at home these bottles held water
here the water has been transformed
into wine
and the many possible ways of procuring the "table wine" is amazing and astounding
the first little place 'Marghetta's'...we walk to in Crespano del Grappa
the same little town we walk to for Sunday Mass
you bring your own bottle...
it needn't be a wine bottle or even glass...
empty water bottles work
just fine!
the larger place 'Baggio' is more of a wholesale to the public type place...
Sam's for alcohol?!?!
it carries beer and wine from all over the world
and also has these vats of locally produced wines
you ask to sample a few types
and then have your bottles filled
or if you are buying a larger quantity
you can use one of their fiasco
bottles with woven wicker baskets around them, like Chianti
(these ones were not woven but plastic)
and...
for their "grappa"...an after dinner 'digestive'
with about an 80 or 90 proof...(40-45% alcohol)
it gets its name GRAPPA because it was "invented" in this region
many of the towns here end with 'del Grappa'
Paderno del Grappa ..., Caspano del Grappa..., Bassono del Grappa...,
meaning 'of Mount Grappa'
traditional made from the grape pumace... left overs... from the wine process
there are now grappas flavored with just about every flavor under the sun
blueberry, raspberry, basil, mint, walnut, dandelion, citron, juniper, almond, licorice, honey...
my personal favorite is the coffee (like kahlua)
they even have an after dinner drink of espresso with grappa added to it
called "Caffè Corretto" (corrected coffee)
frank's favorite is...lemon...
like a limoncello
although limoncello is not a grappa and is usually only produced in the south of Italy
the grappa is offered at the counter as you pay leaving a restaurant
it doesn't matter if it is a pizzaria or a 4 star
you are just about to leave the premises and get in your car to drive home
and you are offered a shot of grappa...
and the owner's are quite offended if you do not partake in their particular offering?!?!
but
what amazes me the most in this land that flows with alcohol..........
is that at Mass we do not partake of the cup?!?!?
only the priest consumes the Precious Blood
it is amazing to me as well that at Mass
receiving Eucharist is not something most of the congregation does?!?!
we have found the churches to be very full
but so few people receive the Blessed Sacrament?!?!?
I am not sure of the reason for this...
you would think that in the land where the Pope lives
the congregations would be very well catechized?!?
oh, maybe that's it...
maybe they know something I don't know
and would not want to receive unworthily...
But perhaps the most wonderful thing I am experiencing
happens in the warm little chapel during daily mass
with the brothers De La Salle
....the silence after Communion...
these men somehow combine evening prayer...Vespers... with the Mass?!!?
rushing through the entire celebration...
beginning one thing before the last is done...no pauses...no sign of peace...
the quickest Italian I have ever heard spoken...prayed?!?
It's actually quite comical to watch because the priest has to be 90 years old
and all the brothers are in their 80's
but they rush....
it's very funny to observe?!?!
but
after Communion...they pause
with the longest most reverent silence that I have ever experienced at Mass
there is so much luxurious time of silence...
...time with Jesus...
that I am always in full tears by the time the priest says...
"Preghiamo..."
let us pray...
and so we do...pray...just a little more....before we go...in peace...
here the water has been transformed
into wine
and the many possible ways of procuring the "table wine" is amazing and astounding
the first little place 'Marghetta's'...we walk to in Crespano del Grappa
the same little town we walk to for Sunday Mass
you bring your own bottle...
it needn't be a wine bottle or even glass...
empty water bottles work
 |
| spiggots...for wine on tap!!! |
Sam's for alcohol?!?!
it carries beer and wine from all over the world
and also has these vats of locally produced wines
you ask to sample a few types
 |
| the box you place your empty wine glasses in....glass... |
and then have your bottles filled
or if you are buying a larger quantity
you can use one of their fiasco
bottles with woven wicker baskets around them, like Chianti
(these ones were not woven but plastic)
we have tried many wines that we have never had before
and have enjoyed them all!!?!?
this region is particularly known for their prosecco
for their "grappa"...an after dinner 'digestive'
with about an 80 or 90 proof...(40-45% alcohol)
it gets its name GRAPPA because it was "invented" in this region
many of the towns here end with 'del Grappa'
Paderno del Grappa ..., Caspano del Grappa..., Bassono del Grappa...,
meaning 'of Mount Grappa'
traditional made from the grape pumace... left overs... from the wine process
there are now grappas flavored with just about every flavor under the sun
blueberry, raspberry, basil, mint, walnut, dandelion, citron, juniper, almond, licorice, honey...
my personal favorite is the coffee (like kahlua)
they even have an after dinner drink of espresso with grappa added to it
called "Caffè Corretto" (corrected coffee)
frank's favorite is...lemon...
like a limoncello
although limoncello is not a grappa and is usually only produced in the south of Italy
the grappa is offered at the counter as you pay leaving a restaurant
it doesn't matter if it is a pizzaria or a 4 star
you are just about to leave the premises and get in your car to drive home
and you are offered a shot of grappa...
and the owner's are quite offended if you do not partake in their particular offering?!?!
but
what amazes me the most in this land that flows with alcohol..........
is that at Mass we do not partake of the cup?!?!?
only the priest consumes the Precious Blood
it is amazing to me as well that at Mass
receiving Eucharist is not something most of the congregation does?!?!
we have found the churches to be very full
but so few people receive the Blessed Sacrament?!?!?
I am not sure of the reason for this...
you would think that in the land where the Pope lives
the congregations would be very well catechized?!?
oh, maybe that's it...
maybe they know something I don't know
and would not want to receive unworthily...
But perhaps the most wonderful thing I am experiencing
happens in the warm little chapel during daily mass
with the brothers De La Salle
....the silence after Communion...
these men somehow combine evening prayer...Vespers... with the Mass?!!?
rushing through the entire celebration...
beginning one thing before the last is done...no pauses...no sign of peace...
the quickest Italian I have ever heard spoken...prayed?!?
It's actually quite comical to watch because the priest has to be 90 years old
and all the brothers are in their 80's
but they rush....
it's very funny to observe?!?!
but
after Communion...they pause
with the longest most reverent silence that I have ever experienced at Mass
there is so much luxurious time of silence...
...time with Jesus...
that I am always in full tears by the time the priest says...
"Preghiamo..."
let us pray...
and so we do...pray...just a little more....before we go...in peace...
 |
| this is the main church that the warm little chapel connects to... I will have to get some photos of the beautiful crucifix and painting of Jesus praying that are in the warm chapel |
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