here at last

Wednesday 25th Nov
The day we arrived at Introdacqua.

Yesterday was a crazy traveling day.
We had a call from Bard and Trish that they were at the Termini Stazione (Terminal Station) and we were to meet them there. It was a mad dash over cobbled roads through traffic dragging suitcases and dodging Romans off to work to the Station.
Brad, our best “languologist” of the moment was finding out the how why and where of getting to Sulmona, the larger village that is 5 kilometer’s from Introdacqua.
The fella’s went off to find advice and left Trish and I in a nice cozy nook in the corner of McDonalds to catch up on all our news.
When the men returned after having to pay for the information and buying the train ticket we found our platform waited for an hour and a half then realized we were on the wrong one then finally got to the train and settled in for our journey through the Italian countryside.
It took us about 2 hours to get here and I took heaps of photos from the train window but they just don’t do justice to the sweeping plains and the alps in the distance and each tiny village we whizzed past and all the little trappings of Italian life that you glimpse on the way passed.
By this stage Brad and Trish were getting tired. They’d just flown in on the redeye from Hong Kong and hadn’t slept for a long long time.
As we got higher and higher in to the mountains with the villages nestled in to the side of the hills we were catching glimpses of the snow covered peaks in the distance. The train kept cutting through tunnels and we steadily climbed until finally almost as a anticlimax we arrived at Sulmona.
It’s a fair sized town, apparently 50,000 people but still the quaint smallness of a little village. We found the only Taxi and the nicest taxi driver I’ve ever encountered and made ourselves understood that we needed to get to Introdacqua. Well he tossed our luggage into the back and we were off whizzing down the tiniest streets. I of course got the giggles it was just hilarious as people stopped in the street and pointed at the new people in town.
I asked Brad how do I say I’m sorry No Italian ( Mia dispiache non italiano) and after a couple of goes and lots of laughing, the taxi driver came out with Mio dispiache non inglese….everytime I laughed it would set him off.
I’ll have to get photos to show you just how breathtaking our little village is…its like being in a real life fairy tale village complete with forest surrounding us that apparently has wolves and bears!
As the taxi wound it way though the streets they got narrower and narrower until finally we could go no further. Heads were popping out doors and peeping from curtains to see who was coming to town. A lovely Nonna came out to see in here apron and spoke to the taxi driver and before we knew it were climbing little narrow stairs to the front door of our villa.
Its three stories high. Ground floor is a utility area, the wood heap, tools, bikes etc, then very steep stones steps to the kitchen and one bedroom and laundry/bathroom and then the top flight for master bedroom and balcony over looking the village. It is perfect.
We got the combustion heater going…have I mentioned it was freezing!!!!......settled ourselves in and then went to explore. I think we met a good portion of the village in the first five minutes as they came to check out the new people. Brads friend Tim who owns the villa had told him to say they were cousins…well that was it …we have been embraced like long lost family. We asked one chap about a ristorante because by this stage we were famished.
“si si..” he said and set off at a brisk pace down the cobbled street, so we followed him, He went to s nondescript door, unlocked it , turned on the lights and voila the dearest ristorante you have ever seen complete with red checked tablecloths.
He then showed us the kitchen, the toilets and took our reservation…”What name?’ he asked Brad and brad replied “ Brad you know like Brad Pitt” at which we all cracked up!
We are now the Brad Pitt group staying in Tim’s villa!
The Italians work at different times to us. Nothing much happens before 10am in the morning, they siesta in the middle of the day and then it all comes alive at about 8.30pm and must continue into the night.
As it was still early we found a little supermarket and bought a few bits and pieces, the shop kept filling with people coming in to see what was going on and as each one came in they were told Not Americano non non …..Australians, Tim’s cousin, Brad Pitt, it was hilarious.
We went back for our meal and were just overwhelmed with how delightful the people and the food . And so cheap! Home made pasta, slow roasted meats and house wine that is adorable, light and quaffable…We rolled back up the hill and were in bed by about 10pm and slept like little lambs.
What can I say?
It feels like home.
More tomorrow; with some pictures.
Lin X