Sunday/Rātapu
We head to Tosco Emiliano National Park to walk, specifically to the Rifugio Segherie dell'Abetina Reale where we will have lunch.
Manuela goes to dip her feet in an icy stream.
I have my togs/kākahu kaukau underneath and I am inspired to go for a swim/kaukau.
Of course Lachie wants to kaukau too. It was colder than it looks!
Then Lachie takes an alternative route to the track.
It was a beautiful National Park. The bush is lovely and I think of our NZ bush. The biggest difference is here we hear no bird sounds. Maybe the birds are migrating. Whatever, it makes me think of the wonderful job NEXT and DOC are doing bringing back the birds. We have a chance to return NZ to it's former glory with the cacophony of bird sounds everywhere. I believe if we can build the biodiversity of plants and animals beside us we will have a healthy planet and everything else will work out.
It is a delicious lunch. We choose our dishes from here. I guessed a really good one - I can't remember which one it was.
Then a 2 hour walk back to the car.
Then at night out for an aperitivo and say our last goodbyes to Paolo and Manuela. Then Paulo blew his cover about the dessert the previous night that Lori had made. She and his sister had made it together and he said it was the worst version of the dessert ever made! She bonzoed, and they didn't say anything at the time. I laughed a lot about this. I was pleased someone else could bonzo and that the admission of the bonzo came out.
Manuela, Paulo and Chiara are such great fun and with similar philosophies to us. They have enjoyed travelling, are big on family values, work hard, and have similar values to us around raising children. The Reggio Emilia pedagogy sums it up pretty much.
Both Bill and I thanked them at the table for their generosity, hospitality, their preparation, lovely lunches and a fun five days that will be in our hearts forever. This was manaakitanga - welcoming, caring about others, uplifting them, supporting them, and making them feel at home. Thank you so much Paulo and Manuela for the most enjoyable time in Reggio. We are inspired to come back and speak more Italian, and hope you will come and visit us in Aotearoa.
