Dental Part 12
Usually guests bring presents for the bride and groom but Susan and Chris were the ultimate gift givers when they chose Italy for their nuptials. Nothing quite like the exchange of vows within the embrace of magical Italy.
The traditional Hotel Terme Rosapepe, located near Contursi, has been in Susan Rosapepe’s family for decades. This area is famous for natural mineral pools and the Hotel Terme Rosapepe is the crown jewel. 
I love mineral baths and was delighted to discover this journey would include hours of soaking time. The hotel is pleasing, in a gorgeous setting, comfortable and well off the American tourist route so prices are quite moderate.
After a long day of travel, I arrived Wednesday evening (without green teeth I might add). It was clear immediately there would be no time for jet lag. After a quick refresh, we were all firmly ensconced in lovely Italian wine and conversation followed by a leisurely meal. Italian wine is good, inexpensive and continuously present but even better one can drink a lot of it, remain coherent and have no hangover. How is this possible? We can send people to the moon but we can’t figure that out here?
It is a good thing the wine has a lower alcohol content because happy hour starts at the normal time but dinner is very late, typically already in bed late. The second day I joined a couple of Susan’s friends and Susan for a hair appointment in the nearby small town of Oliveto. We had lunch in a lovely spot and because I was starving and had no idea when my next meal would be, ordered the carne mista without any consideration of how it would actually get into my stomach. Unfortunately much of the meat was too tough to handle due to my current dental state. The rose, however, was lovely.
Predictably dinner was delayed until after 10:00 and the first two courses where pasta. Normally I don’t eat gluten free pasta but I wolfed it down. The main course was veal stuffed with spinach. You got it, too tough to manage. Spinach was good.
Friday the bride and groom took the group to a gorgeous winery. I loved every second of this trip including the bus ride with wheels a foot from the cliff. We wine tasted to our hearts content while enjoying stunning views and noshing on cured meats and cheeses. 
I desperately wanted to load my plate but good manners dictated otherwise . We returned to the hotel late afternoon and met on the gorgeous patio for yes more wine and yet another superb sunset. New friends invited me to join them at a nearby seafood restaurant and we arrived at 9:30. The restaurant was empty so I assumed perhaps not everyone eats late but to our amazement the place was full by 10:30.
My hunger is now something to be reckoned with. At this point, even the wine is not helping. But to my delight copious quantities of food start to flow, sardines, grilled octopus, calamari followed by mussels and pasta. It was fantastic and I ate with abandon. My friends spoke Italian and their friends only Italian. Some quick conversation passed back and forth with fingers pointing between me and my constantly full plate. Our hosts were curious how I could be thin considering the amount of food I was stuffing in my mouth. The burning question was if I had a thyroid problem. I laughed and kept eating. Impossible to explain.
The wedding was the following day and as one could predict, many of us were moving slow. Luckily the magic pools awaited. Susan explained how to create a mask from the pockets of mud and viola, no more tired faces. After a relaxing day we gathered for an early evening ceremony conducted by the mayor of Contursi. Absolutely beautiful. And in due course, a full Italian meal began to unfold. It was truly a wonderful night. Thank you Susan and Chris. 