Margo and Bill
Thursday night, at the weekly concert in Sassolini’s beautiful secluded garden, Margo stopped me to tell me how much she enjoyed reading this blog. As we chatted I realized I have been remiss in not introducing Margo and her husband Bill! “I have to add you both. Let me take your picture!”
And so, I’m happy to introduce Bill and Margo Bell. From the west coast with a home now in Charleston, SC, they are expat Americans who live in a warm and inviting, newly restored old stone farmhouse in the midst of an olive grove on the “old road to Greve” about a mile outside Panzano.
Paula, from a Capana, along with others I met in Panzano kept telling me for weeks after I first moved here, “You have to meet Margo and Bill, the other Americans who live here.” Since they were traveling when I arrived, it was a few weeks before our paths crossed at an International Friends meet up.
Now we see each other often, over capucchino in the piazza, at the Sunday market or like on Thursday, at a concert of other event in Panzano. And of course at International Friends get togethers, like the apertivo they hosted on Mother’s Day in the grove alongside their Pickle Ball court!
Margo and Bill are friendly, engaging and just plain fun to be with. They are quick to share a tip about life here or where to get the best tacos or sushi in Tuscany- yes really! Bill, who has dual citizenship is also a fellow Italian student of Lorella’s and embraces all aspects of Tuscan life, even chilly, crowd-free winters while Margo keeps one foot in Charleston.
They are known and well liked by everyone. But even people who’ve never had the good fortune to have met them know of them. Why? Well, because who else might you know with a pickle ball court nestled in the midst of their olive grove? Just so happens, Bill’s dad (also Bill Bell) was one of the inventors of the sport, supposedly concocted as a way to keep bored kids occupied.
Panzano’s most well known couple- Bill and Margo Bell :)
Margo and Bill sharing dinner at Sassolini’s Vinaria with one of their many friends - Monica, a fellow expat American who’s been in Italy for many years.