Thursday, 8 October

On this day in 1906, Luciano Martoccia boarded the S.S. Virginia in Naples. He arrived at Ellis Island on 24 October. Luciano had married Filomena Lavanga on 11 February 1904 in Anzi. Filomena would not join him in New York until 25 November 1910. Luciano and Filomena would have four children; Frank, Theresa, Rocco and Joseph. After Filomena’s death on 12 May 1919, Luciano would move his family to Hazleton, Pennsylvania, to live with his sister, Maria Carmela (Damico) and her husband, Giuseppe.

On 12 February 1921, Luciano wed the widow, Maria Carmela Setora (Bollettino), who had three surviving children. Luciano and Maria Carmela would have four children Anna, Florence, Carmela and Joan, my mother. Thus, my journey to Anzi had the seed planted 120 years ago.

This morning was bright and sunny, supposed to be a little warmer than yesterday. My plan is to do an early morning hike to the cemetery before it gets too warm. I left at 8:30 for the forty five minute climb past the Planetario Osservatorio Astronomico and the Chiesa Santa Maria then on to the cemetery. A statue, Virgin of the Rosary, is moved between Chiesa Santa Maria and Chiesa San Donato Vescovo e Martire, the main church at certain times of the year.

In Anzi, a miracle is remembered that occurred during the time of banditry. It was July 19, 1807, when a group of bandits invaded the town and, after committing brutal crimes and killing the mayor, set fire to the parish church. People hailed it as a miracle when, after the statue of the Virgin of the Rosary was carried into the square, it began to snow. The bandits, overcome by great fear, set about putting out the fire and fled the town.

Small lizards dart between the rocks in the sun. From the locked church, it was on to the cemetery. I visited the section that I missed earlier in the week. It became a little breezy on my way back to town. The forecast was for it to cloud up in the afternoon. I had skipped my morning expresso and my cornetto pastry. I stopped at the bakery thinking I would have a slice of pizza for lunch but there was a cream filled cornetto calling my name. Maybe pizza for dinner?

Back to the apartment for riposo. I spend the time reading the online edition of the newspaper, noon here is six am back home, so the paper is just available then. I clean up photos from the morning and start my blog update as well as checking email.

My watch tracks exercise, each morning in Anzi I am notified that I have climbed the equivalent of ten flights of stairs, usually in the first five minutesl EIther steep streets or stairs everywhere.

At 2:30 thunder started rumbling. Weather radar showed a nice thunderstorm on the way. Sure enough it poured buckets. The lights have flickered and some of the thunder shakes the apartment. Anzi is over 3,000 feed in elevation so that makes the storm more intense. Radar looks like rain for most of the afternoon. If it stops, pizza at eight. If not, pasta for dinner.

This is what it looks like outside my door.

The rain stopped and I even saw a little sunhine before dusk. I headed off in search of my pizza at eight and found the pizzeria with only a little trouble. There were a couple of people sitting outside chatting, no pizza. I opened the door and mayhem. It looked like a birthday party with a bunch of 7 year olds. I stepped back out and considered my options. Time to make some pasta back in the apartment where it was nice and quiet.Pizza tomorrow? I have not given up yet.

I did not hear from Donato today. I think the thunderstorm kept either of us from venturing out.