BASILICATA IS UNFORGETTABLE
4th November, 2017.
The above view was taken from the balcony outside our bedroom
BASILICATA – FOND FAREWELLS – AND YET MORE GIFTS
Basilicata is unforgettable and remembered with love. We made our fond first farewell when standing in our hallway, ready for the off. Giuseppe came up the stairs to help with our luggage, which was strewn all along the passage.
He was carrying two large carrier bags, stuffed with groceries. He held them out to us.
“Here”, he said, “ some specialities of our area to remind you of Basilicata.”
“We’ll never forget Basilicata,” said Graham. “I love this area and the friendship we’ve found here. I don’t know when, but I’ll be back.”
BASILICATA – LOCAL FOODSTUFFS
We looked in the bag at the packets of superior quality: Very local pastas made from Durum wheat (and some had porcini in them). Senise peppers, and packets and jars of chickpeas and black lentils. We were still serving some of them up for friends to taste nearly a year later.
BASILICATA FAREWELL – HUGS ALL ROUND
Then Graham and Giuseppe embraced like true brothers, and I in turn got a hug (difficult when I only reached Giuseppe’s chest). We all picked up what we could manage and took it down to the car.
BASILICATA – FAREWELLS IN MIGLIONICO – OUR ‘HOME TOWN’
We decided we must make time to drive into Miglionico and say farewell to friends we had made there. First stop was ‘Frutti’, the greengrocer’s shop.
As ever, we were greeted with a mixture of salutations and giggles.
‘Just a minute,’ said the proprietress, turning back to the customer she was serving.
We were in a hurry, so Graham said, a bit loudly; ‘We’ve not come to buy – just to say goodbye. We leave for home today’; (the easiest explanation).
The friendly shopkeeper immediately rushed round her table of produce to hug us both tightly.
‘I SHALL MISS YOU,’ she said, ‘please come back soon.’ This was backed up by a variety of clucks and whisperings amongst the good ladies waiting.
Finally – ‘Arrividerci’ they all chorused, as we backed out of the door.
‘Arrividerci,’ we replied, and really hoped that would be possible. We had grown to feel very comfortable in this little town.
Next, Graham popped his head into all the bars, looking for his good friend Vincenzo, but it was too early.
We had given up, and were making for his house when his best buddy, met once before, stopped us.
‘Vincenzo is on his way to meet me,’ he said. So we waited with him, and when, shortly, Vincenzo arrived, we all went into that nice coffee shop and pasticceria before mentioned.
Over coffee we enjoyed some last friendly chat. Then addresses and telephone numbers were exchanged, embraces all round, and we were at last on our way down to Sicily…
BASILICATA – AN UNFORGETTABLE REGION
We had really made the most of our seven weeks. We’d taken in churches and castles, and tackled never-ending, climbing corkscrew roads. We had paddled in the sea, and slaked our avid thirst for history. We suddenly felt very sad to be leaving Basilicata.
BASILICATA – UNFORGETTABLE PEOPLE
We shall never forget Basilicata, or the lovely people we met there – most of all Familia Riccardi, so kind to us. Mimi, who would come and lovingly tend his beautiful garden: Giulia, who made us so welcome and plied us with her home-baked cakes. Glamorous Angela and her husband – both charming, and providers respectively of memorable pasta dishes and meat barbecued to perfection. Elegant Alfonso from Rome, with his beautiful wife and daughter. Most of all we will miss Giuseppe; our charming, cheerful – unforgettable host. If we can return, we shall…
Viva Basilicata!
Text by – Jackie Usher, SWWJ. (aka author Debbie Darkin, & ‘Graham Liverpool’ on Trip Advisor.)
Photographs by – Graham Usher.
