So rewind to perhaps my most dreaded weekend of the semester. I thought it would be a lot of fun to visit Grandma and Grandpa Mellace's hometown but forgot that there wasn't a wikitravel article to guide me, a map to print off the computer, or a basic public transportation. Also that whatever Italian I ever learned needed to be used 24/7. The whole thing took a lot of phone calls and forced me to drop my usual planner self and just go with the flow. It made me so stressed out but led to one of the most amazing weekends of my entire study abroad experience.
Obviously the plane left a little late, we are in Italy and the Pisa airport is not known for efficiency. But we managed to still get there at the scheduled arrival time which was good. Luciano had called about a half hour before my flight to ensure that it was still on time (this is all in Italian of course). When we landed in Lamezia Terme, the airport that Manuella told us to fly into although I'm not sure exactly where it was especially in relation to Staletti. The sun was shining there were palm trees and the Mediterranean Sea was visible from almost everywhere. We were so excited to be where ever exactly we were. Then we passed through the airport and a man met us with a sign that said "Baia Del Est" the name of the hotel that Luciano works at to drive us to the hotel. We followed the taxi driver and he drove and drove and drove. Finally about one hour and 70 euro later we had arrived at the hotel. The hotel is kind of like a resort that overlooks the Mediterranean Sea. When we arrived Luciano was there to greet us and make us some cappuccinos and then show us to our room (all in Italian, just assume that everything is spoken in Italian from this point on). The room was perfect there was one big bed in the main room with the TV for Mary and I and then a small bathroom and then a separate small bedroom for Vinh. The balcony had an amazing view of the sea. However, it was very overcast by the time we got to the hotel and because it was off season there were no guests at the hotel. We were basically stranded on the side of a mountain in this great hotel with the Mediterranean Sea but with no signs of civilization and overcast weather that made everything scary, kinda. We decided to go explore until dinner that Luciano told us would be at 7 pm and he'd bring us to his parents house. We walked down the massive hill/cliff and made our way down to the beach.
We just sorta sat on the beach it was too cold for us to really enjoy it and very overcast. Also on top of this we were starving and did not have any way of finding food. Nothing in the town is open because it is off season and there were no people to be found. Then along comes two guys on the beach picking up sticks and building a campfire. We were just like whatever glad to see that some other people are around. All of a sudden one of the guys stopped and said OMG are you guys speaking English? We were like ummm... yes... He was in shock he could not believe there were Americans in Staletti and from that point on we realized everyone in Staletti was going to be amazed by our presence there of all places. He asked us what we were doing here and we explained that my family lived here and that we were staying in the hotel on the side of the mountain. Come to find out him and his friend are culinary students at the hotel Luciano
runs. They pay money to come to Staletti to learn Italian cooking and then return home which for them was Canada or Mexico to be chefs. Both of them were seemed rather bored and unhappy with the program and were excited to speak to other English people. So then I asked them if they knew anywhere we could get food and they said their was a McDonalds in the next town over that was connected to a grocery store. We asked if we could walk but they said it would take about 2 hours, I thought about calling a cab but realized that I didnt have any cab numbers. Then they offered to drive us. All of us were very skeptical about the situation and Mary and Vinh were pretty sure we were plotting our own murder. But in the end it was an adventure and it was totally fine. McDonalds has never tasted better and I have a new outlook on McDonalds. If they can survive and have a location in Staletti they certainly know something about business. After McDonalds we went to the grocery store that was conveniently attached behind it to grab some snacks and food to live off for the weekend for the meals not pre-arranged. Well instead we just explored and ended up with water, a box of crackers, and a thing of cookies. Fail, like how dumb are we? Why wouldnt we have gotten real food to live off? Whatever it worked out fine. Then they guys drove us back to the hotel where we found out we all lived and we got ready to go to dinner with Luciano.
Luciano actually had to stay at the hotel so he introduced us to Diego who drove us up to his parents house, Antoinette and Salvatore. The car ride up the hill was insane going back and forth, back and forth to get even farther up the cliff than our hotel. About 10 min later we arrived at the house where we were greeted by a tiny tiny old Italian lady, Antionette. She had pizzas prepared for us and we politely sat down in the kitchen. Then slowly from different doors and bedrooms 3 more pizzas appeared along with various family members. The dinner started off very quiet and awkward but slowly I started to use my Italian to have some conversations. Also the two little children were providing us with entertainment in return for our attention. Eventually Vinh decided he was going to use the little Italian he learned to try and join the conversation. Within a few short hours our Italian sky rocketed about 5 levels. This was not Florence and no one spoke a word of English. So it was either learn fast or sit their in silence and confusion. Of course I was not going to just be quiet so I used what I knew and it was a lot of fun. Then Salvatore asked us if we wanted to go out with Diego to see the town and hang out with the young people. After our adventure this morning we were up for another adventure. So Diego drove us down the hill and brought us to a Pub type place where all the Italian teenagers hang out. He only spoke Italian as well so it was a lot of fun trying to communicate the whole night. When we arrived we soon found out that it was a karaoke place. One of Diego's friends spoke some English and insisted that we do Karaoke and proceeded to give us the list of karaoke songs. Aside from the Italian songs there were actually a lot of English ones. So Mary and I agreed to sing Mambo No. 5 (5th grade talent show song) but half way through Diego's friend cut us off and changed it to Frank Sinatra's New York, New York. Laughing hysterically we proceeded to sing the whole song very off key but had a lot of fun. Then we sat down and kinda of just relaxed while we watched the other Italians sing karaoke. Turns out Italian karaoke is more like a talent show and anyone who sings is actually trying really hard and showing off. Oops. Mary and I did not get that message but it was fun nonetheless. Eventually we got tired and asked Diego to drive us home. He brought us back right away and was really great about making sure we all had fun at karaoke. He also told us to call him the next day if we wanted to do something or if we needed anything.
The next morning we wake up to sun shining into our room and the whole town of Staletti transformed. The water was glistening blue and green and we could see the rocks underneath in some parts. The whole town looked magical not empty and scary. The sun had literally transformed the city and we could have not been more happy. We had said multiple times, it has to be nice out on Saturday it just has to. Quickly we put on bathing suits, grabbed towels and were about to head back down the mountain. Then we realized we needed to eat something before we left. So I went to ask Luciano if there was anything we could eat and some one from the hotel led us into the room where he made us cappuccinos and they had our favorite nutella croissants, regular croissants, and juice. Ask and you shall receive. So now that we were fed and content we walked down the mountain to the beach where we laid out all day relaxing in the sunshine. It could not have been more perfect, the whole beach was ours. Everyday in Florence I had been saying how I wanted to just be tan and visit somewhere with a beach because everywhere we visit our cities. Well, ask and you shall receive. Three hours later we decided to climb back up the hill to find food. Feeling a little sunburnt I could not have been happier. I again went to ask Luciano if there was somewhere we could find lunch nearby or for a cab number to bring us to a restaurant. He told us to go to our rooms and that he'd come get us in like 15 min. About 5 min, our doorbell rings and a hotel worker has a basket of paninis and appetizers for us. Ask and you shall receive. It was so perfect. So we sat on our balcony eating lunch overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Then we all showered and go ready for Ornella and Rosario to come pick us up.
Ornella went to high school with my parents so conveniently she spoke English and gave us a break from our very Italian filled 24 hours. Her and her husband bought us gelato in a nearby town and we walked along a boardwalk near the beach. It was really beautiful, more developed than where the hotel was. There was a soccer game going on and kids riding bikes it was just really adorable. Then the wind picked up and the sand was blowing so bad we had to run back to the cars. After we got in the car I asked Ornella if we could go visit Manuella and Pepe because I was originally going to stay with them and didnt want to leave without at least saying hi. They also speak some English so it was a little bit easier for Mary and the rest of us to communicate with them. Manuella gave us these really amazing cookies one with cream and chocolate in the middle and the other that tasted like the rosette cookies Grandma makes at christmas. Then Pepe showed us old pictures he had of all the Mellaces, Melissa's wedding, Grandma & Grandpa's Anniversary photo, Jerry's wedding, random other pictures. Vinh and Mary thought it was funny to see us all so little and I promised Pepe I would send him more updated pictures. Not only do we all look different but he's missing a few cousins! Some one remind me when I get back! We also tried this drink that tasted like a carbonated Iced Coffee it was really strange but I kind of liked it. After visiting Manuella, Pepe and all of their kids and grandkids Pepe brought us to see Grandma & Grandpa Mellace's old house. I had mentioned something to Ornella about it and when she mentioned it to Pepe his face lit up. He had not been there since they left in 1960s and was so excited to show us.
Pictured above is Grandpa Mellace's house and below is me in front of Grandma Mellace's house.
We drove through the town and then past this castle into these tiny, tiny, tiny little streets. I have seen small streets before. In Florence I have squished against the wall as taxis drive through but this was unlike anything I have seen before. I really didnt know if we would make it. Then Pepe hoped out of the car and we all followed into this little place where he pointed out Grandpa's house that had this cute little balcony and then Grandma's house. They literally live less than a block away. It's hard to explain the houses because they were set up so that you could only walk from place to place. There was no room for cars or even horses, it was strictly to walk through. All of the houses were on top of each other and it was just so adorable. I dont know how to describe it. And I forgot my video camera, probably the worst time ever to not bring it. Also, Pepe being excited and energetic proceeded to walk into Grandma Mellace's old house and was surprised when it was locked. Then these two very old people came up to the door and Pepe explained the situation and they let us in. Of course they were watching the Pope on RAI when we walked in. Typical. Then the old man told Ornella who was translating because his dialect was so strong I did not understand a word, that the room adjacent to the living room was where Grandma Mellace and Nonna used to make cheese. He also remembers buying the house from her back in 1959 (Grandma says 1962 but regardless that's a long time ago). It was really quite an amazing and unreal experience. After that Pepe went home and Ornella and Rosario brought us back to their home. They had planned to bring us to a pizza place but were waiting for it to open and wanted to wait until we were hungry. Their house was very nice and Ornella showed us pictures of everyone that she had from home and of her parents 50th Anniversary party and yes Mom and Dad you were in it. We watched some TV they had a huge flat screen TV with like 500 channels. I had not seen a TV like that since I've been in America and was shocked to see that anywhere on the mountain could get that many channels! We also watched Gli Amici which was Ornella's favorite Italian game show. After we started to get hungry, so Ornella and Rosario right away brought us to their favorite pizza place. The pizza was really delicious and they treated us even though it was not necessary. After they brought us to get caffé and cappuccinos. Ornella wanted us to dry this dessert where they put espresso on top of gelato but unfortunately they had not started making gelato yet for the season. She was disappointed that we didnt get to try it but we promised to try and find it in Florence. Then they brought us back to our hotel and walked us over to say bye to Luciano. A little while before this Mary was said, "you know what would really top off our day, is if we could go dancing." Well we walked up to the lobby to say bye to Luciano (he told us to say good bye tonight because he wouldnt be at the hotel early enough on Sunday to say bye) and there were tons of people in the hotel. Supposably on Saturday nights they do a dinner and then everyone dances after (kinda like a wedding). Luciano asked us if we wanted to dance with everyone later and that it started at 11 pm. Ask and you shall receive. We told him we would be back. However, we all got tired and instead decided to just say thank you for everything, pay him for the room and go to sleep. It had been such an amazing day but we were exhausted.
The next morning we woke up to more beautiful sunshine and said good-bye to our little paradise located in the middle of nowhere somewhere in Calabria. As we waited for Ornella and Rosario to pick us up at the airport we reflected on how perfect the weekend was. It really was. Everyone was so wonderful and we would have never been able to survive with each and every one of them. Then Ornella and Rosario picked us up and drove us an hour to the airport. Even though we insisted we'd be fine they waited for us to check-in and made sure we got to our flight ok. Thank God we did because this airport happened to do things differently than the other 10 airports we've traveled to and we needed Ornella to help us. We said bye and thanked them for EVERYTHING. They were two of the nicest people ever and so generous. We truly were going to miss their company and want to meet up with them when they return to Rome.
We made our flight perfectly and landed in Pisa around 1 pm. Then we decided to spend the day in Pisa and take the typical, cheese, tourist pictures in front of it. We spent some quality time trying to be creative but the pictures didnt quite capture what we were going for. We got lunch in Pisa and then caught the train back to Florence. The weekend was magical. It could not have been more amazing and it was dumb how much I stressed over it. Italy has taught me to relax a little but Staletti did not give me an option. I had to relax, enjoy life for what it was, and rely on family and other amazing people to take care of us. I cannot wait to get back and tell Grandma everything and show her all the pictures Mary, Vinh, and I took. It turned out to be a perfect weekend. Ask and you shall receive.
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