I think that before undertaking a huge graffiti project like this it would have been good to have read just one more book –

One on English grammar perhaps?

Pistoia

Today Linda needed a break from her studies, and I needed to help her with that break, so we went a-wandering.  First choice was Lucca, but today’s trains to Lucca were either VERY slow or non-existent. There was a bus to Lucca, but without the No 56 Bus Ladies Battalion as backup I am still a little wary of Florentine buses.  So after some extensive research and much deliberation we chose Pistoia.  (‘Have you ever heard of a place called Pistoia?’ ‘Numpf’, was my succinct pastry-crumbed reply. ‘Then let’s go there.’) Pistoia it was.

Pistoia is about 30 minutes from Florence by train on the line to Lucca.  Italian trains are great and Florence is centrally located, so day trips like this are easy to do and always enjoyable.  The town is small, almost no tourists and it certainly has enough to do to fill in a day.  Even visiting its churches could fill in a day.

The main cathedral in Pistoia was built by Celia’s and Margie’s people in 1145.  The very old guide, who we paid to show us around, remembers the consecration of that cathedral in 1146 – even though he was just a boy at the time.  The highlight is without doubt a solid silver altar adorned with gold leaf.  It is exquisite and it is stunning – possibly better than the altar in St Bridget’s in Rosewood.

At a time when few people could read Latin (or anything) the artworks of churches were important tools in educating the faithful. At a time when Linda and I can’t speak Italian, an English speaking guide would have been a useful tool in educating these two visitors. Even just  a few English words to convey the occasional idea might have been helpful.  But Roberto?? kept speaking in fast and fluent Italian. Fortunately I did a great job in converting his talk into English.  Our two children would have been very proud of their father’s ability to translate from a completely unfamiliar language, and they would not have been at all embarrassed.

Lunch was one of those meals that can only happen on holidays – just to have all that time to laugh and chat is special. To sit down for two and a half hours on a weekday to a wonderful meal and a good local wine is very special indeed. All the ingredients for this meal came from within 50 kms – the oil, the pasta, the fish, the vegetables, the wine, the proscuitto, the waiter, and the chef.  Sadly Woolworths and Coles have almost destroyed that in Australia.  The need they have for food that can survive the rigours of transport from one part of the continent to another comes at the cost of freshness and flavour.

I’m on a campaign. We need to honour our good local producers.  And we need to honour people like Roberto, who has survived from one millenium to the next – even if he was a really crap and costly tour guide.  Here’s to you Pistoia and to you Roberto –  or whatever your name is.  I didn’t quite get that bit either.