Ciao Bella Italia

Flying The Friendly Skies To Cinque Terre And Beyond

Greetings from Bella Italia and Cinque Terre, home of the world’s best food. Over the last week, we’ve set foot in three unique countries in three different continents (Africa, Asia, and Europe). Now our feet rest on the western coast of Italy in Cinque Terre.

A single month in South Africa and Lesotho passed in a flash compared to that leisurely five month stint in Asia. Yet there was still literally a ticket with our names on it, thus began a lengthy 28 hour transAtlantic travel marathon. Instead of a bus back up to Joburg from Cape Town, we paid a bit more money. That saved our asses 26 hours on a bus. In exchange, a panoramic view of Cape Town and only two hours on a plane. Great deal.

The next flight exposed us to Middle Eastern opulence. By far the nicest flight of our trip, and not to mention, our life, was on Emirates. The flight to Dubai was stocked full of free drinks, shooting stars across the roof of the cabin, video games, and all the music you could want, and most importantly for my taller frame, leg room.

Fatigue finally attacked me after a sleepless night playing Tetris crept up on the hot Dubai tarmac. I slept walk to the next plane for Milan. A rarity for me, but I slept a solid two hours on the six hour flight. One more flight, bella Roma briefly greeted us . . . but only long enough to catch a train to Florence. There, Nadine’s mom, Clare, and sister, Susie awaited us.

The Walking Dead

The physical and emotional battled in our bodies. We walked Florence feeling dead to the world, but with a bounce in our step. Italy is an easy place to navigate after the last six months of travel. Public transportation whisks around underground with 2,000 year old antiquities spread above ground.

At the Florence hotel, the refinement and location of our room looking over the Arno River grabbed our attention. But that didn’t compare to the excitement of Nadine chatting with her mom and sister. And conversely for them meeting Nadine’s every growing belly. From that point, it was chat, chat, chat, chat, and chat. I might as well have been the guide.

Happy Chatter

Over the next couple of days, the four of us hit the major sites: il Duomo, Michelangelo’s David at the Galleria dell’Accademia, the Ponte Vecchio (the same one outside our room). But the constant was happy chatter between Nadine, Clare, and Susie.

The fine views of Florence couldn’t control our group. Florence led to the region in Pisa with the Leaning Tower of Pisa, excellent calzone in Lucca, and the region where five small villages perched on rocky picturesque outcrops make a national park, Cinque Terre.

A Sandwich You Could Cinque Terre Your Teeth In

The popular intercity hike among the five Cinque Terre towns kept us busy. That was the activity of choice for the three Bissonnette girls, and being outnumbered, that is what this White boy had to do. The path out of Vernazza led our hike to the small village of Corniglia where ocean waves crashed incessantly. Along the way, we picked up meat and cheese for sandwiches. After one of the best sandwiches Nadine and I ever had, we continued. The route to Manarola had to be done by train because of a rock slide. Riomaggiore concluded the hike, but the views of mountains crashing into the Mediterranean easily made it worth being dragged by the three Bissonnette girls.

The town where we stayed, Vernazza, was home to one of the best Italian restaurants in the world, La Sandro. A packed house left us literally out in the cold on Saturday night, so we swiftly made reservations for the next night. Our highly anticipated return the next night promptly at seven was the start of an Italian feast. We all indulged over a perfect meal of pasta, ravioli, penne, and house red wine. Every bite was followed with an audible, healthy “mmmmm” and “can I have a bite of yours?” Italian food all satisfies. If you ever think about going to La Sandro in the near future, let me know, I will meet you there for dinner.

And The Winner Is . . .

That leads us to our next topic, a very important one for that matter. In life and in travels, we have come across some great food. Mexican. Tex-Mex. Indian. Thai. Vietnamese. But they all come in for a distant second to Italian food. As Nadine said, “All meals are either good or great.” It’s amazing what Italians are able to do with a tomato, pasta, olive, a few spices, and tah dah, perfection. And to top off the perfect dinner, you can pick one of the ten gelaterias on every street serving creamy Italian ice cream, gelato. Now if you love food, this is the place to come to indulge and then walk it all off. Back home, you find all types of restaurants. Here, you only find restaurants serving Italian food. What does that tell ya about the gastronomy of a country?

Ok, time to finish this blog as I slip off into food comatose.

JW