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Sardegna Italy
3 Sept 2000: Lisa's First Impressions: "Lost
& Found in Sardegna"
-- Ciao! Whew it has been a whirlwind here getting settled. And it started
with a little adventure yesterday. Eric's friend came and got us and took
us out to La Maddalena,
we have been staying in Palau. We were gone around 8 to 9 hours, and when
we returned the front doors were wide open. The wind had blown them open
because we didn't have the top latched, and our dog (a cute 6 pd. Papione)
was gone. Yeah, what a dilemma, huh? It was around 9 at night and Eric and
I walked around the block calling her name. We talked to one American who
said that a few Italians had asked her if she wanted to buy Tiffany several
hours earlier. (Tiffany had her dress and collar on, she was easy to describe
to people. Not to many dogs with little pink dresses running around) This
sent me into a huge panic. Eric and the neighbor boy began to knock on apartment
doors down another street asking for my dog in their "best" Italian. I was
pretty sure that she was long gone by now.
But then, Eric got really lucky and found her. An older Italian family on
holiday had found her. They spoke no English, and so conversing with them
was a challenge. Eventually we figured out that they found her, and had looked
around for her owner. They had called the police and had put an ad in the
American paper all in a matter of hours. They invited us in and we talked
for a while. Tiffany had been fed 2 bowls of Lattie and a bowl of spaghetti.
She really liked the latties, as the older man said by showing us the 2 boxes
of lattie and the empty bowl. They also said that Tiffany cried while she
was there. We took them a bottle of Milke (sp) an after dinner fruit liqueur
that is very popular here, and that they fed to Eric. Wow what a relief that
worked out! More later, Ciao Lisa
PS: Did I mention that the people thought Tiffany's collar--that has fake
diamonds on it-- was real. Hee hee, can you imagine? My dog wears bigger
diamonds than me!
4 September 2000: Eric's First
Impressions:
Come stai Seniorita Nikki, It's Wednesday, and our sleeping schedule
and sense of direction are all screwed up. Lisa and I are doing really well,
and in two days, we've done and seen a lot for sure. Our Italian is getting
good fast, and we are enjoying every minute of it. We were first picked up
at the airport by two of the sponsor team personnel who were very friendly
and loaded us up to drive to Palou, where we are living temporarily.
We landed a truly awesome little place. Small, but bigger than we thought.
The kitchen has a table, Quattro chairs, a bench, the washer (no dryer),
hot water heater, gas stove, piccolo refrigerator, sink and all are in a
space of about a large bathroom. The bathroom its self is slightly smaller
than the kitchen, and has a nice bathtub, but not great water pressure. There
is a small sink looking thing next to the toilet, called a bandola that's
for cleaning your ass - no kidding. The Italians, and Europeans in general
don't shower often, but spray cologne or perfume instead. Crazy eh?
The rooms aren't too bad, but they have no rugs or carpet anywhere. Really
echo's everywhere.
What's big here for desert is Gelatto - an ice cream, with all flavors that
would put American's ice cream to shame. The Seafood is very popular, and
pizzeria's are popular as well. There's not much steak and beef, but some
places have lamb, chicken, and pork. Coffee - Caffe's are big. You can get
a real cup of cappuccino, or latte's anywhere. It's all great! Wow,
the cheese is all white, they never heard of cheddar, and very smooth, fresh
- soft - outstanding. We were invited to dinner the first night by a Chief
from the sponsor team, and his Italian wife, and another couple who had just
gotten here. Wow! Great food. I ordered my first beer from the Rome airport,
so by then, I was a pro! HA HA!
We then walked to the festival ( downtown Palou is small - and three small
blocks away) by the water, and there were hundreds of people out enjoying
themselves, and all the shops were open! WOW! Free fish, and wine, and nice
Italian people everywhere. I see why people we've met have stayed so long!
The festivals in Palou have been going on since June, every night!
The Italians sleep during the afternoon, and start opening shops about
7 or 8pm. Then they stay open late, and sleep all morning, to wake up, and
open up shop again for a few hours in the morning.
The Italians love dogs, and have given Tiffany alot of attention when we
walk her. Today Jay, a sponsor team representative, picked us up at
ten to buy groceries over in La Maddalena, which is a 15 minute ferry ride
from here. We picked up a few things, and came back to a Chill!. We came
back on the ferry, walked home, and found the doors wide open! Yep, the wind
had blown them open, and I had thought someone broke in! Tiffany was gone,
and Lisa was in shock! Uh Oh for sure! I went looking with her, and learned
really quick how to say small dog, black and white, thanks to our American
neighbor. We went everywhere, and up and down the streets! Dam, Lisa was
frightened and I was hopeful! Another neighbor thought she remembered two
Italian people trying to sell her earlier, but couldn't remember anything
else, Lisa freaked!
Hugh, the neighbor boy next door (who's a smart 12 years old!) went with
me for another round, and I started going door to door. I found her, and
was so happy an old Italian couple with a son younger than me had found her
and taken her in. He had tried to call the Petsmart number on her vaccination
tag, but had no luck! Funny for sure! We were saying thank you and all of
our Italian lingo quick! They were so friendly, and invited us in. We chatted
and translated what we could for 30 minutes, and they gave me this after
dinner shot of what they call "Morti" - which tastes like blueberry
Jaggermeister. Such Hospitality, We were so greatful! I had to write it all
down. Ciao! and Love, Eric
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