First stop was Geneva to meet my Nonna Andrighetto's sisters family. The rain certainly didn't stop Joel from showing us the sights! It was raining so much they even had to turn off the Jet d'Eau that spurts up 140m out of Lake Geneva.
The next few days was spent with some of the Andrighetto's side of the family in Ballaigues in Switzerland. It was summer - but we were still fortunate enough to take a visit into the Alps and see some snow! Taking a ride on the sledge with Mum down the slopes was definatly a highlight! This ride made Zia Merylise change her opinion on Dad.. apparently the devil came out of him on the Diablerets (aptly named mountain - the Devil!!).
After listening to the stories that my Grandparents told me about their childhood and growing up in Italy.. I finally got to live them and visit their hometowns and family.
It was an amazing experience. I was blown away by the fact that all my grandparents brothers and sisters are all so similar to them when they have lived most of their lives apart. And even though I have met only a handful who have come to Australia to visit - they would all give the skin off their backs for me if they could.
I was amazed to see that each of my 4 grandparents houses are still standing. But of course, being roughly 50-60 years since they all left Italy, alot has changed. Nonna Giustina's house has been turned into a restaurant. Nonno Dario's house is renovated and looks like a massive mansion which backs onto the mountains (the stables of his old house is now a part of the new house. His old house looks to be about a 1/4 of the house which is now standing).
Nonno Luigi and Nonna Iole's houses are still owned by their families and still look like what they used to many years ago and are in need of renovation!
Being back there made me wonder why they left such a beautiful family and country behind. But things were tough back then and people have to eat and earn a living.
It was a very emotional departure.. from my Italian family and also from my parents and my Zia Merylise.
But my adventure continues.....!
