The grass is greener

 

Three years ago, I wrote of a serendipitous meeting with three young people - all three architects or designers who had driven by, seen the trullo works we were doing and asked to come and have a look. Their enthusiasm and warmth about what we were trying to do here (despite the mounting, terrifying legal problems) was palpable and a book, Architecture without Architects, which Matteo told me about later not only gave me further courage and strength in the years that followed but was added to my PhD bibliography.

Here they are the night we met by accident (and we didn't even have paving)

We didn't know it then but Matteo and his partner, Stefania, Alberto and Sofia would end up spending alot of Covid in Puglia working from the divine ancient trullo that was built by Matteo's grandfather some 200 years ago. Its secrets and joys I wrote about here - oh, how I loved re-reading this today!

http://trullimadlydeeply.blogspot.com/2020/08/serendipity-strikes-again.html

So, why am I returning to this? Because three years and one pandemic later, we got together again - but this time there was a delightful addition: Alberto and Sofia have had Luce, one of the most delightful, funny, clever and engaging toddlers I've ever met. Her mother, a brilliant brand and marketing designer/strategist, has spoken to her in Italian and English since she was born and Luce has taken to 'chatting' with english inflections and hilarious attention to some words. On Tuesday night, it was 'a beer' on repeat. Here she is with her mama.

And here she is with Stefania, her 'auntie' - who is one of the most elegant and easy hostesses I've ever met.

I had to share some photos of this get-together here, at Trullo Stella Mare, because it was spontaneous and a joy - the contingent along with cousins we'd not yet met were returning in convoy to the Veneto where they live and work the following day so we caught them on the fly the night before. I just wish I had taken some photos of the incredible conversion Alberto has done of a Fiat white van into a camper, utilitarian with extraordinary use of small spaces and yet beautifully designed and tasteful, with everything you need to follow the winds and bask in nature (they're passionate kite surfers as well).

 This trullo has delivered so many great people and they always seem to turn up at the right time, reminders that things are just things but people and friends make the world sing. 

The truth is that our return to the trullo fter a summer of renting the place is never much fun: if you love a place, it's natural to respect it and want other people to do so too. Sadly, that isn't always the case...anyway, this lot turned the corners of my mouth from down that day to UP!

Viva le amicizie trullesche! Seriously, this trullo has magnetic properties - for lovely people!