La Vie de Deux Mademoiselles a France

June 10^th

I arrived in Bassano Del Grappa at 9 pm, where Giorgia, Paolo, and Ornella were waiting for me at the station, camera poised and ready! What a great welcome. We went for dinner at a really tasty Asian restaurant and afterwards to a gelateria where I had the best gelato of my trip to Italy. Then we went to Giorgia’s home in Pagnano Asolo (where I stayed for the week), where I met Giacomo (Giorgia’s bro), Laurance and Paride (parents, Paride is Ornella’s Brother).

June 11^th

Breakfast at home, then went for lunch at a pizzeria in Bassano Del Grappa with an even better dessert spread of profiteroles, tiramisu, and lemon bomb. Next we (Giorgia, Giacomo, Laurance, Paride, Ornella, and Paolo) went to visit the famous wooden bridge and to the alpino museo. Then Paolo, Ornella and I had a tasting of Grappa at the distillery and some local piccante spread at a shop.

After Bassano we stopped in San Zenone (where Bruno Rinaldo was born) at Bortolo (Bruno’s brother) and Silvana’s home. Their home is right next to where the Rinaldo house used to stand, you can see the well where they used to draw water from (it has dried up now). Silvana served us all some homemade pannetone and cantucci, while we drank an apertivo.

Later this night Giorgia and I went to Il Muretto, a club in Jesolo right near the beach, with her boyfriend Giordano. In the morning we slept on the beach.

June 12^th 

Woke up on a gorgeous beach. Eventually went back to Pagnano around 4. Laurance and Paride cooked a great dinner of Mediterranean fish (Orato and another starting with a b) and Laurance made a really tasty Parisian cucumber side dish which I will definitely be making back in Canada! For dessert we had Ornella’s famous tiramisu

June 13^th

Giorgia and I took the train to Venice, visited the sights, and bought some souvenirs. Venice is really beautiful, but much the same! This night we had dinner at Silvana (Bruno’s sister) and Luigi’s. Great veggie risotto, ham and melon, and fritas for dessert. After dinner we looked at old family photos…such a good time!

June 14^th

Missed the train to Padova, so Giorgia and I went to the market in Castelfranco where I bought some great stuff for fam back at home! We had lunch then caught the next train to Padova. It was extremely hot this day and the bus ride to Villa Pisani seemed a lot longer than it was…but it was worth it

http://www.villapisani.beniculturali.it/en/index.php

Then we went to the church of San Antonio in Padova (really famous and massive church), I loved the vibe of Padova, full of students and extremely beautiful! I want to go back, maybe to study Italian!

When we got back to Castelfranco we took an apertivo with Paolo and Ornella before the epic Rinaldo and company family dinner at a resto in Castelfranco. Rosa, Silvana, and Severina (Bruno’s 3 sisters) were there, among many others. Of course there was Giorgia, Giacomo, Laurance, Paride, Ornella, Paolo, Luigi (Silvana’s husband), Firmino (Severina’s husband), Ivano, Manola, etc etc! Phew, well let me tell you, I had an image in my head of what it would be like to live with an Italian family for one week…well I had underestimated the velocity and sound level of every aspect!

June 15^th

Relaxing day at the outdoor pool in Montebelluna with Giorgia and friends. Then a great aperitif in Asolo (where Paride and Laurance met) in the centro storico (walled in center of the town). After exploring the town a bit and watching the races we headed back home where Laurance served a fabulous Chinese dinner followed by chocolate cake.

June 16^th

My last day in Pagnano, relaxed, planned remainder of trip. Had to buy a new camera and say goodbye to relatives. Went to Paride’s factory where Ornella and Silvana work, then went with Silvana to Rosa’s house to say good-bye. After to Severina’s to say ciao. That night Giacomo, Giorgia and I had a great dinner at Ornella and Paolo’s. Paolo gave me a tasting of some strong liquor, 70% called 100 herbs (the recipe is a secret), and gave me a large bottle to take home. Also had grappa and one other thing, if Paolo can help me here with this one…

June 17^th

Early the next morning, Paolo drove me to Bassano del Grappa to take the train to Rimini.

Staying with my family was crazy! So much Italian, it was a little hard sometimes and I felt as if I had lost my voice because I spoke so little (Paolo speaks very good English and Girogia was the only other person who really spoke any English, but Laurance and I could speak French together). Everyone was so generous and welcoming, I definitely was fed very well and fell in love with the area. Asolo is gorgeous, as is Bassano. I will definitely be back to Italy!

pictures to  come soon!