So, the big day has finally arrived. No backing out now. A 5:30am start was followed by one and a half hot cross buns. The four of us (Mum, Dad, Stephanie and I) braved the M25 during rush hour on a Friday morning... We should have stayed in bed for another hour. We cruised through!
Airport etiquette was duly observed, bag drop being the first port of call. We bumped into Claudio, Simone and Stefano, the people I'll be staying/working with. I say 'bumped into.' It was more like found because I knew they were on the same flight as me. Goodbyes were had, without tears (!), and I headed for security checks. I don't advise buying a seat on a plane for an accordion - it had to be hand searched and it seemed like I was questioned by every member of airport staff as to why I had it, why it wasn't in the hold etc. Take off eventually arrived and an easy flight was had watching Top Gear DVDs, although I did find it slightly ironic when the safety demonstration said "In the unlikely event of landing in the water" given the recent events. The less said about our landing the better, though.
Claudio's wife and daughter met us at Parma airport (named after composer Guiseppe Verdi) and we embarked on the drive to Stradella, via Stefano's house. Once in Stradella we stopped off at Claudio's accordion shop/workshop; a Mecca for accordion lovers like myself. I can't wait to get my hands dirty! Finally we got home - the journey from the shop to the apartment took 30 seconds by car... Food was consumed (meats and bread and salad), which was much needed after nothing since the aforementioned hot cross buns 11 hours before!
And now here I am, sitting in an apartment all to myself, blathering away. I have no idea if this is a permanent fixture, mind - apparently I might be staying in an agriturismo, but in true Italian fashion "we won't find out until tomorrow." Can't complain at the moment, though; a double bed to myself!
Four things I've learned today?
1) Claudio's 25 year old daughter, Erica, never stops talking!
2) I'm going to need to start rigorously studying Italian again.
3) These 68 days away will proceed without me ever knowing what is happening the next day.
4) Stephanie likes hot cross buns and she didn't cry at the airport.
Speak soon x
No comments:
Post a Comment