May 29, 2012 Earthquake in Cremona

 Marta and Mario both went to work early today and I slept in. There was some construction noise out in the courtyard of this old palazzo which was reborn into apartments a few years ago. The original family still lives on site in one wing.


I was just waking up at 9 am when I felt that familiar California feeling..the earth was shaking. I knew the movement was not caused by the construction outside. It lasted about 10 seconds, which is a long time when you're counting during a terremoto or earthquake. I checked on my iPhone and saw it had been 5.8 and centered near Modena, south of Cremona and one of the train stops between here and Bologna. There were a dozen or more fatalities in those 10 seconds.

I downloaded these pictures later:

Earthquake damage in a field near Modena

Fissure from the earthquake

Many cheese rolls toppled from their holding locations in Parma

I got ready for the day. On the kitchen counter, I found a place setting, focaccia, biscuits and a sweet note from Marta. I warmed the focaccia and had a glass of milk. I love breakfast here.

Marta planned to be done with work at 10.15 today. Last night she showed me how to lock the front door. The lock is a 5 bolt dead bolt. The key is more similar to an old medieval key than it is to our American house keys. These doors are thick and secure.

The compound electric wooden gates swing open and wide for a car, to allow entry for parking in the courtyard. It operates with a remote control. Cut into the left gate is a small door for pedestrian traffic. One has to crouch down a bit to pass through. From the inside, no key is necessary to get out, but it has a tricky latch that I know know how to operate. So, I knew how to get out and get back in, but since I had slept in, I decided to wait in the house for Marta to come back.

We spent the morning until 1 doing errands. We did them all by walking. I took pictures. We went to the Notary (Notaio) first. In Italy, one can only be a notary if someone in the family has been one. Notaries have a long history in Italy.

I researched the modern notary and found:
" Italian notaries are public officers who play an official role in Italian conveyance."

" It may be more useful to recall that an Italian notary, according to our best traditions, is an artisan of the law and not a cold applier of rules. The notary is, by definition, a professional who is close to families and businesses, an artisan of the law who works with words the way a potter works his clay, creating suitable legal solutions for avoiding future argument and bitterness. Because this is the true task of the notary: to prepare solutions that at the same time satisfy the law and the intentions of the parties, thus discouraging any future litigation."

Notariato in Italy

I remember Leonardo da Vinci's father was a wealthy Notary. It is still a profession which has prestige and wealth associated with it.
We also went to the Post Office, which has a similar reputation as the US Post Office. It was organized by an electronic wait ticket system. One enters the ornate Post Office and at a machine, selects a wait ticket based upon the reason for the visit. An electronic board shows the next number and the window to approach. People wait on benches, watching for their number. We waited our turn for about 30 minutes. Marta was sending a package to Australia. Cost was 30€.

Next we walked to a therapeutic store. This type of negozio (shop) sells Dr Sholl's, Burkenstock type shoes and specialty undergarments. I bought an adorable pair of shoes, matching ones Marta has. We have similar tastes in shoes, sometimes.

We walked onto the Biologic (Organic) Store, specializing in organic products and foods. I bought Farina di Ceci (chickpea flour) to try to create a wonderful dish Nonno used to prepare in his wood burning ovens at his restaurant. It's called farinata. We had a lively discussion today over lunch. Primo thinks it can be cooked in their pizza maker. Marina shakes her head..no it can't be done. Primo says to Marta, just call me and I'll come over and we'll try. Marina behind his back smiles like we are such dreamers. I love this family!

We made a stop at Marta's doctor's office. As I've seen before, there was a table containing some wire in-baskets and behind, an alphabetical arrangement of envelopes of different sizes. This table is where patients come in to pick up their prescriptions. They stop by and drop off a note telling the doctor what they need..an Rx has run out, etc. then they return and pick it up. They can also fax in their requests. I saw one man come in with a sore throat. I heard the receptionist tell him to go wait in another room so no one in the normal waiting room would be exposed.

We walked onto Coop where Marta bought food for dinner and I ran off to pick up items on my list. Yesterday we drove to SuperCoop and I also shopped. What have I bought? Cookbook by Benedetta Perodi, Noci hazelnut chocolate spread, soup mixes, pasta, dried spices, laundry bags, biscuits, whole grain pasta.

Yesterday at the bookstore I bought four books. I'm trying out two new authors along with two favorites. My Italian reading skills are improving.

Before left Firenze I picked up two music CDs, Best of Laura Pausini and Best of Lucio Dalla.

Marina made Risotto with saffron for lunch today. We had just started to eat at 1.00 when I felt an earthquake. I was the first to feel it. Then the lamp started swinging and the copper pots on the high kitchen shelf were rocking. The quake was not a jolt but a gentle constant shake for a long time. It seemed like maybe a minute or more. No damage in the house, but there was devastation near the epicenter. We saw on TV news that one small village was 70% destroyed. Not all news is known, due to their isolation.

Dinner tonight with Rosa and Mattia was wonderful. We had chicken scaloppini, roasted potatoes with rosemary, steamed rice, salad, tomatoes. For dessert Mattia biked over with a tray of cream puffs, wrapped as they do normally here, in paper and tied with string. We finished eating around 9 and then I setup a new printer Mario was having trouble installing. Mario's sister stopped by to pickup some make-up supplies I had ordered for her. She gave me a bag! Inside were three big chocolate bars and a large gift box of individually wrapped amaretti cookies. She told me she had once seen me post a picture of these cookies on my Facebook page.

The days here in Italy have a different rhythm to them. I love every minute of these trips.