Traditionally speaking this is the end of the Italian Vacation

Normally the last week of August signals the “re-entry” of thousands and thousands of Italians.

Re-entry translates into coming back home, going back to work and soon, back to school. Some, like myself, made the move a little early…but many will be piling up their cars – packing their luggage and heading towards a sweltering hot house which has been closed up for 2 to 3 weeks, everything covered in dust bunnies and spiderwebs and ! Traffic will slow down, exit ramps from the major highway will back up (sometimes even 20 km of cars lined up!!) and people will start trickling into the cities and towns.

When I first arrived in Italy, I was struck by the concept that everything has it’s “time” and with the passing of the years have truly come to appreciate, and actually look forward to, the way things fall into seasons. Sometimes with the dawn of technology we lose track of enjoying the feel and taste of each moment as it happens. Everyone in Italy just seems to know melon and proscuitto / tomato and mozzerrella are for the summer or leather jackets and boots are for the fall. Maybe coming from Miami, where there were no season (well of course there are seasons, but they are MUCH less noticable) makes me even more keen to this flow.

So now begins the season of vino novello, porcini mushrooms, figs and speck and changing your wardrobe to include earthy Tuscan colors, Italian leather (of course it’s Italian leather … we are in Italy) and wool sweaters. With the searing temps we’ve been experiencing lately I believe the wool sweaters will be on “stand-by” but the everything else is on its way.

This weekend I will be watching the first game of the season (soccer season will officially begin on Saturday) with a group of friends . . . looking forward to the upcoming delights like the first fresh pears of the season, the perfume of people canning their tomatoes and the dream of chestnuts, polenta and the first wine of the season…..