A few weeks ago we decided to take a day trip to a little town just outside of Rome called Nemi for their annual strawberry festival. We heard about it from Erich's English student and couldn't resist after learning about the many delicious strawberry treats and the dishing out of
free strawberries. So Erich, one of my co-workers, and I set out armed with detailed directions by bus, and ready for some sweet treats. Although it was a Sunday, the directions took us step by step to our destination, easy right? WRONG. OF COURSE NOT! This is still Italy after all. So, even though the strawberry festival is a highly anticipated yearly event for people all over Rome and its neighboring cities since the 1920s, it
doesn't mean that buses or even taxis will actually transport people there. No, we reached the town of Genzano without problem, but once there found that the only way there was by foot. Up hill. The whole way. In the heat.
Once found, Nemi was well worth the trek. I can't even complain as we picked up a friend, Stefania, on the way who was pushing 70 years old. She was the real trooper. When we got there we found that getting back to Rome would be even more difficult. We inquired after buses that might be coming near, and found that there were none. We even called a cab, and they said that they didn't want to come up there because there would be too much traffic (ha ha!). So right when we arrived we had to make a decision to leave early (and miss the dishing out of the free strawberries) but find more reliable transportation home, or stay and chance it. So chance it we did.
Overlooking a beautiful lake, Nemi is a quaint but lively town made even more so with their signature small, sweet-sour strawberries. The very sight of Lake Nemi made me miss Michigan, especially Torch Lake, all the more. Lake Nemi is not only beautiful, but packed with history. Before leaving I read that Caligula built huge, extravagant ships to sail on the lake UNTIL they were destroyed after his death. BUT WAIT! They were recovered when Mussolini drained the lake in order to retrieve the large vessels and restore them safely in a museum in Nemi. BUT NO! The ships were too soon blown up by the Nazis during WWII leaving no trace of these amazing pieces of history. Oh the suspense! Lost, found, lost.
The strawberries were just as delicious as we anticipated, and as I left town I noticed I had a bit of a stomach ache, or as I like to call it,
sugar belly (the feeling one gets after eating WAY too much sugar). This was the goal, the mark of a truly successful day. There was strawberry everything; strawberry pizza, milkshakes, tarts, liquor, ice cream sundaes, sandwiches, cake...everything strawberry under the sun.
The community strawberries were the highlight of the day. They brought in truck loads of strawberries and after much applause and rallying, they emptied the crates into a large vat and topped it with champagne and sugar before handing them out plate by plate to everyone who wanted them. I advocate for more fruit related festivals, it was a great time.
A few weeks ago we decided to take a day trip to a little town just outside of Rome called Nemi for their annual strawberry festival. We heard about it from Erich's English student and couldn't resist after learning about the many delicious strawberry treats and the dishing out of free strawberries. So Erich, one of my co-workers, and I set out armed with detailed directions by bus, and ready for some sweet treats. Although it was a Sunday, the directions took us step by step to our destination, easy right? WRONG. OF COURSE NOT! This is still Italy after all. So, even though the strawberry festival is a highly anticipated yearly event for people all over Rome and its neighboring cities since the 1920s, it doesn't mean that buses or even taxis will actually transport people there. No, we reached the town of Genzano without problem, but once there found that the only way there was by foot. Up hill. The whole way. In the heat.
Once found, Nemi was well worth the trek. I can't even complain as we picked up a friend, Stefania, on the way who was pushing 70 years old. She was the real trooper. When we got there we found that getting back to Rome would be even more difficult. We inquired after buses that might be coming near, and found that there were none. We even called a cab, and they said that they didn't want to come up there because there would be too much traffic (ha ha!). So right when we arrived we had to make a decision to leave early (and miss the dishing out of the free strawberries) but find more reliable transportation home, or stay and chance it. So chance it we did.
Overlooking a beautiful lake, Nemi is a quaint but lively town made even more so with their signature small, sweet-sour strawberries. The very sight of Lake Nemi made me miss Michigan, especially Torch Lake, all the more. Lake Nemi is not only beautiful, but packed with history. Before leaving I read that Caligula built huge, extravagant ships to sail on the lake UNTIL they were destroyed after his death. BUT WAIT! They were recovered when Mussolini drained the lake in order to retrieve the large vessels and restore them safely in a museum in Nemi. BUT NO! The ships were too soon blown up by the Nazis during WWII leaving no trace of these amazing pieces of history. Oh the suspense! Lost, found, lost.
The strawberries were just as delicious as we anticipated, and as I left town I noticed I had a bit of a stomach ache, or as I like to call it, sugar belly (the feeling one gets after eating WAY too much sugar). This was the goal, the mark of a truly successful day. There was strawberry everything; strawberry pizza, milkshakes, tarts, liquor, ice cream sundaes, sandwiches, cake...everything strawberry under the sun.
The community strawberries were the highlight of the day. They brought in truck loads of strawberries and after much applause and rallying, they emptied the crates into a large vat and topped it with champagne and sugar before handing them out plate by plate to everyone who wanted them. I advocate for more fruit related festivals, it was a great time.
3 comments:
YUUUUUMMMMM THOSE STRAWBERRIES LOOK DELICIOUS! I am glad that you had a good time and found the strawberry festival. I want to go to one right now! LOL Have a good day!
but how did you get home? Mom
I wish you were there Kimbo!
Mom--We walked about 2 km down the hill to where a taxi had agreed to pick us up. Then we took one of the shortest and most expensive taxi rides of my life to a bus stop and then the bus to the metro and the metro home. Phew! Long trip both ways, but well worth it.
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