The First Week 9/4 - 17/4

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Hey all,

First attempt at writing the experiences for the week. Hopefully by the end it will be in much more depth and i'll be able to remember more as i will have bought a diary to track daily events (Yes mum i'll eventually get around to doing it)

So where to start with my first week abroad?

9/4 - Flight from Melbourne to Doha
10/4 - Flight from Doha to Rome, Rome to Reggio
11/4 - Meeting the cousin over Sunday Lunch
12/4 - Visiting neighbouring towns
13/4 - Became accustomed to drinking coffee beans or as it is called here un'caffe
14/4 - Went for a walk with Domenico around the outskirts of Paparone
15/4 - spent the day just relaxing and wandering the streets of Paparone. Ceno at Domenico's lavori and watched the soccer.
16/4 - Visited Pizzo with Carmelo and Tiazaena (an Amazing grotto and castle unfortunately it was shut)
17/4 - Drove around the streets of Scille, Bagnara and Palmi with the cousins

Probably the flight would be a handy spot. Flying Qatar Air which i was a bit suspect of before i left however they did surprise me and were better than REX but thats not hard! I flew from Melbourne into Doha at 6:30am and it was already 28 degrees!

Next stop Rome. The most amazing part of my flights i only watched 3 movies in 20 hours. By the end of the trip i just wanted to have the freedom to move around. But of course there was a hiccup, when i arrived at Fuimicino airpor i seemed to have an issue with baggage. Being left at the carosel with 3 other people from my flight wasnt the most enjoyable experience when i knew i had a connecting flight soon. Almost made me change my opinion of Qatar Air. But the did come through with the goods and my bags did turn up after an hour and half wait.

Onto Reggio Calabria. It had finally sunk in that people here didnt speak much English and what i thought i knew of Italian i didnt! However with the little Italian i knew and translator ready i headed off. Meeting the cousins for the first time was interesting. I think they assumed i would know to converse in Italian. I think it even frustrated them a little to begin with but we eventually got through it.

I have become accustomed to the mandatory eating ceremonies that call meals. Munja Munja is a term i would prefer not to hear again. Although the food is amazing it is like anything. Too much of a good thing can be bad. i have learnt the saying 'troppo cibo' has left in me in good staed for some meals. The coffee was the one that i was most weary about with everyone saying be careful how much you have cause u wont sleep cause they are that strong. I think after a week my body will miss the 3 to 4 shots of caffenine it has been getting.

With my italian vocabulary gradually increasing (now at about 15 words) i have started to have 2 word conversations with people which always start with 'parli Inglese'. I still cant understand everything someone says to me but i have a rough idea (at least some of the time). I'm pretty sure the cousins have a go at me because my generic response if i have absolutley no idea what they are saying is Sì Sì (even when it is not an appropriate response)!

Walking around the village has given my a greater appreciation of how the grandparents grew up even though i think it is a lot better now than it was then. Domenico showed me the land that my great grandparents farmed walked around it for a couple of hours. (photos to come)

Saturday i went to Pizzo a small medievil coastal town. We saw its famous grotto (i'd never heard of it) and went to the castle in the town (unfortunately it was shut). However just next door to the castle was a sweets shop that created fruit replicas out of sugar and dye. I was given a pomodore to try (its still in the fridge too amazing to eat just yet). Saturday afternoon was spent just relaxing kicking the soccer ball around in the street which eventually turned into a match down the road as more people came out to play.

Sunday: like every sunday ment a huge lunch (lasagne, crumb meat, slow cooked beef, meat balls) and of course copious amounts of vino (i learnt the trick not to finish your glass completely ptherwise it gets refilled in a matter of seconds) . Followed by the usual round of spirits and coffee. Not knowing what some of the liquers were was a bad thing as i was told to try all of them. After a generous serving of each and starting to feel them the cousins went and played cards while the food settled. By night the male cousins decided to go and cruise the boulevards of Scille, Bagnara and Palmi. I learnt some very vital terms (not really) about describing females whilst checking out the talent along the beachside. In all it was interesting experience as the older cousins continued to ask whether i found a bella regazza and was going to stay in Calabria (with the volcano at the moment i dont have much choice).

In all a fairly amazing experience so far,

Caio

Nicholas

P.S I saw a dasea Sandera ( I really dont know what James May is on about there not that amazing)
PPS Photos will be uploaded soon

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Photos

Doha Airport
You can't tell its the middle of the desert

The Crucifix
Santa Elia with Palme in the background

Grotto at Pizzo
This Church was carved into the face of a cliff. it was built in repect of those who died in a storm at least thats what i could gather from my limited ability to translate

Statue in Pizzo Grotto
All the statues in the grotto were carved from stallagtites or in the the bed of the cave

The Zucchero fruit
The photo probably doesnt do it justice. It just looks so real

Comments

[Shell benton]

wow
im the firt to comment.. yay.... thats alot to read

[Carmel Smith]

Hi from Mackay
Hi Nick, Loved reading your blog. You are doing a great job and enjoying the read. Did you make it to Gallipoli? Have just spent a week in Brisbane with Christopher, Beth and Heath. What a special week it was. Loved it to bits,.....and that gorgeous little boy. Keep enjoying your trip and look forward to the next instalment. Lots of love, Carmel and Wayne xxxx