Discussion: Wonderful trip

Sending a hug because it's bittersweet. What a lovely vacation! Your photos bring back so many memories of Italy - and they make me really hungry. This probably came up earlier but how does Roger know Franco and Maria?

Thank you, Barb. Well, I started at the beginning, then skipped to the end, so the part about how Roger met Franco (90) and Maria (86) will be in the middle part, still to be written.

So, I will write it here, for now.

Roger was stationed in Naples while he was in the Navy, and he was the opposite of the rest of his mates...he lived off base when allowed, and he liked liked to eat Italian food. F & M owned an Italian restaurant. Maria cooked, and Franco was the front person. Roger ate many meals there over the years. The restaurant eventually closed, but the three of them have kept up the long distance relationship for close to 50 years.

So, when we are in Naples, they would like to feed us every day, if we were so inclined. We saw them three of six days, each visit just the right amount of time, about two hours. Conversation can be difficult, with Franco speaking some English, mostly restaurant parlance, and Roger speaking tourist Italian. Maria doesn’t speak English, and I don’t speak Italian, but I learned what mangia, mangia meant very quickly. Eat, eat!

We were aided by google translate on the iPad.

Anyway, great people. I am glad I came back this second time to be with Roger on this journey.

Thanks - such a nice story! It says a lot about everyone involved that they've kept this unlikely friendship strong for five decades. Maria's food looks scrumptious.

Oh, that is a fine story. Makes me wish I was there!

Echoing Bash about the bittersweet trip. Glad you made the acquaintance of Franco and Maria after Roger's story. We wish him, and you, the best in whatever lies ahead for you both.