Hi Friends!  Jim has been doing such a wonderful job maintaining this blog, but today is my turn!

This is a post about treasured visions becoming reality.   The idea of moving to Italy always had attached to it the picture of playing the piano in Italy.  Somehow they have always been linked.  When we first arrived in Lecce, I knew that if I just calmly stayed alert to ideas and opportunities I would find the right place to practice.  Our first night wandering the town we passed under some beautiful, old open windows where the sounds of an aria were wafting out.  Jim and I sat and listened for a while and were enchanted.  A while later we heard live piano music and the idea was sparked.  After passing the windows daily and coming to learn that it was an art gallery, the day came where I felt my natural reticence subside and I walked up to the owner and said (in my best Italian), “I have heard a piano inside.  I am a pianist and I am looking for a place to practice while I am here.”  He smiled and said, “Well you could play here.”

From then on I would go to the gallery called Muimart every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and play for hours.  It was definitely a dream come true.  I made dear friends in the artist/owner of the gallery (Adriano) and another artist across the street (Leonardo – not da Vinci, was the first thing he told me :))

I think Jim was able to capture the scene in a few of these pictures and the video.   On every visit, I was greeted with the most amazing generosity of spirit and appreciation for the music.  Some days I was even greeted with sunflowers and a kiss of the hand.  All in all, truly magical and I will never forget these people and their warmth.

Here is how it looked from the outside.