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Published: April 1st 2007
Gondola at last
Cuising gently along the canals in Venice So spoilt were we, where after a brilliant week skiing in France, JP put on his “Jean Paul” clothes and we headed off to Italy to meet up with his dad, Gustavo, and little brother Damian to “meet the family”. Without any arrival plans, Angelo (JP’s uncle) somehow found us at Milan airport and took us back to his home in Viguzollo to meet Graziella and be fed the first of many incredible, home made Italian meals. After that, we didn’t stop eating, and it was seldom less then a three course meal! I’ve never eaten so much good food! The Italian hospitality is also so warm and welcoming, and it was so exciting to be taken into a real Italian home, which is so different to what we’re used to: on the outside it looks rather plain, and often rundown, but inside, its been beautifully decorated - hidden little treasures.
On the first Sunday we met Nona, Marina and Graziella (Gustavo’s sisters), Marcus and Carla (and husband and 6 week old Aliche)- JP’s cousins, and a couple great aunts and uncles. Very little English was spoken, so we relied heavily on body language and inflections in verbal communication!
The Veronese's and Tanya!
Damian, Gustavo, Jean Paul and myself in the beaufitul botanical gardens in Padua Even managed to pick up bits and pieces of Italian, but conversation was still largely through gestures! On our last evening we even went out for dinner with a Dictionary to translate not only the menu, but also the conversation - definitely something new in my books! And when JP’s dinner arrived, it certainly wasn’t what we’d expected (see photo!)
On Monday Marina’s boss, Gianni took us with him for a little trip to Milan - the fashion center of the world! We spent a lovely day walking around the majestic Piazza de Duomo, and the first shopping center in the world. On Wednesday we headed off to Padua and the place of the thermal springs. Walking around these little villages and towns is fascinating - the buildings are rich with history and architecture; the air is abuzz with foreign tongues; and the people are mostly brunettes! He he… the next morning we found ourselves in Venice - a real dream come true. I walked around in a daze wanting to keep pinching myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming… huge buildings which reach up out of the waters; hotel portico’s from a jetty; hospital A&E is just a
Piazza de Duomo in Milano
bit old fashioned looking... hole in the wall so the “boat ambulance” can pull in; and boats parked under buildings like cars parked in garages… the cherry on top was the ride in the gondala - something that I’ve read about and dreamed of doing since I was little…
Sadly though, all good things must come to an end, but what an incredible taste of a wonderful culture. I do hope to get back there again soon.
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Italy
Divine Divine Tups - Jape looked more Italian in italy than he does in SA. Lovely to see all the famdamily too. Must go back there.