January 27th, 2025

Saluti,

    Sometimes things just happen serendipitously. It’s the way of life. Just as I was fighting the struggle and downward spiral of loneliness and missing my family and any human connection, I got an electronic message. In the beginning of the month, when I was flying from Amsterdam to Palermo, the the flight was canceled. I met three young Sicilian guys who were returning from a trip to Amsterdam. Since the flight was canceled, we were all put up in a hotel. I hired a cab to the hotel with these guys and we got to talking and traded contacts. Well, lo and behold, one of them contacted me to ask if I wanted to get together with some of their friends. I was curious to why some young kids would want to hang out with a 77 year old man, but they thought I was cool… so we made a plan.

     On Friday night Maura, Antonio, Mario and Monica picked me up from my apartment in Trapani and took me to their town of Alcamo, about an hours drive away. They had an entire event planned for the evening. First they took me to a cannoli place, but it wasn’t open yet. We were hanging around and they told me they just wanted me to try a cannoli because I probably never had one. But, I had to admit that I grew up around cannolis and I already had my one cannoli per year limit! So we left the cannolis. Then, "master of the road", Alberto, drove around and we saw some majestic views. Then, we went to the center of Alcamo where explored their town. Then they took me to an antique musical instrument museum with a lovely collection! It had all been donated by a local patron. The museum, of course, was set up at an old church and had instruments from every continent. It was really quite interesting. Antonio and Mauro are aspiring musicians, Monica works in jewelry and Maura is studying to be an attorney with his site set on international law. They are all in their early 20s. They are well spoken, educated and committed young people, but as young people, they are searching for what the world is going to become. We exchanged quite a few candid political conversations and ideas and I get a feeling there’s quite a cloud hanging over their heads. Europe is always sensitive to anything that happens in America. As I followed them around on, Rocinante (as my mobility scooter, has been named….after Don Quixote’s horse), I had only this advice for them."Do what your passion tells you, it is the only ticket to true happiness". We ended the evening with a fantastic meal at a restaurant, called Ristorante la Tonnara in Castellammare del Golfo and we promised to get together before I leave Trapani.

    Then, on on Sunday I got myself a ticket to a concert called "the history of tango" featuring guitar and bandonion. It is part of a weekly music series put on by the town and other organizations.  It was a wonderful evening with about 250 people in attendance at an old church, which has been converted to a musical Hall. There must be a big business in converting churches. It’s been an excellent week and I look forward to the week to come. Everyone seems to be doing a great job at our store and I thank them for this opportunity to expand my horizons.

Cu la paci, 

John Bernunzio 

Mauro, Alberto, Mario. yours truly, and Monica

These kids are alright!!

Hanging out in downtown Alcamo

Un meraviglioso concerto di musica che mostra la storia del tango con Allesandro Blanco alla chitarra e Merlina Ilundain alla voce e all'armonium

A wonderful concert of music showing the history of tango with Alessandro Blanco on guitar and Merlina Ilundain on vocals and harmonium