To Minnesota
May 3rd, 2010
My last stop on my tour for Every Day in Tuscany will be 4 and 5 of May, at two libraries in the Minneapolis area. Tuesday night I’ll be at Washington County Library in Woodbury and Wednesday night at Southdale Library in Edina, both at seven o’ clock.
When I come home on Thursday, I’ll go into departure frenzy: Sunday we leave for summer in Italy. This requires that the garage is in order, closets are winnowed of clothes not worn, and the pantry is cleared of all sad items past their sale date. Then there’s my desk to attack. That’s just the beginning. I sometimes rewrite my will. My daughter makes fun of me, Ed is too busy with his own exit strategy to notice, and by the time I leave, I’d like to be taken to the airport on a stretcher!
Why this zeal overtakes me, I hardly understand. It’s just that Italy still seems so drastically foreign to me, such a break from normal life, that I almost have to tie up everything here perfectly before I can start over there. It seems that my American house will be abandoned. Ah, that’s it, the old fear of abandonment! (My father died when I was fourteen.) And all that ocean between! Travel always seems drastic. But as the plane lowers over the Rome airport and I first see the sheep in the green fields and the toast-colored houses half as old as time, a deep familiarity returns. By the time I pass through customs and emerge into the airport, I’m completely there.
Dear Ms. Mayes — Friday afternoon my poor husband called me at work to let me know the woman next door had come over and threatened him with her cane and screamed at him that she would rather have black people living next door. (She used the vile, “N” word.) The reason for this attack was that he had exchanged pleasantries with men painting the outside of her house. He was rather upset about it, although we had been warned before we moved in that the woman was very bitter and nasty, some saying she wasn’t in her right mind.
That evening I got to the part in your newest book about the grenade. I read it out loud and it so helped him put that day’s disturbance in perspective. We can’t control the bitterness in people, but we can control how we react.
Keep those books coming. Many thanks!
I have always had a love affair with the Italians, since I was a little boy of six years old. No matter where I may be my heart is always in Italy. Mi lanima habito in Italia. It hits me right in the stomach. Six years ago I was in Cortona because of your book and I needed a taxi back to Camucia to catch the last train back to Florence. I was pleasantly stunned when I walked into the little hotel off the little piazza to find an oil painting of Bramsole along with a signed hard copy book by you of “Under the Tuscan Sun”. It was like meeting you when I saw that. It was like myself has been waiting to meet itself .
Just like the winter day I walked thru the Santo Spitito piazza over to Church del Carmine. I walked there as if I was called. Churches here will always have something interesting to find I thought to myself so go and explore. And I walked in and found the Massaccio, Lippi, frescoed chapel. Stunning to find when you let go and follow your heart.
A couple of years later I returned and a real estate agent at Milligan & Milligan told me you had put Bramsole up for sale. This was in ‘04 was that true? I guess not… also the owner from Good Buys used clothing store in San Francisco said she had rented from you some time ago, like in ‘98?
I just re-read In Tuscany again, I enjoyed it so much more the second time around. My initial reading I felt like you were in a rush to finish it, but it was me at that the time that must have had the ADD problem.I realy enjoyed some of your comments as in it rained so hard it put out flames in hell,,,amusing…
I was re-reading “In Tuscany” because I was looking for any mention of the town of Radicofani. I found some property there to potentially buy, so I have been researching the town on the internet. What I have found about Radicofani is minimal and scarce. Is there anything in that town to do?
One day I wish to retire in Italy, but it may be better to rent and travel town to town, rather than purchase. The first time I read you was in the May 2000? “Bon Appetit” cove story dedicated to “TUSCANY”
by the way, the book was way better than the movie…Positano, the Amalfi Coast is beautiful, but that wasn’t what the book was about. Thanks for the beautiful words, thoughts and fotos. I liked Ed’s words in “In Tuscany”
too.
a presto,
Brian Foldenauer
Ciao Brian, Thanks for the note. I don’t really know Radicofani. Would advise renting there first, at least for a month. We chose Cortona for its lively piazza life and its location–so easy to jump on a train here and be in many enchanting spots. Good luck! Frances
Hello Ms. Mayes,
We exchanged emails last spring when I was planning to be in Cortona and I asked you for an interview then (but you were not there at that time.) Now I see that you are going to be in Minneapolis tomorrow evening to talk about your new book – which I have already purchased, read and loved. Is it possible that I could have 20 minutes of your time before or after your speech tomorrow, or sometime during the day?
I am a travel writer and write for Delta Sky Magazine, the Star Trib and a host of other regional publications here. I have read all of your books about Italy, in particular, and would love to do an interview.
Do you have any open moments on your schedule late today or tomorrow?
Please let me know and many thanks. Merle Minda
Merle, very nice to talk to you in Minneapolis! Thanks for getting in touch–Frances
Dear Frances, I just want to say thank you so much for sharing your life with us through your books, especially the time you spend in Italy and your beloved Bramasole. I purchased your latest book the end of March for my birthday and started reading and couldn’t put it down. I have all your books and every one is my “favorite”! I especially love the pictoral “In Tuscany” as well as your recipes here and there and have made the shrimp on rosemary skewers as part of dinner tonight. My husband and I feel that we could go to Cortona and feel right at home knowing it so well by your books. How I envy you leaving Sunday for “home”! Enjoy your summer and all the beauty that awaits you! We’ll be thinking of all the things you’ll be doing as the summer progresses! I hope your basil has been planted as well as the geraniums on the balcony! We lived in Heidelberg for a year and go back to Europe often. The ambience ! How we yearn for it here in the States! It’s so difficult to have it here as everyone is so fast paced, running in high gear all the time. I’m so envious of you to have that piece of heaven to go to here on earth. Bless you and Ed and thanks again for sharing your days with us! Sincerely, Ceal Prizer
Frances,
I will be in San Rafael 5/6-5/9. I would love to see you for 5 minutes. I do not have your phone number. If you email it to Reyhan, she can get it to me.
Mitra
Mitra! Would love to have seen you. I’m in Italy—and I live in North Carolina now. Will send Reyhan my number. Love, Frances
Ms Mayes,
Just a note to say hello. I’m also from Fitzgerald, I live in Atlanta now. I saw your name and that you were from Fitzgerad.
PS I like your books……………
Dear Ms Mayes,
Thank you once again for letting me join you and Ed at the tavolo di famiglia. I truly appreciate your willingness to let us join your journey through life. Best wishes to all and a prayer that your retaining wall remains strong!
kindest regards,
Doug
Thank you for coming to MN! It was so nice to hear your southern accent and listen
to stories about the beauty and delicious food of Italy. I’m glad you appreciate lilacs.
Frances….I’m watching “Under the Tuscan Sun”….again! I was fortunate to have visited Tuscany in April 2009. My neice was just there last week and loved it and can’t wait to go back. I told her that your husband, Ed, is from Winona and went to St. Stans and Cotter…just like me. In fact Bob, Ed’s older brother was in my class from k-garten thru high school graduation.
I have thoroughly enjoyed your books and look forward to the next.
I so envy you your home in Italy.
Thank you for sharing your life there.
Dear Frances, Best Wishes to you and Ed for a safe trip to Cortona. I had hoped to get to see you on your tour, but it was never close enough. We had he privilege of meeting Ed and seeing the olive groves last fall on a visit to Cortona. Your words give such joy, and evoke so many memories of the cobbled streets that will take the rest of my life to explore. I will be reading the new book this week on my favorite beach, Thank you…Ciao, Marcie
Hi Frances… i know i should be commenting on your trip but i have just found your blog and it’s wonderful…. i have also only been able to see the movie of under the tuscan sun… can not wait to get the book… this is one of my all time favorite movies… so touching.. amazing… wonderful… i could go on and on… i can’t wait to read the book to see if it is much different as you know what they do to books in movies as the resent release of clash of the titans shows a complete disregard for the original mythology… good movie… wrong story… anyway… thank you… thank you.. thank you… i get so many messages for life from movies and books…. i to am holding on to the dream of lady bugs… lady bugs… lady bugs…. i believe….. x
Dear Ms. Mayes,
What a beautiful soul you are! I love Italy, the Italian people, and especially the Tuscan countryside. I’m in the process of planning a trip to Tuscany for my 60th birthday, will be there in April 2011, and so very much looking forward to it. I plan to stay in Cortona and venture out from there to other hillside villages. I am in the middle of reading your new book Every Day in Tuscany, and just like Under The Tuscan Sun I am facinated. Hope you have a wonderful summer in Italy, take care and enjoy.
Warmest regards,
Anne
dear frances mayes, i long to go to tuscany and maybe i will one day. In the meanwhile, i have a running discussion with a restaurant owner in atlanta ( I live in Barnesviile, ga) that you are from Fitzgerald. He says, no, you are from Thomaston. CAn you help us? fondly, ellen granum
Ellen, he owes you a glass of wine–it’s Fitzgerald! Frances
So right now you are on your way to a summer in Italy while I sit here with wonderful memories of my two recent weeks there. I could go back any minute
Tuscany was quite cold though, at least up in the mountians. Venice was amazing as always.
http://brittarnhildshouseinthewoods.typepad.com/brittarnhilds_house_in_th/italy/
Well, if there will be no more Italy for me this summer, at least there will be alot of weeks and week-ends at our cabin. Where again I will read your book, and write about our life there, always inspired my your writing.
Enjoy your summer Frances. I hope there will be more words from your hand and heart.
Dear Ms. Mayes:
I really enjoyed your latest book. I particularly liked that you included so many recipes. I don’t know what sounds yummier – the Italian dishes or the Southern food you grew up with down in Georgia. Have you ever thought of writing a cookbook yourself?
I hope to try Ed and Willie’s recipe for foccacia bread very soon.
P.S. Kudos to you and Ed for introducing your grandson to all the interesting and tasty food the world has to offer. My four nephews and my goddaughter are all picky eaters and it drives an adventurous eater like me crazy when they won’t even try something.
Nancy–funny you should ask just now–I AM working on a cookbook! Thanks for writing–Frances
Ms. Mayes, I’m near the end of your “Every Day in Tuscany”. I was just sitting with it, grabbing a few moments and I found myself (on page 283) reading about how the Italians don’t get stressed, how their work and play is balanced. It was Perfect timing – how I need to learn this, and that’s what I was telling myself when I sat down. After reading, I said to myself, “You were meant to read this, at this time.”, but I’m not so sure I’ll remember the lesson! I have such a problem with trying to get certain things done in a certain time. There’s so much to do, it seems!
Mama Mia! But I thank you for writing about it; understanding it.
God bless!
Lisa
Dear Frances, Is it too late to order olive oil for this years harvest? Please advise. Many thanks! Hope you’re enjoying “home”! Ceal
Ciao Ceal–there’s still time. We are looking forward to the harvest! Frances
Hello Frances, apart from sharing the same surname, well my paternal grandmother’s name was Mayes, is it possible we could be related? Doubtful though as I’m from England but now living in Canada. I sense you somehow as a kindred spirit – While staying at our friend’s home, very near Montipulciano, 2 years ago, I mentioned to my hostess how much I’d related to and loved your books – we had toured many Tuscan hill towns, attended the Greve in Chianti wine festival, the Giostra del Saracino in Arezzo (absolutely fantasic), Assisi,Deruta any many others in Umbria – she suggested a trip to Cortona. What a beautiful town. We eventually drove by Bramasole and did the tourist thing – taking a few pics of your lovely villa, which I did post on my Facebook page. Gloria, my friend who has the place in Montipulciano went through a similar experience to you, that of renovating an old Tuscan farmhouse and garden. I am taking my daughter to Italy next year and your new book ‘Every day in Tuscany’ which I’ve just finished reading, will be an inspiration to her I’m sure. Enjoy another wonderful summer in Cortona – I wonder what adventures will be in store for you all on this visit? I would be thrilled to get a reply from you and who knows, I could perhaps bump into you in the piazza next summer.
Ciao
Margery
Margery, maybe we are cousins! My grandfather was from Leicester. He was Mayes, his mother, Repton. Thanks for writing. Frances
Dear Frances:
I rented an apartment in Cortona for the month of June in 2008 and your marvelous books guided us throughout Italy. We also fell under the spell of the people in and around Cortona. I and my daughter and granddaughters walked up and down every street and visited the museums and all the churches and shops.
Our apartment was off the Piazza Republica down the alley from Molesini wine shop. Every morning I would rush down for a cup of delicious coffee and a pastry. I would then walk down Nazionale to the Internet place and get back in touch with reality and my office. Early mornings was a good time to do our food shopping for our dinner. I loved the little vegetable mart around the corner from our apartment. We immediately learned not to touch or smell the fruit or vegetables.
We left our windows open and we always could tell what the diners were eating down stairs at the restaurant below us. We didn’t need to look at our watches we could lean out of window and see the clock across the piazza. We discovered walnuts, cheese and honey. We almost started drinking the honey. Every one I tried a new one I wanted to buy a case and ship it home to Texas. The cheeses were marvelous too.
Across the piazza we shopped at Molesini Market with the flapping plastic door shields. We found delicious prepared food waiting for us. We also found if you didn’t do your shopping and buy your bread early there would be nothing left to buy in the afternoon. Thank goodness the ATM machine was close by and I had the presence of mind to call my bank and credit card company and told them where I was traveling to.
One night my daughter had made a fabulous meal and we were still sitting at the table near the windows sipping our wine and all a sudden we heard music coming from the piazza Signorelli next door. We were so excited they were playing the Star Spangle Banner. I know artist friends told me they were in Cortona some years ago and they celebrated July 4th while they were there. So, I can only assume they were practicing for the festival.
One of our favorite places was Santa Chiara and the singing nuns. We even managed to walk all around through the park and past your lovely home too. Your Ed was in his beloved olive grove and he overheard us talking about how much we were looking forward to a rest stop and get something cold to drink. He graciously told us we didn’t have much farther to go we would find a small cafe up the hill.
Later in the day we had walked to the monastery Le Celle and had came back to the little cafe for drinks. You and Ed were coming up the hill driving your charming little yellow panda. Ed saw my granddaughter Haley and you all were so kind to stop and talk to her. At that time she was 15 years old, but at 5′10″ she looks a lot older. She was so excited to have spoken to famous people. You both made her day and I want to thank you for your kindness to her.
Some days we would rush down 6 flights of stairs to catch the bus at Piazza Garabaldi to go down the hill to Camcuia train station but, first we would have to run down to the tobaco shop for tickets until we discovered we could buy them at the tourist office. It took us a few days to figure out the schedules of the bus as well as the train. If we came back too late we would have to call our list of taxi cab drivers to get back up the hill to Cortona. Every bus ride up or down the hill we would meet some very interesting people and we would get to hear the latest gossip.
I do want to thank you for sharing your life through your books with us. Every sentence you wrote I felt like I was sitting across the table from you and Ed enjoying the food and seeing the sites right along with you.
If the stock market and our USD is kind to me in 2011 I hope to be able to come back to Cortona for a long visit. Hopefully, this time I will be able to paint and not spend all my time sight seeing every town between Florence and Rome! Oh, but I loved Sienna, Voltare, Assisi, Montepulciano, Arezzo, and beautiful Florence I may have left my heart in Florence and I need to go back and get it. I do want to wish you and Ed a very happy anniversary.
Tread lightly there are angels all around us watching and guarding us. Best Wishes, Marie
Ciao Marie–sounds like an enchanted vacation. Hope there are many more—Frances
Good luck and good eating this summer! I found out a few days ago that my cancer has relapsed and I will be spending much of the summer in chemotherapy and getting a bone marrow transplant. So, I am prescribing myself a daily dose of Every Day in Tuscany to read during those times. A Year in The World provided me many literary meals last summer when I could not eat real food and I am hoping for much of the same from your new book. I will also be equipping my mental toolbox with planning a trip to Italy for next summer when I am determined to be healthy again. I was already ticketed on a flight to Frankfurt next weekend for my business. I intend to cancel that trip and keep the KLM credit with the intention of using it for a family trip to Italy next summer. My son will be 4 years old next summer and I think he will make a great traveling partner for exploring small towns, country side and pizza shops.
Ciao Dan–sorry for your hard summer. Your boy will love travelling in Italy next year. The Italians like children and they also provide an easy way to meet people. My great joy is when my grandson comes to visit. He first came at six months and is making his eighth trip this summer. It’s short but I’ll make the most of the ten days. All the best to you–Frances
I have read your books, and have seen the movie, Under The Tuscan Sun. Its such a feel good movie, that I watch it all the time. If I am feeling down, or just not myself, I put it on. Sometimes I just listen while I clean. Sounds weird but it’s a real pick me up. I was hoping to one day see Tuscany for myself, but my health wont allow the travel.
So when are you going to do a book signing in the southern Maryland area. No one seems to come to us, its like too far for some to travel I guess. And the great thing, is we have a great history. Cant wait to get your new book.
Margie
Hello Frances. I have wished for the opportunity to connect with you for many years now. I am such a fan of your work. I watch Under the Tuscan Sun so often that even my teen sons know the movie. It is one of the most inspiring movies I have ever seen and it led me to read your books. I not only have the books, but also the audio versions so I can listen to them at work. I would like to thank you for writing those books. I always feel like I am right there as you describe everything going on and the food. Your books caused me to dream of going to Italy and of experiencing the culture for myself. I also have been inspired to try new foods and wines. I still wish to travel to Italy with my three sons, but being a single mom, I’m not sure how I will do it. I have faith that one day we will make it there though. I am a 43 year old African American woman who was never inspired to dream this way until I saw the movie and read your books and I am really thankful for that. I have also passed that inspiration to my children and it has become my mission for all of us to see the world. Thank you and enjoy your summer in Cortona! I really would love to meet you some day. I live in Columbus, Ohio and I understand what the person in the previous entry was talking about. For some reason, no one seems to come here. Maybe one day….
Dina
Terrific work! This is the type of information that should be shared around the web. Shame on the search engines for not positioning this post higher!
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!
Dear Frances,
I love the sentiment here on this blog. We all have you to thank for either igniting our passion for Italy through your work or re-igniting it after many years away from the country. My husband proposed to me in Florence, so it will always be a special place to me but your books however continue this memory.
Thank you for the notes on gardens, recipes, renovations, coffee, italian food and culture and everything else in between. I love especially your brilliant use of words, that challenge the reader but also show respect to the art of writing.
As I finish off your latest book here in Australia, I think back to the many times that I have read ‘Under the Tuscan Sun’..it is one of those books that makes me happy when life gets in the way. You have given us a little bit of magic, no matter where we are in the world.
Leaving a legacy of inspiration and joy is a wonderful thing and I hope that July 5 is a wonderful day of celebration for you and your family.
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