Thurs- Sun 9/15-18

These three days were spent blissfully in the “hometowns”.  Pino and family warmly welcomed us to Terranova on Thurs afternoon.   Aside from walking through town a dozen times, there’s not much to do. It was a great opportunity to catch up on my writing and reading.  We did try to find the “pietà” to no avail. I was happy to return to the hotel!

Cinzino and Franco, 87 and 77 respectively, joined us for dinner.  What a hoot.  Lenny kept up his end of the conversation in Italian as I also tried!  When Cinzino saw me he started to jump up and down…wanting to dance!  He’s the original energizer bunny!  Franco seems very lonely and sad…his wife is gone about 2 hrs.  Quite a study in contrast those two.  

Friday, he took Lenny on a forced March. I stayed behind knowing that it would be a killer.  Turns out, we were totally on the wrong place yesterday in search of the little church.  Lenny sent pics and I recognized the bell and realizing we’d been up there in ‘10.  They walked more than 5 miles and climbed 60 floors!!  He’s an animal!  Lenny said he was jumping up and grabbing grapes along the way!

In the afternoon, we went to the cemetery, to the Oliveti Bridge and tried to get to Acqua Tremolò.  Somehow we landed on a dirt path and never made it so Len took us instead, up to the  chapel (Madonna della Pietà) where we took turns raining that bell!  Quite desperate for entertainment!

The “boys” joined us again for dinner (Pino outdid himself) and we had a few laughs. We told Cinzino we went to his bridge and ever so meekly, Franco said that HE built the bridge…pretty funny!  After dinner, we walked through town, the brothers greeting everyone we met.  At one point, Cinzino challenged Sheldon to race him. It was hard to tell who was the definitive winner!!

We said goodbye to Franco…he said he couldn’t come in the morning…had “things to do”…he was already teary.  He hugged me like he wouldn’t let go. 

L to R - Mina, Shel, Cinzino, Ann, Franco, Me, Len, Pino. Vanessa, Allesandro

Pino got weepy too, Sat morning. I teased Mina about closing down and coming to NY. It always feels like it might be the last time. Lenny promised a return.  We left by 10 and made our way to Quaglietta.

It had stormed in the night but by the time we got to Rocky’s, the sun was shining!  Carmelina welcomed us with open arms and we were amazed at the changes she had made to the hotel!  After some drinks and chips, she joined us on a walk to the castle and St Rocco’s. We explored the ruins and what haphazard arc restorations were made. It didn’t seem like there was any rhyme or reason to the process!  Carmelina was so disappointed since she hadn’t been there in awhile. We went to the cemetery, checked on Lenny’s work from ‘19 and meandered back to the hotel. Carmelina took us into her “garden” here we picked prickly pears and grapes.  We were eating figs right from the tree!  They were delicious and I was 15 again!

Carmelina is really something else. She cans her own tomatoes, makes her own jams and tapenades, pasta and oil, bakes her own croissants, and other goodies.  Pino does too in a “gourmet “ kind of way. Hers is everyday “compania” good!  She promised to send recipes…we’ll see. 

Bottom line, we talked about me staying with both of them for an extended period of time to learn from them both!  We’ll see!  

We chatted away over a delicious pasta (finally red sauce) and  it’s fascinating to listen to her very British accent!  The boys, Rocco and Sasha were in and out and getting the nets ready for the olive harvest.

Breakfast consisted of  croissants, lemon cake, coconut chocolate cupcakes and eggs on request. Too much!  Mario kind of kept to himself, and doesn’t speak any English. I think he’s full of baloney and understands everything. 

We could’ve talked longer, but Rome and Chiara were beckoning. We left by 10, with promises to return…again that feeling of separation.