Paulo, our tour guide from Bravo Viaggi, gave me specific instructions for getting to the bus station and purchasing a roundtrip ticket to Lanciano in Abruzzo. After three and a half hours, the bus arrived on time and my cousin, Domenico Quartullo, was there to meet me. Then another 45 minutes by car and we arrived in Fara San Martino, the home town of my maternal grandparents. As we drove along the scenic road, the first sight of the Majella mountains took my breath away. Fara San Martino is a picturesque old town framed by the peaks of the mountains. Thankfully, Domenico had the required talent to navigate its narrow and steep roads in his snappy orange Fiat.
Pier Carla welcomed us with a wonderful mid-day meal including perfectly cooked pasta, al dente. She told me timing was everything - a talent which she certainly mastered. We ate in the open-air side room of their third-floor residence facing the mountains which seemed only an arms-length away. Grande momento!
Next on the agenda was a visit to the cemetery where many of our Quartullo relatives are buried. I felt honored to be among them and began to understand better the relationships that connect us. This was followed by a stop at the natural spring of the Verde River where we drank the cool crisp water, and according to Domenico "my second baptism." Then a walk up the mountain path to soak in the unspoiled beauty of the landscape.
Our "light" supper took us to La Villetta where we enjoyed the delicious pizza, and an opportunity for me to listen to La Bella Lingua of the locals floating musically through the air.
We extended our evening examining the family tree that Domenico constructed with linkage to five previous generations of Quartullo's. We could have talked all night, but with another busy day ahead, I said my goodnights and went to sleep in the shadow of the majestic mountains outside my widow. Buonanotte.
Pier Carla welcomed us with a wonderful mid-day meal including perfectly cooked pasta, al dente. She told me timing was everything - a talent which she certainly mastered. We ate in the open-air side room of their third-floor residence facing the mountains which seemed only an arms-length away. Grande momento!
Next on the agenda was a visit to the cemetery where many of our Quartullo relatives are buried. I felt honored to be among them and began to understand better the relationships that connect us. This was followed by a stop at the natural spring of the Verde River where we drank the cool crisp water, and according to Domenico "my second baptism." Then a walk up the mountain path to soak in the unspoiled beauty of the landscape.
Our "light" supper took us to La Villetta where we enjoyed the delicious pizza, and an opportunity for me to listen to La Bella Lingua of the locals floating musically through the air.
We extended our evening examining the family tree that Domenico constructed with linkage to five previous generations of Quartullo's. We could have talked all night, but with another busy day ahead, I said my goodnights and went to sleep in the shadow of the majestic mountains outside my widow. Buonanotte.
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