“Meet Marradi” … the people, the town, and the spirit of a special village in Italy. This is the place where I live, work, and play.
When I am asked about my story and how I arrived in this small town of Marradi, Italy, my response is always, “Marradi found me!” When I say that, I most certainly mean it There is no other way to put it into words.
My goal in this blog entry is to give you an idea of how truly lucky I am to be part of this community; not only because of the people, but also because of the beautiful area. It is a way of life I have fully embraced and cannot imagine my life existing anywhere else.
I will help you meet the people that are part of this Tuscan mountain community. Here we go let me introduce you to this beautiful, wonderful, and stunningly beautiful village I call home.
Let me introduce you to Maris and Gianni, sister and brother and co-owners of the L’Agrifoglio.
This sibling duo operates their business on the main street of Marradi. You will find all types of items in their store. The main reason I go to the store is to buy dog food for my pet pups, Bruno and Leo. The three of us always get a friendly welcome from Maris andGianni.
There are many other reasons to visit this local shop, but the variety of items the siblings offer for sale is huge. For example, you can find all kinds of hunting and fishing equipment, as well as anything from clothing to dog crates and even some household items. And what do you know — you even can purchase seasonal vegetable seeds andstarter plants for your garden. It is interesting to simply wander in and browse at all the many items
What I find unique and quite special about L’Agrifoglio is that the dog foods are in open bags — so you can see what you are getting. It follows a common concept of Italian shopping, which is, “buy less, but more often.” It’s the same for dogs as it is for humans)! So I buy two kilos at a time, once a week, so my dogs always have fresh food. And Maris and Gianni always remind me to include dog treats with my weekly purchase (or is it Bruno and Leon who remind me).
With all my visits to the Marradi town center, Maris and Gianni are always up for a chat, which as I’ve noted in previous blogs, helps me with my Italian. I remember, after buying dog food at L’Agrifoglio for the first time, I felt I had conquered the world because I left with dog food after simply pointing and holding up two fingers for two kilos. Now that’s international communication at its finest! But what I remember even more is the next time I passed by the shop — and every time after — Maris and Gianni waved and said, “Ciao.” I was surprised that they had recognized me and so I returned the greeting, “Ciao.” It was one of those special moments when I felt I not only was being accepted,but that I truly belonged.
Now, I look forward to seeing the siblings for my weekly dog food shopping. And Bruno and Leo are equally excited – but that’s because they always get a free treats!
When you make a trip to Italy and visit my community of Marradi, you will most certainly want to include a stop at L’Agrifoglio; no doubt Maris and Gianni will have something of interest … and they will greet you with a pair of wide, welcoming smiles! And if four-legged traveling companions are with you, they may very well receive a treat.
