Saturday, 22 February, 2020
This turned out to be a full day.
It started with a coaching meeting with Giorgio Nardi that morphed into a trip to a great Sicilian coffee bar that served an amazingly overstuffed, no complaints here, pistachio brioche.
It was, "Oh, so good for me too!"
After our typical Italian colazione (breakfast), we stopped at Varese's Classical High School, where Latin and Greek continue to be a major part of the curriculum, because Giorgio wanted me to see their palestra (gymnasium).
The Classical H.S. Palestra
Now that's an old school gym!
Giorgio told me that Varese's DI basketball team used this very palestra for its home during their initial seasons. Some stands were set up at the far end and there was standing room only in the narrow balcony area. He said that perhaps 1,000 fans could squeeze into these friendly confines back in the day.
Today the Varese squad plays in the city's Enerxenia Arena that seats about 5,100 fans comfortably.
As we continued our drive home, Giorgio found out that I had yet to visit the Campo di Fiori mountain area near us and decided that we needed to change that immediately.
Santa Barbara opted to join us and off we went up the mountainside.
Near the top of the mountain
we found this crucifixion scene
It was hazy today but you could
just make out the Lago di Varese
On the other side of the mountain
was a nice view towards Switzerland
A long ago closed Fascist Era
sanitarium atop the mountain
A young boy in Fascist garb staring
up at the sanitarium
Trees on a mountain top seems
natural enough but . . .
According to Giorgio and Santa Barbara, 100 years ago this area was called the Campo di Fiori or Field of Flowers because that is what grew here in abundance as there were no trees to speak of.
So what happened?
In 1920, a luxury hotel was built
on Campo di Fiori land
The owners decided that what the hotel needed were trees, lots of trees. Thus, they planted goodness only knows how many trees but they all flourished. Nature being what she is, the new trees matured and started spreading their seeds all over the mountainside.
Now, 100 years later, it is hard to believe that this forest is a relatively new biological phenomenon.
As for the luxury hotel, it went out of business in 1950. It is now used as a communications relay station with dozens of antennas on its roof.
Another path up the mountain
from the old hotel area
The Sacro Monte area in the distance
below the Campo di Fiori
This was the hilltop terminus
of the old funicular that ran up to
the old hotel
This funicular line died out when the hotel went out of business in 1950.
Some Campo di Fiori blooming
They really shouldn't be blooming in February you know.
We ended our Campo di Fiori visit with a cold beverage at a quaint bar high up the mountain.
It was ever so peaceful . . .
In the afternoon, I headed to Skorpion Field to help with the day's flag team practices.
The U13s were practicing
in the afternoon
As were the U17s,
nice catch D.J.!
In the evening, we attended a 50th birthday celebration for Skorpion coach Pierangello "Pye" Aimetti.
We gathered at his
Mother-in-Law's home
Pye in the yellow sweatshirt
arriving at his surprise party
Lots of Italian treats were
ready to be shared
Skorpion LB Coach Fabio Drigo
with Pye mugging for the camera
Everyone had a GREAT time!
More zany Skorpion coaches antics
Italian birthday cakes are
sugar free I'm told
Finally, the disturbing news that the Coronavirus has arrived in Italy.
Not just Italy in general but
Lombardia in particular
Varese is in the far northwest corner of the province of Lombardia. So far the outbreak here is centered in Milano about 25 miles to the southeast of us.
The article states that 47 of the Coronavirus cases in Italy have been found in Lombardia. Universities and schools may be closed this coming week.
We got the word on Friday that the Savona Pirates Women's flag team that was scheduled to take part in a three team scrimmage on Sunday at Skorpion Field would not attend due to Coronavirus concerns.
Savona is located in Liguria, the province south of Lombardia. Savona is about 150 miles from Varese.
Stay tuned Ben Casey fans . . .
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