It Happened in Italy -An interlude in Engand

2016-11-08 | puppy1952

Lady Helen left her travelling companions for a few days and flew to England to spend time with her dearest friend Jennifer.

On Wednesday when she arrived they went straight to the garden centre where they enjoyed a delicious baked potato stuffed with tuna.

That first day it was a tad chilly but the rest of the time was warmish.
On Thursday Jen had to work so Lady Helen spent a chilled day alone at her house, reading and watching British TV!
On the Friday it was a half-day for Jen so she went with her and walked around the town
taking photos and enjoying the canal with its barges, shady trees and water birds.

Wow – a Post Box!

Telephone booth – in 2016 – Really?

High Street shop

One of the many colourful doors seen

She had breakfast at a wonderful coffee shop called Epicurus. She told the owner that he was better than Starbucks. This flattered him no end as he’d worked at Starbucks a few years back and was delightful that she appreciated proper coffee.

When Jen knocked off they went shopping at Milton Keynes. Lady Helen wanted to buy three pairs of denims at Marks and Spencer – black, white and blue – as they
sell them at the correct leg length. She also wanted a white shirt and was convinced she would have no trouble getting them there but Jen said. “No way – they’re not as good as they used to be. Everyone’s complaining and shopping elsewhere these days!”

But she did manage to get one pair of perfectly fitting blue denims but no white shirt! So they checked out a few other stores. Just as they were about to give up Lady Helen spotted a shop that looked like it specialised in men’s shirts but the window poster was of women in shirts too.

The shop was staffed with a few very dapper young men who assured them that they did indeed stock lady’s shirts in this speciality store. The range of shirts was awesome and the quality fabulous so Lady Helen ended up spending a good deal of her budget on three well fitting, button up, long sleeved shirts in white, blue and pink and white stripe. But because she bought three she got one free! So instead of three pairs of denims and one shirt she got one pair of denims and three shirts. She could live with that!
On the Saturday they had the most beautiful walk at a nearby wetland – not many birds on that day but the wild flowers were beautiful.

One cannot visit England without enjoying at least one pub lunch so on their last day together they headed to they headed to a stunning place next to the canal. The weather was pleasant so they started with drinks outside before moving to their indoor table.

Lady Helen ordered sausage and mash and veggies and it was really good. The New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc was excellent too.

In the evening Jen drove her to her “luxury” airport hotel. As it turned out the Quality Skyline Hotel was miles from the airport and required a taxi ride to get to it! The quality bit was also a misnomer. The hotel was shabby and the bathroom tiles were cracked. The place was in a dodgy part of town and its restaurant wasn’t open because it was Sunday!
Thank Goodness she’d had a good lunch because there was no way she could risk life and limb by venturing out in search of an eatery.
But on the positive side it was clean and the TV worked. The staff were kind and woke her in time to get a taxi to the airport for her early flight back to Naples.

She was in good time for her flight and enjoyed an excellent coffee and croissant at Jimmy and Bennie’s.
Lady Helen had caught a bus from Salerno straight to Capodichino Airport in Naples but upon arriving back she found that there was no bus for several hours and her next option would be to take a train. Not having her darling husband’s travel panic to deal with she managed to find where to catch a bus to Napoli Centrale – a most uncomfortable ride as it was so full. This bus dropped her off quite far from the actual station and so Lady Helen
followed a guy who looked like he knew where he was going and 5 minutes
later found herself in the right place. Now to get a ticket – She joined a queue where she met two young, Spanish girls. They told her that the ticket cost 17 Euros. That didn’t sound right so she went in search for a cheaper fare and after asking a few people found the machine for Tren Italia.

She looked blankly at the machine, turned to someone next to her to ask for help but was met with a blank stare! “No Inglese” Suddenly a youth appeared at her elbow and in clear English offered to help. He showed her exactly what to do and directed her to the correct platform. She thanked him profusely. And then he very politely asked if she could spare him some cash. He looked so neat and tidy she couldn’t believe he was a beggar – he was not Italian. She handed over a few euro with a smile on her face. He’d certainly earned it!

Lady Helen now had the right ticket, knew where to get her train and could relax for an hour before departure. She returned to the Spanish girls and gave them instruction on how to get a cheaper ticket – only four Euros! They were most grateful.
She then parked off on a bench to drink a refreshing sparkling mineral water and got into conversation with two American woman of her around her own age. They’d just been on a cruise and now wanted to go to Rome for two days and then fly to Barcelona. They were
trying to go online to book flights but the ‘free’ wifi was not working. Lady Helen had data on her phone so searched for them and gave them all the details. This had taken some time and suddenly she realised she had 5 minutes to catch her train, bade them farewell and dashed to her platform. Once settled she read her Kindle and became so absorbed that she forgot to check the stations but something told her it was time to look up and as they pulled into a station she was surprised to see it was Salerno! Then as she stepped out of the carriage the Earl was right there to meet her! What a look of relief registered on his face. His wife was safe!

It Happened in Italy – A visit to Pompeii

2016-11-07 | puppy1952

One reads about it, one sees it on TV and in movies. One knows bits and pieces of its history and one’s heard everyone else’s stories about what it is like. But only when one is there and experiences it for oneself does it sink in that this all happened in 79 AD. And it’s all so amazingly well preserved that one is transported back to that age and sanding at the foot of Vesuvius one almost understands the enormity of what happened that fateful day.
Lady Helen was about 10 years old when she first heard about Pompeii. Her school reading book – Wide Range Reader – had many stories of historic interest and each of them had left a lasting impression on her and the one about Pompeii was particularly fascinating. And now here she was more than fifty years later seeing it all for herself.

The admiral and the captain had done Pompeii on a previous visit so The Earl and Lady Helen took the 30 minute train ride and met their host, Roberto who is an archeologist and a tour guide. One probably needs two days to see all of Pompeii but in the heat of an Italian Summer that would be suicide. Roberto showed them the most interesting parts in their two-hours spent there.

Roberto waxes lyrical about the secrets of Pompeii

Cement was invented way back then in Italy

The image of the Goddess who protected the actors

The amphitheatre

A row of shops

The streets doubled as a sewage and draining system so the stepping blocks were there for safe crossing. The spaces between the blocks allowed the chariots to pass through.

An original Pizza Oven!

A Roman Bath

Pictures advertising the wares of the prostitutes

A bed in a whorehouse

Mount Vesuvius in the background

The ruins of Pompeii

During early excavations of the site, occasional voids in the ash layer had been found that contained human remains. These were spaces left by the decomposed bodies and so plaster was injected into them to recreate the forms of Vesuvius’s victims.

Remains of one of the victims

He covered his nose but was overcome by the fumes

Remains of a dog

It was a very informative and interesting visit and when they were done, Roberto kindly drove them home.

It Happened in Italy -Life in Salerno

2016-11-06 | puppy1952

The First Earl and Lady Helen along with The Captain and his Admiral were to reside in Italy for two months – a month in Salerno from where they would take day trips to surrounding places of interest and then a month in Diamante where they would relax and enjoy the seaside and simple lifestyle and get to know the local folk. So there was plenty of time to settle in and explore Salerno. Their accommodation, Via Centola Giovanni 33, on the fourth floor was comfortable providing them with a double room for each couple, a shared bathroom and a reasonably equipped kitchen.

Neat kitchen

The Noble Suite

View from Kitchen Balcony

It was a narrow street and one felt that one could lean out of the window and the touch the neighbours across the way. In fact many conversation could be had from one balcony to another. Although the four foreigners were used to private gardens and wide open spaces they found this type of living rather fun and giggled when they hung their washing on a line attached to the balcony rail!

One’s laundry hung for all to see!

For the next week the four walked the city flat, shopped where the locals shopped and found wonderful restaurants and bars to snack and dine at.

Lady Helen had tried to get The Earl fit for walking before leaving the Fiefdom of Struisbaai and the failure of this venture was evident when he needed to rest frequently on the uphill route back to the apartment. The Captain and The Admiral were very patient and didn’t mind going at a slower pace. Lady Helen, however, tended to walk on ahead at what she thought was a slower pace but was not slow enough for His Lordship. And he didn’t like her not to be right by his side where he could be sure she was safe and sound. So at a very slow pace she had to learn to walk!

All Italians wear hats and sensible shoes. The Earl therefore had to get himself a hat to make him blend in with the rest.

The Earl trying to look Italian

Nothing like cooling off with an Italian Gelato after a morning of exploring

Saturday Farmers’Markets were amazing

Aqueducts still standing after many centuries

The Castle dates back to the sixth century

Often seen – groups of men meeting for a chat, a game of checkers or cards and a coffee

A typical street scene in Salerno

A delightful place, hidden in a narrow street – excellent for pizza

His Lordship was reluctant to part with too many Euros, fearing that they would not have enough for their extended holiday. But Lady Helen was determined to buy at least one dress Made in Italy. And all the shops were having amazing sales – up to 75% off. What serious shopper could resist such a bargain! So one day while they were out on their own Her Ladyship could no longer resist temptation and dragged her reluctant husband into an exclusive little boutique. Of course when he saw the love of his life in the pretty little dress he forked out the cash with not a murmur of complaint.

Lady Helen in the doorway of Only Up

The lovely assistant could speak a little English

Made in Italy – the dress not the lady.

It Happened in Italy – Exploring Salerno

2016-11-05 | puppy1952

Lady Helen is one of those irritating people who rises early in the morning in a chirpy mood and expects everybody else to be equally keen to start the day. Much to her dismay her travelling companions did not jump up with any measure of enthusiasm but continued to snore and catch up on their sleep so they only set off to explore at 10:30 am.

Her ideas of a Banting Breakfast were soon squashed flat when they entered the corner shop and got croissants di cioccolato instead. And horror of horrors these were eaten in the street and on the hoof!

The Admiral fell instantly in love with the fruiterer and gave him kisses every day thereafter – didn’t he love that!

The lovely Italian Assistant handing over the irresistible croissant

As they devoured their decadent pastries they walked the narrow, cobbled streets of the ancient city. There were so many interesting nooks and crannies to explore. Even the doors were interesting. The Admiral and Lady Helen were intrigued by a building that looked like a hospital but they discovered that it was a convent and a primary school. They entered the courtyard and a nun appeared. She invited them in to take a look. Lady Helen had, before leaving her homeland, learned a few Italian words and was able to tell the nun that she had been a First Grade teacher. “Io una insegnante – classe 1.” She couldn’t speak a word of English but they managed to get her to understand that they were from South Africa and she was more than willing to show them around the school. The men, feeling intimidated by the cloth, did not join them on this excursion.

A statue of The Virgin Mary in the garden

Statues of Saints were everywhere and it was all rather beautiful and peaceful

It was, of course, school vacation so no children were about. But Lady Helen was keen to see the classrooms and wondered where the playground was – there didn’t seem to be any sports fields at all.

A Third Grade Classroom – Note the poster on the back wall reminding the children that they have a great Friend.

The Play Area – no sports field!

The good sister could not wait to take them to the chapel and she prattled away in Italian telling them about Saint Theresa, The Virgin and other saints. Of course they only caught a word or two but they nodded and commented in English as if they all understood each other perfectly. She then indicated that they should kneel in a pew and she blessed them uttering words that Lady Helen was sure meant “God is the Father of us all” “You are beautiful women and display the fruits of the spirit.”
The words Bella Signori, tutti and frutti dello spirito came into it somewhere so whether Her Ladyship interpreted it all correctly is debatable.

The Chapel was absolutely beautiful

They left feeling they had experienced something very special in Italy and Lady Helen in particular was overjoyed to have seen an Italian Primary School.

They continued exploring till midday, marveling at the little holes in the wall they called shops and chatting to the locals who were extremely friendly but couldn’t understand a word of Inglese.

A narrow Salerno street

An alley stairway to some apartments

Shrines are everywhere

This enormous door opens into a courtyard – In the olden days the carriages would enter through these doors.

After eating a light lunch the four nobles went home for a siesta – while in Italy they did as the Italians did for doing otherwise would be crazy as everything shuts down for a few hours and then the fun begins again after five. Each evening they either catered at home or found a different restaurant on the Lungomare and enjoyed the fabulous Italian cuisine. Lady Helen was particularly partial to anything with squid, aubergine, artichoke, spinach or feta. If one of those ingredients were in it she’d eat it! And all the Italian wines were wonderful.

The Lungomare

Share your world Week 44

2016-11-04 | puppy1952

Sorry that I haven’t participated for a while – have not read or written blogs for a few months due to travel and other time consuming stuff. I am now trying to get back into it.

What was your favorite subject in school?

I loved English – even Grammar which seemed to be a problem for most kids but I found it quite logical.

If you could have a servant come to your house every day for two hours, what would you have them do?

I am used to help in the home but since retiring I’ve taken to doing my own housework. Cleaning windows is the worst chore so that is what I’d want done at least once a month. Other chores would include cleaning the bathroom and kitchen and and mopping my tiled floors.

Where did you live when you were in the third grade of school? Is it the same place or town you live now?

I lived in a delightful suburb of Cape Town called Fish Hoek and I lived there or not far from there for most of my life. In those early days it was a sleepy seaside village when children were free to play unsupervised and the beach and the mountain were our playgrounds. It is still a delightful place but more built up and the traffic is a nightmare.

And now I live in another sleepy seaside place at the southern tip of Africa. It is called Struisbaai and I love it.

Fish Hoek Beach in the sixties

The beach is still there! This is the upgraded Jager’s Walk

In your opinion, list some places that are great for shopping?

Paris of course. But seriously when I am in Cape Town I head straight to Woolworths. At home in Struisbaai I love the little shops we have in our tiny mall and our main business area. In spite of it being a small town most of our needs are met and we like to support local business where possible. And then there’s Bredasdorp 30km away. Once again you are assured of friendly and helpful service from the owners of the stores themselves.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I am grateful that my husband is returning to good health.

I look forward to finishing packing up the Cape Town home we’ve just sold.

It Happened in Italy – Getting There

2016-11-04 | puppy1952

I have had a long break from blogging due to travel and other things that have claimed my undivided attention. To get back into it, I am pledging to try to write one post a day for the rest of November. In most of these posts I will write about what happened during the holiday my husband and I took in Italy. To make it more fun, I am fictionalising it slightly and changing names to protect both the innocent and the guilty.

How it all began

Back in May 2016, at Milkwood Manor, the First Earl and his wife were chatting to their friend, affectionately known as ‘The Admiral.

“The Captain,”she said, “has in his wisdom booked flights to Italy – leaving 1 August and returning 29 September! We love Italy but 2 months is rather long and yes, he’s used his air-miles for the tickets but we still have to find a place to stay!”

“Sounds fab,”said the Earl. “Why don’t we join you – and share expense.”

“We can’t,” declared her ladyship. “We’re going to The Kruger National Park. And anyway – you don’t like travelling in Europe!”

“Of course I do,” came the indignant reply. “It’s England I dislike! And we’ll be back in time for Kruger!”

Yes they would be; with barely a week to spare. Lady Helen looked at her husband in disbelief but not wanting to miss an opportunity for an adventure she agreed and The Admiral insisted that The Captain, who was completing his time skippering a boat in the Middle East, would be delighted to have them as travelling companions. And so the rush to get the bookings co-ordinated, sort out visas and find accommodation began.

The Earl although an active man and fit for activities like fishing, was not too keen on walking. And walking long distances would be a requirement on this type of holiday. Her ladyship tried to encourage him to get walking fit and he accompanied her on a few excursions but complained that it hurt to walk and his chest didn’t like it. Feeling concerned, they decided to visit the cardiologist in Cape Town a few weeks before departure. After an hour’s consultation he was pronounced fit enough to travel. “Take your blood pressure medication and you will be fine,”said the good doctor.

And so full of confidence and excitement the foursome set off on their adventure on 1 August 2016. Air Emirates were the privileged airline to be transporting the gentry on their journey. A lovely airline indeed but even though of noble birth, first class seats were not within the limits of the budget!

The plane that took them to Dubai

In the middle of the night at Dubai Airport

Her Ladyship was recovering from Diverticulitis and not feeling quite her usual chirpy self. She was worried about the food on the flight but all turned out well with the bland meal she’d ordered. Well done to Emirates. Two flights and 20 hours later they arrived in Rome and made their way to the city of Salerno.

The noble millions had dwindled over the centuries so although the Earl and the Captain fancied themselves as Lords they did not have the funds to carry it off in style. So instead of being transported to their lodgings in a carriage or a taxi they decided to save money, hoist packs on their backs, drag their trolley luggage and walk. The season was summer; it was hot, they were tired and they didn’t know the language or the way! And to add to their dillema the cell phone batteries failed one after the other making Google Maps no help at all. Getting directions to the apartment became a tad nightmarish. After stopping many well-meaning and kind Italians and who helpfully gesticulated and prattled incomprehensibly and drew maps that were impossible to interpret they finally made it to their apartment. “Getting lost is all part of the adventure!” declared her ladyship cheerfully as everybody collapsed in a sweaty heap. Nobody else was in the least bit amused.

However, after unpacking and cooling off they cheered up and set off to explore and get something to eat.