​Weathering the Storm with the WP#176

Did you know that Perugia is the Chocolate capital of Italy? It has, of course, has been owned by Nestle, a Swiss company and all that entails for decades. They even sell Starbucks products, through an agreement with Nestle to distribute their products around the world, but that is a different story, but this post is not about corporate takeovers or high stakes agreements. It is last week when we were in Perugia for a mini holiday and a little concert during the Jazz Festival that also takes places in Perugia during the window we were there. ​

So, given Rosa and I had time before the concert, since it did not start until 9:00 pm last Wednesday night, we thought going to Perugina for the tour of the factory would be fun to do, so we hopped into a taxi and 23 Euros later, we were there. And, yes, it would have been, if we had known that a reservation was required and only two tours are offered each day, we would have gotten tickets in advance, except on Saturdays with three tours a day, but it is a Wednesday. You guessed it, and the website is not clear. When we arrived, we were told, along with 10 others, from Sweden and Hungary, and others, that they were closed for tours that day. Like Walley World from “National Lampoon Vacation”, when the Griswald’s arrived, after the long, long, full of craziness trip from Chicago, we were stopped at the entrance. Okay, our taxi ride was only about 20 minutes or so, but the sentiment is there.

Even Rosa, who speaks Italian, as she is a native, found the website unclear, so this mixed group of people, chatted, went to the store to buy some things as that was the only thing open. Capitalism at its best with an Italian twist. Only if it is convenient. I did not even buy a 50 Eurocent Acqua Frizzante. Rosa and I chose not to support this monster company even though they had baci, kisses. I would prefer to buy Hershey’s Kisses. I am not anti – Perugina, but as an interesting comparison. If this occurred in America, possibly, not guaranteed, 10 – 12 people, including several kids, not to be disappointed, somehow, management might find a solution, and maybe make a little money in the process. However, Italy is different, the money is not important and even though the place was not closing for 90 minutes, they basically said sti cazzi, translated, we don’t care, and I thought this was only in Roma and the south, but I guess not. ​

I even remember decades ago, in a chilly April when I did a self-drive to Canada, to the Atlantic provinces, arrived in Prince Edward Island, hoping the see the Confederation House, which that time of year was closed, unbeknownst to me, not really paying attention, in any case. I went to the entrance to see if it was open and it was not and no one around, or so I thought. I knocked on the door and a few minutes later, the door opened, and a gentleman stood there and asked what I wanted. I told him I had driven for hours in some unpleasant weather to see the Confederation House. I think I drove from Nova Scotia and took the ferry across to PEI. The Confederation Bridge did not exist at that time. He was a janitor and told me it was closed which I understood, and I asked, maybe a few minutes to wander around and lo and behold, I was let in. I am sure what did was not “legal”, but it was at a different time, and I spent about an hour. That scenario came to mind and the Walley World upon arrival experience at Perugina. Just thought it was funny, so 23 Euros back to Perugia before the concert that night. ​

TOTO is a band of which I have enjoyed the music from the beginning late 70s and when they really hit it in the 1980s. Maybe not like BOSTON or Foreigner, the Eagles, Billy Joel, but certainly the songs have been burned into my psyche from “99” to “Hold the Line” to their biggest hits, “Rosanna” and of course, “Africa” and they were playing Perugia and I had never seen them in concert, so I bought tickets and was not disappointed. It was a lot of fun and the audience, mostly Italian, but from other places as well, had a great time. Even Rosa knew a few songs, so we had a nice evening after an interesting day out. As I mentioned last week, Perugia also is a place where she had family, her nonno, on her father’s side, I believe, and it was certainly emotional for her. I believe I have shared that he died when she was 10, so not there through her formative years, of course, for her sisters also, Pamela and Manuela, both younger than she, so when she broke down, it was very powerful, so for one day, it was highs and lows. ​

The return train ride back to Rome the next day was usual with delays and stops and nearly 4 hours plus later we arrived back. Rosa went to the library to work, I back home to catch up with things here. The rest of the week was the usual paperwork, looking at house things, and registering with the State Polizia, so they know I live here now. Other piece in the puzzle. Have to love bureaucracy, but we muddle through with domani, domani, domani. The workers were supposed to start Monday, now they will start Thursday. As Rosa says, “welcome to Italy”. I am here to be with her, no matter the craziness of our lives and everything we can’t control. Everything will fall into place, and I hope by our first wedding anniversary, we are settled at home. I read a post the other day on Facebook that said, everything happens at the right time or something like that. It is true, and even now, I sometimes forget it, but then I get back on track. ​

The other events of the past 7 days were two very nice things. One, Saturday night, Rosa and I got together with momma, Pamela, Manuela, and Massimo (Manuela’s husband), actually my family, and went to one of our favorite places, Bull Steak, in the San Saba neighborhood, we found out about when we lived in that neighborhood last year. It is, as the name suggests, a steakhouse, but with an Italian flare, but a sense of America and they know how to cater to the Americans. In fact, Marco, the host, who I had not seen since perhaps last September or October, when he saw me, came over and gave me a handshake and a hug. Apparently, when Rosa had made the reservation, she put it in under my name. She arrived later after a tour. Of course, when we arrived, Manuella asked for a reservation under Rosa’s name, but it was not there. In the end, we had a very nice evening, amazing steak, and a renewed experience. Rosa and I had maybe been there 3 times prior, but this place and Pinsere are the only places in Rome, I have been more than 3 or 4 times and the owner/host remembers me and have become “friends”. On Friday, we fly to Catania, if Mt. Etna doesn’t shut down the airport for a wedding for one of Rosa’s friends for the weekend. Another Italian wedding 😊. More to share soon as we move forward. ​

The other experience happened just yesterday when I stopped by momma’s house to drop off a catalog, she had left here the other day. Rosa also had asked me to go there to drop it off, so I did. Remember, momma is about a 10-minute walk away. It was creeping up in temperature, and having a bus pass, decided the 5 minute – 3 stop ride was better. So, when I get over there, we have a little conversation, her broken English, my broken Italian, and it was very nice. The conversation turned to what I was doing yesterday, and I told her I had work to do, but also to groceries, so she and I went over to Pam (Pronounced POM), to get a few things. This lasted about 20 – 30 minutes and I came out of there with mostly veggies and some fruits. I think the conversation started about how good the cucumbers were at this grocery store and I said I loved cucumbers, so that is why we went and yes, bought some cucumbers among other things. In any case, she explained that this item had to much sure, the fish were fished in Lake Tanganika, and the waters were dirty, this item had too much fat and was not healthy. It was an interesting dynamic. She apparently is well known there at the store, as I had forgotten to get a price, so I went out the in door with an item to get back in and get the sticker. Something that may have caused a fuss, as it had not been paid for, but I did not want to go around. She said I should have gone back the way we came. 
In the end, it was a nice experience and when I shared this with Rosa last night, she said that is what I have experienced my whole life and laughed at dinner as I told the story. I think I will do this occasionally, but only occasionally. The final part of this story is that after shopping and grabbing something else from momma’s house, and saying ciao to her and leaving, she decided to wait with me at the bus stop for the bus, which she did. I had never had this happen in my life as I was never a bus child going to school, as the school was always walkable. It was cute, but it also felt a bit strange, being 62 and having momma, waiting with me at the bus stop to make sure I got on my way. I guess I am truly part of the family and accepted as part of the family. Again, my wife’s reaction to me telling her this last night was also priceless. This is her past and present with certain guilts about what she eats sometimes. She knew my past and not having any of this kind of attention growing up, so she was amused by the experience I had. 
I hope you have enjoyed my offerings each week and appreciate that you have read my blog posts and look forward to continuing with sharing. As always, thank you so much for your support of Rosa’s and my crazy little world here in Rome now that they have been merged into one. We truly appreciate your support. Stay safe, healthy, and most importantly happy, and as always, your shared comments and thoughts are most welcome!!!

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