Galeazza - Day 2 - Garden Party - Concert
Trip Start
Apr 30, 2012
1
14
30
Trip End
May 29, 2012
Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Sunday, May 13, 2012
When we returned from our wonderful dinner with Aunt Polly and Uncle David we found the castle alive with people and jazz music. Some young musicians had come to play a concert that began at 10PM and probably 30-40 people were enjoying the garden and the warm night. The jazz players were in the main foyer with the doors open to the garden and Carl and Ella were in the kitchen making pizza for everyone. The music went till 12:30AM and the party lasted till 1:30AM.
Garden Party
You might think a late night of Jazz would be the big weekend event at the castle. In fact it was a prelude to a daylong garden party this Sunday. A British woman named Julia has lived in this area for quite some time. This weekend she is celebrating a big birthday and she invited friends and family from all over for a big garden party. 80 were expected and lots of food and drink were planned.
The events of today started really early this morning at 4AM. That's when our unusually hot weather turned to violent thunderstorm and frigid temperatures. Everyone went to sleep with all of the windows open and suddenly every window was banging and Clark went from room to room to button them up. With the late night and the early morning storm, the castle woke up especially late. By 10AM you would hardly think that 80 people would be over by 12:30PM for a party. We all slowly got breakfast, drank coffee, and took showers one by one.
By 1PM the castle had shifted gear and we were once again in party mode. Because of the rain and cold, the barn or stables had been set up for the party. Luckily the rain stopped by 1PM and people could enjoy the whole garden. The party was a lovely event. People ate and drank and visited over the course of 4 hours. Toasts were made and the local Italians mingled with all of the people who flew in from England. The castle tower was open and we all made the trip for the beautiful view.
Aunt Polly and Uncle David joined us since Hsing-ay would play her concert at 5PM in the foyer. Occasionally we would sneak up to our room to play scrabble and visit quietly. Kaela on the other hand seemed to be at the center of the party. Earlier she instantly made friends with the ladies who were setting up the tables and she helped decorate the tables. Then she began greeting guests and helping them around. When the kids arrived, she got them organized and showed them were the swings, goats, roosters, and pool were. She was busy every single second and perhaps enjoyed the party more than anyone else. She is really in heaven at this castle.
At some point Aunt Polly, Uncle David, Hsing-ay, and myself found a quiet place to eat our lunch. One of the horse stalls had been fitted with comfy chairs and a coffee table. It was a perfect nook to visit and eat. It was also a first that we would enjoy a lunch in a horse stall.
Concert
At 5:30 or 6PM the remaining guests gathered to hear Hsing-ay’s concert. A piano had been rented and set up in the foyer. People sat on cushions on the stairs and a portable heater was used to make the space comfortable. Hsing-ay prepared an eclectic program of short lyrical pieces. She gave introductions in English and Clark translated to Italian. It was a lovely 45-minute concert that was greatly appreciated by all and capped off the birthday celebration. It’s honestly a bit surreal that we would come from so far away to present a concert in the Italian countryside at a charming castle for a lovely birthday party of Italians and Britts. From our entire month in Italy, this will surely be one of our favorite memories.
Comments
Looks like you guys are having a great time! Sounds like the concert was a pretty neat experience. Look forward to hearing more about it all soon!
Lindsey
What a wonderful experience your days at the castle have been. How are we ever going to get Kaela back down to earth!? Perhaps we'll put some goats in your back yard to welcome her home .I can see that the Cockburns have thoroughly enjoyed themselves - I wish we had been there, too.