Escape to myself

Friendship is the golden thread that ties the heart of all the world. ….. quote from John Evelyn

“Only connect! That was the whole of her sermon. Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted, and human love will be seen at its height. Live in fragments no longer”….E.M. Forster, Howards End

Getting back from Aquileia my roommate Riley (Australian) and I decided to go out to dinner with another connection, Sophie from the UK. It was Riley’s birthday. Not being sure where to go Riley wanted to revisit a fish restaurant (l’ancorragio) bur they only did tapas type food and Sophie and I wanted something a bit more substantial. We were going to leave but decided to have a drink. We got chatting to the owners,in very broken Italian, over a glass of local red wine . They tried to recommend a restaurant but they were all full so the owners decided to shut up the restaurant and cook for us! They prepared a delicious meal of spaghetti with oil, anchovies, capers and a mild chilli specially for us. I’d never been to a restaurant lock in before! They were so friendly, kind and hospitable and the waitress said she wished more people were like us … full of friendship. It was truly a memorable evening.

After finishing dinner we walked to a bar and had a couple of wines and some chat about nothing. Returning to the hostel we went to the kitchen to find coffee and tea but to no avail. I’d bought some really bad cappuccino mix so we had that around the kitchen table. Our evening was suddenly interrupted by the appearance of a very serious German girl who asked us if there was any tea in the kitchen. Having already looked ourselves we said no and thought that would be that … but no! I have never seen such determined searching. She opened every drawer, cupboard, fridge all the while saying there must be tea! And where was breakfast because that would have tea with it. We explain breakfast was laid out at 8 in the morning but that wasn’t good enough. The determination and dedication in her search had us in hysterics. The fact that she was German and so determined made it worse and we could barely contain ourselves. The German stereotypes came unbidden … their orderly way of life and their attitude; “if I want coffee there WILL be coffee, and I will search your house until I find it” and thoughts of interrogations with a lamp shining in your eyes made us faintly hysterical. We’d already made much of the fact that the Germans staying here were all sat at the table for breakfast at eight exactly. When we arrived at five past eight the coffee was already bagged … and the fruit. The analogy with Germans and towels on sun loungers at beach resorts had already been drawn.this is a little unkind I know but I think most countries have their own stereotypes of the British too so I hope I’m forgiven. We were a little the worse for wear after all.

It was an evening of fun, laughter and friendship and one to be cherished. Riley and Sophie were such great companions and I can’t think of a better way to spend an evening … spontaneous, full of laughter and joyful friendship. Perhaps I’m getting the brand of courage needed to be in the world And be true to myself and visible. I just need to be in those places where connections can be made.

Charles Lamb “‘TTis the privilege of friendship to talk nonsense, and to have that nonsense respected.