Tuna Pizza and Gelato

Ding Dang Dong goes the bells. Not only is that a line for the movie “Under the Tuscan Sun” but also a reality here in Italy. It seems every town has a church that still rings their bells throughout the day. The first time I heard them was in early evening signifying the end of the day. When I get busy with the details that need to be done these bells remind me that I am experiencing a wonderful opportunity in a foreign land. It allows me to cherish the moment before I continue on with my current project.

A similar topic was brought up today at the barn. Do horses know that they are in a different country or do they just think they went on a long road trip? Not only are the sights and smells new and different but so are the common sounds. There is a difference the speech patterns and the tempo of the American speech versus the Italian speech. Do horses realize this? They must notice the difference but do they understand the difference?

This was a topic that Lauren Jolly, one of our team grooms, and I got on today while taking care of he team horses. If they do realize it then they adjust better then humans do. They appear not to be affected by jet lag, whereas, I am still trying to get on the right schedule. I will probably have it figured out by the time I get on the plane to fly home. Who needs sleep anyway? At least that is what I am telling myself.

Italy has presented a fair share of new experiences. Tonight was no different. We went to dinner at a restaurant that we had enjoyed earlier, but this time we didn’t have a translator helping us with the menu. We were on our own. I was armed with my pocket dictionary and a few key phrases but it was still mass confusion. To an outside spectator we probably resembled a Three Stooges comedy. We did get some outside help from other patrons who felt sorry enough for us to translate a few words. After the order was set, which took probably 10 minutes for two pizzas, a steak, salad and spaghetti; we felt quite accomplished. We had ordered food. That feeling left after I took my first bite. Apparently I mistranslated a word and instead of getting tomatoes on my pizza I got a very pungent tuna. I am not a fish person, especially if it tastes fishy which this did. But I couldn’t help myself, this was too funny. I started laughing at the mistake. It was too funny. I did end up ending the pizza but tried to avoid the fish. Ryan also got a different pizza then he thought he ordered, but John and Lauren got food that resembled what they thought they would get. So we for two and two; it can only go uphill.

After our dinner we thought dessert would be good, but since there was no Tiramisu available we moved on. In the town of Leno Lauren had seen a Gelatoira, which we promptly headed to. There were too many flavors and colors that it was hard to decide on one flavor. So it was a nice surprise when we found out that you get three flavors with an order. Now which three to pick? I was temped by the baby blue colored gelato called Pucco, but decided I had been adventurous enough for the day. So I got chocolate, Rocher, and a vanilla flavored gelato. Boy were they delicious! Everything that everybody has said about Gelato is true. Maybe on my next trip to the Gelatoira I will get the baby blue gelato or maybe not.

Tomorrow we start setting up our stalls in Manerbio, the horses move in on Monday morning and the riders start arriving Monday. The pace is going to pick up and I can’t wait until the whole team is here in Italy!

Till tomorrow.

*an after-note: the fish on my pizza turned out to be anchovies, not tuna :)

New Friends & the Quest for Ice

It seems that good food might be a theme here in Italy. If there is a bad restaurant we haven’t found it. But it is not the food that is making the experience; it is the people we have dined with.

Yesterday for lunch the trainers from Renzo Canciani’s took us to a local Pizzeria. The food was great, most of us had what we would call a Calzone. The conversation was even better. Though I sometimes did not have a clue what was being said, you can’t help but get pulled into the easy friendship and camaraderie of this group.

Laughter is a prerequisite.

The team has been welcomed with open arms. When the horses arrived there were people waiting to see them unload. Most of the afternoon before the horses came I would was answering the question, “When will they be here?”. “Due l’ora…una l’ora…trenta minuto”, the countdown had begun.

When the horses were unloaded it was like celebrities walking the red carpet. In the air was excitement and a sense of awe. I too was caught up in it. If this is the reception for the horses, I can’t wait to see the reaction when Tom, Pete, Craig and Jordan arrive.

After a good nights sleep the horses were happy to stretch their legs. Everyone seems to be in fine form and taking it in stride. Today, John, Lauren, Ryan and I are going to check out the show venue now that that the footing is in the arena. I was able to see it on my first day here and I was duly impressed. It is a wonderful venue and I can’t wait until the competition starts.

Also, have you ever noticed that when you need something you can never find it? Well, we needed ice and I couldn’t find any bags of ice. Normally the procurement of ice is easy...in the U.S.A. Run to the closet gas station and buy a bag or two. In Italy they don’t sell bags of ice. So my new daily activity is going to the bar with a plastic bag and asking the bartender to fill up the bag for me. After breakfast I ask the waiter for ice and I hand over the plastic bag. This seems to be working well. But it does teach you not to take things for granted.

Arrivederci! Til tomorrow!!

San Paolo and the Arrival of the Horses

I have arrived in San Paolo, Italy.I had an interesting drive from Milan but for the most part uneventful. I only got lost once and luckily I knew what turn I took that got me lost. The one good thing about getting lost is that you get to some countryside that you may not have seen before.
I finally found the hotel, thanks to the wonderful signs that they have posted on the road. I was greeted by a superb staff and shown to my room. The hotel, OneMhotel, has a key card that not only opens your door, but turns on the lights and lowers the curtain on my car. My car, whom I am affectionately calling LuLu, has her own parking spot right outside of the door and when I insert my key card into a slot inside the room a curtain falls down behind her. It is like she has her own room.
Since arriving I have been trying to get my bearings and I find my way to the different necessary locations. Through this adventure, LuLu and I have seen some beautiful countryside and lots of small towns. We are staying in the a very agricultural area, so it is very commonplace to see a tractor going through the roundabouts as it is to see a Mercedes.
(Continued …the next day)
The horses have arrived safe and sound. After four days of traveling the U.S. Reining Team horses are now settled in their pre-competition stabling at Renzo Canciani’s in Gottolengo, Italy. Their travels started as a trailer ride to the Houston Airport, then an 8 hour flight to Amsterdam, which was followed by two days of driving through Holland, Austria, Germany and Italy to finally arrive. They were very happy to be on firm ground again.
After getting the horses settled the grooms, Ryan Kyle and Lauren Jolly, and our vet, John Newcomb decided to grab a bite with our host Renzo Canciani at a wonderful Italian restaurant in the town of Leno. All of us were enjoy Italian food but were a little stumped by the menu. It was in Italian, imagine that! We proceeded to pick our favorites and then try a new dish along with some new phrases, which we are sure to misuse. I finally got to have some Gelato, which is first thing everyone told me I needed to get when they heard I was headed to Italy. I must say I was not disappointed and will be sure to have it again, probably sooner rather than later.
Tomorrow looks to be a nice day, and hopefully no rain in the forecast. Till tomorrow…