LITTLE DID WE KNOW WE HAD SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST…
One of the main goals of our adventure had been to immerse ourselves in Italian culture and people. We did this by venturing into and staying right in the smaller villages and towns to really see and feel how Italians live. We took a train one hour east of Milan to join up with Daniela from the Flight Crew web site. There at the train station were Daniela and her wonderful Sicilian husband, Beppe, waiting for us with open arms. We knew immediately that this would be one very special day from the genuine warmth we felt upon this first meeting. Out came the translator technology. Daniela outshined us all by speaking very good English by the end of the day!
Daniela and Beppe
They took us on a walking tour of beautiful piazzas, city streets, a magnificent old cathedral, ancient statues that possessed beauty hard to describe, the ancient ruins discovered when excavating a hillside for new construction and the castle that over looks the entire city. We were truly in awe as we admired the beauty of this town Daniela and Beppe are proud to call home.
View from the castle
Daniela then informed us we were going to their home for lasagna. When we got in the car she put her Notte Magica CD in and turned on Ave Maria Mater Misericordiae. Much to our delight she turned it up real loud! It was awesome to see Beppe is just as much of an Il Volo fan as Daniela! So there we are riding along the streets of this beautiful Italian town with our new Italian friends, mesmerized by the music filling the air we breathed. It was close to an out of body experience for the both of us! What could make this any better you ask?
We arrived at their lovely home and were given a tour. Then we settled in to the kitchen for quite a feast! Beppe started a warm fire in the fireplace (in the kitchen) and put the Notte Magica DVD on for us to watch the concert while we feasted Italian style. Wine, bread, mouth watering marinated artichokes, olives and thin sliced salami was the first course. Then came delicious lasagna bolognese. Next were tasty ribs and french fries. Then came grapes and fresh sliced pineapple. Then cheeses were offered. Then came a wonderful cake her daughter had made for us. This was then topped off with Italian coffee. We ate until we were wonderfully full. We were truly in seventh heaven!
Table all set for company
Mouth watering lasagna!
In the comfort of an Italian home
Our day didn’t come to an end before giving us each gifts of Italian espresso coffee makers and good Italian coffee, then taking us to a beautiful, peaceful lake out in the country where people were feeding swans and ducks and walking around enjoying the area. We bid them good bye at the train station and headed back to Milan. We will never forget the warmth, kindness and genuine hospitality shown to us that day. They are what Italy is all about. We have learned through Gianluca, Piero and Ignazio, the amazing love and affection Italians have for others. We have felt the beauty of this first hand upon meeting Daniela and Beppe. Little did we know we had saved the best for last…Daniela and Beppe, Grazie dal profondo del nostro cuore.
Three friends forever
~~Jane~~