4 months in Italy

It has been a long time since I've blogged about my trips to Italy. This year I decided to spend 4 months in there. I am blessed with a family who understands my love of travel and even more so, my love of Italy. I want you all to know that I think all of Italy is beautiful. My favorite parts are Lake Como, Puglia, The Amalfi Coast, The Aeolian Islands, and of course my bella Calabria. It has been a year since my aunt Teresa passed away and this year after traveling with Ionian Jewel Tours for 4 months, I was able to spend time in the house my mother and my aunt were born in and also I have been fortunate enough to inherit this house in the town I was born in. This house was left to my family and I do not know where to begin to describe the beautiful views of the Ionian Sea and the glorious mountains that are just outside the windows upon awakening every morning. Waking up every day and listening to the sound of the vendors yelling through a megaphone about what kind of fruits and vegetables they are selling and stepping out of my house to purchase them off the small trucks brings me back to my childhood. Fish, Cheese, and even house hold items are sold this way; I love it.

I love when the older women sit on my foot steps in the afternoon and in the evening. They continue to do this even after my aunt passed away. Yes, I am blessed now that I have this house which allows me to conduct my tour business while I am in Italy. No more traveling back and forth. I just simply meet and greet my clients in Italy and when my tours are done I return to my new home and await the next group traveling to Italy for an experience like the one I lived the past four months.

Montepaone is the name of the place in Calabria where I spent my summer. It is a place for those looking for relaxation and for those who have a great appreciation for a small town still keeping traditions of many years ago.

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME.

saying good bye to Auntie Teresa

On September 9th my aunt Teresa passed away. The memories of the times spent in Italy in that little house overlooking the crystal clear waters of the Ionian Sea from one balcony and the mystical mountains from the other balcony will never be just a memory. We had some wonderful times with my aunt when we would go to Montepaone for the summers. She would always make it special for us since she had no children of her own. My uncle and my aunt were a great couple. After he husband passed away she lost interest in many of her daily routines. The house she once loved she just abandoned . She would just sit on her steps outside waiting for all the other widows to sit and talk for hours about anything and everything. This became her life. It made her happy just hang with the women on the ruga(the little street ).
When I would go visit her the last couple of years . I would find her wondering the little streets or just sitting in the little chair made out of wood and stray looking as if she was lost. Then she would notice me and she would laugh and with in a split second she would cry. When I last saw her in June I knew I would not see her on that little chair again with her friends.
After her funeral I returned to the house which was left to my family and started to clear all the years of clutter she had left behind.
Now I have started to sit with the ladies in the ruga who tell stories of my aunt in her last years, and stories of my mom and dad and of all the Monteponese that are departed.
While in that house and town I noticed how happy I was . It is the simplicity of life that these wonderful people have showed me and I miss that now that I am home in the States. Auntie Teresa lived that simple life . I know today that is why she never wanted to leave that little house in that special little town in Calabria.
My brother and sisters and I will be traveling to Italy more often and never take for granted what was left to us.
Our family home passed down from our parents who also owned the house with auntie Teresa.

Calabria is always been the most special place on earth for us.

Friends in Calabria

Four years ago I meet David of Steiman and Gentile a Bus touring company in Calabria. I knew after hiring this family business that I would not use anyone else. They are wonderful, caring people. No matter who the driver is they are always careful while driving. (You all know what driving is like in Italy. They drive like crazy people!!!!)
Every tour group I have taken to Italy, always comments on the drivers.
This year David invited my family and my friends to his house in Staletti. This beautiful town is 20 minutes from the beautiful grounds of Cassiodoro where we were staying. David, his mother, and his girlfriend Anna had a wonderful pizza night for us. It was a perfect night . The stars lit up the sky as we ate outside in the fresh mountain air , while the moon reflected on the beautiful sea beneath us.We enjoyed the local wines and cheese of the are along with wonderful conversation.
I am glad my sister and my friends were able to enjoy themselves with the many friends I have made in BELLA CALABRIA!!!!!!!

Calabria, Sicily, and auntie Teresa

We just got back from another trip to bella Calabria. This time we stayed at a palace called Cassiodoro in Staletti province of Catazaro. There were 10 of us in all. We each rented flats on this beautiful manicured grounds. It is located about 2 miles from the sea. Our room had the most amazing views of the coast. This location is very family friendly and was very relaxing. We would spend the day at the beach and with the temperatures in the high 80's is was very refreshening to come back to the beautiful breeze this location offered all day. The owners were right you do not need air conditioning at the place.

My stay in Calabria is always bitter sweet. I go visit my aunt who health is in decline. She hardly knows who were are . It is sad to find her roaming the streets of Montepaone looking for someone to keep her company. If she could only remember she has company all the time. This time I took my sister with me who had not been in Italy for 10 years, and only now could she understand what was happening to her aunt Teresa. We would go visit her 2 more times after that and said our goodbyes . Who knows if we will ever see her again in her little home and town of Montepaone.

Since I was traveling with another family I decided it was time to take them to may friends place is Lipari. La Villetta. We all loved it here. The people , the beaches and ofcourse the food.

cooking with Marianna

When I discovered InItalyTours offered a cooking class in the mountains in a little country home I could not resist the offer from Tania the founder of the company. Since I also have a company that runs tours to Calabria .I wanted to sample this cooking class for myself. Marianna lead me to her herbal ,vegetable and fruit garden in the field where they are grown . My husband and I were also shown how to make home made fisilli (pasta). Our meal was accompanied by some wonderful Calabrese wines .It was like a journey through time.. What made this night so special was sitting down with Tania , Mariana and her husband Franco surrounded by the rustic beauty in the hills of Tropea . As we sat in the middle of the field under a beautiful white canopy with candles burning and the brilliant stars above I knew we were about to indugle ourselves in a great Calabrese feast.Buona Petito!!!!!!!1

After Calabria comes Lipari

After nine days of taking care of my aunt our 25th. wedding anniversary celebration began.

We chose the island of Lipari because we both love it there. Lipari in May is just perfect, not overwhelming with tourist yet just enough to make this place exciting. We had a wonderful time. Our days were so peaceful. We would take long walks to the markets, along the sea shore and enjoy the cafes and beaches.

Our favorite place to eat is La Cambussa. Nazareno and Franca are wonderful, warm people. Franca is the chef and Nazareno her husband is the waiter. By far best food and wine on the island. 

One afternoon we took a boat over to the islands of Panarea and Stromboli. So romantic!! Panarea is the island of the VIPS.  Stromboli is beautiful at sunset. The boat sails out and anchors in view of the active volcano. The stillness of the water, the red lava and listening to the rocks tumble down to the water is a spectacular event to witness. You must experience it. I highly recommend it.

We will be going to back to Lipari soon and visit LA CAMBUSSA and all the friends from our anniversary celebration.  Our next trip will include the islands of Alicudi and Filicudi. Both islands are on my list of must see locations. We will not wait 25 years to enjoy the wonders of Lipari.