A perfect day for laundry, mid fifties and overcast, bringing to an end of a nice streak of sunny and 60's but still better than the alternative of 0 and snow.
Quick trip downhill into town to buy laundry detergent and scout out veggies. Way too much sausage, cheese, bread and wine in my diet, if you catch my drift. Found some great tomatoes at the open air market as well as a good head of fresh lettuce, so I'll be supplementing tonight!!
So on to the challenge of doing laundry in Italia. First of all what a cute little washer. It holds 1 t-shirt, 2 pairs of socks and maybe, maybe a pair of shorts. I may be erring on the side of "I don't want to bust the thing", but it really is tiny. Imagine me standing up and looking down at the poor little thing and you get an idea of how tall it stands. Here's the visual reality.
No kidding, it's like maybe 3 feet tall two feet wide and a foot deep. Smaller than even my mom's one tub washer with wringer that I tried to stick my hand through when I was 5 or 6. MOM!!!! I was convince that she saved me from ending up about two inches thick.
Laundry everyday here folks. And wait for it, no dryers. We're back to the fifties when everyone had a clothes line for that real fresh air smell to your clothes. But since clothes lines are at a premium here due also to space considerations. We have this little doozy.
Laundry everyday here folks. And wait for it, no dryers. We're back to the fifties when everyone had a clothes line for that real fresh air smell to your clothes. But since clothes lines are at a premium here due also to space considerations. We have this little doozy.
So armed with my newly purchase "General" (name trademarked and registered) laundry detergent that promises to make my laundry "Brillante & Fresco" and following Mama Buttafuocos instructions to a "tee", I'm off....
err not so fast.
err not so fast.
Let's see. Selected wash, push button, ignition.. Nope. Once more...Nope...Water on, check. Plugged in, check....Ignition.
Non funziona (I've got that phrase down dude!)
Non funziona (I've got that phrase down dude!)
Off to the big house to get Mama. Luckily Papa Buttafuoco has the magic touch. A wrench here. A swift kick there (kidding) Blow in the hose (not kidding). And we're off and running. An italian mystery for sure.
One hour and 20 minutes later, the washer is coming in for a landing. Really, it sounds just like a jet revving up for final approach. Not the "whisper jet quiet" we're used to. I'll never complain about my Kenmores noise again. And 1:20 to do a load? I'd expect it to dry and fold in that time.
Oh, well. They are clean. (I hope)
A point of clarification I feel I need to make. My lovely landlords, Mama and Papa Buttafuoco are 52 and 59 respectively. Both younger than me, but taking all the creative license that I can, I think Mama and Papa fit them to a tee. I'll have pics of them, but not till I get ready to leave. I want you imagining them. It's so much more fun that way.
So for those of you who've Skyped with me, you can close out for the day, it's tour time for those who haven't seen the house. I'll be using the same tried and trusted jokes that I've made to all of you.
My "villa" is a small, two room house that measures oh, 25 X 40. It's one bedroom with ensuite bath and a main kitchen/dining/living room. Not quite what I had in mind, but I'm not faulting Cristian here. No false advertising, it is what his site describes. I'd say it's comparable to a Embassy Suites room, with a much better view.
Starting in the kitchen. 4 burner stove, sink, plug-in oven and the typical small European frig. (it's hidden under the counter.
On to the "living" area. A fold out couch that isn't that comfortable and has seen better days. Fireplace in the corner and a chair that the family loaned me from their own living room after I collapsed a small plastic chair. (hey, it was before I went on this Mediterranean diet and it was a SMALL chair). There just weren't any comfortable chairs, the table has 4 but very stiff, so I brought one in from outside. It didn't wrok.
Dining area, I've rearranged some since I don't use the table all that much.
The bed room. Double bed that is very firm. No box springs or maybe it's no mattress, I'll have to check when I change the sheets tomorrow.
Dresser and angelic mirror. I don't think I know anyone who would have this in their house, but I also don't know many Italians.Sorry, you really can't see the angels, but trust me they are there. Close ups some other time.
Shower, it's tiny. The opening is probably two inches smaller than my waistline. Deep breath then slide in. Good height on the spray, which is unusual in Europe.
Bathroom. Vanity (that's me, don't I look slimmer??)
And this one of the shared picnic area.
And there you have it.My Villa.
Self-pitying and Stress Relieving Note: This has been a long difficult blog today. Lost 3 different drafts, pics wouldn't load. It was a lot like work and that sucks big time. (DAMN GOOGLE!) Anyway, thanks for your continued support. Donate to my paypal account if you feel like it. All proceeds go either to wine or bribery of public officials if needed. Grazie!!
Tomorrow I'll get you some shots of the park down by the port that disappeared from my camera as well as the one of the staircases one must climb to get back up to town. Yet another cliff hanging ending.
Ciao for now. Enjoy your day. Wish you all were here to share.
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