Stories from the Road

September 26, 16

Gerace, Calabria

The coastline of Calabria is devoid of many houses. Apparently the mafia and political machine likes it that way, which may help them but not the local economy. I was seeing condos where there was empty land. At any rate the place is beautiful, and it became more scenic as we wound our way up to the Eagle’s Nest type town called Gerace, where we are spending the night.

Our Italian guide Tatiana told us about the town as we walked its winding streets and cruised some ancient cathedrals. Lunch consisted of wonderful cold cuts, cheese, hot eggplant, and fava beans. It was a treat.

Tatiana is 45 and lives with her mother. Most of her siblings live in the area. In addition to guiding she does private tutoring, though business is slow. Calabria has a depressed economy, and many of the population struggles economically. When she speaks of corruption, she lowers her voice, though we are many kilometers distant from the people she is discussing.

We talked with a couple at lunch from Cleveland. They had just traveled from the Aeolian Islands off the coast of Calabria. I was interested in what they had to say, since we have thought of visiting those islands for some time.

 

People bond quickly when traveling. I remember once in Rome, we talked through our meal to the Canadians sitting next to us. The man was a photographer, and his wife did extensive, solo backpacking in the wilds of Canada. They invited us to come stay with them some time, and I think it would have worked.

Last night we ate at a local place that was hosting a large, lively birthday party. I had a regional favorite, pork with a side of pasta. Everything was excellent. Our guide steered us to another regional favorite, “taturo”, hazelnut and chocolate ice cream fused with chocolate sauce in the middle.

The Emerald Necklace

Near Fenway Park

The trail runs from the Boston Common and ends at Franklin Park. They call it the Emerald Necklace, a fitting name for this green belt that cuts a path through urban Boston. We walked through the Victory Gardens, which occupy part of the trail. These gardens were plots of land lent to citizens during WW II, so they could raise their own vegetables. They continue today, passed down through the generations to locals.

The Charles River follows part of the trial, and it was teeming with brief. It was hard to believe we were in a city!

Golf today

I had an empty course this morning at 6:30 in the San Dieguito River Valley. The courses at Fairbanks Ranch are in good shape, thanks to Bruce, Corey, and their hard working crew. I started off with two double bogeys, which wasn't good, but I brought my game back on the Ocean nine.

The birds were out in full force today with lots of black birds, egrets, and blue herons. I have grown attached to the marshes on the course, which are teaming with wild life.If I didn't play golf, I would enjoy walking through he course and enjoying the nature.

Today on the Course

The sky was overcast when Vicki, Hugh, and I teed off at my club. I started off with a par, but then had some problems as we moved through the first nine. On the second nine I started putting well, and had several one-putt greens. I had one birdie on a par three hole, and missed a couple of others by inches. Vicki was hitting well, and Hugh played better on the back nine.

We went to the dining room for post round coffee. Thee were no people in front or behinds us during our round. This was definitely a good day.

Walking with the Birds

The egrets were moving around the Ocean Course today at the Fairbanks Ranch Country Club. Vicki and I had the first nine to ourselves, and then we were behind some people on the back 9, the Valley Course. There is birdlife everywhere, and in between shots it is fun to bird watch. The course is a virtual nature reserve. I never tire of walking around the marshes with the small ponds.

The Passage of Time

The Groom

The church was very pretty. The sign outside said it was more than 100 years old. It had a classic design and was made of stone. I was in it to witness the marriage of my nephew, David, to his girlfriend, Laurie. They had met teaching is a small New Hampshire town, and now David would teach for the second year at Cheshire Academy in Connecticut. The night before he had told me of his career strategies, and I had smiled, as I heard myself talking not that many years ago. How quickly it all goes by!

We were at the reception now, and David was dancing authoritatively with his new wife. She looked happy, as she whirled around the floor flashing a big smile at her family, who were seated at the next table. At one point James, an old friend of my brother and me came to our table, and we talked warmly for several minutes. He was one of the funniest people I knew, mixing sarcasm and dry wit with speed and pace. In a short time I was laughing hard, trying to remember his comments, but they came too fast to hold.

 

James

My aunt and cousin, who were 86 and 81 respectively, sat in the table behind me. They seemed to be enjoying themselves, but I was struck by the fact that my aunt had been talking about her friends who were gone now for one reason of another. For a moment it seemed like a generational procession was marching through the room. The announcement that Italy had beaten France in the World Cup broke my reverie, and there were loud cheers from the Italian Americans present.

I talked with the boyfriend of my sister in law’s niece, not an easy connection to follow. He raced bikes, and had participated in a race the day before. Young, friendly, and polite, he seemed to be an outstanding person, as was his girlfriend, whom I did know. Some of us looked tired, but this younger group, the friends and relatives of my nephew were ready to “go”. I admired them and wished them well on their journey, which I knew would be arduous and long, if not exciting and lively.

Parents of the Groom with the newlyweds

Postscript:  Little did I know that these words would be so prophetic. The day after the wedding my nephew developed acute appendicitis and underwent emergency surgery at the Westerly Hospital. The honeymoon was off for now, and David laughed, when I asked, if his appendix problem was psychological in origin.