Odd Job Italiano: Madonna Della Corona

Thursday 24th Sep

Today off to see the Madonna Della Corona near Verona, and Lake Garda.

The drive there took about 3 hours over the mountains in a westerly direction with frequent stops. One stop we made was Fusine where a chap Frank knows left when he was 15 and has never been back. Frank was to take some pictures of the town and his old house for him. We recognized the house because it was one of those with the corner chamfered to allow for the road. Now this is a dead one-horse town, but when Frank stopped the one person who passed by with his pane, yes he know Danny, one year difference in age! Like most of these little mountain towns most of the houses are empty. Mind you the roads are in very good condition not like Adelaide roads.. not sure where the councils get the money seeing they all say the country is doing it tough.....and we keep being told we are the lucky country! One thing I noticed it that the road workers all still work for the councils, not like us where the costs probably include a massive profit for the private company which gets the contract.

The Madonna Della Corona started as a hollow in the rockface of Monte Baldo in the 1500s and has had a few additions over the years. Very interesting little church with one wall being the rockface. It is believed prior to that Benedictine hermits inhabited the spot. The valley floor is 700 metres below and there is a walking trail up for the pilgrims. I'm not sure how far down from the top of the cliff it is, hard to get a perspective. Thank goodness we drove to the town of Spiazza and walked down (Mind you this entailed the climb back up, around 400 odd steps - call for the paramedics!)

We had a call from John on the way to say that Aunty Rosina had passed away, rosary tonight and funeral tomorrow. To that end we took the autostrada back which took 1 hour ilo 3, but considerably worse for the nerves with the 100s of trucks all trying to pass each other.

We had a quick tea with John at Trattoria Al Buso (in the hole) at Calvene. This is one of his favourite haunts, I think because it is Extremely good value. Three courses with water and wine, 12 euro each! I must say there was nothing wrong with the food at all, just plain local cuisine, we had minestrone, Italian sausages with beans, potatoes and salad, and tiramisu - the latter I suspect was out of the freezer. Cheaper than cooking at home!

Anyway good turnout for the rosary, although very strange sensation to hear the rosary recited in Italian. When I closed my eyes it sounded like a Druids ceremonial chant. I expected to be surrounded by white hooded robes when I opened them again.