festa

The villa party is this huge party that Silvia, Lucia, Cristina, and Fabrizio spend all week planning.  Over one hundred local Genoese are invited and in Holden's words, everyone dresses really 'fancy' and a local band (Silvia's son David and his band) played for a few hours.  Holden talked about the party all week. We had to go shopping, twice, to find him something really fancy.  He chose a sweater that was just too hot that night, so he settled on a lighter weight sweater with his new scarf and pants.  We also all wore the masks we had bought in Venezia and decorated ourselves (well Lilli and Holden decorated mine and Dave's). Holden was definitely the life of the party that night and he danced while the band played with everyone - half the students, Giudi, his pediatrician, me.  He stayed up until the band finally finished playing at midnight.  It was great getting to meet all of the locals and getting to experience such a nice party in the villa.

shaving before the villa party

shaving some more

putting on the masks

showing off his 'fancy' outfit

eating snacks in the garden with Lilli

family portrait

Holden and Dave with the band

Holden with the band (and Silvia hiding in the corner)

Lucia with the students

Holden with Fabrizio

Giudi and Lucia

dolci

Lucia and Cristina with the Clemson cake

Holden with Marta (Lucia and Fabrizio's daughter)

dancing with the students

still dancing at midnight