinner up for us.  It is a great dinner.  My stomach is so upset...from the stress of not finding our way and the many, many, many turns along the way...that I can't eat.  I think Jamal is offended.  I feel so bad but I head to bed. Tomorrow is another day!