Travel another way

Last travel notes from Joan D., San Jose , California, one of our guests on the Provence tour. After our trip, she and her friend Eppie went to Italy.

“Another interesting note: people in Italy won’t serve you something you request if they don’t think ‘its right’.  Eppie ordered coffee before dinner and was denied because one doesn’t drink coffee until AFTER dinner. (He said ‘drink wine with dinner).  A cappuccino after 11:00am? Forget about it. I tried once and the person just said no and walked away. BUT, it IS okay to have Gelato at anytime of day, even an hour before dinner. In fact, I think its even approved as a meal substitute.

Doggie bags or to-go boxes? Are you nuts? Why would you have leftovers? Eat it all, mangia, mangia! Besides, if you are holding doggie bags how can you hold your Gelato?   Having lived in San Jose for 7 years, Laura and Valerio anticipated our astonishment and would tell us what to expect. They remarked that when they left in 2000 for the U.S. restrooms were free, now there’s a cover charge (,50€) that may or may not include a toilet seat, (kind of gross) a toilet bowl (eewww really gross) paper (don’t ask, don’t tell) or all 3. (Totally disgusting and only to be used in cases of extreme emergency). So why are we paying??? Men have it good, that’s all I have to say about it.

After San Zeno (remember him?) We walked towards a bit , then picked up Nicolo from school and headed northwest to Lago di Gardo (Garda Lake) and to the lake side village of Bartolino. Talk about PERFECT TIMING, the Festa del Uva e Vino (grape and wine festival) was starting within an hour of our arrival. So we decide to kill time and sit down and have enormous bowls of Gelato.  Sure enough, at 5:45 a little band of local musicians paraded through the street followed by a mule pulling a cart filled with young girls (8-12yrs) dressed as peasants (including head scarf) handing out bunches of red grapes- they were delicious! ”

At 6:00pm the Mayor (complete with red, white and green sash) cut the ribbon and announce that the festival had begun. We strolled through the many booths, all of which were selling food or pouring wine. Valerio works somewhat nearby and he drove over after work and joined us. What a treat! The festival is very popular with ‘the germans’. Apparently many ‘germans’ have summer homes on Lake Garda and come down for this festival. We even saw some Lederhosen.  (I believe ‘The Germans’ includes anyone who speaks german, as the neighbors to the north of Italy are actually Switzerland and Austria).

We had a great time walking around, looking how each booth was decorated and what kind of food they were serving. Everything from Gnochi Bolognese to Polenta e Funghi to Seafood. Not one burger joint.  One booth served roast pig, and I mean the whole pig right down to the eyelashes and teeth. The pig had a tennis ball in his mouth!!  Any of you who know me (and our dog) well can guess how unsettling this was for me. Poor Strider!! So we all had plenty to eat and listened to the loud music (all american or at least english. Whenever I hear YMCA or Celebration again I will remember Bartolino) Valerio remarks that most of the music you hear in Italy isn’t Italian, only Americans think ‘That’s Amore’ and ‘o sole mio’ are typical italian songs. Silly me for expecting italian music in Italy. So most meals had english soundtracks. So with this day being our first full day in Verona, I’d say we’re off to a great start!”