It's that time again when I am struggling to keep to my routine. Itching to
get away and relax. Needing some release and a breather from the hustle and bustle
of life. That time for a lengthy vacation away from the normal bumps in my
world. It had been nine long years since we last seen Italy. Nine long years of
seeing our cousins. The same cousins we just found out existed nine years ago.
Cousins with whom we have gotten really close to with the help of modern social
networking. Family that before researching ancestry records we would have never
known were still around. Still in the same village our grandmother immigrated
from. The same village she never spoke of, with exception of once when I was
little. Our roots, our family, our history, our heritage, it was time to go
back. I and two cousins chose to take the trip. A fourteen day long trip across
the wonderful country of Italy.
This time around we decided to see our family but also to try out different
cities and villages compared to the last time we were there. Our first trip we
stayed primarily in the northern region. Our one side of the family is from the
middle area just east of Rome in a region known as Abruzzo. We chose this time
to start in the Tuscan region, go south as far as the Amalfi Coast, then head
to Abruzzo and back up to Tuscany for an amazing summer trip.
Our first two days we spent wondering the streets of Pisa and along the
famous river Arno. Sightseeing and taking the obligatory shot of one of us
holding up the Leaning Tower for hoots and giggles. We then headed south
on a long train to Naples to catch yet another train to Sorrento followed
by a bus to Praiano along the famous Amalfi coast. Our first train had been
canceled so we had to wait around and upgrade for another just to get there in
time for check in. We chose a wonderful little B&B that hung out over the
cliffs onto the Tyrrhenian Sea. What a beautiful view. It is not enough to
say how wonderful a place this was. I immediately fell in love with the Amalfi
coast. I soon felt so relaxed and like I was home that I have since named it my
Shangri-lah. My oasis as it may be, my heaven, my serenity. The crystal blue turquoise
water, the ringing of the bells from the church tower, the warm breeze coming
off the ocean, the smell of the salt air, the buzz of vespas flying by above on
the upper streets. I could continue describing the sounds, sights, smells, and tastes
but I would eventually bore you. However I will mention how amazing the fresh
fruit and vegetables were. The olives growing right next to my window were the
size of lemons and so green you couldn't image such a color existed. Their
taste was even better. Speaking of lemons, they along with the limes, figs,
peaches, oranges, etc. were the size of grapefruits. Chili's, or pepperoncini,
hung out to dry everywhere. I'm not making this stuff up. I know it sounds like
something you only see in the movies, but it's true. We even spent a day
visiting the ruins of Pompeii and seeing Mtn. Vesuvius. Oh, how I miss you
already.
Arno
Make sure you're holding it up
Our view
Festival of lights in Praiano
Pompeii ruins
Positano
Positano
Positano
Little black pebble sand
We swam in the ocean, rode the bus threw the villages, ate so much fresh
seafood, pastas, fruit, but all the while lost weight. After a wonderful five
days we headed back north towards Rome where we caught a bus to our family’s
town. Just east of Rome, about an hour drive, we landed in Abruzzo. A small
village called Pratola Peligna/ Bagnaturo. I speak of the both as our
grandmother, Nonna, was born in a little stone house in Bagnaturo right next to
Pratola, but more like a neighborhood section of Pratola. Our family now lives
in Pratola right outside of the bigger city Sulmona. Our one cousin Sabrina met
us at the bus stop and took us right to our B&B before heading to her parent’s
house for dinner and drinks. Just like the first time we met them we were
welcomed with great big hugs, double kisses, laughs, tears, and screams. It's
as if we had never left. It was like we had been seeing each other every day
since we last were there. This time around my Italian had improved quite a bit
so communication was much better. (At least that was what they told me). I
still think I was a bit shy and timid with using my language skills but I
digress. The children had all grown up into young adults now. Some had just obtained
their driver license and others were venturing into the ideas of college. We
sat and ate some of the most amazing and delicious food we had in all our
travels in Italy. I must admit I may be biased but Abruzzi cooking is fantastic
and probably one of my favorite. The simple cooking of the mountains. The use
of fresh vegetables and game from the farms. Fantastic.... We had
everything from Eggplant Parmigiano, Lamb-Arrosticini, sautéed zucchini,
peppers, sbricciolata, fruit, etc. Oh and don't forget all the homemade wines:
reds, whites, blush, limoncello, arancello, etc. You name it, it was on that
table.
Giovanna, Sabrina, Katia
Michella, Domenico
Cugini
Our next day was spent visiting our grandmother’s old home and traveling
through the still owned family vineyards until heading back to their house to
help, more like watch, as their mother Giovanna made homemade gnocchi with a
meat ragu. Followed by leftovers of the night before, more wine, and more after
dinner drinks. This was just lunch.
Grandma's home
Making gnocchi
Lunch
Later that night after a wonderful nap we headed downtown to the church
piazza where the town was holding a festival of the grapes, or Le Uve formally.
We received souvenir wine glasses and we went from one family's wine cellar,
(cantina), to another sampling all the different wines while obtaining a small
plate of fresh food ranging from pasta, to meats, pork, vegetables, etc. Some
even had music playing or dj's performing. By the last wine stop the piazza had
a wonderful Beatles tribute band playing late into the night. We headed back to
Sabrina's house for pizzelle, cannoli, wine, and say our goodnights and
goodbyes.
Le Uve with cugini
Walking the streets of Pratola tasting wine
Cugini sitting around eating, Barbara on right.
cugini and new friends
Family
Tears of joy
We left the next morning in tears but promising to come back and headed back
to Tuscany. We chose a small village outside of Florence famous for its walled
structure. An entire city built inside a huge wall to protect itself: Lucca. We
had the fortunate chance to stay in an old horse barn converted into a three
story flat perfectly outfitted with a kitchen, bathroom, two bedrooms, and a
sitting area. We were also luckily enough to have a nice little yard with a
grill and sitting area and bicycles to ride around the city. What a wonderful
way to spend our last few nights in beautiful Tuscany.
Our kitchen
Old barn converted into flat
The outer wall
Now for some of the best parts of our amazing trip to Italy: the
food......... We ate some of the best dishes ever. Octopus and potatoes,
veal, beef, scampi, shrimp, pasta, pizza, stuffed zucchini flowers, lamb, pork,
tomatoes, olives, eggplant, peppers, chicken, eggs, fresh fruit, grapes, fresh
made wine, cheeses, etc. You name it we had it. All made fresh right in front
of us. All grown locally and not filled with preservatives, additives, etc.
That is one of the amazing things about Italy; everything was fresh and good
for you.
Mushroom risotto
Parpadelle with Wild Boar
Oh the olives
Bellini
Caprese
Fantastic Polpo e Patate
Shrimp and a pepper sauce with gnocchi
Scampi
Stuffed zucchini flowers
Caprese pizza
Calzone
Pizza margharita
Puttanesca
Veal
Arancini
Limoncello
Prosciutto e melone
Steak and mushrooms
Tortelli Lucchese
Ah, pistachio and watermelon gelato
Cantuccini with Vin Santo
I must admit that this time around was one of my favorite trips to this
wonderful country. To this day I am still talking about it and comparing
everything around me to what it was like in Italy. I truly feel that country. I
feel it in my bones. I feel that I am supposed to be there. Like the song says,
"when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's amore."
That's what it is, Love for this wonderful, enriched, and steeped in history
country. My love I miss you but will see you again someday. Italia, mi amore…….
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