| Sylvia, Ermano, Jim, Rita, Martina, Aurelia |
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We asked Itano to get us to Covelo (accent on 1st syllable). He had to drive all the way back to Trento and then drive 20 minutes in the other direction. Covelo is small, about 500 people, maybe less. It is situated in one of the many valleys of the Dolomite mountain range. I gave Itano an address of my mother's 1st cousin and took a chance that we may actually find some long lost relative from the past.
When we got to Covelo, Itano stopped a man on the street and showed him the address. The man knew Aurelia and sent us toward her house. It wasn't easy to get to as we had to go down the wrong way on a one way street. Itano got out of the cab and knocked on the door. The person who answeered was Aurelia's daughter, Rita. Itano explained who we were and Rita was elated!
We were invited in and were treated to beer and wine! No one really spoke English and we really didn't speak Italiean, but we all muddled our way through. I had copies of immigration papers from my grandfather, Albino.
| Rita, Aurelia, Jim, Olga, Maria, Guido |
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Rita made a phone call and it wasn't long that we were on our way to Tina's house. Tina speaks English. Her mother, Olga happened to be visiting from Albany so we had two translators.
Within minutes, there were a dozen or more people congregating on Tina's outside porch. People were walking to our area and I was being introduced to cousin after cousin! There was lots of excitement. I could understand about 10% of what was being said.
After about 2 hours, it was decided that Itano - yes he was still there - could leave and they would take us to Trento to a restaurant owned by another cousin, Giovanni, and his sons, Silvano and Christian. The food was excellent. Thank you!!!!!!!
| Jim, Valeria, Giuliano at Gazda |
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It was decided that I would stay in Covelo for two more days rather than go to Munich and Salsburg with Jim and Steve. I would meet up with them in Frankfurt in 3 days. We also decided tha Itano is the best cabbie in Trento and probably the world! Special thanks to Jim for taking one for the team and downing "grappa" - an extremely strong drink made from grape skins. Bascially, grappa is moonshine.
The following morning Tina picked me up at the hotel in Trento and took me to Covelo. I stayed at Aurelia's house for two nights. We had a great luch of polenta, wine, coffee, and fruits. By now my Italian was at about 20% - enough to get by. I still wasn't giving up that dictionary!
Cousins Alberto, Valeria, and their son Giuliano drove me around the Trentino region and up to Mt. Gazda to where they have a cabin. It took well over an hour to get to the top of the mountain. We had to go over a rocky road in a 4 wheel drive vehicle. Nothing else would ever make it. Once at the top, I knew the trip was worth it. There were several cabins and many relgious shrines. Alberto and I walked all around the mountain top speaking Italian. It was a very memorable time. Soon however, a thick fog moved in and we had to head back down.
Once down we ate at another restaurant owned by relatives. The strangolepreti was excellent, as was the polenta and cheese. Thanks again for a great meal!
| Inside the Palace |
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I spent some time on the following day walking around the area with Aurelia. We visited the Palace of 100 windows. It is close to Aurelia's house and is right across the street from where my gandfather and his family grew up. We were fortunate to be able to go into the palace. The Duke, who is in his upper 70's, lived there as a boy. He showed us the entire palace and grounds. We were also able to go across the street and see where my family grew up. The inside of his house is beautiful.
| Rafele, Rita, Sylvia, Martina at ancient huts |
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We also took a walk to Rita and Rafele's house. Their daughters, Martina and Sylvia could pass for sisters of my daughter, Marissa. Martina and Marissa look like twins! The six of us traveled in two cars to Lake Garda and surrounding lakes where we toured an area where primitive men lived. Apparantly, when a lake was drained as a way to provide hydroelectric power, pilings were found in the lake bed. Upon these pilings were remanents of ancient huts. These huts are thought to have been built prior to the last ice age.
By 5PM we were back in Covelo and at Tina and Mikele's farm. Mikele's mother, Maria was making canetelli - a type of Tyrolian soup. As we waited for Tina and Mikele to finish with the cows, I was given the opportunity of sitting with the guys in the basement drinking wine. Mikele speaks some English and by now, my Italian was up to about 30%.
After a while it was time for dinner. Naturally there was more wine - and a grappa concoction that cousin Giancarlo made with cherries. There are so many people to thank: Aurelia for letting me sleep at her place; Alberto, Valeria, Giuliano for the trip to the cabin; Maria and Guido (who never let a wine glass get empty); Tina and Olga (for translating and everything else); Rita, Rafaele, Martina, and Sylvia and Mikele, Guiseppi, and Giancarlo - lots of wine and laughs; and everyone else I may have missed. Also thanks to everyone who helped with making a family tree. I will be back!
| Olga, Mikele, Giancarlo, Jim, Aurelia |
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