Spit & Spat

Oh Bittersweet.

I have had nothing to say but praise and love for Italy and its warm, genuine culture since I arrived. Spending the weekend in the Valsesia valley in the mountains of the north, staying with my girlfriend and fiance' at their B&B and attending her wedding, I am only more certain of this.

The wedding in the small village of Alagna, where Mara grew up, began with the bride and groom's guests all gathering at each of their respective houses prior to the ceremony. This was neat because everyone of the bride or groom's guests-family, close friends-could have private time to share with the bride or groom before it all started. We had fantastic wine (the vino bianco was wonderful!!! No better than in Italy!) and small snacks as everyone took pics and congratulated Mara on her fantastic red wedding dress. She got to greet and talk with her guests for about an hour-long enough for the pouring rain to stop, clear and lift away. It was very cold all of the sudden in the mountain air, but at least not raining. The town cathedral's bells rang out into the valley with "Here Comes the Bride" song...it was awesome! As a big group, with Mara and her family and attendants leading, we all walked through the village to the church as the bells rang. People stood in the streets to greet her and wish her well.

We went into the church for a lovely Catholic ceremony, complete with a signed certificate from the pope annoucing blessing of their marriage! The church was cold and damp, so everyone was very chilly but it was still nice. I had the honor of signing as a witness because of being her bridesmaid. Then we went out to the streets to greet, throw rice, and...head to the pub! More wine and some sangria mixed rum drink stuff. I left with some of Mara's friends and sister to head to the disco for the reception dinner and the dancing party. First-we stopped at another pub. More vino! Then we walked in last to the Igloo Discoteque (sp?) for the antipasti and drinks. Dinner was a sit-down multi-course meal with wonderful Italian dishes, all delicate portions with elegant presentation. First was a plate of risotto with some herbs, then squares of lasagne, then a chilled sweet drink with ice cream in a wine glass, then excellent fish ("pesci") with lemon, vegetable and tomato. All were perfect-sized dainty portions, beautiful to savor the sight, the smell, and the flavor in a few bites. The wonderful Italian way.

We had a DJ and speaker making jokes with dancing for awhile, then moved outside to the dance area for tiramisu and more drinks to finish the meal. The tiramisu, rather than a big cake, was served in Dixie-cup sized glasses with either strawberries, blueberries or kiwi I think. With dessert wine, it gave a quick sweet fix before more dancing and cutting the groom's tie into pieces to auction off as good luck ritual. Then more dancing, freezing cold breezes, and gala for the rest of the night.

I made so many friends and met such wonderful people in such a short amount of time. I felt so welcome and comfortable with all of them. We could communicate through gestures and dancing if nothing else-and lots of laughing.

I bailed not too long after midnight with my ride back to the B&B, but Mara and Marco stayed with friends dancing until about 4:30. Their apartment got raided and decorated in the meantime (rather than decorating the couple's car).

Today I leave Mara and Marco and their families, each very special to me in new ways. I feel certain I will return within another year-they are now family, lifelong friends. An amazing way to conclude the northern Italian tour of the past couple weeks.

I'm headed on a long ride to Rome to fly home to return to STJ mid-week. I am so grateful for the challenges, the personal insight, the pleasures and surprises, and the new perspectives. Thank YOU for listening to it all!

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posted by chelsea @ 8:37 AM