We arrived at Amedeo's home on a dark, wet Sunday evening. Knowing the location of the villa was remote and most grocery stores/restaurants closed on Sunday in the off season, we had arranged with Amedeo to have dinner prepared for us for a modest fee. To our absolute delight, we were greeted by a roaring fire stoked by Amedeo's dad and an amazing dinner hot in the oven, with a table set, by Amedeo's mom and grandmother. Amedeo's dad walked down to the car with an umbrella so that our sleepy baby wouldn't get wet, and fussed over us as if we were relatives visiting for a holiday. The grandmother did not speak much English at all, but before leaving she held my hand and led me to the kitchen, wanting o make sure that we would sprinkle ricotta salata on her pasta alla norma. They had also stocked the fridge and pantries--and I mean STOCKED--with all kinds of groceries: juice, yogurt, eggs, milk, water and best of all, Nutella! This was truly above and beyond, as we had only asked Amedeo for one dinner.

I was also very touched that they had set up Amedeo's old crib for our 1.5 year old son to sleep in, rather than an ordinary portable crib we normally get in other AirBnB places. This was a beautiful, old-fashioned wooden crib, which our son immediately took to, and while he typically fusses a bit more when we put him in a strange room (not surprising!), he went to bed happily, snuggling into the cozy blankets Amedeo's family thoughtfully prepared for us.

The rest of the villa was a great reflection of of this family's generosity and kindness. It's lovingly decorated, full of interesting objects and mementos gathered, no doubt, over the years from their family members, and well stocked with everything one might need for a comfortable stay. We used the fireplace and the wood every evening, definitely took advantage of the ample provisions to prepare meals in their kitchen, and gave our son a bath every night in an old fashioned bath tub.

This is my favorite kind of Air BnB experience - not an impersonal apartment that someone had set up just to rent out, but an actual home with traces of the family who had built their lives there.

Oh, and the meal? My husband declared it was the best meal he's had in Europe during our last 6 months of living here, and I have to agree. We ate the pasta alla norma and the involtini, cannoli and baba au rhum (they even left us a hueg plate of cookies and a bottle of wine on TOP of all that food) down to the very last crumb.

Thank you Amedeo and your wonderful family for this unforgettable experience!