We love to check out the old doors in the original part of town, behind that big door-- or really gate-- there is a small courtyard that leads to the apartments in that building. 

 We have a member who lives in this building, the door is always open, so not such a safe place.

 It is hard to take a picture in  a store but I just had to get proof that woman dress up to do their shopping here, maybe 40% really get dressed up, high heels, necklaces , matching purses. The youth do not get dressed up in dresses but they wear the latest fads.Shoes, as we have stated before, are very important in any wardrobe! The lady in the pink dress is wearing 6 inch heels, but the ladies by her also are dressed up. You can't see the lady in the pink's daughter but she is decked out, a 4 year old with matching everything!

 Our local "Best Buy" we went and got our Blue Ray for , "Meet the Mormons" here. One of the members purchased the projector-- over 400 Euros -- to show the Blue Ray on a large screen!

 Outside the store we found these shockingly purple flowers-- not sure why they look blue??

 We finally got the invitations printed and needed to have our public relations Sister sign them so they could be taken out! In their home they have this great fireplace-- it is green marble!!

There are rock pictures in the floor as well.
"Meet the Mormons" would not happen with out the faith and prayers of family and friends and Very Good members like this sister and her husband! He bought the projector!

 We were invited to an awards event. The brother in the white shirt knows everyone and everyone knows him. He is fearless in sharing his testimony and so he is a mighty force for good here. He is in charge of this awards ceremony. He has 5 sons, his oldest was murdered, this is another son dressed in black at his side.

 These two pictures are awards that go to the top soccer players from Crotone who went on to national fame. They both have been helping youth in the community move up in their skills and opportunities.

 There were three different TV stations filming the event because awards were given out to people from others areas of Southern Italy. We were told later that all who attended are also included in the invitation to the Roma Temple Open House, and the 'Meet the Mormons' so we were glad to be included. We were very early and were introduced to some of them.

In this part of town there are 4 chapels, you can see the large one and then to the left up the hill is another one getting ready for a wedding.Where I am standing is a book store. We were getting books and this book store has all the makings of a Harry Potter set.

 This is Our missionary who is headed to Colorado to serve in January, well maybe Dec. She already speaks and reads English beautifully!! It was her birthday last month so we celebrated.

 Part of our Zone, we had another good DDM

She is going to be such a great Sister Missionary--- Colorado Springs is so lucky to be getting her!

 While we were trying to find the department in charge of permits for permission to show, "Meet the Mormons" we came across this pomegranate tree, the next tree is a olive tree! 

 This is the back of our church and I had to show how everywhere is tile. This also shows the crumbling cement wall that is a concern for us, with water leaking out in water falls, at times!

 At the end of the side of the building there is a larger patio with a more colorful tile .

 The neighbors all have tile backyards , different tiles and designs.

 Walking back into the church.

These are pallets turned on their ends and used as play shelves. There are a lot of wood crates here and so this is easy to come by. The one next to the natural wood one is a white painted pallet with multicolored crates. The picture did not come out.

 Making Lasagna , there is bowl of a thick yogurt with seasoning in it, and another bowl with chucks of mozzarella cheese, a cheese in a wax tube, a cheese in the tied rope--- which helps to maintain it's shape,  other wise it goes flat, with a crumb kind of cheese! A box of cream to put in the yogurt and packages of lasagna noodles almost the size of the pan.

 Put olive oil on bottom of pan then noodles, then  a little cream sauce, a little of one of each of the  4 different cheeses and then repeat. Put a little water in pans after all is done-- three to four layers , cover and bake--- make tomato sauce to put on top when ready to serve. 

 Our Sorella Olga  has left us and has returned to Heavenly Father and  her Husband, she has missed him for 50+ years. She had a short illness less than a week and she was gone-- It has been a shock to all involved. In Italy they publish a notice of the Death on all the family's homes and her home.  
She had a lovely service, and she would have been pleased.

 As in life, in death it is like apartment living. Each square holds a casket.

 Our Olga will get her marble front  later, but for now this is her home.

The flowers were on her casket.
Sorella Olga lived a good life and remained true and faithful up to the very end!  She is home and happy!

 Most everyone had left and I can see why our Mission President likes to visit the cemeteries in Italy. Each box has pictures of the departed and something about them.

 This was a tiny area where graves as we know them were. 

 This is  a different part of the cemetery smaller and narrower.
       But for now --Farewell Olga. "God be With You 'til We Meet Again"

Back on the home front.

 Our street is getting new curbs and sidewalks. I had to show the new white marble curbs being put in!

 The next round of figs are ripe. They seem to have a different varieties that ripen at different times. This will be the third batch we have seen, about every 3 to 4 weeks. They spoil very fast so you pick and eat or can in one or two days. They cannot be put on top of each other, they just get smashed, they are very soft.  

 Our famous 3 wheeling trucks!  They were the truck of choice in the mountains. They were mostly what we saw up there. These are pictures back here in Crotone and they are still the truck of choice. They have a motorcycle engine.

 There goes another one

 And look at how much they will haul! The blue is the back of one.

 Our last DDM together before we send off some more great missionaries!

 7 am send off for Sorella Puzey! She has been hard working and a joy!

 THE ONLY TIME I have been at the train station and could go take some pictures of Missionaries getting on and off. My job is to guard luggage while other help get missionaries on or off the train, There are 2 trains coming and going from Rome and to Rome which arrive with in few minutes of each other, so it has always been a mad rush. With the early departure of Sorella Puzey there was no rush.

 Our new Greenies fresh from the MTC , Hailing from Rhode Island and Germany!

 Tradition has it we all go out for Gelato on the first day! 

 Don't mess with an Italian Barber. Presidente B asked for his hair to not be cut so short this time.
                        He come home with his shortest cut yet!!!