When all else fails, we do continue to eat. Our B&B serves. Breakfast, and not just hard rolls. More about that later. The best news- We are in the best bed and breakfast yet. Among other things, We have hot water! We have antibiotics! ( For Elaine) We have beds, and private bathrooms. We have a view! We have church bells.We have clean, sweet newly remodeled digs. We even have washcloths – the first time ever.
In each place our accommodations have been different; each in its own way. Our B&B has been created out of an old Irish bar, ( it’s true!) that used to be a convent.
We are on the floor above the family who remodeled and worked their little fingers to the bone, while taking care of a little Achille- a bonny boy with blond hair. And a great big set of eyes.
We are next door to the church of our ancestors during the early 19th century ! How they got this church up here is incomprehensible to me. Bonus is that we have a complete valley overlook that is movie-worthy.
There is another church that we hold Important, another little space with yet one more church perched atop a pinpoint of land like a holy figurine plopped on a green wedding cake. What is it about human need to be closer to God in space?
Those folks who built these manifestations of their faith were both industrious, determined and committed to art and God. In our own way, we honor them.
Our trip continues with it’s share of unplanned happenings. We had come here early to facilitate copying records from that other church. Those records will not be available, we are told, since a new priest has taken up residence. I may ask him directly, if I meet this august donkey.
So, we have four days here, and will manage to fill it with a bit of the riviera, I think – or not – it just wasn’t the plan we had envisioned.
One suitcase was left at the old place, so we drove back through the mountain passes- picture 5 hours of sharp”S” curves on a road too narrow for one wide car, much less two going in opposite directions. Interesting that all of the roads seem to be under construction, sometimes with workers, sometimes with signs. Just like at home, only – we don’t understand the signs. One shows rocks falling, one clearly says that the road is demented, another, tormented, another pavemiento work, several claim danger, and have signs of great warning- of something. We drove through, less information seemed to be our saving grace.
Elaine is now on antibiotics- a truly interesting situation. She has been getting progressively sicker with each day, and her cough getting worse obviously going downhill. Then today, we had our first experience with the Italian medical system. We went back to Francesco’s bar, and told him we needed a doctor room. He gave us a somewhat cynical overview of how the system here works, then suggested that he had a solution. Elizabeth is a nurse, so we had some medical personnel in our own retinue. The pharmacia. Is the place to go! They have all of the drugs you need,— but which kind should you have?We consulted with nurse Elizabeth, and a type was decided.
Next, Francesco called his mother, who met us at the pharmacia, to explain to the man that we needed a certain antibiotic. Since you cannot get a doctor immediately unless you are bleeding, sez Francesco, you need to bypass the doctor entirely or spend the day waiting in his office. Okay – we got it. The mama Maria Louisa, was called in, went to the pharmacia, and asked for the prescription, knowing that the doctor could be counted upon to get a prescription for her son Francesco later. We were in ,out and paid within ten minutes and ten eu, antibiotics in hand. Now that is what I call a medical response! We think that by tomorrow, which is now today, Elaine will be much better. And she is.
With luck, on our way, we will meet with a gentleman of great kindness to our genealogical pursuits tonight. He hosted me with Sam, Koko, and Nick, several years ago, and is fondly remembered by all of us. He has his own story too – his Great Grandfather went to San Francisco to make his way during the gold rush, but decided to return to his valley. There are still some related Torre people there. Great Gampa Torre however, returned and built a building, quite a nice building, that our friend and his family live in so many years later. Nice heritage.
Fog covers the mountains. We drive, and peer out at spiders’ webbing, Halloween style, floating up from the valley floor, covering the buildings, and the trees. It is quite eerie, and fun to see. Our drivers are as yet undeterred by our routes through the spaghetti of skinny side roads, so we will head ourselves out before long.
Blessings on your day, and on ours.