Out of the blue, the Facebook page for SALENTO BY 5 recently received a great message from two people we'd never met before--Steve and Marianne Silverio of Villanova, Pennsylvania. We'd like to share the exchange of messages with you below (from now on, I'm going to ask for un bicchiere di vino a'la Nubilo!).
Salve, Audrey & David! I have just finished your wonderful book and want to thank you for the time I spent reading... No attempting to absorb it, while thoroughly enjoying it! My wife Marianne and I will be traveling in the Salento in June, on our way to the Scuola Internationale di Mosca in Castel di Sangro. We have been in northern provinces and in Abruzzo, where my parents came from before emigrating to America, but never south as my father always said of the Calabrese, [le terrone] di teste dure! We are now very anxious to go and your book has made it so much more tangible and real. Molte grazie e un grande abbraccio, Steve & Marianne Silverio Villanova, PA
Ciao Steve e Marianne, Moltissime grazie! We are so happy that you enjoyed the book. How did you find out about it? We will be in Otranto at our Casa Cursano apartment around June 25th for a few weeks. If you are in the area at that time, we could meet for coffee or a glass of Salento wine. Again, thanks for the praise and all the best in your travels. Saluti, Audrey e Davide |
Ciao te Audrey & David, It was Marianne who, searching for more literature about Apulia and the Salento, found your book. It is quite a little treasure-trove of information as well as a personal view of a very unique part of Italy. Some of the stories reminded me of how my mother and father spoke of relatives in their little towns. Like the fact that my great, great grandfather, Nubilo, who collected farmer's grain in his donkey cart, had a healthy thirst for wine, eschewing any proffered glass not full to the brim. My dad used to say that if you walked into any taverna in Scherni and ordered un bicchiere di vino, a'lla Nubilo, you would always get a glass full to the brim! We would have really enjoyed nothing better than to spend a little time with you but we must travel to Castel di Sangro to be there by the 25th. for the Italian Fly Fishing Festival. I hope that someday we can meet as I can tell you that, unlike any travel book I have ever read, yours touched me in a special way. I nostri saluti più caldi per te entrambi, Steve & Marianne
Blog post by David
Blog post by David