7/13/44 Somewhere in Italy!
Hi Toots:
The “Chateaux” sounds good. I know the place well. The Beattys (friends of John & Blen) used to live there. Sounds like a good deal—close enough to the folks for convenience but not close enough to get tired of them.
On a recent trip I went through Rome at night. I spent the evening with the president of the Italian Democratic Party. He was educated at Princeton, and has an excellent understanding of the Italian situation. I hope he will be able to sell the people on his rather solid policies.
It is a beautiful city, having wide streets, lined with flowering trees. The pink bud is an example. I saw the coliseum ruins by moonlight, being guided by a Yale arts major who lived in Rome for 4 years.
The next stop left us in the gorgeous home of a family who manufactures pasta (spaghetti, macaroni, etc.) I spent a couple of hours in the factory. Toots, when I get home I’m going to make my own. It is much better fresh.
A little later I found myself stranded near Sorrento. The local high school kids adopted me on the beach and later in their homes. I have never seen such gardens or views. The blue piece is part of it. We had them all in for dinner one night, and I ended up doing all the cooking and made good old Stafford punch for them, although I had to substitute white vermouth for ginger ale. They were quite amazed at an American Major being in a kitchen.
These people are very understanding. The kids made me spend an hour talking of you. They all wished me a speedy return to you, and then a trip back to Italy with you.
The next night we had a most amazing dinner. We started with punch as above and white wine with meals. Then we had spaghetti, followed by salmon covered with olive oil. Boiled cuttlefish or “squid” (Ponape) served with lemon juice was next. The fish course following was like lake bass, cooked with hunks of fresh tomato around it the whole works grilled. The next course was more squid cooked in olive oil with tomato sauce. Salad was made of tomatoes, cucumbers, and French dressing. We couldn’t eat the watermelon for dessert.
It’s time for dinner angel. Although it is hard to visualize living as we used to know life, it only serves to make each memory more dear.
Love , toots, Cy.
Keep me posted on little T.P.’s hand.