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   Krista says:

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   Ohhhh, I love this so much!! I found a similar mountain village above Vogogna. It was silent and warm and peaceful. All I could hear was the trickle of water from the fountain in the square. Loved it. 🙂

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     Lisa Chiodo says:

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     Krista these villages are my passion, we started Renovating Italy with one in mind to restore. I am writing about it at the moment. ciao lisa x

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   Debra Kolkka says:

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   I am in Italy now and I am trying to go to each of the villages that make up Bagni di Lucca. It is going to be fun.

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     Lisa Chiodo says:

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     I’d love to hear about your trip and see pics of the villages, you can always find us at facebook as well. ciao lisa

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   marcellina says:

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   Just reading through the comments. I also have Mezza Italiana – wonderful book! I didn’t realise Zoe was writing another book. Many Italian men were interned in my town in North Queensland. I can’t wait for the book to be released. This year am taking my family, husband and two teenagers to Italy to meet my cousins and aunts. We are going back to the towns and villages our parents came from ( my husband parent’s are Piemontese). I love the photo’s in this post and can’t wait to see countryside Piemonte.

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     Lisa Chiodo says:

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     Yes it’s a great read and so poignant for us as our children are “Mezza Italiana” I am looking forward to the next book. How wonderful it will be to meet the family and visit your heritage. Have your teenagers been before? I loved Piemonte, it’s glorious mountains and down to earth people. Sams parents are from Calabria and Sicily and we took them back to where they were born which was priceless. I’d love to hear how your trip goes and feel free to share any stories or photos over at our Renovating Italy facebook page.
     ciao lisa x

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   Caterina B says:

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   Here I am again. I just watched the part about Balma Boves. So interesting. I am absolutely enchanted by the video you included! I want to BE those children. Thanks for sharing it. I have a deep seated longing to travel back in time to when we were more innocent. I want time to stop. I am too nostalgic. More and more these days I find myself imagining a new life in Italy where food is real and families have time for what is important. Now I will read the other parts about those other villages. You seem to have traveled a lot in Italy, Lisa. Where is your favorite part?
   I am most interested in somewhere where it doesn’t snow much. I have had enough winter in my life living in the Rocky Mountains.

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     Lisa Chiodo says:

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     Wonderful Caterina, I was also enchanted with the video it is so well done and expressed the joy of childhood and discovery. My husband is especially in love with the idea of returning to our roots and learning to “unlearn” our bad habits. I loved the mountains with the tiny villages clinging to the edge, and never having lived in snow that was an incredible experience. I must say I loved the South, although this may be influenced by the fact that Sam’s parents come from there. Any place with a touch of wild beauty is for us. A useful site for you to get info on particular parts of Italy that may suit is http://www.expatsinitaly.com
     ciao for now
     lisa

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   Caterina B says:

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   Sorry, should have said all this on my last comment, Lisa. I now have a huge desire to learn more about the Italian men sent to Australia. I was trying to figure out the timeline from the little bit I have read. The book mentions WW2 when the men were sent. So is that when Salvatore’s father emigrated or was it his grandfather? From where in Calabria did they depart? I don’t want to seem nosy. It’s just that I want to find out some things about Calabria for my first child (from a first marriage). HIs papa has already passed away but I know that that family was from Calabria. Someday I want to take my son there to discover his roots.

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     Lisa Chiodo says:

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     Hi Caterina, I also love to find out more about my husband’s family history for our children. Sam’s dad Carlo came to Australia when he was 22 after his step brother told him to come as there was plenty of work. He came by boat and it took about a month. He is from Soveria Manelli and we returned there with my in laws in 2006 to visit. We found his childhood home and people who remembered his father. It was very moving and the only time I have ever seen him cry was when we found the fountain at the back of the house still flowing where he would water the donkey. He came out first and then sent for his mother and siblings. The boat left from Genoa, and he’d been working in Torino. Do you know where in Calabria your first husband was from? I’m sure I could find out some info for you if you have any details of his background especially maiden names of his Mother.

     For my husband to return to Calabria with his father was just priceless and the best thing was that our children were there (although they don’t remember anything at age 1 and 3). For Sam it bought home all the stories his Dad has told him over the years, and we got to meet some of his family in a tiny mountain village which was amazing. Wishing you luck with your search, ciao lisa x

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   Caterina B says:

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   Amazon only offers the Kindle version or an audiobooks version which costs over $80-90 US.
   I wonder if it has something to do with being published in Australia. I have never run into this problem before. I’ll check at my local library but don’t have high hopes.

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     Lisa Chiodo says:

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     How funny I haven’t struck this problem before either, maybe try amazon.au and hope you find it. ciao lisa x

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   Caterina B says:

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   Hi Lisa, I have been surfing through many of your posts trying to put them in chronological order in my brain. I found one about a book you are/were reading, Mezza Italiana. I would love to read it, too, but can’t find it for sale anywhere in the US except an audio version which costs almost $100 US! And I don’t want a Kindle version either, as I don’t own one and want to hold the book in my hands, not have a virtual experience. (old fashioned) Any ideas?

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     Lisa Chiodo says:

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     Hi Caterina, have you tried to order it through Amazon? It’s a great book and the author Zoe Boccabella is on facebook, she is writing another book about the Italians who were interned through the war in Queensland. I also like to hold a book in my hands but lots of friends are telling me that kindle is great so might give it a try. Let me know how you get on, I got mine from the library.
     ciao lisa

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     Lisa Chiodo says:

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     Hi again Caterina, my hubby just searched and found amazon.it which had ebook kindle version for 13 euros. You’re in USA aren’t you, only other option to get a hard copy would be to contact the author Zoe Boccabella and see if she can arrange one. ciao lisa

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     Cate says:

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     Just came across this lovely blog, so many beautiful things to read about!! Thank you!!
     I noticed your mention of Mezza Italiana, I too have read this lovely book and totally understand your wanting to hold a paperback copy in your hands, I did too. This is such a great book but unfortunately hard to find. I was told the best thing to do was contact the publisher here at this email address. Hope this helps!!
     feedback@harpercollins.com.au

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       Lisa Chiodo says:

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       Thanks Cate, great to hear that! It is such a wonderful book and yes I can’t get the hang of reading a book that isn’t made of pages I can turn. Thanks for sharing that link to the publisher, also Zoe is on fb and has a wonderful new website as well. I look forward to one day meeting her and her husband. ciao for now Lisa x

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   jann says:

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   Ciao Lisa,
   just delete this comment and one of the other two. (I got a weird message after the first one that said it wouldn’t go thru.) Thanks!

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   jann says:

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   What a charming-looking place, Lisa. I’ve got to get to Piedmont, fast!!!

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     Lisa Chiodo says:

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     Gorgeous isn’t it, not sure what’s happening with the comments (would it put people off trying to comment???)
     ciao lisa x

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    Janine says:

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    I can see what you see Lisa. I love learning more about your beautiful Italian story. Jxx

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      Lisa Chiodo says:

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      Janine, how beautifully expressed, thank you so much! love lisa x

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11. 

    LindyLouMac in Italy says:

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    A beautiful borgo.

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      Lisa Chiodo says:

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      Yes just one of so many we’ve come across, ciao lisa

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