It was a memorable vacation, although, I did get homesick the last two days
and I was glad to be home in Montana.
and I was glad to be home in Montana.
It might have been due to the fact that we were in the country
and “no" one spoke English,
except the tour guide and the managers at the Hilton condos.
and “no" one spoke English,
except the tour guide and the managers at the Hilton condos.
The Italian people are very friendly. I did try speaking
what little Italian I learned from my Babble App,
but no one understood me. What a surprise.
My daughters like to say that when people listen to me speak,
they wonder if English is my second language.
The one item not in the photos below, was an incident I
will always remember.
One late night when we ran out of time looking for an
ideal place to eat, we headed out of town. Along the darkened
road we saw a faint light from a tiny cafe along the roadside.
ideal place to eat, we headed out of town. Along the darkened
road we saw a faint light from a tiny cafe along the roadside.
It was your traditional small town cafe run by a couple.
One small room of 5 tables. The two Italian families sitting at
one table were very loud. It did not seem to bother the other
families dining at the other tables. It was probably just entertainment
for them to listen in on someone else’s conversation.
families dining at the other tables. It was probably just entertainment
for them to listen in on someone else’s conversation.
The food was very good.
The man waiting on us looked very pleased he had customers,
even if we did not know how to speak Italian. He spoke no English.
even if we did not know how to speak Italian. He spoke no English.
My Italian Babble App questions of “What country are you from”
and "Do you speak Italian?" does not help.
and "Do you speak Italian?" does not help.
After he cleared our plates, he spoke in rapid fire Italian, as if,
we would understand.
we would understand.
Acting like a typical foreigner, you know the ones who come to the
USA and ’nod’ their head in agreement when they don’t
understand a word you are saying?
USA and ’nod’ their head in agreement when they don’t
understand a word you are saying?
I kept nodding my head, hoping he will bring the receipt. When he left the table.
My husband said, “I think you just ordered 2 of “something.”
My husband said, “I think you just ordered 2 of “something.”
I said, "You're, kidding?”
He said, “No.”
I got up from the table and rushed to the counter with a gesture of
my hand. While writing in the air my signature,
as if, to say I would like the receipt.
my hand. While writing in the air my signature,
as if, to say I would like the receipt.
He looked surprised and immediately walked 5 steps to the kitchen
curtain to say, “No, no, no..”
curtain to say, “No, no, no..”
to the cook, to stop whatever it was I ordered.
I shrugged my shoulders and made a “I am sorry” face
and everyone, including the customers sitting by the counter
and everyone, including the customers sitting by the counter
laughed.
My husband said, “Hilton.”
He was hoping he would understand that the foreigners have
invaded the countryside.
He was hoping he would understand that the foreigners have
invaded the countryside.
The owner looked puzzled and went behind the kitchen curtain
to get the cook. She understood English, but did not speak it.
to get the cook. She understood English, but did not speak it.
Although, the man looked rather rough in character; the woman,
in her 30’s could have been an image of the Virgin Mary with her
porcelain perfect skin and round deep brown eyes. Even I could not take my
eyes off of her. I could see Michelangelo sculpting her face into stone.
After all, it is Italy.
in her 30’s could have been an image of the Virgin Mary with her
porcelain perfect skin and round deep brown eyes. Even I could not take my
eyes off of her. I could see Michelangelo sculpting her face into stone.
After all, it is Italy.
She seemed shy and would not look at us.
My husband said, “Via di Casanova,” which is the road that the
Hilton Grand Vacation Club condos are built...
Hilton Grand Vacation Club condos are built...
never mind it was in another town, as word gets around
in small country towns.
in small country towns.
The owner said, “No?” with a puzzled looked.
The cook firmly said, “Open!” to him.
I picked up three of his business cards from the counter and
pointed to them. He smiled and nodded. He understood now that
pointed to them. He smiled and nodded. He understood now that
the Hilton condos are in business and that I will send customers
to his small cafe that generally caters to the local community.
As we said our goodbyes, the owners and the customers,
laughingly replied, “Arrivederci!”
to his small cafe that generally caters to the local community.
As we said our goodbyes, the owners and the customers,
laughingly replied, “Arrivederci!”
I gave the cafe owner's business card to the HGVC managers
to include on their list of recommendations since
they had encouraged us to scout the area for
new places to eat.
A few days later we went back to the cafe during the day.
The man was not there, but one of the customers introduced himself
to us, as being British, but lives in Italy. He told us of a
hidden restaurant in the valley that few people know.
to include on their list of recommendations since
they had encouraged us to scout the area for
new places to eat.
A few days later we went back to the cafe during the day.
The man was not there, but one of the customers introduced himself
to us, as being British, but lives in Italy. He told us of a
hidden restaurant in the valley that few people know.
That one may just be our secret.
Photos: Tuscany Italy trip April 2014
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