The Reception: Part I

Our original plan was for the guests to stream out from the ceremony and into the piazza, where we would be met with glasses of Prosecco, sbandieratori (the local trumpet-playing & flag-throwing troop), and a surprise stilt-walking performance by the director of Grotest Maru. But the weather had other plans and rather than get sopping and cold, the Mayor swooped to the rescue and invited everyone into the Sala Consiliare, the room we first met him in, the site of so many negotiations and town council meetings. Although the sbandieratori (some of whom had missed school for this very important performance) had to do a much-edited version of what they had prepared (only the tiniest boys of the troop could fit their flag throws inside this very high-ceilinged indoor area), still it was fantastic and all the cozier.

Photo by JdB

Photo by Michael Huey

Photo by Steve Double

We were especially delighted by the toast the Mayor gave (pictured above with Neena), pointing out that he never imagined when we first met in this room that two years later it would be host to so many Americans!

Photo by Steve Double

ViceMayor Luca also gave a speech, inviting everyone back to the Festival of San Pancrazio in May to celebrate the patron saint of the town, which Calvi has done without fail every year for 300 years.

Video & Photo by SantaFrancesca

Photo by Steve Double

Photo by Michael Huey

Photo by Santa Francesca

Video by KittyKat

Photo by Steve Double

Just when we thought the height of spectacle had been achieved, this mystical magical creature appeared, stunning the crowd while she floated around the room, sprinkling us all with heart-shaped confetti, and bestowing maribou boas with blinking hearts on Mystophur and me. We can only fantasize about bring this little taste of street-performance troop Grotest Maru back to Calvi and the Art Monastery. Perhaps a collaboration with the sbandieratori is in order?

Photo by Michael Huey

Photo by Steve Double

Video by KittyKat

Photo by KittyKat

Photo by SantaFrancesca

Our original plan was for the guests to stream out from the ceremony and into the piazza, where we would be met with glasses of Prosecco, sbandieratori (the local trumpet-playing & flag-throwing troop), and a surprise stilt-walking performance by the director of Grotest Maru. But the weather had other plans and rather than get sopping and cold, the Mayor swooped to the rescue and invited everyone into the Sala Consiliare, the room we first met him in, the site of so many negotiations and town council meetings. Although the sbandieratori (some of whom had missed school for this very important performance) had to do a much-edited version of what they had prepared (only the tiniest boys of the troop could fit their flag throws inside this very high-ceilinged indoor area), still it was fantastic and all the cozier.

Photo by JdB

Photo by Michael Huey

Photo by Steve Double

We were especially delighted by the toast the Mayor gave (pictured above with Neena), pointing out that he never imagined when we first met in this room that two years later it would be host to so many Americans!

Photo by Steve Double

ViceMayor Luca also gave a speech, inviting everyone back to the Festival of San Pancrazio in May to celebrate the patron saint of the town, which Calvi has done without fail every year for 300 years.

Video & Photo by SantaFrancesca

Photo by Steve Double

Photo by Michael Huey

Photo by Santa Francesca

Video by KittyKat

Photo by Steve Double

Just when we thought the height of spectacle had been achieved, this mystical magical creature appeared, stunning the crowd while she floated around the room, sprinkling us all with heart-shaped confetti, and bestowing maribou boas with blinking hearts on Mystophur and me. We can only fantasize about bring this little taste of street-performance troop Grotest Maru back to Calvi and the Art Monastery. Perhaps a collaboration with the sbandieratori is in order?

Photo by Michael Huey

Photo by Steve Double

Video by KittyKat

Photo by KittyKat

Photo by SantaFrancesca