Orta

Where to spend a long summer weekend for a change? 

I decided to visit Orta lake 

( North West of Italy, less than a couple of hours by car from where I live )

I had never been there...

...and so I booked a room

In the lovely city of Orta ( of course! )

Then I had to choose what to wear there.

( difficult task when you don't want to carry a heavy  luggage! )

Mistaking the outfit  means feeling uncomfortable for the whole staying 

and having no alternative.

The most important part of the luggage (for a lady) regards the shoes...

Because the wrong choice can ruin the journey! 

At home I had  thought that a pair of platform sandals would have gone OK: not too high, very soft leather, 

nice with my long, cream-coloured skirt ( Liviana Conti  )

The place was charming!

( stay tuned if you want to know about my sandals...)

The choice

In a hot afternoon at home I enriched a pair of earrings I had, adding a small bell.

Now I can wear them either with or without it. 

Big choice! 

:-)

With this puzzle in mind, I was enjoying the ( very ) quiet living  in Airole, the village where my second home is.

 Even if when I am there I miss my beloved city of Turin, love wasting time and leave my mind go free

( please note my end-of-the-season purchase : the knitted skirt has a peculiar net print )

 In the village, the time goes by slowly and big news are not frequent, but this year  there is something different.

look at my back: you can see a cafe', don't you? 

It's in the main square of the village:  there I have a  nice view over the church, 

there is fresh wind coming from the halley and the owner is a very friendly person. 

Always ready to give a helping hand.

So far so good...

But in the same  ( tiny ) square they recently opened a second cafe': nice view over the fountain,  more comfortable chairs, very friendly owner here too.

You know, in a very small place all  commercial activities need to be supported 

Hence...

...Morning coffee here, afternoon cappuccino there,

luckily both cafes have a wifi connection!

P.s.

To be honest I have to precise that neither here nor there it works properly  !!!

( OK...I am on holidays )

My coffa bag

 I probably have already told you about my Sicilian origins.

As a consequence, sooner or later it had to happen that I desired a coffa.

I chose my favourite one on the Internet and very quickly got it at home! 

Do you know what a coffa is? 

Well, in origin it  was a natural fiber bag hand-knitted and made from palm leaves

In past times they used coffa bags on the traditional Sicilian cart to carry hay for the mule  

( offspring of a donkey and a horse )

 

Nowadays it is a luxury item richly decorated and embroidered .

One of the most famous brands is Tizzini, which makes gorgeous masterpieces 

with great care of every single detail ( and extraordinarily high prices!  )

 

Also duo Dolce & Gabbana paid  tribute to   Sicilian origins with a set of beautiful straw coffa bags

My coffa is made by an artisan of Catania and is covered with blue velvet both inside and out.

The artisan sewed three Caltagirone ceramics on the front part.

The bigger one reproduces the face of a Saracen man. 

( the Saracen pirates sacked  Sicilian cities )

Isn't it a beauty??? And it perfectly matches to the village where I spend my sunny afternoon...

No photos of me today, but I can tell you that I am feeling  a real ... Sicilian lady!!

:-)