The most special day…

I always like to share the most special day (trip really) I had with the kid…we decided to go during Fall Break a few years ago to visit, move into, update, get to know, etc. the new flat we had purchased.

First…I stared at the pictures I had taken of what is now Casa Carideo and begin my master plan…then I called Sarita(best agent ever) to organize a few items to be done before we arrived. I found some pictures of shelves in one of Frances Mayes books I wanted for the kitchen area, some crazy yellow paint for that area as well and paint in the downstairs bedroom, along with moving some beds around. Nothing major but time consuming that we simply did not have the time for…

Then I searched for new linens, table wear, dishes, towels, decorations to ship to the flat to be there when we arrived.

I also wanted to have a little fun in a more relaxed non-touristy way that was different and interesting for both me and the kid. So I searched the net till I found a tour guide who had pictures of kids doing fun things like zip lining, feeding little pigs, making pasta, etc. After emailing this guide, now our friend Heather Jarmin (www.sapori-e-saperi.com) I learned she lived only a mile form our new flat! WHAT??? Wow-I took that as a sign and booked her for a glorious day of…olive picking…why not…sounded very Italian!

After we spent several days cleaning our flat upon arrival (after we were locked out, found a scorpion, bleached and re bleached musty ick, suffered from chemical poison and sunburn…) we joined Heather on what I thought was one of the most special days!

Heather took us to a wonderful 5th generation olive grove in the village of Pieve di Compito-outside of Lucca-where we met the master of the house and he walked us through his lovely estate. Every fruit tree available , herbs to die for, tons of lavender (used for the massage oils) and rows upon rows of olive trees. His “barn” was more like a school room where he allows local children to come and learn this craft of olive oil/olive picking/olive growing. We strapped on our waist baskets, spread our the net to catch any strays and picked and picked and picked-the kid climbed like a monkey up the trees and was relentless in not leaving one olive! The master said she was a wonderful picker and the kid agreed she would return and work for food..ha-already a budding negotiator. We learned that the nets must be placed just right and do all you can not to drop the olive as it loses acidity when it touches the ground. We learned every olive estate owner knows when it is time to pick the olives-it must be a perfect combination of purple and green. We learned NEVER taste an olive off the tree-YUCK!

We then filled the trays with olives into the barn and set out to a lovely lunch made by the estate owner’s wife. Sooo amazingly fresh-cheeses, meats, pasta, bread and of course his own oil. He also had a lovely room where he sold his oils-which we purchased! The atmosphere was enchanting, weather was perfect (late October), hospitality overwhelming-they also run a B and B there or you can order oil-the name of the estate’s website is www.allecamelia.it Funny, we returned to this lovely village THIS year for the flower festival!

We then set off to visit where our olives would be pressed and made into the yummy green fresh olive oil which I had become so addictive to.

We then headed back towards our village where we went for a tour of a chestnut drying hut, picked chestnuts along our hike and even feed pink belted pigs! We ended that week with a glorious soup Heather made for us that left the kid begging for more-which I have tried but it will never be as good as that first time.

It was such a fun day full of fresh Italian food and education. We have since used Heather MANY times doing crazy things-I highly recommend her…she is a foody and has carved her niche in the Lucca area. She will allow one day outs or plan a full week-she also has four tours pre-planned a year so check out her site and tell I sent you!!

Heather from Sapori Tours with Estate owner.