Weekend with the locals (3/24-25/1979)

Saturday, March 24, 1979
The boys needed gasoline for their motocross bikes, so I was conscripted to drive Signora B's Fiat 127 to the gas station in Benne. Arturo needed another 800 lire, which I gave him. Partial payment for postage. I wanted to go bike riding and was to accompany the boys to the motocross area, but the bike had a flat tire. Instead, Patri wanted a ride to Mathi to pick up papers that she then dropped off in Cirie at the auto driving school. This time I drove the A112. Saw a nice town hall. We stopped for ice cream and an Australian was pointed out. Hmm! Then went ring shopping for Diane W. Had to be buzzed into the jewelry stores. Dropped off Patri in Mathi and took a back road to Grosso.

In the evening I was picked up by Denni, Patri and another girl. First went to the gymnasium in Mathi for a men's volleyball match (Mathi vs. Caluso) that went the full five games. Saw good playing skills. After the game we waited for a couple of the players and in two cars which also included some fellow cheerers, we went to a pizzeria in Cirie. Another large group was there singing and carousing. Each of us was served our own pizza that was the size of perhaps a small American pizza. It was bigger than the plate it was sitting on and had the typical sauce and cheese. But it was thin and crusty in the middle, and thick and chewy on the edges! You had to slice it yourself, or eat it with a knife and fork. Finished up with ice cream! (And Patri paid!)

Sunday, March 25, 1979
Gee whiz! It's an adventure enough just being in Italy! Was to pick up Patri at 9:30 to visit a friend in Balme. It was raining and when getting the car, I noticed the flat tire, which the guard then changed. The new tire had a crack in the rubber, but it would be okay if I drove slowly. Then at a stoplight past Grosso, the A112 stalled and would not start! A couple boys helped push me to the side of the road. Walked the mile to Mathi and managed to explain why I was an hour late! Went to get Denni who drove us to the car. It was only a matter of pulling a lever to adjust air to the engine (choke). Finally we were on our way along narrow winding roads. In a tunnel, the lights would not go on!

Arrived in tiny Balme, haphazardly parked, and climbed our way among houses perched on the mountainside. Could not find the English-speaking Claudio, so went to Hugo and Patrizia's two-bedroom apartment. Then went to a general store where Hugo called on the phone and put me on the line. It was an English-speaking Carla who explained the couple wanted to invite me to lunch. Another girl came into the store to also ask me the same thing in English, but I know enough Italian to have understand that! Hugo helped himself to stuff from the store apparently run by his parents. Had a good lunch with this couple, and then the English-speaking girl and her husband stopped by to practice English. We all went for a walk and we met Denni and more of Patri's friends. Went in a bar where we found Claudio, but I guess he did not want to practice English. Instead, the group of 15 or so people drank wine, coffee or hot chocolate, and sang songs, many in English, but I knew only a couple. Claudio played a guitar, or a harmonica as another fellow played the guitar. Other folks in the bar included old men playing cards and kids drinking Cokes. Many of the group did try to speak to me, mostly in Italian with a couple English words thrown in. We stayed a couple hours. Then Denni went to check the car lights and thought there was a problem with the key. I later found out it was just another problem of not knowing which lever was for what! Couldn't start the car. Patri finally got it started after coasting down a hill. She drove a while. Stopped in Lanzo for ice cream. The guard at the villa told me to drive right up to the gardener's cottage because it was raining.