This tiny coffee bar, just steps from the villa was my refuge all week in Montisi. My daily schedule was to be up by 6AM, put away any remaining dishes that had dried overnight, make coffee for the guests (several pots each morning, but no espresso available), start whatever food prep wad necessary for later, or bake a treat for breakfast, then head to the coffee bar when it opened at 7 with Brad for our breakfast. Some mornings it was just coffee for me, other days we had a cornetto with creme or marmalade. My first day there, I asked for a doppio in a HUGE glass, then filled with steamed milk (the equivalent of a venti latte). This treat was 2 Euro, with Brad's cafe Americano costing 80 cents (the locals price). Tourists paid one euro.
After three of these the first day, (morning, mid-day and late night), they automatically reached for the big glass as I entered. They even let me take their glass back to the villa, or bring a villa glass to them for a "to go" cup.
While others at the villa were fueled by vino, my coffee breaks are what kept me going. I also took an hour's nap 4 days during the week. Evenings, my usual bedtime was somewhere after midnight, and I loved evening with the locals at the coffee bar.
Gianluca and the ladies were delightful, and really kept my mental health in check.
I packed 300 packets of Sweet and Low in zip locks. I returned with ten. Two packets per cup...do the math! I drank a bit of coffee!
Comments (6)
So glad you are home safely, hopefully rested, and back to sharing your week in Montisi.
Maurizio and I thank you again, along with Gail, for a LOVELY evening. I blogged about it, posting a few photos of all four of us together - take a look.
Huge hugs to you and Brad.
Mary
Posted by Mary Tacconi | June 3, 2008 1:03 PM
Posted on June 3, 2008 13:03
Palma, Welcome Home! So great to see you posting again. Can't wait to read all about it! I'm sure the impression you all made on Montisi is indelible.
Posted by Barb Cabot | June 3, 2008 3:59 PM
Posted on June 3, 2008 15:59
Welcome home! What a wonderful post. How cool that you became friends with the people at the bar and they charged you local prices. I did the math on the sweet and low... wow!
Posted by Chiocciola | June 3, 2008 8:10 PM
Posted on June 3, 2008 20:10
Welcome home. So glad you had such a lovely time. I love all the caffè photos! Looking forward to reading more about your time in Montisi.
Posted by girasoli | June 3, 2008 10:37 PM
Posted on June 3, 2008 22:37
Thank you Palma-I've been living vicariously through you! Welcome home...
Posted by janie | June 4, 2008 7:51 AM
Posted on June 4, 2008 07:51
I'm drooling, Palma -- dying for a real Italian coffee. I don't know if I can wait until September!
Welcome home!
Posted by sandrac | June 4, 2008 7:00 PM
Posted on June 4, 2008 19:00