Sunday in Bergamo 2-3-08

The suggestion was made that we take a taxi to Bergamo a small town outside of Milano in the mountains which were actually high hills. We went to the old town there and what a spectacular find. You could still see some of the old wall that originally surrounded the village. When they say old town they really mean it. Like everything else in Italy the place dates from the 1300’s. It was filled with narrow, winding cobblestone streets that were easy to get lost in. The cobblestones are flat rectangular stones laid in a brick-like pattern. It’s always a good idea to watch carefully when you are walking.
We made arrangements to have the cab pick us up at six and we were off. The place was literally wall to wall people, lots of .families with children. We soon found out why all the people. We walked and just looked in the shop windows as many of the shops were closed. We eventually, after much picture taking, found an open pick your own and stand at a tall round table to eat pizza place. My pizza had potatoes on top with tomatoes and cheese, go figure - this from the potato queen. Jan’s had onions and cheese and Heidi’s had ham. All three were delicious.
All at once we heard music from somewhere. Heidi said she thought there was a band coming, and sure enough there came a band playing, of all things, “Oh, Susanna” followed by “Cu Cucaracha.” Bright bulbs that we are, we realized the town was celebrating Carnivale, hence, children and many adults in costume. By this time I was out on the street with Heidi who had my camera and was furiously snapping photos. The people were following the bands through the narrow streets from one big square to the other. I wish I knew how to upload photos! I’m not able to get much computer time here as it’s so expensive and so I haven’t been able to figure it out.
Many of the costumes were very creative and obviously homemade. There was a wonderful joyous air and the whole thing was very family oriented. No alcohol or the rowdiness that is usually associated with Carnivale or Mardi Gras. How lucky were we that we just happened upon this find? It was not a touristy thing at all as the people we saw seemed to be from the surrounding area. There was much good-natured hugging, and also dancing in the street to the beat of the music. We followed the parade back to the spot where we had entered and found our cab waiting for us.
We never did have dinner that night. We were still full of pizza, and besides, the nice lounge back at the hotel serves bowls of huge green olives and other pickled vegetables, as well as, peanuts, sometimes pistachio nuts, chips, and even really good cookies with milk chocolate when you order a glass of wine or beer. We settled in there and after a wonderful day had an equally wonderful evening yakking away. Jan and Heidi had to work the next morning, so it wasn’t a late night. I didn’t - have to work, that is. I try and keep a low profile on that score.