Arrivato — 26 hours after we shuttled off to the now-common public spectacle of travel, we sat in the snack and coffee end of the terminal. Airports feel like current events-type geography lessons. Uzbekistan was in Milan, and so was Droha , wherever that is. So, if one computes the luxury of travel and who is doing much of it. (Like, who has money available…) China, for one. Our Italian Airlines behaved badly (economically) and is now called ITA; really a great old lady needing a facelift. Other intriguing exotic arrivals today include Qatar from Sri Lanka, Neos Air from Mombassa and Nanjing, Marrichech, Ethiod, from Abu Dabi, Ethiopian from Addis Ababa, Azerbaijan Airlines from Baku Heydar Aliyev.
Why is this sampling slice important to me? I have never been to any of those places and probably couldn’t pronounce them properly, but I want to. And so I watch the folks arriving at this sweet small airport, make guesses, and fill in details about people as they deplane, watching them for the clues of their lives. How do they feel about things? What do they want out of their lives? How do they cope with the world they live in? We did have a nice convo with some Canadians, who themselves were just folks getting a kick out of the world.
Of course, I have no more answers, not even enlightened questions. But while we waited for our cousins to arrive, drinking our overpriced coffees and stalking the wild traveler was my pleasurable pastime.
The Big Deal- One hour after hugs to cousins and after arriving at our little two-star oasis, where Guido remembers us and where we are always made welcome. Sleep. Then – on a run for the forgotten toothpaste, we discovered La Galateria, which has gelato Senza Zucchero ( without sugar). Big Score for Team Lavezzi! How lucky can we be to find the unicorn on our first foray, I ask you? We’ll be back. Often.
Our first Air B&B is quite perfect for us. Two bedrooms upstairs at the top with a bath and patio entrance above, our room is one floor down, with another bath, kitchen, fireplace, and the luxury of a dishwasher, and a clothes washer as well. All of this with a nice outdoor seating area, an outdoor grill the best view of the Mediterranean from this hillside. There are tomatoes growing on the side of the patio, and we have that most precious of things — a parking space. We’ve been to the IPERCOOP for groceries and lots of “hmmm – what the heck do we think is this?” sort of shopping. Lots of glutine and zucchero-free items too.
We are fortunate; we are happy-crazed and settled in, looking for dead people. Except tomorrow, Thursday, for John Lavezzi’s birthday celebration over ravioli at our favorite fabulous hilltop restaurant. It’s good to be us, we keep saying — lively and rolling in grace.
Wish us luck, if you will, as we tackle the Roman Catholic Church records in Italy — maybe, maybe — or not. There are obstacles, of course, but our vocabulary of 40 words together is getting us ordered in restaurants and finding gelati, so maybe we are good to go.
Wishing you joy
Judy