THE ITALIAN EXCHANGE VISIT 2008
Early on the morning of 21st September 2008, Rana Tawhitapou, Rangiora Taura and Jerome Te Paa, accompanied by Staff members of Hato Paora College, Ian Smith, Chris Morgan and wife Maree and son Sam, Sherra-Lee Tamaki and Rosalyn Williamson flew out of Auckland Airport bound for Hong Kong. What a long flight, almost 12 hours. After hours of viewing the sea way below, we were amazed to see the island of Hong Kong covered by a multitude of skyscrapers. Local time was 5p.m. After 6 hours on the ground we left by beautiful Swiss Airbus for Zurich, Switzerland. The flight was at night and we were able to look down on huge cities, lit up by thousands of light. Moscow looked like a huge spider’s web. Early in the morning we touched down in Zurich and took the train into the city. We walked along the river to the lake as the church bells rang in fairy tale steeples. What a beautiful place to be in autumn.
6 hours later we flew down into Florence, Italy, to be greeted by Paolo Badiali and Susanna and Aldo Cantini and Ivo Malevolti (Giulia her daughter was in NZ in July 2008). How welcoming our friends always are and how good it is to see familiar, smiling faces. Once the luggage was on board their vehicles we drove up to San Miniato Church to take in the panoramic view of Florence. Nothing is more overwhelming than to look down on the great dome of Santa Maria del Fiore and to see the Arno River flowing under the Ponte Vecchio Bridge. It is the picture portrayed on hundreds of postcards and calendars. Such a beautiful picture in the early autumn afternoon.
We drove on 45-min north to the town of Borgo San Lorenzo, which was to become our home base for the 3 weeks we spent in Italy. The boys were so lucky to be given a Flat with Samuele and all food provided by Susanna and Aldo Cantini. We are so very grateful to them for such wonderful care and provision. Next day we went to the local Market and bought up presents to take home. Then we attended Giotto Ulivi School and taught in the language laboratory. The Italian students do not have uniform and are very fashionably dressed and the girls are so beautiful. Our boys entertained with waiata and haka and taught the class how to speak in English and Maori. In no time messages were being typed by the students through their individual computers, saying “ I love you” or “You are my friend!” in 3 languages. The adult staff also took part in the lessons giving information about New Zealand and offering the students to become exchange students to our school. There was a great deal of interest and we look forward to having many students visit NZ in the future. Our boys also taught Rugby Skills on the field. The Italians were quick to pick up skills and there was much fun on the field as the game was played.
Following Lunch we were given a Mayoral Reception in Borgo San Lorenzo. The Council had so kindly set aside fund which provided us with packed Lunches every day and also contributed to the cost of the staff’s stay at La Ripa agritourism. We are most grateful to the Council for their provision and interest in our exchange programme. We had many photographs taken in the Mayoral office and were presented with several books.
In the afternoon we visited the Mugello Race track where International Motor Bike Racing competitions take place. We were shown over the huge complex and given much information. The boys were able to have a pretending interview, as if they were the winners of some event, and were even given the Trophy to hold up on the Podium. The Staff and even I could not resist the offer to get up on an International Podium in the stadium and wave the trophy aloft. There was much laughing and photography going on at that point. Bucati bikes were being tested while we were there and the noise was horrendous. We saw the broadcasting facilities, the TV screens set up to record accidents during races and area provided for the large number of Doctors and ambulances who deal with the crashes. Each accident is recorded on video film and viewed to enable assistants to be trained to be as prompt as possible so that others do not become involved in the crash. The provision of stadiums for the spectators is continuing as the sport is so popular and the crowds attending are in thousands. The Staff and workers came out to have their photographs taken with our boys and were delighted to be sung to and to witness the school Haka.
The HPC Staff stayed in a 700 Hunting Lodge called “La Ripa” set on the outskirts of Borgo San Lorenzo. This was charming and so pleasant with fields, a few animals, beautiful grounds and the distant mountains set in the autumn light. The sunflowers had almost finished but there were still a few in the gardens. From La Ripa we could walk to the Railway Station, into the town and even to the school. After 3 weeks of walking, climbing stairs and steps and steeples we were certain fit and ready for any adventure that came out way.
On Wednesday 24th September, we took the train to Florence and were shown around by Julia, Samuele’s sister. Some of the adventurous people in our party climbed inside the Dome of Santa Maria del Fiore (Florence’s Catheredral dedicated to the virgin Mary) and had a fantastic view of the city of Florence. We also viewed the inside of this fantastic white and green marble cathedral that is a masterpiece of intricate carved designs and statutes. Its beauty is unbelievable and skill of its creators could not be matched today. We were given a free tour of the Palazzo Vecchio in which the Medici family had lived and ruled Italy for centuries. The grandeur of the Halls, living rooms, bedrooms, chapel and secret passages is so amazing. Each is painted with designs and patterns and encrusted with gold, all over, not only on wall but also on high ceilings and doors. The floors and staircases are marble. The Medici influenced the great art of Florence, which is still there to be seen and admired today.
We also admired the copy of the statue of David in the Piazza della Sgnoria and had lunch on the Ponte Vecchio the bridge that not even Hitler would bomb during the last war. The boys and adults enjoyed buying lovely bits and pieces in Florence. We also admired the shops belonging to the great fashion designers such as Gucci, Dior and many others.
That night Guglielmo’s Grandmother again put on a sumptuous Dinner Party for us all and invited some English-speaking guests.
Guglielmo was one of the first Italian students to come to NZ. He has been accepted to study Art and Design in Florence University.
His Father is the Doctor in Firenzuola and his Mother was an Architect. His sister Eugenia and Lisa, the Mother, with another Doctor friend showed us all over Venice on the day we took the train north to see this city set on a maze of canals. What a day of sightseeing we had. We even crossed the canal by gondola and walked through the Jewish Ghetto (the oldest Jewish ghetto in the world), Lunch was a special traditional Venetian fishmeal in a Venetian restaurant. How lucky we were to have Eugenia arrange the day for us. She is studying languages in Venice and met us at the train station. We even were invited to her Flat and were guided through the maze of cobble stone streets, shops, over bridges, passed churches and canals and shown the different styles of architecture that Venice is built of. St Mark’s Square with its church and wonderful architecture, the little orchestras playing Strauss waltzes outside the Hotels, the hand blown glass and magnificent craft work is just enthralling. This was all such a wonderful day that we would never forget. The long train journey from Florence to Venice is well worth the time and cost.
Saturday 27th saw us in Pisa admiring the majestic Leaning Tower of Pisa. It is stabilized and cleaned and the marble it is intricately constructed of dazzles in the sunlight. We also enjoyed admiring the church architecture as well and there was plenty of shopping to be done on the stalls along the perimeter. We made the journey to and from on our own by train. We are quite skilled at changing trains, at buying tickets; walking miles and finding our way back again. The NZ group divided for the evening as Chris Morgan and son Sam stayed back in Florence and were fetched by Paolo and son Manuel to go to the stadium for a premiere league match featuring the local team Fiorentina against Genoa. The rest of the group was collected by the Malevolti family for a lavish dinner at their house in the mountains some 5 km from Borgo.
Sunday 28 was equally divided in 3 parts with a late breakfast and peaceful morning in Borgo and a pleasant sightseeing afternoon in Florence with Lisa Panchetti Torelli then after bidding the Morgans adieu (they were heading for Ferrara to pay a visit to friends) we took a bus to Barberino to spend the evening with Paolo’s family. The meal cooked by Paolo’s wife Christine was wonderful as was the lively young atmosphere hovering around with Paolo’s 6 children, our 3 maori boys and Laura Gianassi’s son Walter willing to move overseas for more job opportunities after getting marketing honors from Florence university (Laura is the owner of Corzano farm holiday resort which provided accommodation for the NZ staff during the first 2 tours)
Monday 29 Sept was certainly another day to remember. We started early with Marco Rinieri and Ivo Malevolti collecting us in Borgo for Paolo Badiali’s house and we drove off to the west coast past Tuscany into the Liguria region. We visited Porto Venere, which is the picture one sees on all postcards and calendars. Pink, yellow, orange, cream rows of Italian houses cling to the cliffs above the turquoise sea. The English Romantic poets Byron and Shelley were among the most famous Brit expats to love the place. We drove down the steep road to Manarola to park the car and do the Cinque Terre walk to Riomaggiore known as via dell’amore or love path. It was a brilliant day, blue sky, blue sea below the track carved out of the cliff face Many people were also walking the Walk. It is actually a 2 day walk from Reomaggiore to Monterosso. We took the train and spent time on the beach. So hot was the day that scantily clad people were crowded all over the beach. We climbed the cliff walk passed the castle and down into another part of the bay. The scenes were idyllic for photography.
Later we took the train back to the car, which we had left at Manarola and headed up the coast for Leghorn where the cruise ship was waiting to depart to the island of Sardinia. We took the car on board, climbed up the many decks to our cabin complete with bathroom and sailed away in the setting sun. How amazing. We were on an eight cruise. There were 4 different types of restaurants on board, a dance floor with Grand Piano music being played, golden staircases reminding one of the Titanic! I was NOT allowed to mention the word Titanic, in case fear came upon us!
Early in the morning we approached the shore of Sardinia. We were given free breakfast then disembarked and drove to a beautiful little Italian house which we were given to live in free for the next 5 days by the Lenzi family from Barberino (Anna Lenzi attends Giotto Ulivi and would like to come overseas). How can we believe that such miracles could happen to us!
Sardinia is much bigger than you would imagine. It has 2 million population, 3 airports and some big cities on an area of 25000 square km. We even visited the ancient remains of a civilization that lived there 1500 years before Christ. Nuraghi were the name of these ancient people who built with stone and herded animals. We were given an interesting tour of the site in the northern part of Sardinia. We explored lots of the northern idyllic beaches on the Smeralda coast or Emerald coast in English.
We visited Porto Cervo where the Aga Khan built the millionaire’s town in 1960. This was the last place Princess Diane and Dodi had stayed before their fatal accident. The place was full of exotic shops with Armani, Gucci, Bulgari and other high fashion designers wares displayed. So exotic were the garments that they did not have prices on them. No doubt the millionaires didn’t need to ask the price and probably bought a dozen or so of everything! How incredible is life…..
Thursday 2nd October saw us on the island of Maddalena. We took the ship and our vehicle across to explore this beautiful place. The water is so pristine and so turquoise blue. The boys, Paolo and Ian enjoyed swimming and the rest of us enjoyed the sun. What a life it was to lay back on such an island beach and just watch the day go by. The terrain is so rocky and has lots of wild olive trees and cactus plants. The buildings had more of a Spanish influence.
We crossed the cause-way to the island of Caprera and found this to belong to the late Garibaldi, Italy’s most revered hero, the great statesman who began the unification of Italy and who fought in many battles both in Italy and south America. He had farmed the whole island and had a magnificent Italian villa and burial site.
We took a tour of these places and found the guide to have so much interesting knowledge to tell us. We returned to Maddalena and drove to Santa Teresa of Gallura, the most northern point of the island from where we could view on the horizon, the island of Corsica. This was the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Friday was the day we had to leave Sardinia and catch the ferry from the Golfo Aranci, then travel back past Barberino to Borgo with Paolo. This time we had a day crossing on the ship but during the last 3 hours the ship passed through very rough waters and all passengers had to stay indoors. This was an experience but luckily none of us were sea-sick. We landed in the evening at the Medici old port of Leghorn. Then it was a fast, night trip on the big highway with Paolo driving so confidently, back to Barberino where we returned the key to our lent Sardinia Villa. We are so grateful to Mr and Mrs Lenzi for the use of their lovely Italian styled villa in beautiful gardens, over-looking a view of the harbour and acres of olive bushes. It would cost a fortune for any of us to have such a holiday if it was not for the kindness of these people.
On Sunday 5th October Susanna and Aldo kindly took us on a beautiful tour of the Mugello Valley where we admired the autumn scenery and two wonderful old Monasteries. Later we visited the Agricultural Museum which contained a wonderful collection of farming implements and country household tools. It is amazing to realize that running water and electricity was not common in country farm-houses until after the 1960’s. Horses pulled the farming machinery and life was hard. We also learnt that even today students go into the mountains with metal detectors to find pieces of planes and ammunition that is still there as a result of World War II. It is sad indeed to think of the suffering that the Italian people enduring during the last world war and quite amazing to realize that New Zealander’s did go to their aid during that time. Italian and New Zealand people find it easy to bond in friendship. That night we shared such happy times with the families that entertained us to dinner. They always provide such sumptuous meals and delicious wines. Despite our poor Italian and the adults lack of English, we still are able to communicate and have so many laughs when our gestures do not give the message we intend!!
Monday the 6th October saw us on the train to Florence and then on the bus to Siena. It is such an ancient Medieval town, all the bricks and roof tops being in the Artist Palette colour of Sienna brown. How intriguing to look down on the twisting, cobble stone steets and see the cathedral and wonderful churches in amongst such a collection of well maintained brown houses, built so long ago. We walked miles exploring this intriguing place and having lunch in the Palio central oval shaped Centre. This is the area where the historic annual horse races are held, each rider representing a certain area of the town and waving their Heraldic flags. How exciting it would be to view this event.
Dinner that night was at Elizabetta’s family home. The Hospitality and the food were just wonderful. Paolo was there to translate and make conversation easier for us. Again we had to sample so many wines and enjoyed every moment of the gathering. The boys and the Italian young friends were there too. It was lovely to be with Deborah, Elisabetta and Giulia and to say our goodbyes until next year.
Tuesday 7th October was our last day at La Ripa and at the School where we enjoyed teaching and mingling with the students who seem really interested in an exchange to New Zealand. We also were interviewed by the local Television and this programme will be shown shortly in the Mugello Valley. Paolo Badiali and I both wish to make it known to the Italian students who attend Giotto Ulivi College that the Exchange between our countries is so worth while, such a way of establishing lasting friendships amongst nations and such a wonderful way of opening young minds to life in other places, other cultures, history, art, music, early Christianity and just the beauty of Tuscany.
The last evening was spent having a Pizza party in a lovely restaurant in a little village in the mountains. Jerome was wonderful at teaching the whole Party to sing a Maori song. He accompanied us so beautifully with guitar and even the cooks and maids came out to watch and listen to us singing. Sadly we had to say our “Goodbyes” in the lamp-lit Square. There were a few tears as we had to part with people who had made our stay so unforgettable. Their friendships with us will last forever. Memories will never die.
Next morning Paolo and Aldo helped us with the heavy luggage, to the Borgo San Lorenzo Station and it was here we had to say our final goodbyes and journey for the last time down to Florence. It was so sad watching the Tuscan hills, olive trees, cypress trees and all the orange tiled roofs fading away in the distance.
We managed to get our luggage on board the Bullet train and we were off to Rome for 2 days. Hotel Trevi is adorable with its top floor Dining Room from which we could see the roof tops of Rome. We were quick to start walking to the Coliseum and took a conducted tour of this historical building. The Guide gave an excellent amount of information and we were able to walk over all the sections, some of which are being restored. We then walked along the Forum where Brutus and Anthony had made their famous speeches. We even went down into the dungeon where St Peter and St Paul had been entombed for their Christian faith. This was a moving experience.
While in Rome we also visited the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel, which never ceases to amaze, such is the artistry of Michael Angelo’s painting. We saw the wonderfully painted interior of the Pantheon and climbed the Spanish Steps, then it was time for tea outside the Café near the Trevi Fountain. How nice to be serenaded by two Italians, playing their piano-accordions!
Next day we flew out from the Rome Airport, for Zurich, and then across the world to Hong Kong. A delay here caused us to miss the connection from Auckland to Palmerston North. Never-the less it was great to see our families again and thank God for his provision for our safety during our 3 weeks adventures.
We thank everyone in Italy and in New Zealand for their support of this wonderful Exchange, especially to Paolo and Christine Badiali who made all the exchange possible. Our love to all the families who have hosted the boys over the years, especially to Susanna and Aldo, to Lisa and all members of her family, to Marco and all members of his family, to Luca at La Ripa, to Laura at Corzano, to everyone. We love you all dearly and look forward to seeing you in one year’s time.
Arrivederci
Rosalyn Williamson
HATO PAORA COLLEGE
FEILDING
NEW ZEALAND
27th October, 2008