On April 31st we were greeted at the Fiumicino Airport, just outside of central Rome and near the beach town Fregene where we were so kindly invite to stay, by our amazing host Ilaria Castillini.
Ilaria created the publishing house, ALBEGGI EDIZIONI which published a 100 TPC Rome Anthology of Italian Poets.
Ilaria is on a mission to publish poets that write “civic poetry.” Another recent publication is ARTICOLO 1
Una Repubblica AFfondata sul lavoro, the 2nd anthology of Rome’s Revolutionary Poets Brigade.
Ilaria brought us to her beautiful house in Fregene where we rested and talked and then we walked down to the beach for awhile.
I think we had our first pizza dinner that night…Michael and Steve went for the Capricciosa, and Capricious it is!
Topped with prosciutto cotto, artichoke hearts, cremini mushrooms, black olives and mild salami. And in this case a egg “splashed” on top. Meaning the egg is just dropped onto the top of the pizza when it comes out of the oven. Totally amazingly delicious…wow.
The next day there was small lunch party planned.
Not only did we get to eat some amazing fava beans, among other things…
..we met a great group of poets and writers from around Rome like…
Alessandra Bava poet and translator. She is currently working on a biography of Jack Hirschman. Alessandra also is part of Rome’s Revolutionary Poets Brigade.
Paola Musa poet, writer, translator and lyricist.
Photo by Steve Rice
….and of course there is DJ, Ilaria and Salvatore’s gigantic and super, super sweet labrador.
We managed to make it through the jet lagged day.
Plans for Rome and some obligatory sightseeing in the morning…
…when in Rome!
The rest of our time in Fregene is a bit of a blur as jet lag really set in, but I know we rested, ate lots of delicious fresh buffalo mozzarella and ricotta and pecorino romano, olives and salami of course, and pastries…and we sat around and talked about poetry and the Justice for Andy Lopez movement and the future and vision of 100 Thousand Poets for Change.
Ilaria took care of us so well!
We would be back in Rome for Ilaria’s event on June 6th, but first…
…we were going to Morocco for a 7 day 5 city tour starting in Agadir.
(Part 3 – Morocco Coming soon!)