On the brighter side

Today, after visiting our icebox apartment, we trudged through the slush to the Antica Tra
ttoria del Duomo, a few blocks from our place and, as its name indicates, near the town's ancient cathedral.

Our lunch there was a potent reminder of one reason we're here.

We had their wonderful vegetable soup, enriched with olive oil, little scraps of handmade pasta, and grated Parmesan--real Parmesan, ovviamente.

Danny took this picture. I was too busy eating.

We also devoured a plate of local salumi served with peppers in vinegar and cloudlike puffs of fried bread.















It was heavenly. Or as they say in Italy, Qui si sta da Papa. Which more or less means: here you live like the pope.