Il Melo Blog

After yesterday’s sun, today is gray and drizzly. Still we have Easter lunch to look forward to: a great multi course meal that is a tradition we have observed since our first visit to the Marche. But first Mass: held in the main church in the piazza of Monte San Martino. We arrive a few minutes late and it’s standing room only. The music here is sensational (see an earlier blog for a link to samples of their work on Myspace). Mercifully the priest keeps his homily quite short – the children find it tedious given they don’t understand what is being said. Afterwards we get a text from Chris’s parents in Spain telling us their mass was two hours.

Then it’s straight up into the mountains at Montemonaco for lunch at the Cittadella dei Sibillini a beautiful agriturismo with stunning views. We came here last year to see the pergolas which were made by Giorgio who did ours as well as all the rustic gates and fencing but this is the first time we have eaten here. We’ve heard it’s the finest agri in the southern Marche and we can well believe it. Fine food, super location, stunning modern art and a lively atmosphere. And Silvio is a great host.

We have friends from home coming and have left them a key to let themselves in. It’s good to see them and, although we blame them for bringing English weather with them, they make up for it by bringing the English papers and Green and Black’s mini eggs too.