Granny here,
Chapter 5
Daisy thought she needed one more tour of the villa before buying anything so she would be sure to purchase the right pieces. She called the realtor and ask if she could possibly take her through again so that she might get a better idea of the arrangement of the house and the sizes of the rooms. Angelina said she would be glad t pick Daisy up that afternoon and take her for a second look. It was a good thing she did because Daisy had it all wrong, she had looked at so many that she had gotten this mixed up with that, this house with that apartment, so on and so on.
The living room of the villa was much larger than Daisy remembered and would be great for entertaining. She also discovered she would need outdoor furniture for the veranda; she would be doing a lot of outdoor living with a view like that. If she bought all that she needed, her bank account was going to take a beating. But it was the beginning of her new life, she had worked and saved for this day and now it was here, why not enjoy it, so Daisy decided to enjoy her , a world filled with surprises, discoveries, and best of all, love.
For some reason Daisy felt a familiarity about the villa, she had no idea why, had she read about it somewhere? Had someone told her about it? It was almost as if she had been there before but she knew that wasn't possible. All evening she tried to think where she had heard about a villa such as the one she had rented. Maybe it would come back to her later, but it would drive her crazy until she figured it out. Maybe it was just her imagination playing tricks on her, maybe she was dreaming again, whatever it was she had to push it out of her mind, right now she had more important things to think about.
Saturday came and Leslie picked up Daisy for their furniture shopping excursion, they had breakfast in the hotel dining room and then they were off. Dais was so excited, she had saved a long time for this dream and now it was coming true. After twenty one years it was about time to bring her dreams to fruition. Leslie interrupted Daisy's thoughts, "What style of furniture do you like, Daisy?" "Well, let's see, something comfortable for the living room, or the kitchen , a dinette that compliments the style of the house and for my bedroom maybe some shabby chic." "I know just the place, Aunt Maria shops there all the time, they have a great selection of fine furnishings and I'm sure you will find what you need."
Leslie was right, Daisy had no problem finding things that she loved, she bought enough to do the entire villa and she was sure it was going to look like a page in Good Housekeeping. Her things would be delivered Wednesday and that would give her a few days to so some cleaning and get ready to move in.
"Leslie, do you think you have time to help me do some cleaning to get the villa ready for the move?" Asked Daisy as they drove back to the hotel. "Sure, I'll pick you up Monday morning, said Leslie, but right now let's get something to eat, I'm starved." Leslie pulled into a quaint little place that looked to be hundreds of years old, it seemed to Daisy that everything in Calabria was made of stone and she wasn't far off. She loved it and enjoyed all the history surrounding the area and had plans of investigating as much as she could in the future. The girls enjoyed their lunch and decorated the villa over and over again as they sipped that one glass of wine they allowed themselves before returning to the hotel.
Daisy found Leslie at her door early Monday morning, hey had lots to do and needed to get an early start. Daisy was well prepared with all the cleaning products she would need, dusting cloths, a dust mop would be essential for all the stone floors that gave the villa that old look that Daisy loved. She had even prepared a picnic lunch for them to enjoy, they could sit on a blanket on the veranda overlooking the valley and the mountains which would take your breath away. daisy was overjoyed to think this would be her home for a s long as she chose to live there. Was she a lucky girl or what?
The mountains of the region were high and statuesque; they were lined with row upon row of small villa all with brightly painted roofs. The streets were rough cobblestone, narrow and winding, leading through the mountains into adventures of hiking, skiing or just sightseeing, there was history everywhere Daisy looked. The people were busy going to and fro, the traffic almost made one dizzy as it wound its way throughout Calabria. The Aspromonte and La Sila with its national parks and lakes were the tourist attractions of the area. The sea was clear, the coastline had sandy beaches but also rugged shores beaten by the sea until each rock along the banks had a personality all its own, each one different from the other. Each one with a story to tell of ancient days gone by, of lovers who said goodbye while walking along their shores where they had gathered and the sea washed upon them day after day year after year.
The harbors were filled with boats of every size and description; they lined the shores that stretched along the city. The harbor was vital to the people; it was a means of support for the fishermen, the means of pleasure for the tourist and also brought in revenue for the city. There were small fishing boats, large fishing vessels, there were enormous cruise liners coming in from various countries, and there were cargo ships bringing supplies to enhance the lives of the people and the city. They made a lovely sight out in the harbor, most of them were white and looked like giant marshmallows floating on the sea of blue, it was a delightful scene, always changing throughout the day as the boats sailed in and out of the harbor.
Calabria had something for everyone; there were several regions each one known for their particular points of interest. Reggio was on the strait between the mainland and Sicily, t was the largest and oldest city in Calabria. It was known for its scenic, historic walking tours, its panoramic seaside and botanical gardens between the art nouveau buildings and the beautiful beaches. Its three thousand years of history with the old Aragonian Castle and Museo Nazionale Della Magna Grecia was the location of the famous Riace bronzes.
Tropea, located on the Tyrrhenian Sea, a historic beachside town wa one of the most popular and with its absolutely gorgeous beaches drew many sun worshipers. During the summer months the area is filled with vacationers and local families enjoying the beaches that line the sea shores. It also was the home of the Santa Maria dell'Isola Santuary. It is also famous for its sweet red onions which are mainly produced in Ricadi.
Chinalea di Scilla, a fishing village with its harbor overflowing with boats, a large number of them was made locally by the shipbuilders that lived in the area. On any given day the fishermen can be seen along the shoreline mending their nets, repairing and painting their boats, these and other landmarks and points of interest make it one of the most visited areas of Calabria.
Capo Vaticano Ricadi is the last strip of land before the Strait of Messina, with its white rocks and battered shores; it has a wide strand of beaches and is located near Tropea. Many food dishes here include the famous red onions that are known to be grown in this area.
Centro Storico Cosena, seat of the Cosentian Academy is renowned for its cultural institutions, the center of architectural buildings with historical significance, the beautiful old quarter, a Romanesque Cathedral and a Hohenstaufen Castle. There was also Gerace, near Locri, a beautiful medieval city with a Norman Castle and ancient cathedral, there was Squillace, a seaside resort with important archeological sites, and Stilo, the sight of Thommaso Campanella, Norman Castle and the beautiful Byzantine church, the Cattolica.
The list could go on and on with Pizzo, Paola, Catanzaro, Soverato, Nicotera, and Samo, a village at the foot of the Aspromonte, well known for spring water and ruins of the old village destroyed in the earthquake of nineteen hundred and eight.
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