The morning started early for us as the rest of the Salerno team slept in. Walking the silent, empty streets of Italy in the morning is one of my favorite things. You can soak it all in uninterrupted; the architecture, vintage signs, and one or two elderly early risers going for a walk. We arrive to the station just in time and quickly grab some breakfast before jumping on the train. Our trip wasn't super planned which is how I like it. This provides a little more adventure or in some cases trouble. An hour and a half past and soon we were at the Potenza Centrale station. Since we couldn't locate a bus schedule on the internet we figured we'd just ask when we got there. Well, seems there are no buses on Sunday. Haha. I sheepishly call our friends and they laugh and inform us also there are no buses. They tells us they will findd us a ride nad calls us back. 30 mins or so go byand I get a call from our friend's son, Pietro. He's coming to get us but it's a 40 min. drive. We are now regulars at the train station cafe that is filled with men constantly. They can't seem to figure out why foreigners would be here of all places. Time goes by and a sweet Italian guy walks in and asks if I'm Martina. It's Pietro. yeah! We grab our bags and we're off for a speedy drive through Basilicata to Irsina with Pietro and his brother, Saverio. We arrive just in time to all sit down for lunch then the boys rush off to the soccer match. Later that night Rosetta took us for a walk through town and into the old city of Irsina. The streets were filled with groups of cute old Italian men taking their 3rd walk of the day. You must know that the population of Irsina is about 3,000 and they all know each other. So immediately we are spotted and the whispering and questions begin. Our other feature that draws attention to our being foreigners is that we are seriously a foot or more taller than every single person in town. We were quite the talk of the town that night and for the days to come. Rosetta took us to see Rafaelle's mom while we were out as well as to eat panzerotti with her.We wrapped up the night with a trip to the pizzeria for dinner at about 10:30, which is totally normal here.
Monday-
We slept in a little then headed up for breakfast with Rosetta and her mother who also lives downstairs. She made us delicious cappuccinos and gave us sweets. Apparently cappuccino is not really considered you morning cafe, too much milk maybe not sure. So it was followed by a simple cafe. Amanda and I headed out for a walk through the historic old town and to take some pics. The low lying fog was rising though the valleys as we looked down from the city wall and it was beautifully breathtaking. Words cannot do it justice nor can pictures. We walked back to the house for lunch then hang out time speaking Italian with grandma, this was a language immersion trip for us. Some friends came over to visit then we ventured out again before a late night dinner and visit with some of their friends.
Tuesday-
After breakfast with the family and a stroll through town and lunch Amanda and I headed out to Matera. We made a split second decision to go and I'm glad we did. We'll definitely have to go back when there are more daylight hours. Teh bus was crazy curvy getting there so Amanda was sick most of the time. Once we arrived we asked hte bus guys how to get where we wanted nad he gave us a free ride to the panorama of the Sassi, which is where the Passion of the Christ was filmed. It was so beautiful. It looked just like it did in the movie. Afterwards we walked around town then grab a bus home in time for dinner.
The Sassi at night
The Sassi in Matera
Wednesday-
Up bright and early as we were going to tour the town today. Raffaele returned just after breakfast to take us to the local bakery where they make sweets specific to Irsina. Every region in Italy has different food plates and sweets as well as bread. We saw the works and then tasted most every cookie there. After the bakery, Raffaelo took us for a private tour of the cathedral built in the 1400s and to see the famous statue of St. Eufemia that will go to the Louvre next year. It was very simple but pretty inside. Filled with marble design work and beautifully carved statues. They even have a painnting of Christ from the 300s. The curent church is built on top of the old church, which you can still go see. We were unable to find the keys to get down there but upon leaving we ran into the priest. He told us to come back later and he would open it for us. The next stop was out to the country where we saw the family's country house, olive trees, and small patch of farm. We rushed back to the house for a full lunch then a quick cafe nad rest before more tours. Just after lunch Rafaelle took us and nonna to see the crypt at the church. It was quite amazing to stand under the current church were mass was held in the 1400s. I can only imagine the things those walls have seen. The next stop was just at the edge of the city where you will find water fountains that were once the clothes washing area for the entire town. Last on the tour stop was a trip down the hill from Irsina to see a few more archeological finds and to get a view of the city sittinng up on the hill just as sun was setting. Back to town and then dinner with the family. We enjoyed lamb rolls filled with chopped heart, liver, intestines, etc and lamb chops. It was quite the dinner. Off to bed
us at the cookie/bread factory
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