Rome

Here we are in Rome, yes, luckily we did find the road that led to Rome!

Firstly, we would like to acknowledge our wonderful family in Lucca for their generosity and kindness shown to us over the last two and a half weeks.

To……

Zia Elsa for her wonderful meals, opening her house to us and for her calm and caring nature. Her tranquility and cheeriness, welcoming us ‘home’ at the end of a tiring day out.

Zio Piero for his wicked, cheeky smile and sense of humour, and his dedication to his l’orto (vegetable garden) and generously providing something from l’orto at every meal.

Zia Maria Pia and Zio Sergio for the great day we had at Viareggio and the wonderful seafood lunch shared together with their family.

Zia Nila and Zio Elio for a superb meal and a relaxing afternoon in campagna at Quattro Venti.

Monica for opening her house to us and a wonderful afternoon tea together. Matteo, for his chats in English and the promise to write to us via email.

 Elisabetta for a great early evening stroll along the promenade at  Viareggio and sharing her house with us on the night before we began our adventure in La Spezia.

Umberto and Alessandra for their computer access whenever we needed it, for a lovely dinner shared, for making themselves and their car available to us to get to the locations inaccessible by bus AND joining us for a spritz or two at the bar! Martina, the young ballerina who delighted us with her dancing and singing.

Riccardo and Paola for the meal shared together beneath the Aqueduct, a memorable evening. Greta and Gabrielle for their amusing antics at the restaurant…. Amazed at how much two children could eat!

Patrizia and Vincenzo for showing us Piazza di Spagna, coffee, a wonderful dinner and their hospitality in Rome on our second night away from our Luccese family. Matilde for her affectionate hugs and special letter which will be kept close forever.

The last few days have been emotion charged for me. I have loved every moment of my time in Lucca, a place that has always been special and important to me because of my dad. I always knew that I would feel at home in Lucca, and that the 28 years since I last saw them all would melt away so that it would seem as is if was only yesterday that we were together. While we have all aged and matured, it is as if time has stood still. The bond between us is indescribable. They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul, and so, as I look into the eyes of my uncles I see their love deep within their hearts. My dad’s eyes convey the same. Saying goodbye was so much more difficult that I imagined.  While I expect to see my cousins again, the thought that I may not see others saddens me immensely. But, my mum’s wise words telling me to remember how fortunate I am to have seen them all once more, is positive and reinforcing. I celebrate this precious time I have shared with Paul and with my Italian family, I will miss them always.  (Tina)

Visiting with my ‘new’ family was such a double-edged sword…. It was so wonderful to be unconditionally and lovingly accepted by people I have never met before, but have heard so much about from  Tina and her family in Australia. BUT it was so surprisingly emotionally hard and difficult to let go and say good-bye the last few days to these wonderful warm  people. I WILL miss them and is unfortunate that we live so far apart. (Paul)

This afternoon Paul writes from the hotel room balcony.

 (Tina says……. yes! Another room with a balcony….Nick M, your advice (if you can’t remember what it was, I’ll tell you when we return) helped us get the rooms with balconies each time!!!!)

….and so to Rome…. Aaahhhh. How can you possible convey in mere words alone the ambience as I write. I write professionally for a living and employ words each day, but I am left impotent to adequately describe what I see, smell, taste and hear. Not possible. The sun is now low in the sky and the buildings are in the creeping  shadows. The sunlight boldly glistening, reflecting from the abundant satellite dishes and rooftop antennas. Swallows aimlessly looping and diving overhead,  silhouetted against the deepening azure blue sky. Church bells faintly calling the faithful to gather  competing with the constant drone of the Rome traffic. Car horns and ambulance sirens punctuating this city symphony.  Somewhere someone is cooking garlic…another is cooking tomatoes and preparing the evening family meal.

We’re writing this at midnight, after our first full day in Rome, and after a dinner out with Patrizia and Vincenzo. We will have more time to write tomorrow and include pictures too!