Last Saturday night in Montieri there was a party. I’m still not exactly sure what we were celebrating—no signs, no fliers—but there was a DJ spinning beats in the street, people dancing! To top it someone even handed out slices of cake! It felt like we had stumbled into a spontaneous block party, and it was impossible not to smile while watching the locals chat, dance, and laugh together.
The best part? The people. A few locals approached our little group, striking up conversation as if we were old friends. That’s just Monterri for you—warm, welcoming, and full of stories.
It turns out Montieri was once a booming mining town, but when the mines shut down, the town emptied out. For years it was nearly abandoned, but slowly, people have been returning, and new businesses are popping up. It’s inspiring to see the revival of such a tight-knit and resilient community.
One of those businesses is a charming little pizzeria—owned, funny enough, by the parents of one of our chefs. Small town vibes, right? Their pizzas are incredible, and on some weekends we take pizza orders from our guests and go pick them up. This past weekend, that job was mine.
Ten boxes. One backseat. And a very serious instruction to secure the Pizzas. So I did what any responsible pizza courier would do—I buckled those babies in. Safety first. 😄
This year marked my second 4th of July outside the U.S., which feels surreal. Instead of fireworks and BBQ, I found myself in Siena, Italy, eating Chinese food—and honestly, it was such a refreshing change.
If you’ve traveled through smaller towns in Europe, you know it can be tricky to find decent international cuisine. While the U.S. is known for its wide array of food options, many European towns stick to their local specialties. So stumbling upon a pretty good Chinese spot after a seven-hour bus ride felt like finding buried treasure.
That bus ride, was to Croatia. I had to deliver some documents in hopes of being approved for temporary EU residence. The journey didn’t go quite as planned—I didn’t get what I came for—but the experience wasn’t a loss. If anything, it gave me a deeper appreciation for the hoops people jump through to live or stay in another country. It’s not easy, and this week especially has been eye-opening.
Still, the silver lining was spending time with friends in Croatia, taking a breath, and swimming in the sea this time the Adriatic.
Until next time.
With love,
Holly
Letters From The Olive Grove 