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by PAM
On communicating feelings, and the connections we make with other people and places in our travels through photographs...
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| "Travel through the five senses.... What if we talk about how traveling - getting outside ourselves, can... ...touch our hearts (through photographs)?" - Ethan, 'One Winter Proposal', a Hallmark TV movie
My first trip to Italy two years ago, around this time of year, was one of the most unforgettable trips I've taken in my life. I got to visit Rome, Bologna, Florence, and this charming little town called Cesena, nestled in the Emilia-Romagna Region, in 10 days. I travelled alone... and I met many people along the way. They made my journey extra-special... and thoroughly enjoyable - absolutely memorable!
One of the people I met was Cristina. She was the the owner and Chef of that lovely little restaurant along Via Emilia Ponente, Trattoria Zita, where I had my very first meal in Bologna. Of course, the meal was excellent... and so was the service, and the traditional Italian experience of enjoying eating. Clad simply in understated Italian classy style, complete with olive green apron, the beautiful Cristina met all diners at the door with her lovely smile and warm greetings of welcome. She was very helpful... suggesting food gently and thoughtfully on the menu that her diners might enjoy, especially first time Bologna visitors like myself then. She had that gift of getting people comfortable and at ease - even those traveling and dining alone, like myself then - telling interesting stories about the Trattoria, its history, and some trivia about Bologna. In our little chatter, while she herself served me with freshly baked bread, butter, cheeses and spices, and as I perused the menu, I learned from her that she was the grand daughter of Zita - the namesake of the Trattoria. Most of the classic recipes of the Trattoria was from Zita, and they simply add to the list... sometimes, using suggestions from diners from different places in the world. Later, having learned that I am a foodie, she took me to have a peek at what goes on in the kitchen. I saw how they made their own pasta, tortellini and various signature sauces. For a first-time foodie visitor of the world's food capital, it was an unforgettable experience, of course... and I will always treasure it in my heart. In the photo above... Cristina's smile is beautiful, freely and very generously given. She didn't only touch my heart, but she dug a little cozy space in it for Bologna... and I will always guard and keep it beautiful with warm memories.
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