I’m late once again in writing, and I have so much to share—which is a bit tricky as I’m typing this from my phone with my thumbs. I sliced my finger on a wine glass stem (a true hazard of the trade). I wash and dry at least 30 wine glasses a day, and in my time here, I’ve only broken three. Not bad, I’d say!
This past week has been a packed one. We welcomed another intern, so our little group has grown. I’ve essentially become the shuttle driver—running people to work, picking them up, taking grocery store trips, and navigating all the wonderfully windy (and very Italian) roads. It’s been great meeting new people, though. We now have a diverse team: someone from Chile, Argentina, South Africa, two from New Zealand, and Canada. It’s really nice to have friends from all over the world.
Last weekend, I visited a new part of Tuscany. I was invited to a birthday party in Anghiari, which is closer to the east coast. On the way there, we stopped in a charming hilltop town called Cortona. Little did I know at the time, but Under the Tuscan Sun was filmed there! I’ve always loved that movie and often wondered where in Tuscany it was filmed—so it felt serendipitous to just stumble upon it.
After wandering the cobbled streets and enjoying a gelato (of course), we continued to the birthday party. The hosts were a couple originally from the Bay Area who moved to Tuscany over a decade ago. Their stunning home overlooked Anghiari, complete with a pizza oven in the backyard. We spent the evening chatting over homemade pizza and a delicious salad. The night ended with a surprise: a private fireworks show when the cake was brought out. It was absolutely incredible—massive, colorful, and breathtaking. After missing the Fourth of July, it really lifted my spirits.
Then it was back to work—though “work” looks a bit different every day. Most commonly, it involves guest room door issues. I’ve become quite the expert in this area. At least twice a week, something goes wrong with a door, and I’ve gotten pretty handy with tools and fixes. The more you know, right?
The other night, I was asked to help open a guest room door. I assumed it was the usual—lockout, jammed latch, or a dead battery. But the guest showed me a picture on her phone: there was a gecko wedged between the door and the frame. Her friend was inside and didn’t want to open the door in case the little guy slipped in.
So I went down to the room. Sure enough, there he was. I gently opened the door and down he fell—poor thing. Having once owned a pet gecko, I must admit, it was a bit traumatic. I released him into the olive grove, where he may now rest in peace.
And with that, I’ll close this letter—not just with an arrivederci to our brave little gecko friend, but to all of you.
Thanks for reading.
With Love,
Holly
Letters From The Olive Grove 