This morning while shaking a rug out the window (Yes, I actually do that.), our friendly neighbor called across the garden asking if we’d like some tomatoes. Of course! These neighbors have some terraces of land that they put to very good use and work hard every day tending all kinds of fruits and vegetables. It’s always a treat when they offer something fresh from their garden. When I went to pick up the tomatoes, I got a surprise dose of southern Italian generosity when I found the basket piled full of more than just tomatoes. She also shared some of their wonderful plums (better than any I’ve ever bought!) and the most delicious ripe figs. Oh my!

This type of generosity is so common here in southern Italy. (And no doubt in the rest of the country as well, but this is only place in Italy I’ve lived.) Without any space for gardening, I often feel like I have so little to give in return for such generosity. So today, blessed with such abundance and kindness of neighbors, I want to share with everyone just how lovely, warm and generous the people of southern Italy are by their very nature. For many, something as simple as sharing an abundance of fruit is just as natural as saying buon giorno in the morning. It’s something that I learn from and love every day here on the Amalfi Coast.

Buona domenica a tutti! (Happy Sunday to everyone!)