October 14, 2018
Big Cashews European Adventure (continued)


OK, OK.  So I skipped a day again.  What can I tell you.  Everyday we do not have the
"Greatest Story Ever Told".  I think God has that one patented.  And I am just the chauffeur for the "Queen".  I don't set agenda's, I just drive to them and remind her of what is still to be done.  Such is the life of an underling!

Well, the last two days were not filled with constant activities.  I would say that would be too much for Chiara anyway.  They were used as time to accomplish a few important points so we did not wast time.  These points included resolving a financial situation, visiting one of her cousins, looking for some wines to bring back to the States, visiting her other Aunt and Uncle, and spending more time with her sister, Rosaria.  She wants to spend some time with Angela, also, but Angela has been busy herself so it remains to be seen what can be done over the next three days.  So, back to the last two days.

The financial situation is complicated because this is Italy and they work very hard on making things difficult for people with their rules and self determined regulations.  Chiara has an account that her father set up years ago for a small next egg he wanted her to have.  This goes back 20 years or more.  She started withdrawing money the last couple of visits, as she wants the money for Maria and Nello.  All seems simple enough but as I said that is never the case over here.  First, this money is not in a bank.  It is held in an account at the Post Office.  Yes, that is correct, the Post Office.  They act as a bank (there are plenty of banks here also, but they have their own quirks), although this account is more like a CD that matures on a specific date.  Unlike a bank, once you reach that date, the account is basically frozen, meaning it no longer gains any interest. There were two accounts and they have both matured in the last two years.  She wanted to take the money out in the simplest way but the PO only allows a certain amount to be withdrawn at a time.  This amount seems to depend on the day of the week and who the teller is.  Sometimes its $2,000, sometimes its $5,000 or it could be $500.  In addition, they do not do transfers, such as sending it electronically to a bank here or in the states.  You basically have to drain it as cash based on what they allow, or you can have them write a check.  Over the last couple of visits, she took cash out and brought it back to the States.  This was not the best since you could only take so much each trip she took to Italy.  It is also in Euros, so it has to be exchanged at our bank, and they charge for that service.  At this point, taking her situation into account, she wants to get all the money out and back to the States.  Last year she took some but most was still here.  She visited the PO on Friday and asked about the transfer, which they said was a no-go for her.  So she wanted to use a check.  The director of all people came out and wanted to know why she wanted the money, as it was more than they usually allow per visit and just why take it out as it was "safe" in the PO. They are very nosy!  She explained her health condition and when they looked at her last name, they asked if she was the sister of Onofrio.  Well, of course she is and then all of a sudden, the wheels were greased and they agreed to empty, but not close the account.  I don't understand the Onofrio aura, but this is not the first time I have seem his name open doors that were locked.  Just the other day, his girlfriends car was some how left in the middle of a street, semi blocking traffic.  Actually, she must have not put the emergency brake on fully, so it rolled out of it parking space.  The police came upon it, looked up the registration and saw it was under Onofrio's name.  They called him to let him know and asked him to come down to move.  No ticket, no tow.  Just a friendly notice to him.  Thank god for Onofrio, and he can cook to!  As an added note, we were at the Post Office for an hour and a half just trying to handle this transaction.  They are quick!

That evening, we were invited to her cousins for dinner.  As usual, dinner was not scheduled until after 8 PM.  Such is life for the car driver.  The dinner was good, as they all seem to be, consisting of mussels, pasta, salad, fish and such.  There was also home made wine, which you get in every house along with either coke or Pepsi.  Here cousins house is right in Bacoli, just across the street from the lake.  It is on the top of the building, although they own the building and they have an open balcony that allows for a very nice view of the lake area and provides a nice breeze.

The main drawback here is that they do no have a garage and there is no parking.  You can park in the street, if you find a space, but you have to pay and you are limited on how much time as only residents with a sticker can park after a certain time.  I had to park about two blocks away, but it was nice evening and comfortably warm.

The next day was even less eventful.  We relaxed most of the morning.  At near noon, we took a walk to the supermarket to pickup some chicken wings and chips (I wanted to try the wings).  They were OK although a little bland.  Rosaria made a lasagna, yes for lunch, and we all sat down and ate it along with the wings.  As I have noted before, they do heavy lunches and supposedly lighter dinners.  Can't say I have seen the lighter dinners yet.  We hung out most of the afternoon until about 4 and then went off to find a wine store that Genaro had told Chiara about.  We could not find it as I wandered back and forth in the supposed general area.  I was directed down a side street to continue to look for it when all of a sudden we pass a women and Chiara yells that is another cousin of mine.  So we stop, she gets out and they chat.  Then they head off to the cousin's mother's house to pay a visit.  I am left basically in the middle of the road so I pull over and park and wait patiently for 42 minutes.  I read the news on my phone and watch the surroundings.  At one point, I nice looking blond walks by so its not all boring.  Anyway, she gets back into the car and her now head for her aunt and uncle's house.  They live near the commuter train station and there are restaurants galore there also, so you have to work your way through the crowd and hope to find a space.  There was space in their driveway so we are directed there, park and then walk up.  We are there for about 4 hours.  Again, everyone only speaks Italian.  They order pizza and we all get our own.

I can barely eat half of mine.  The rest of the crew devours theirs (including Chiara) and they bought one extra one so that one goes to.  They tend not to eat much of the surrounding crust, which I always eat, but still, they make me look like and amateur and they are all champion power eaters.  The pizzas came from Villa Chiara.

So that is really the gist of the past two days.  Things are winding down a little.  Chiara is a bit tired so we try not to over do it.  Today is rather open.  We still have a trip to Pompeii tomorrow with her cousin, Louisa, her sister Rosaria and an in-law I have not yet met.  Of course, I am the driver.  Tuesday is still under discussion.  The weather has been spectacular, with only a bit of rain overnight earlier this week and in the upper 70's during the day.  On Wednesday, we head back to Rome for a hotel near the airport.  We might take the train into Rome and visit another cathedral, but that is also under discussion.

Just a few more days of this blog and life will return to normal for all you avid readers.