Cividale – La Nostra Seconda Casa!

Walls of the Medieval City of Cividale from the Devil's Bridge

What a week!  A week that we didn’t want to end!  No matter where we travel, Cividale will always be our second home.  Every time we are there, it’s harder to leave.

We spent the time catching up with friends which we did with such great gusto that we were at the end of our time before we had caught up on all we wanted to do.  Indeed, Mikaela told us that we should be ashamed of ourselves as  it was Thursday & we hadn’t been to “The Red Cafe” for dinner where we often eat when we are in Cividale, or to take a photo of the Devil’s Bridge, that she walked over to school every day in the time she spent with us in 2009 & which she took great delight in introducing to Mike when he came with us in January along with the Red Cafe and other haunts that she remembered and enjoyed.

We ate with friends 7 times in 6 days!  And then finished with morning tea at Tiziana’s this morning on our way to Venice!  She had made tiramisu for us for lunch on Saturday and there was some left so she insisted we call and say a last goodbye- even though we had been out with them last night- and she had hosted us for dinner and lunch during the week.  It was just lovely to be able to sit with them for a few minutes before we left.  Somehow, it made the parting a little easier.

Tiziana, Ugo and Andrea in their home in Premariacco with Bill this morning
before we left for Venice

Yesterday, we went to watch Andrea play soccer in the men’s firsts team.  He had been asked to take the place of the keeper as the usual 2 keepers were both out of the game because of injuries. Andrea is 10 years younger than one of the regular keepers and 20 years younger than the other !!!!  He played a fabulous game!  He was brilliant and we were justifiably proud and shouted and jumped about just like the Italians.  I can assure you, you haven’t experienced a soccer game till you see the Italians playing on home ground!  I increased my vocabulary greatly and the dramatics on the field were worthy of an Oscar! 

Andrea with his team (the Blue Team).  He has the green jersey as he is the Keeper. It was the best game. The Italians really know how to play soccer.

Natisone River looking towards the place where
Mikaela used to sit to paint in2009

During the week, we visited old haunts, one of which was Castelmonte which is an ancient monastery on a hilltop not far from Cividale. We go each time to buy Christmas decorations as they are very beautiful and the drive to the hilltop is scenic. The monastery is interesting and we had lunch there one other time, in what used to be the monks’ refectory.  It was like being back in boarding school, except we were able to have a glass of wine- the food took us back though- it hadn’t progressed any since we were at school and this was Italy, which we can arguably say has the best food and drink of anywhere in the world. Anyway, it was an experience.

Speaking of food- or actually drink- we were sitting in our favourite piazza in Cividale when Erica, one of the students who visited Australia recently, spied us and came to chat.  It was so good to see her and to catch up on all her news and to hear news of others  whom we also know.  The nicest thing was that she came over to us as we hadn’t seen her.  She stayed with us for about half an hour, which was lovely.

Cividale hosted a huge car rally on the weekend.  There were over 100 cars, all more than 30 years old, but very fancy ones- Lancias, Porsches, Fiats, etc.  They were just outside our balcony so Bill was in boy heaven watching them lining up and coming and going. On Friday & Saturday, they raced up the hill to Castelmonte & then back again, making a most amazing noise,  but they had fun. And so did we, just watching them. Bill took heaps of photos- ostensibly for the grandkids but.......

Bill took this one especially for Mikaela as her dream is to
own a blue Porsche.  Well... we can always dream!

Red cars are supposed to go faster, but this one proved that it was the exception to the rule. It had to be pushed home after the race. Not good!

So, this morning, we packed the bags and then the car & set off on the next stage of our odyssey, to Venice, one time home to the Doges and the ancient stage whereon battles were fought,  rulers rose and fell and history lived to tell  the tale. But more of that, anon.