{"id":435,"date":"2017-04-30T18:31:42","date_gmt":"2017-04-30T18:31:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theslowtourist.com\/?p=435"},"modified":"2020-05-14T09:25:47","modified_gmt":"2020-05-14T09:25:47","slug":"of-festivals-regions-and-dialect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theslowtourist.com\/theslow1\/2017\/04\/30\/of-festivals-regions-and-dialect\/","title":{"rendered":"Of festivals, regions and dialect"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the weather turns toward summer, the festa season kicks off. National holidays, regional holidays, Saints days. Villages turn decorate the town, have parades, markets, and of course parties. We went to the festival of San Panfilo in Scerni on Saturday night. First dinner at a local restaurant. The menus at the local places are full of traditional dishes. The menu is divided into the normal first plate, a pasta course and a second plate, the meat or seafood. Most of the dishes will be recognizable, but often with seasonal ingredients, but you will also find regional dishes such  Cinghiale stew (wild boar) or pigeon. These little places are frequently insanely busy, especially on special occasions, yet the service is efficient and friendly, the staff is in constant motion with dishes and drink. When we left and stopped at the front counter to pay, the routine was as it was in other restaurants. They do a quick tally in their head and throw you a round number. A number that typically is much less than you expected. In our case, dinner for four, two courses each, wine, water, with refills on each. (You don’t get tap water, always bottled, either sparkling or still) was 70 Euro.<\/p>\n

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After dinner we wandered down to the central piazza. It was about 9PM and the main street was brightly light with lights that arched over the street. Market stalls lined the street with a variety of food and goods.<\/p>\n

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We got down the main piazza were a stage was set up and the band was playing. The band had the odd name of Tequila e Montepulciano, and they played classic regional standards. I imagine these are the songs you will hear at a traditional wedding. Most of the songs are simple, catchy tunes with a chorus that everyone knows and sings along to. I looked at their schedule and this band plays all over the Abruzzo region. They appear quite popular and after hearing them I can see why. Their set went until midnight and they did not take a break. A hard working band indeed.<\/p>\n

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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=FSO6LG86hhc<\/p>\n

This is the how the dance looks. Its a simple but elegant dance.<\/p>\n