Fabio called! No, not the flowing mane, Mills and Boon, goose whacked one. I’m talking Umberto’s son; tasked with the job of interpreting Umberto’s invitation to join them for dinner after a spot of sight seeing La Spezia’s best.

Quick brush up, onto train and 30 mins later I’m hurtling down narrow streets, being introduced to folk via the tiny Fiat’s windows and being given a running commentary on important buildings, churches and monuments…in splendid Italian for Umberto speaks not a word of English remember? (Fabio, where for art thou?)

20130713-143007.jpgI grasp enough to respond with ‘massiccia!’ (massive) as we drive up and around Italy’s main military and commercial harbor which hosts the arsenal of the Italian Navy, ‘mozzafiato! (breathtaking) while hugging the coastline affording spectacular views of warships, yachts and mussel beds and ‘e cosi bella!’ as we slip down into Porto Venere.

Pretty indeed! Porto Venere is a little town and commune which comprises the three villages of Fezzano, Le Grazie and Porto Venere, and the three islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto. Also a World Heritage Site as are the villages of the Cinque Terra.

20130713-142905.jpg

20130713-142914.jpg It’s dusk and the many little bars and restaurants are beginning to fill with sunkissed tourists as we run by up a rocky promontory at the end of a series of old fortifications to the San Pietro church.

20130713-143308.jpg
The church blends into its environment, is small and somewhat forlorn but the aspect is ‘assolutamente spettacolare!’ (spectacular). It sits atop rugged cliffs that end in tiny beaches surrounded by an impossibly blue sea and above which towers the remains of the massive old Portovenere castle. Click, click…will photos do justice?

20130713-143018.jpg

20130713-143445.jpg
A wander back through the village then break neck speed back to La Spezia in time to join Fabio and Annagarsia, Umberto’s lovely wife and indulge in huge buckets of ‘Cozze‘ and spaghetti at the Festival of the Mussel. Seems there’s a festival for everything culinary, can’t wait for the Gelato one!

20130713-143344.jpg
Fabio? Beautiful person, a relief to converse in English and to have him share my appreciation for their warm hospitality. Given we have another of these gigs planned late July, will be returning the hospitality when Fabio hits our Aussie shores; now that he feels a tad more assured that when they’re choosing Surfers, sharks are actually quite discerning.

Love this story? Share the love...

3 Comments on Fabio, Umberto and ‘Cozze’…hell yeah!

  1. Jennifer Lyons
    July 14, 2013 at 12:31 am (10 years ago)

    Please explain, who is Fabio?

  2. Pam Rae
    July 14, 2013 at 7:57 am (10 years ago)

    Sounds like another great Italian experience…love it!!

  3. Therese O'Hara
    July 14, 2013 at 9:01 am (10 years ago)

    Contact!

    Thank you, Jane.

    So glad your travels, adventures and loves are all endorsing and nourishing each other so beautifully in such fragrant and ancient civilities and locales. A wish for every single human that this be the case for them too.

    On the deck of an old Queenslander with the birds greeting the day and the last drops of rain bungee-jumping from the trees. Here at West End there is a feeling of North Queensland and the soft hush of the Sunday morning river traffic is the first layer of the soundscape.

    Off to Sandgate. Very happy days wished to you Jane. Will be in touch.

    Ciao, Bella!
    Therese