Day 6 - May 11, 2014 - Swiss Homeland Pilgrimage

We woke up to misty skies over the lake. It was time to say goodbye to Varenna. 

This day had been in the planning for 10 months. It was more work than planning our wedding day. When it was decided we would get married in Varenna, I realized that I needed to bring my family home to Ticino so that they could see their family and Swiss homeland. So with the help of my cousins in Cadenazzo and Sant' Antonino, we planned one incredible day for my family.

Each person had been given a book on our family heritage that I had written so that they could study some of the family history. I knew so much because of my previous visits to Switzerland. But for everyone else, this was their first trip to Switzerland.  At 8am on Mother's Day, our little caravan of 3 cars left Varenna and headed to the Motherland.

 Our first stop was the La Perla Hotel. Marzio was there waiting for us in the parking lot. I jumped out of the car and ran over to give him the biggest hug. He stood there wide-eyed saying he could not believe that we were all in Switzerland together...11 Americans in the homeland! 

Sabrina greeted us inside and helped everyone check into their rooms so they could drop off their bags. I've had an email correspondence with Sabrina for many months and now we were finally face to face. She was so sweet and looks just like her father, Marco. I brought her flowers from the wedding and gave her my wedding bouquet to enjoy.

It was now time for our second stop...The Bassi Home. Marzio took us up the little village road, past the barn and little church. There was Martina's house, just as I had remembered, only this time, we would all get to go inside. Vincenzina, Cesare & his wife & their son Ares along with our cousin Elianna and her husband were all there to greet us with big smiles and a huge spread of homemade cheese, meat, bread, wine and treats. I gave gifts to everyone (scented candles, homemade jewelry sets, thank you notes written in Italian and hats from Apple). The men loved their hats from Apple. Cesare and Marzio looked so cute wearing theirs. All the women said their jewelry was bellissima. Once inside, Marzio and I made introductions and then Cesare gave us the grand tour with Marzio translating for us.

Cesare and Marzio took us through the house explaining what life was like for our family who had grown up in the home. The home was about 400 years old. Our Nonni, Claudina, spent much of her time in this house with her cousin Barbarina (Martina's older sister). The kitchen was the main gathering place and the only room with any heat. The kitchen had a huge heath/fireplace. Polenta was cooked over the fire. The family was still cooking this way until the 1980s. Cesare pointed also out Pacifico's room. It was as if time stood still. His trunk packed for America was still in his room. He was supposed to return to America and travel their with his sister Martina who had just married Erminio. Martina had said he was going to be "her candle that guided her to America" but he chose to stay in Ticino a few weeks longer. Then WWII started and he had to stay in Switzerland. He lived in his room until the 1980s when he was well into his 80's. I was told by John Stornetta that the trunk also contained beautiful love letters to a woman he corresponding with in America.

Another part of the house was used for drying chestnuts and corn as well as for weaving wool. It was where the family spent most of their time, working hard to make the things they would need to live and survive each winter. The home still had all the old tools for farming. It was a complete time capsule. Other rooms in the home were used for carpentry or housing goats and pigs. 

After learning about the Bassi home, I rolled out the 16ft family tree and all the Swiss cousins had fun finding themselves on it and seeing how we were all related. Elianna, Cesare and Vincinzina were very helpful in making some corrections but overall, they were impressed. Cesare even added everyone's birth and death years from memory.

We had a delicious lunch together. Everything was so good, including a fondu that Erika and I devoured. We had brought wine, but Cesare wanted to serve the white wine that his family makes. It was crisp with a slight taste of apples and went perfectly with all the meat and cheese. After lunch, we said our goodbyes. It was an incredible experience for everyone.

Next stop, Eleonora's home in Cugnasco. As we made our way up Via alla Motta Drive, the first thing everyone saw before even getting to Eleonora's house was a giant redwood tree watching over the little neighborhood. In the mid 80's, Uncle Larry had "smuggled" a redwood tree sapling in his cowboy boots to bring to Roberto and Eleonora as a gift for their new home. Roberto had visited America previously and had  fallen in love with the California redwood. They planted the little sapling and now it is a great giant. The tree had doubled in circumference since I had last seen it 10 years ago. Everyone took turns hugging the tree.

After much tree hugging, we headed back down the valley to the home of Anna and Enrico. Flavia, her husband, Stefano, Eleonora and Anna's mother, Antoinetta were also there waiting for us. They had been celebrating Mother's Day. Anna and Enrico came out to greet us upon our arrival. They had not changed a bit, even their little dog Poco came bounding outside. Inside was Flavia. We hugged and held each others faces not quite believing we were together again. There is something very special about Flavia. Ever since I first met her when she was studying in America, there was a connection between us. It did not seem like 10 years had past since I had last visited her in Cadenazzo. As she opened her gift, she was touched that I had remembered her favorite colors were orange and yellow and loved her jewelry. When she opened the candle, she said, "We promise each other to meet again before the candle is gone." I intend to keep that promise. Eleonora and Anna were very surprised with their gifts also. Enrico proudly wore his Apple cap.

While at Anna's, I made introductions. Flavia's grandmother, Antoinetta, remembered me after showing her the photos of us shelling chestnuts together. I rolled out the family tree so everyone could see. Eleonora was so sweet. She was all smiles and so pleased to see my Mom and brother again. She just held our faces as if making new memories of each of us. While catching up with family, Matt and Enrico wandered outside together. Enrico owns the Ricca Garage and also sells cars. Apparently, "car-talk" is a common language among men.

After our visit, we followed Flavia and Anna up the mountain to visit the homes of our grandparents. We stopped at Nono's home first. Part of the original house is still intack. The barn had greatly deteriorated in that last 10 years to be nearly unrecognizable from when I saw it in 2004. The family that lives there now was very kind and let us take photos. Their dog, who had a big blue tongue, happily greeted us too. Anna knows the owners and visited with them while we all walked in Nono's steps.  My dad visited this home in 1955. I think my Nono was in heaven chuckling while watching his grandchildren visit his home.

Next stop, Robasacco. Robasacco was the village where my Nonni grew up. As we pulled up to the village, I saw a woman waiving from a terrace. It was my "new" cousin Gloria. We ran to each other and she said, "Suzanne, you are real, not just in my computer anymore!" Gloria had found me back in January when I had registered a search on my uncle Aurelio Ricca on the Ellis Island website. She then found me on Facebook, but her email had gone to the "other" folder. I found her email 2 months ago and we began corresponding. It was easy to figure out that our families were related by marriage, but what she did not know was that she was related by blood to Anna and Flavia. It was fun introducing them to each other for the first time. 

Gloria was in Robasacco visiting her parents for Mother's Day. I again rolled out the family tree to show them how we were all related. Everyone was so excited to see their names on our tree. It really was surreal to walk into a village in Switzerland, have people come out of their homes not really knowing who you were and then showing them their names on a huge scroll that had been hand-carried from American. Flavia then joked, "This is why we have to go to other canton's to meet people to marry and date...everyone in Ticino is related and they may not even know it." Gloria was in complete agreement and then realized that she had met Flavia's brother, Romeo, and never knew they were related.

Together, we all walked up the narrow road into the village and I showed my cousins the home where Nonni grew up. I also pointed out the village of Sant' Antonino way down in the valley so that they could understand how far Claudina had to walk each day. I think everyone was able to now fully understand how hard her life was in Switzerland. It was filled with alot of sadness and she never had any desire to return to Robasacco. I do think she would be in absolute disbelief that her grandchildren were walking in her footsteps.

After Nonni's house, we all walked up to the village chapel and cemetery. We lit candles and then I was able to point out certain family members who were buried there. The view from the cemetery is one of the best views of the valley.

Now it was time to head back down the mountain. The day had been very full, but there was more to come. Sabrina and I had arranged a family reunion dinner for the Bassi, Albertoni and Ricca families. Her grandfather, Guido, was in charge of the menu. About 40 family members met at Isola Verde owned by Marco Bassi. Sabrina and her family was there to greet us. Sabrina, Kathrine and Brigitte were the kindest hosts. More gifts were given. When Brigitte opened her gift of an emerald green necklace and earrings, it matched perfectly with her green blouse and scarf. She wanted to know how I knew she liked green. I had made guesses on everyone's favorite colors based on photos I had of them. I actually was very accurate and choosing their favorite colors with all 12 sets of jewelry that were given to each cousin. 

Our group of travellers brought a ton of wine as our contribution to the festivities. Guido was already working hard in kitchen making his famous risotto and sausage. There was delicious prociutto and cheese on the table waiting for us to enjoy. Mark was again in heaven being surrounded by family, meat and cheese. Marzio and his family arrived along with Flavia, Cesare, Vincenzina and their families. It was quite a party! The 3 families (Bassi, Albertoni and Ricca) had never all come together like this before. Marzio and I made more introductions. It was fun introducing Matt as my husband of only 2 days. The dining room had a 16 foot bar, so the family tree was rolled out there for everyone to see and find themselves and/or make in additions or corrections. 

I was able to spend time with Guido and Sabrina. Guido is the family historian and has a huge family tree on the Bassi family. We were able to find where the 2 trees overlapped, resulting in a family tree that doubled in size to 32 feet long!  Guido works on the family history during the winter when he is "stuck inside." He promised to send me some information after summer. I had brought to copies of the family tree with me to Switzerland. One was to show everyone and have them make their edits and the other was to give to Guido. He truly appreciated it.

I had a great time with Marzio's dad, Sandrino. He had not changed and smiled when he saw me again. He was able to help me with some of the family names on Guido's family tree and show me where I could add some of them to mine.

I had asked all my cousins to bring photos of their lives back home. I have found through my travels that even when there is a language barrier, photos are the best common language. Bill and Dina made a book of photos that had both English and Italian subtitles to each photo. I had done the same with photos and subtitles only it was on an ipad. The other cousins also had their life photos on their ipads and iphones to share.

Dinner was fresh cut salad from the garden, salamettes, homemade bread and risotto with sausage. Guido had out done himself. During dinner, Bryan called for everyone's attention and Marzio translated for him. He thanked me for making this day happen. In turn, I thanked all my Swiss cousins who also helped make the day happen. I could not have done it without Flavia, Anna, Vincenzina, Marzio, Cesare, Sabrina, Guido and Marco.

After dinner, a big happy group of Albertoni's arrived. Marzio's sisters and their children joined us for dessert. Dessert was lemon cake and ice cream. It was a wonderful surprise for me to get to meet them.

Matt and I sat next to Flavia and she enjoyed seeing photos of our travels together. Matt was instantly taken with Flavia and now understood why she was my favorite. They quickly became buddies. 

Throughout the evening, I took moments to just watch everyone. It was hard to believe that I had pulled this day off. Logistically, it was more difficult to plan than the wedding. But to see everyone together in one room with their American cousins made everything worth it. I know everyone will have memories from this day forever, I hope that my cousins return again to Switzerland.

When it was time to leave, there were big hugs all around. Matt and I had to say our goodbyes to everyone since we had to leave by 7am the next morning. I know I will be back to see everyone again before Flavia's candle is finished burning. Matt and I love Switzerland and now when we return, Ticino will always be one of our stops. 

I carry you all in my heart. Tanti abbracci e baci a tutti!