A Rainy Day in Panzano - Part 1

What do you do when it rains and you don’t want to dodge the deluge and splash through puddles? You wait until there’s a break in the rain and it slows to a drizzle then you step out to mingle with the locals. At least that’s what I decided was my plan for today.

First, the post office where for E 2,45 I mailed a letter to my grandchildren. On the back of the envelope I discretly noted the date. I’m curious how long it will take to get to Lafayette Hill. Gooogle says one to five weeks! Stay tuned on that.

La Curva, my favorite bar was closed- its Monday (lunedi) so I crossed the street to bar Pasticcieria Siena. The barrista smiled and said, “Un cappuchino?”. “Si, signora, grazie”. I was tickled that she remembered me and my typical order. The bar was filled with locals and Americans, half were there for capuchino (at 10AM it’s still morning and legit for a capuchino) and the rest were downing their morning caffe- dark espresso with or without sugar (zucchero).

“Come si chiama?” I asked the barrista, careful to use the formal form. I figured if she recognized me and knew my order it was time for introductions. “Sara”.

“Piacere, Sara, mi chiamo Jill.”

“Jill” she repeated, “Jill,” rolling it around on her tongue like a new flavor. “Piacere, Jill”

Sara, the barrista at Bar Pasticceria Siena