When we had breakfast this morning we didn't fully comprehend what an amazing day it would be for us. Sure I was very excited about going to the eating capital of the world, like who wouldn't be? I like French food but I loooove Italian cuisine! So this place was my mecca.
As we flew into Venice, to be honest the landscape was underwhelming and the airport had no artwork or murals to get that holiday vibe going. To make matters annoying i had foolishly left my woolen coat purchased on my Melb trip with Sharon stuffed under the seat. I was too tired to go back and told Eric I would just wrap myself in my purloined Swisse Air blanky!.
Eagle Eye Eric spotted a lost property office so with no optimism in my heart I reported my lost jacket. Behold a miracle occurred and the lady at the counter whisked out my jacket which had been handed in by another passenger! Crisis averted, warm and snug we went to the entry gate. We weren't sure if Eric's cousins would recognize him as he had changed somewhat in 42 years.
However there was nothing to fear his cousin Patti screamed with joy and embraced us. We felt like old friends as we've been chatting via Facebook messenger for the last 2 weeks. (Since i tracked her down on FB with my detective skills)
The instant love between the 3 cousins was overwhelming tears of joy were running down all our faces. Eric the baby cousin was kissed in the way you kiss a really cute baby. He is not a man who displays his emotions easily so it was beautiful for me ( a cry baby) to see him open up his heart. Eric's dear father is a very warm and emotional man and it was now very obvious that the Italian Spigariols are all like Sergio. ( well the 2 I'd met)
I've never seen a man in such a hurry to drive - cousin Joey started driving before our bodies were fully in the car and we zoomed off with legs outside the vehicle and three doors still open. We buckled up as he drove at breakneck speed. The traffic was pretty full on and Eric vowed he wasn't doing any driving. At this point there were no canals in view at all, just a general bucolic scene . The animal viewing highlight was a rabbit at the airport who was so used to humans that it didn't move.
Enroute to Conegliana where Eric's uncle and aunt live we stopped briefly to drop off our luggage. It was a fabulous place really large and homey and in a street filled with osterias and cafés. The railway station is a 5 minute walk away as well. Our hosts mother was very welcoming and was still in the throes of cleaning as we were an hour early. She spent an extraordinary amount of time explaining the recycling system and in hindsight unfortunately no time on the washing machine or central heating instructions.
After about 35 minutes we were at Zio Camillo's house. It was a modern looking two storey house with a well manicured garden. He was welcoming us at the door and looked like a taller Serge the uncanny thing was his outfit. He was wearing an almost identical shirt to the shirt Serge loves to wear on special occasions! Tears of joy were shed again as we spent the afternoon with Eric's uncle and aunty. I had videoed Eric's parents saying a greeting as I knew Zio was blind, it was so beautiful to witness his happiness. Their live in carer prepared café and light refreshments for us. It was surprising that Zio has the best command of the English language of our italian rellies.
After many stories and much laughter we departed, bound for Treviso. (During this time I mentally struggled to communicate, thank the Lord for my dedication to duo lingo and my 9 weeks of formal lessons - Eric started replying in Italian as his childhood language came back to him. Even writing this now is making me teary)
Historic Treviso is circled by a giant wall with water around it, we saw the two water wheels for the maize mill, one of the traditional staple foods in this area is polenta. Joey wanted to take us to a popular osteria but it was full so we walked through many moonlit piazzas and arched arcades looking at the ancient murals which adorned the walls.
A daytime visit is in order and since Friday is a gondola ride in the afternoon we might devote the morning to exploring Treviso. The cousins were proud to point out a fountain of a top less woman who history has it squirted white wine out of one breast and vino rosso from the other!
The osteria where we dined was really a family place and there was only an Italian menu. Due to my extensive perusal of my ever growing Italian Cookbook collection I was quite well versed with the menu. Eric was very happy that his gifts over the years had added to my language acquisition skills! He on the other hand is getting better and better at recalling his childhood language. Dinner was delicious gnocchi with Baccalà for me, la canard for the Italian cugini and bistecca per mia marito! But best of all was the way Patti teased Eric so familiarly the entire night, he feels so accepted and has expressed several times that he wished he'd grown up here in Italy.
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